What exactly are the state laws for bike riders who ride on the street?
Hit your DMV for the “What every driver must know” book and ask if they have a book for bicyclists. Legally bicycles are, in fact, vehicles, same as cars and must obey largely the same laws. They are entitled to take a whole lane if there is not a designated bike lane. They may ride side by side like motorcycles. If a bicyclist makes a left turn where there’s a designated left turn lane, he MUST use it – that’s the law. It is not legal to operate a bicycle on the sidewalk (again, like cars.) The line marks the edge of the roadway. It does NOT mark where bicycles are supposed to be. Bicycles belong in the traffic lanes unless there is a dedicated bike lane. Often they ride on the edge of the lane (where all the screws, nails and junk get thrown) because they are trying to be polite to auto drivers. Bicyclists MUST push out toward the middle of the road when they pass parked cars. This is because of the risk of getting “doored”.
