Bicycle Commuting Guide
Lane Positioning
Lane Positioning
Wisconsin law requires that you must ride as far to the right as is practicable. This does not mean as far to the right as possible.
Stay far enough away from the curb to avoid hazards. You are safer riding in a lane of traffic than in the gutter. You need room to maneuver if a pothole, bottle, or other debris appears in your path. And you are more visible when you ride where drivers expect to see a vehicle.
Ride where cars on side streets and driveways can see you. If you ride too far to the right, you may be blocked from their view by a parked car. You are also more visible to cars behind you if you are in the line of traffic.
| Do not weave in and out between
parked cars. Drivers behind you may not see you, and you may be cut off if you cannot get out from behind a parked car due to heavy traffic. Stay at least three feet away from parked cars. Someone may suddenly open a door in front of you. |
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| Take the lane. When it is too narrow to safely share with cars, when approaching an intersection, or when traveling at the same speed as traffic, ride further out into the lane so that you don't get squeezed into a dangerous situation. |
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In extra wide lanes: (one and a half cars wide) don't ride all the way to the right. Again, you will be more visible if you ride three to four feet to the right of traffic. Right turning cars and motorists pulling out of side streets and driveways will also be more likely to see you.
On to: Maneuvers…
Back to: Safety
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