Rules That Govern Consideration of Cyclists In Bike Lanes

Not every bike lane has the same appearance. Some provide bike riders with a paved path on which to travel. Others look more like a forest path, the sort that gets quite muddy when it rains. By the same token, the rules that govern the behavior of those that use any similar path will vary from one bike lane to the next. Consequently, motorists need to know the rules that govern their expected behavior, as they ride in the vicinity of a given bicycle route.

Expected behavior in vicinity of multi-use path

Of all the paths over which a cyclist might take a bicycle, this one is the safest. It has been built along a stretch of land that remains at a fair distance from the road. It might well be a path along the edge of a creek.
Here, no car can endanger a man or woman on a bicycle. Still a cyclist could pose a danger to a pedestrian, a jogger or a skater. Consequently, at this location, the existing laws govern the behavior of the bike rider, rather than the desired actions of someone behind the wheel of a car, truck, van or SUV.

Cyclist’s desired behavior in bike lane on the road

When a rider on a bicycle has chosen to use this type of route, then any vehicles that pass the same rider must stay clear of the cyclist’s chosen path. Some of these bike lanes have arrows, which give the designated direction of travel for anyone that is on this sort of cycling route.

Behavior expected of Canadian cyclist, while traveling down a sharrow

Sharrow is a word used in Canada, in reference to a certain kind of bike path. Unlike a path in the woods, this one has a paved floor. Some markings on that pavement indicate in which direction any biker is supposed to travel. Other markings make clear to cyclists and motorists the rules for passing. A traveler along a sharrow may not get an opportunity to do any passing. Specifications, regarding the rules for passing become unnecessary in some sections of a sharrow. Those would be the sections where travelers must advance in single file, rather than in a side-by-side fashion.
Bicycle riders have not always been able to seek out information on a given lane’s designation. Some routes have seemed so close to the cyclist’s vision of an ideal route that they now belong on a rather informal listing. Such routes should not be grouped with the dedicated bike lanes. Still each of them bears some sort of sign that makes it clear that the sign-lined route is preferred by cyclists. Along such routes, the signs take on a role similar to that of the special designation. Each sign delivers a note of caution, one that should not be ignored by a driver that hopes to avoid any accident. If you are injured in an accident on the road, it is time to talk with an injury lawyer in Richmond Hill.

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