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Top 5 Reasons to Claim the Lane (and why it’s safer)
by Tim Grahl
There is a lot of debate as to where a bicycle commuter should position themselves in relation to the road. New bike commuters, especially, are often intimidated by riding in the road and often choose something that isn’t necessarily the safest place. Here are the top two:
- Sidewalk – While the odds of you getting hit from behind diminish greatly, there are other dangers that come into play.
- Drivers are not looking for fast moving objects on the sidewalks so when you come to a cross street there is a good chance you’ll get hit by a turning car.
- Sidewalks are available for pedestrians and, in many states, it’s illegal for bicycles to ride on them.
- You are forced to (and should) go extremely slow. Besides dealing with turning cars and pedestrians, you are riding are surfaces that are not maintained for traffic and often have other obstacles to deal with.
- The extreme right side of the road – In my opinion this is the most dangerous place you can ride. You are risking two dangers:
- Cars will repeatedly try to squeeze by you in the same lane and will almost always come very close to you which, obviously, increases your chance of getting hit.
- The Peek-a-boo bike. Picture two cars approaching. The second car is following closely to the first. As the first car moves to miss you, it is seen by the second car as merely drifting in the lane since the car isn’t moving that much out of the way. The second car doesn’t realize you are in the road until it is to late.
Because of the above dangers and contrary to many people’s “common sense”, the best thing for a bike commuter to do is claim the lane. I ride at least a third of the way into the lane and, around curves, I roll right down the middle.
Here’s the top five reasons why I started claiming the lane (and why you should to):
- Drivers give you more room – The day I started claiming the lane is the day I stopped getting regularly buzzed to close by cars. As mentioned above, when you are all the way to the right then cars will almost always try to squeeze by. When you claim the lane, they are forced to slow down and wait for an opportunity to pass you which means they take plenty of room to do it.
- You are more visible – Drivers are used to looking for other large, metal boxes. And they’re used to looking in the middle of the lane ahead of them. When you hug the side of the road you are often outside their field of vision. By claiming the lane you are much more likely to be seen by oncoming traffic.
- You avoid dangerous debris and obstacles – the sides of roads are usually covered in debris. Stuff that can slash your tires and/or fly up and hurt you. There are also things like sewer grates and uneven shoulders to worry about. By claiming the lane you avoid all of this.
- It’s an easier, more enjoyable ride – When stuck squeezing the side of the road or riding on the sidewalk, feelings of stress abound. Constantly watching the terrain ahead of you, swerving out of the way of obstacles, slowing down for pedestrians and many other things that you are forced to pay attention to are reduced when you claim the lane.
- You are making a statement – While not as important as the previous safety related reasons, this has long term effect. On many roads bicycles are seen as an annoyance that shouldn’t be allowed in the road with other “real” vehicles. By claiming the lane you are making a statement that we belong on the road and have all the same rights as cars.
I came to these views after a lot of time spent bike commuting in my city of Lynchburg, VA. We don’t have bike lanes and I’ve come to believe that the people that built our roads had never heard of the bicycle. Not to mention most drivers are oblivious to the “share the road” mentality (and laws).
I firmly believe my place on a bike is in the road and claiming the lane and, in a large portion of our country, that is where you belong to. It’s safer and more convenient.
What do you think?
Ok you think we’re nuts! But did you stop to realize that bicycles are not a toy, but are indeed considered a vehicle. We can receive traffic tickets for not obeying the traffic laws just like motorists. Therefore, we have the right to travel on the road just as motorists do!
Bicycles do not belong on the road! Not unless they’re capable of going the speed limit. Going 35 under a speed limit is NOT safe, ever. Keep riding to parks and trails.
Alex is a prime example of ignorance. Recently my vehicle had to be sent to the shop because of an idiot motorist hitting a deer and leaving it in the middle of the road while he and some other idiot exchanged insurance information. With a car in the oncoming lane i had no choice but to go right over the dead deer, its antlers puncturing my gas tank. I am forced to commute to my University because I refuse to pay 30$ a day to rent a car for the 2 weeks that it will take for them to order my part from Germany and then install it. In any case, even in the small town that I live in, motorists are completely ignorant and oblivious, as one motorist even stopped to tell me to “ride on the sidewalk” to which i replied “that’s illegal, idiot (toned down for the sake of kindness to others).” Do you have any basis for saying that going under the speed limit is not safe, or is it because you are in a rush wherever you go that you *think* going under the speed limit is not safe? I think you sir/madam are the unsafe driver. Your insurance should drop you. I suggest that anyone who dares to use their vehicle to scare a bicyclist think twice, as some of us bicyclists carry firearms. Your car is considered a deadly weapon, use it in the wrong way and by law you suffer repercussions.
Good Revew!
i never even considered taking the lane. I commute along a pretty busy road and there is no alternative. Going to give this a try.
I’ll report with how much yelling is directed at me.
I have to ride partially on a VERY busy 4 lane highway where semi’s go down going 50 some mph as well as cars. There is NO way I’m taking my bike going 5 mph down the middle of the lane (the one obviously closest to the side of the road). I ride on the side of the road farthest from the edge of said lane -far far far away from the road as possible. I have NEVER EVER seen a biker (not motercycle – bicyclist) IN the road itself even on mildly used roads! They stay on the side of the road where we belong for safety.
Riding in the lane like that is absolute suicide.
…. not on a super busy 4 lane highway, you’re not going to be doing this! The author of this article obviously means small 2 lane roads where minimal traffic is.
If not, he is implying we bicyclists can go down a toll road in the lane as well. pft. suicide.
I think this article (and website) is great. Most of my riding is done on 35 – 45 mph roads which is 4 lanes wide. I often ‘explain’ to drivers how riding on the road is the only way of travelling legally. They generally think that I am just saying that to justify my ‘illegal/unsafe actions’. I often refer them to the local PD and/or driver’s handbook for clarification. Locally, many drivers (especially those of SUVs and trucks) cannot properly maneuver their vehicles into parking spaces, let alone around a cyclist. Thus, my riding in the center of the lane forces (yes, I said ‘forces’ because I don’t mind being demanding if it saves my own or daughter’s life) them to take the other lane or wait for a passing zone. Which reminds me– everytime a driver crosses a double yellow line to pass a cyclist (or any vehicle), to think that the vehicle they have passed is driving illegally slow is wrong. In fact, the passer broke the law, not the slower moving passee.
Alex, I assume you are referring to the posted speed limit. This limit is the MAXIMUM speed limit. To say that all vehicles should be able to travel at this speed is a joke, as this implies that vehicles should be travelling at this speed or more; the latter is illegal for anyone without proper authority (ie: emergency vehicles during an emergency only). Some roads post minimum limits as well. If there is a minimum limit posted that I am not able to maintain, I will not ride there as it is illegal and unsafe. On the majority of commute routes, there is no posted minimum limit, meaning that its perfectly legal to travel at 5 mph (or less). Do you also think the postal clerk, elderly, or young drivers should travel at the maximum speed limit? You should rethink your driving habits and/or beliefs, because frankly your wrong.
sara Rohr, 5mph downhill is a terrible example to use as a reason we shouldn’t ride on roads. I’m pretty sure I can do at least 10mph on my daughters 12″ single speed bike by coasting. This is a rediculous example. Not to mention most commuters steer clear of “highways”.
Thanks, as always.
I’ve inched towards taking the lane over the last two years, and found it much easier to ride. This last week I started riding with my 4 1/2 y.o on an attached trail-a-bike, and I ALWAYS take the full lane when she is riding on the back. Why, becasue it greatly increases our visablility – especially hers, and drivers are much more careful and respectful of us when they see I’ve riding with her. We ride slowly, defensively, pull to the side and stop to allow cars to pass, and I politly ask – with gestures and words – for the right of way when I know we need to make a move or miss a light. So far, so good. But, yeah, riding with the most precious thing in the world singing and laughing behind me through morning traffic is a bit nerve-rattling.
Once I started claiming my lane I felt much safer. The fact is in my state the law states for cyclist to ride as far to the right as practicable, not as far to the right as possible. My daily experience has taught me that if I ride as far to the right as possible, I will be buzzed far too close by motorist; therefore, my solution is to follow the law and ride as far to the right as practicable instead. That meant the motorist is forced to at least partially leave their lane to pass me. This ends the buzzing me too close problem. On occasion I’ll get yelled at by a motorist telling me to break the law by riding on the sidewalk, but most often I simply get passed safely.
Please cyclist, stay off the side walk and properly “claim your lane.” You will be safer for it.
I don’t agree with Alex. We need more bicycles and less cars on the road. Where I live there are a lot of 2 lane pretty roads and a lot of bicycle riders. Cars have learned to be patient when passing cyclists and for the most part are very cyclist friendly. This is the way it should be. I even commute 20+ miles to work each way when the weather is nice.
For you cyclists that think you have the right to be a rolling roadblock, this is straight out of the State of Maine’s law book.
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2. Riding to the right. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time and place shall drive on the right portion of the way as far as practicable except when it is unsafe to do so or:
A. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or other vehicle proceeding in the same direction; [2007, c. 400, §3 (NEW).]
B. When preparing for or making a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; [2007, c. 400, §3 (NEW).]
C. When proceeding straight in a place where right turns are permitted; and [2007, c. 400, §3 (NEW).]
D. When necessary to avoid hazardous conditions, including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, broken pavement, glass, sand, puddles, ice, surface hazards or opening doors from parallel-parked vehicles, or a lane of substandard width that makes it unsafe to continue along the right portion of the way. For purposes of this paragraph, “lane of substandard width” means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side in the lane.
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Section “D” will tell you that, indeed, you need not let motor traffic pass if the lane is too narrow, but most lanes are not. You just go ahead and “claim your lane” on a 2-lane country road, and see what happens when a loaded semi truck comes up behind you over a blind hill or corner. You had better be ready to bail into the ditch, because that truck sure as heck can’t just slow down from 45 to 10 mph in 100 feet because you decided to “claim your lane”.
Alex is correct. I’ve been a bicycle commuter for 6 years, rain or shine, and came to the same conclusions. Early on in my commuting experience, I also rode near the edge of the road and had trucks come so close as to scrape by my handlebars. Motorized vehicles do not tend to move over as they pass you, and it is no fun feeling as if your bike might be dragged by the wind under the wheels of an 18-wheeler while you creep along the side of the road. Once I even had a little old lady drag me (and my bike) along, because she did not see me riding at the side of the road (she was really sorry when she realized that). Over time, I observed that I am safest right in the center of the lane (that is as close to the right as is practical for me, according to the law). Cars and trucks simply have to go around me, and that increases the drivers situational awareness. My ride takes me along four-lane roads, and I have to change lanes like any other vehicle to make left turns from those roads. All in all, I am better off if cars see me behaving like another car. I’m better off being in front of an 18 wheeler rather than being buffeted by winds, at its side. I don’t get many comments when I make a left turn off a four lane road, as one vehicle in a line of cars and then proceed to continue taking a lane. As for those who don’t think that a bicycle can be speedy, I may be somewhat slower than a car on a city street (not by much), but I can sure catch up with a car from one stop light to the next. For all of you commuters out there, you are safer if you are braver and aware of every thing around you.
I love Charles’ reply to Alex! You make a wonderful point. I actually commute every day to work and have only had one incident with a motorists acting like a jerk towards me. After I proceeded to inform of my right to ride my bike on the road, he proceeded to cuss me and call me stupid. I informed him that he was in fact the stupid one because he didn’t know the laws and rights for cyclists. Motorists need to educate themselves about the laws that are in effect to protect cyclists right to ride their bikes. It is against the law to honk at, harrass, cuss at, and/or throw things at cyclists. There is also a 3 feet law in most states that states that motorists must be 3 feet away from a cyclist while passing. We as cyclists also have a responsibilty to follow all traffic laws. If we can learn to share the road, our relations could greatly improve!