BicycleRidingBehaviorTypes–It’snot‘Comfort’-it’scompetence&confidence Itmaybehelpfultounderstandthe3majortypesofbicycleowners;the4thdrivestheirATBbyvehicletodirttrails&avoidsalltrafficbymountainbiking&the5thhasabikeintheirgarageoryardbutneverridesoutofsimplelazinessorfear...the6thare'scofflaws'whocycleillegallyorlikelooseanimals... 1: Road Using: Operate your bicycle legally as part of TRAFFIC 2: Edge Riding: Riding near edge – in Bike Lane, gutter, out of traffic… 3: Side Walk Riding: Use sidewalks & trails – pedestrian right of way… #3:SIDEWALKRIDERS

Sidewalksareforpedestrians;Bicyclistswhoridesidewalksrisk:>Safetyofpedestriansthere;mustwatchoutforpeopleinthewayastheybelong.EvenClassIroutesusesidepaths(widesidewalks)andtrailsthataremultiuse&speedlimitsarepostedat5to10MPH.Conflictswithotherusers&lackof

CVCapplicationallowsallsortsofsharedusesafetyconcerns.>Temptationofridingagainsttraffic;legalonsidewalk(asitisofftheroadwaywhereitisillegal),butdeadlyasmotoristspullingoutofdriveways&turningrightwatchoncomingtrafficontheirleft-neverseeabicyclecomingfastontheirright.Alsoeveryintersectionisbeingcrossedagainstrulesoftheroadoragainstsignalsthatdonotfacethewrongwayrider.Somesidewalksend&thatputsthebicyclistillegallyridingonthestreetagainsttraffic.Itisworththetimetocross&usetheothersidewalkthatputsyouridingWITHtraffic.>Hazardsfromobstacleslikesignposts,hydrants,utilityboxes,lightandutilitypoles.Poorvisibilityfrommotoristswhocanseetrafficlanes,butmaynotseesidewalktrafficaswellduetoanglesofsight&obstructions.>Crosswalksignals-whenblinkingredorcountingdownistoolate;youarejaywalkingifyouenterstreet-mustwait(oftenaLONGtime)fornextgreensignal.>Manycitieshavemadeitillegaltorideonsidewalks,manymoreincommercialorbusinessdistrictswheremorepedestriansusethesidewalks.Ifyoudon'tknoweachcitieslawyoumightnotknow(untilcited)thatyouarebreakingthelocallaw.

Multi-usetrailsmaybedesignatedasClassIbikeways,butoftenhavelowspeedlimits,arenotopenafterdark,andaresharedwithpedestrians,dogwalkers,birdwatchers,etc.Sidewalkriderslovebeingoncarfreeroutesbutdonotalwaysridesafelyontrails.Keepingtotheright,movingintosinglefile,passingontheleft,ringingawarningbellwhenpassing,allhelpmaketrailssafer.Avoidingalloftheserisksslowdownabicyclist'sspeedoftravel;youwillgetalotfartherintrafficwhenridinglegally,asaroaduser–asifdrivingavehicle.Stayingonsidewalksmaybeappropriate(wherelegal)formostcautiousandsensiblebicyclists;butrecklessridersputthemselvesandothersidewalksusersatrisk.SeparatedBikewaysarenowcalledClassIVbikeways;These“cycle-tracks”areaportionofaroad,separatedbyvariousbarriersfromvehicletraffic.Thissoundsgreattosidewalkriders.Theyareintendedforcyclists,butwilloftenbeusedbypedestrianscrossingtoparkedcars,bussesorjustignoringtheirsidewalktostrollintheroad.Someevenhave2waytrafficandsomearecontra-flow,puttingcyclistsonthewrongdirectionofonewaystreetsoronthewrongsideofthestreet.Thebarrierskeepmostvehiclesout,butcyclistsaretrapped&cannotmergeouttopassastheycanwithabikelane.Intersectionsrequireextensiveengineeringtonotcreateconflictswithnormaltrafficandpedestrians.Sidewalk Riding 21950, 21952, 21954

There is no state law prohibiting bicycling on sidewalks in California, many cities prohibit sidewalk bicycling throughout the city or in business districts. Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks (marked or unmarked) and on sidewalks. Bicyclists are also required to “exercise due care” for the safety of pedestrians in the roadway who are not in a crosswalk. WITH traffic & on Shoulder ONLY if safe 21650 Upon all highways, a vehicle [or bicycle] shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except …when overtaking and passing another vehicle …under the rules governing that movement or…when …in a lawful position for, and when … lawfully making, a left turn; Or when the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic under construction or repair; Or …restricted to one-way traffic; Or when the roadway is not of sufficient width; Or when the [bicycle] is … traveling so slowly as to impede the normal movement of traffic, that portion of the highway adjacent to the right edge of the roadway may be utilized temporarily when in a condition permitting safe operation. This section does not prohibit the operation of bicycles on any shoulder of a highway, on any sidewalk, on any bicycle path within a highway, or along any crosswalk or bicycle path crossing, where the operation is not otherwise prohibited by this code or local ordinance.

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#2a:EDGERIDERSEdgeRidingisencouragedbymisinterpretationofthe"FarToRight"law-BicyclistsarelegallyexpectedtobeintrafficlanesUNLESSitispracticabletoridetotheright,sharingtheirlanewithfastervehicles.Ifthelaneistoonarrowtosafelyshare(safefromthebicyclist'spointofview)oriftherearehazards(trash,badpavement,stormgrates,parkedcars,etc.)thebicyclistisexpectedtostayinthelane;andmotoristscanslowdown,signal&passthebicyclistsafely.Ignoranceofthisfactresultsinmotoristexpectingbicycliststokeepoutoftheirway-andbicycliststotakeunnecessaryrisksbyalwaysridingontheedge:>Brokenglassandotherdebriscancauseflattiresorlostcontrol->Thejointbetweentheasphaltstreet&concretegutteralwaysexpands&separates–orisnotslurrysealedevenlymakingahazardtocyclists>Stormdrainsoffergratesandgutteranglesthatprovidehazards>Shouldersarelegaltorideasanoption,butnotrequired,astheytypicallyhavepoorsurfacemaintenanceandputridersoutofnormallineofsight.BikelanesareNOTshoulders.>Lessvisibletomotoristspullingoutintoaroadway-asmotoristsfocusononcomingtrafficlanesandobstructions,landscapingorsignscaneasilyhideabicyclistapproachingnearthegutter.>Ridingnearparkedcarsiscalledthe'doorzone'.Openingadoorintoabicyclistintrafficisillegal,andhaskilledbicyclists.>Ridingin&outofparkedcarsisnotpredictableandcansurpriseapassingmotorist.>Encouragesfiltering;thehabitofpassingtrafficontheright,oftenatafastspeed&withnoroomforavoidingarighthookorsqueezefromamotoristwhomayormaynotuseablinkertosignalturningrightintoadrivewaybeforeacorner.>Encourageswrongway'salmon'riding;Ifridersgetcomfortableridingthegutters,thenridingguttersagainsttrafficseemsalmostassafe,eventhoughillegal&obviouslyaproblemwhenotheredgeridersridingwithtraffic,and2

whencomingfromthewrongsidewhenmotoristspulloutofdrivewaysorcrossstreets.>Invitesunsafepassingbymotorists–eventhosewhoknowaboutthe3FeetforSafetypassinglaw,areinvitedtosqueezepastedgeriders–sometimesnotmakingitpastwithouttouchingorfrighteningtheedgerider.>Edge of Roadway is defined in the following order: edge line (white line at right edge); if there is no white line, the gutter seam; if there is no gutter, the curb face; if there is no curb, the edge of the part of pavement used for vehicular travel. The edge line separates the roadway from the shoulder--no matter how wide the shoulder, it is not part of the roadway and it does not count toward the width of the travel lane. #2b:BIKELANERIDERSBikeLanesarelegaldesignateduselanesoftheroadthatreinforceedgeriding-butthatcausesrisks:IfaClass2bikewayisestablished,inmanyareasofOrangeCountytheyaretoonarrow,signedincorrectlyandendbeforeintersections,failingtoshowwheretoride,oftenleavingpeopleconfused(motoristsandcyclistsalike).>RightTurnlanes:MostBikeLanessimplydisappearbeforearightturnlane,leavingnocluesfortraffictofollowthebasicrulesoftheroad.Somefollowthegutter,puttingthebicyclistgoingstraightinconflictwiththeturningmotoristsortrappingthem.Somedosoturningintoanarrowshoulder(likePCH@NewportCoast&Dover)Somecontinuewithanarrowbikelaneinbetweenthethroughandtherightturnlanes.Someevenhaveadashedbikelane&signssomotoristswillsafelyyieldtothebicyclist.Bicyclistgoingstraightshouldsafelyleavethebikelane(signal&lookback!)beforetheturnlane&mergewiththethroughlane&willfindthebikelaneacrosstheintersection.Itisillegalforacarorbicycle,togostraightfromarightturnlane.Ifthebikelaneisnotextended,bicyclistsshouldmoveovertothethroughlane&getoutoftherightturnlane.>NoRightTurnLane:Manymotoristsbreakthelawbynotmergingintoabikelanetoturnrightfromasclosetotheedge/curbaspossible.(IrvineconfusesmotoristsbybeingtheonlycityinOCtouseBIKEONLYinsteadofBIKELANEinbikelanes.)

Thatcausesdeadly'righthooks'wheremotoriststurnfromthethroughlaneinfrontofbicyclistgoingstraight.Motorists(andbicyclists)donotknowthattheySHOULDusethebikelaneinthelast200feetbeforeacornertomakearightturn.Thatiswhythebikelanelinegetsdashedbeforemostintersections(andincitiesthatsavepaint,beforeeverydriveway).Bicyclistshouldknowthat&bepreparedformergingorfollowingmotoristsandwhensafe,signalandleavethebikelaneateverycornertofreeupthebikelaneforrightturningmotorists.Italsoreducedthetemptationof'filtering'upontherightoftraffic. >LeftTurns:Itisdangerousandillegaltoturnleftacrosstrafficfromtherightsideoftheroad,butEdge&BikeLaneridersoftenmakethismove.Safely(Signal,look&merge)moveacrosstotheleft&rideintrafficORatasignal,usecrosswalkstomakea'boxedturn'-keepingontheright&stopping,thenshiftingdirectionandcontinuingontherighteffectingaleftturn.Whenthevehiculartrafficisfasterthanthebicyclist,andtherearenohazardsorparkedcarsorslowerbicyclistsorjoggersintheBikeLane,orarightturncominguporyouarenotturningleftyouMUSTrideintheBikeLane.Otherwise,whenthebikelaneishazardous,conflictedwithrightturns,andtrafficisslowenoughtojoin,oryouneedtoturnleft,bicyclistsshouldleavetheBikeLane&rideinthetraffic.AtthattimeyouwillneedtoknowaboutBicycleDriving.#1:ROADUSERS

BicycleDriving:Manycyclistsprefertheadvantagesofusingtheroadswithothertraffic.Whenthereisnobikelane,sidepathoritisnotlegaltoridethesidewalk,bicyclisthavenochoicebuttosharetheirroadwithmotorists.AvoidingallofthehazardsofEdgeRiding,theaddedbenefitofbeinginthelaneisincreasedvisibilitytothemotoristapproachingfrombehind,givingplentyoftimetoslow,signal&

changelanestosafelypass.MorestreetswillbehavingSharrowspaintedandBMUFLsignspostedonthemasremindersoftheexistinglaw.Sharrowsareastenciledbikeandchevronpaintedinthemiddleoftherightmosttrafficlanetoshowwherebicyclistsaresafesttorideintraffic.Usuallyreservedforbikeroutesusingnarrowlanesthatareunsafetosharesidebyside,andat35MPHorslower.SignsthatsayBikesMayUseFullLaneremindroadusersoftheexistinglawandaredesignedtoreduceriskyedgeridingbybicyclistsandarrogantlaneownership&dangerous'RightofSpeed'behaviorsbymotorists.Thelawrequiresroaduserstoobeypaintedarrowsontheroad;Itisillegaltogostraightfromarightturnonlylane.Itexpectsallroaduserstousealeftturn

onlylane;safelysignaling,lookingbackandmergingacrosstotheright-mostleftturnpocket;holdingthelane&makingtheleftwhenlegal(mostsignalswillpickupabicycle&giveyouagreenlightifyoustopbehindthelimitlineasrequiredbylaw.Beingimpatient&runningaleftturnagainsttheredisa$490citationinacarorwithabike.)Stayingontherightedgeoftheleftturnlane,orontheleftedgeofthethroughlaneisveryrisky.BeinginthelanemeansNOTfilteringupontheright,butwaitinginturnbehindmotoristsinapredictablelegalway.Filteringupontherightofcarswaitingtoturnleftonlyputsyouatrisk&slowsthemotoriststryingtomaketheleft;everyonegetsthroughfasterwhenbicycles‘drive’withvehicles. SafelyusingtheroadsandfollowingoftheCVC-byallusers,humanpoweredormotorized,reallydoeswork.MostaccidentsarecausedbybicyclistsnotfollowingthebasicrulesoftheroadandCVC.BicyclistmustknowalloftheCVCrulesoftrafficPLUStheadditionalCVCrulesforBicyclesandBikeLanes.Asmorepeoplepurchasee-bikesorareinspiredbyracingtobuyroadbicycles,theignoranceoforfailuretocomplywiththeCVCisobvioustoalltrafficusers.Beachcommunitiesandcollegecampusesareoftenahubforlocalshortdistancebeachcruiserswhoridelikelooseanimals,oblivioustotherulesorrisksofridingonthestreet.RoadUsingBicycleDriverEducationclassesareagreatinvestmentinunderstandingtrafficsafetyfromabicyclist'sperspective.BicycleDrivingskillsaretaughtverywellbytheAmericanBicyclingEducationAssociation’sCyclingSavvyprogramandtheLeagueofAmericanBicyclists’SmartCyclingprogram.Itisagreatinvestmentinunderstandingtrafficsafetyfromacyclist'sperspective.Bicyclists,e-Bicyclistsandmotoristswhocareaboutbicyclingneighborsshouldtakethetimetotaketheclassordosomereading&practicetheskillsoflegalbicycledriving.Driver’s Education for Cycling: cyclingsavvy.org/

bikeleague.org/content/find-take-classPlaces to get more info on being “Veloquent”:

OCBike.org BikeIrvine.org

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VisibilityGear:Ithasbecomeobviousthatmotoristsdrivingamongcyclistsare

distracted,impaired,orjustattendingtrafficintheirlane,notcyclistsontheedge.Beinginconsequentialisasgoodasbeinginvisibletomotorists.EdgeridingandBikeLanesputcyclistsoutofthelineofsighttomotorists

withtragicconsequences.Goodlaneposition–INthetravellane–makesusmostvisible.Inadditiontolaneposition,beingEXTRAvisiblemaygivemotoristsabetterchancetonoticeyou:TheCVChas

requirementsforyourbicycleregardingreflectorsandlightsatnight.TheseareMINIMAL.ExperiencedBicycleDriversmakechoicestoexceedthem.Ifyou

mightgetcaughtafterdark,orplantorideafterdusk,aheadlampthateffectivelylightsupyourpathisbetterthantherequiredvisiblewhitelight.

Reflectorsarerequiredbutmanychoosetoaddredreartaillightsday(flashing)andnight(steady),frontfacingwhiteLEDflashersdayandnight&

extrareflectors&reflectiveclothing.TheDMVrecommendsHi-Vis&reflectiveclothingatnight,butmanychoosetowearHi-Visclothesorvestsatanytimeratherthan‘flattering’black&fashionabledarkclothesthatmayhelpbeing

seenbyamotorist.Helmetsdonotmagicallymakeyousaferhavingfromcrashes,butifyoucrash

andhityourhead,braindamageisoftenreducedandhelmetshavesavedlives.Helmetsarerequiredforminorsunder18onBicycles,includingeBikes,ridinginbikecarriers&trailers,onSkateBoards,Electric‘hoverboard’Skateboards,Scootersandrollerskatesincluding‘heelies’typeshoes.HelmetsarerequiredforallridersofType3(28mph)eBikes.

SegregatedBikeWays&SpecialFacilities:Untilthe'BigOne'levelsSouthernCaliforniaandwecanrebuildtherubble,wewillneverbeabletoemulateaDutchmodelofsegregatedbikeways,freeofpedestriansandcars,thatwillservetogettoanydestination.Untilthen-evenifstreetsareavoidedwhenavailableClassI,II &IVbikewaysareavailable-every4 Rev092117

bicyclistreallyshouldlearntohandleRoadUsingBicycleDrivingskillstounderstandthemostchallengingmileofanygivenride.Specialbikeboxes&oddClassIVprotectedbikewaysonroadwaysconfusetheexistingrulesoftheroadandroadusersalreadydonotknowhowtofollowthem.“Samerulesforeveryone”makestrafficworkbestinthisauthor'sexperience&opinion. ElectricBicycles:LowPowere-Bikesareclassifiedin3typesandarebicycles,

NOT“MotorizedBicycles”undertheCVC.Type1haveapedalassistupto20mph;Type2haveathrottletogowithoutpedalingupto20mph;Type3E-Bikescanreach28mph,require,helmetsforallriders,(mustbe16tooperate)andareprohibitedonallClassIbikepathsinCaliforniaunless‘adjacenttoaroad’.Type1&2E-Bikesmaybeprohibitedbylocalordinancesfrombikepathuse,like

sidewalkuse,butmustbepostedasprohibited.ARightofSpeeddoesnotexist–RightofWaydoes–alongwiththeBasicSpeedLaw,andSpeedlimitsareMAXIMUM-notMINIMUMThisappliestomotoristsandcyclistswholiketogofast-riskybehaviorforself&others;SouthernCaliforniaisinfamousforboth,SportsCarsandRacingBikes....Volatilescofflawsandsidewalkracers…manybicyclists,ofalltypes,alsorideasiftheyhaveaRightofSpeed.This diagram illustrates the relationship between the development of cycling skills and the consideration of social responsibiliies that result in for types of transportation cyclists. Skills inclde the physical acts of controlling a bicyle and manoevering in traffic. Responsibilities are the consideration of social responsibilty including physical requirements to ensure safety of self and others as well as social responsibiliteis of communication, courtesy and contribution. Help, Questions, Advice – Contact Bill @ Bill@BikeIrvine.org

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