MLive: What are the Rules for Bicycles on the Road?

[XLFD]

Here's a recent Traffic Talk column titled as above that covers many rules for bicycles, and then has a healthy discussion of the same at the end in Muskegon Live.  Please, review:

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/traffic_talk_what_are_t...

 

A Michigan State Police Sgt. Mike Church was there to help answer a variety of questions about these rules, and I think he did a fairly good job of it.  Even though he started out by dubiously saying bike questions are “some of the easier” ones, and “Most bicycle issues are covered by fairly clear statutes.”   In my own research into bicycle statutes, they are a lot more open to interpretation than motor vehicle laws are, and most apt to be argued upon.

The first question about the cyclists rights to the road was handled expertly.  Unless prohibited by signs, such as a limited access highway would be, bicyclists have a right to use the road by law.

Question two, about whether the bike had the full use of the lane also was handled well by saying they needed to ride as far right as practicable, and he even offered: "So, on skinny roads with skinny lanes where a car and bike cannot fit safely together, the bicyclists is not required to hug the right-hand side."  Motorists often enough don't get why in such instances it is safer for a cyclist to claim the lane, but this State LEO got it.  Great.

He then nailed question three with two sections of law that states why cyclists should not be riding against traffic, but riding on the right with the vehicles.

 

Then question four came dealing with a large group of riders at once.  He replied correctly that cyclists can ride two abreast and pretty much control the lane, but also said they may not 'impede' traffic.  "It is actually against the law to impede or interfere with the flow of traffic," Church said. "So if bicycles are causing a traffic backup they are actually violating the law."

 

This is where we part ways.  Cyclists riding legally on the road are not obstructions, are not impediments, just like all other road-users travelling legally on the road.  Michigan Law does not clearly define what 'impede' means in a legal sense, but other states make this clear, such as Minnesota:  169.15 Impeding traffic.     No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed
as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law or except when the vehicle
is temporarily unable to maintain a greater speed due to a combination of the weight of the vehicle and the grade of the highway.

The MSP Sargeant grants the ability for a cyclist to claim the lane for a thin lane on a busy two way street, but he would then ticket a cyclist if those motorists lining up behind the cyclist were unable to pass due to too much traffic on the other lane.  Now if the cyclist parks themself in the middle of the lane, or otherwise rides contrary to law, then nab the rascal. 

But to ticket him because he cannot physically go any faster on the road, is ridiculous, and actually goes against the bicyclists right to use the road, and to take up all practicable physical space on the road, two topics the Sargeant already commented on correctly.

 

Sgt. Church finished the interview by recommending “What Every Michigan Bicyclists Must Know” by the League of MI Bicyclists, while noting “Some of their advice is a bit different than mine, because they are primarily concerned with safe operation.” 

Telling words about the laws dealing with bicycles, as well as motorcycles, pedestrians, et.al.  The laws are not often geared for safe operation of non-motor vehicles, just for lumping them in with the laws that make efficient and safe operation of motor vehicles the goal.