General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country? Rss Feed  
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2012-08-29 12:34 PM

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Subject: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

Doesn't it make more sense and is safer to bike on the left side of the road in the country?  If you ride on the right side of the road, a driver that is texting, drinking, or otherwise not paying attention may swerve a little on to the shoulder and strike you from behind.  However, if you are riding on the left side of the road, you can see the car swerving at you and either maneuver to the left, or in a worst case scenario, jump off your bike to the left.  

There are 44,000  traffic accidents every year involving bikers and cars, by riding on the left side of the road on a country road, getting hit by a car could only result if you are absolutely not paying attention.  However, if I was on the right side of the road, I could be riding on the shoulder like I am supposed to and still get hit.  

I understand why people bike on the right side of the road in cities, you are part of traffic and can keep up with the cars, but in the country this reasoning does not apply.  When I ride in NYC, I always ride with traffic.

 Riding on the left side of the road would be dangerous given the amount of turns and sidestreets in a city.  If a car is making a right off a side street he will look to his left and not to his right so he will not see you if you are riding on the left side of the road.  However, this again does not apply to riding in the country where you can see the car coming off the sidestreet half a mile away and you can wait for him to make his turn.



Edited by brooklynpatriot 2012-08-29 12:50 PM


2012-08-29 12:36 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
You mean besides the legal obligation?
2012-08-29 12:40 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
brooklynpatriot - 2012-08-29 12:34 PM

Doesn't it make more sense and is safer to bike on the left side of the road in the country?  If you ride on the right side of the road, a driver that is texting, drinking, or otherwise not paying attention may swerve a little on to the shoulder and strike you from behind.  However, if you are riding on the left side of the road, you can see the car swerving at you and either maneuver to the left, or in a worst case scenario, jump off your bike to the left.  

There are 44,000  traffic accidents every year involving bikers and cars, by riding on the left side of the road on a country road, getting hit by a car could only result if you are absolutely not paying attention.  However, if I was on the right side of the road, I could be riding on the shoulder like I am supposed to and still get hit.  

I understand why people bike on the right side of the road in cities, you are part of traffic and can keep up with the cars, but in the country this reasoning does not apply.

X2 on the legal obligation. In that vein, there is nothing in my state's motor vehicle code that says "I am supposed to" ride my bike on the shoulder

2012-08-29 12:45 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

I'm not overly concerned with what the law says, I doubt I would be ticketed and even if I am I would rather be ticketed and be safe.  Also, a law that mandates unsafe conditions or has no basis in reasoning isn't legally enforceable.  

I am much more concerned with safety and when I ride on the left side it just simply isn't possible for me to get hit by a car if I am paying even minimal attention.  If I see a car coming and if he looks like he is getting too close or isn't paying attention, I move over and get off the road.  

2012-08-29 12:46 PM
in reply to: #4386292

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
brooklynpatriot - 2012-08-29 1:45 PM

I am much more concerned with safety and when I ride on the left side it just simply isn't possible for me to get hit by a car if I am paying even minimal attention.  If I see a car coming and if he looks like he is getting too close or isn't paying attention, I move over and get off the road.  

So, you're not really asking a question.

 

2012-08-29 12:47 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
You do realize that a bike is a vehicle right? Would you drive the car on the left as well? You simply can't just ignore the law just because you want to.


2012-08-29 12:47 PM
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2012-08-29 12:48 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

You would think so but actually the potential for injury is much greater as the impact speeds when they Happen are much higher, So on the right you are going 20 MPH the cars speed 55mph net impact speed 35 mph. if a collision should occur going against traffic , your speed 20 mph car speed 55mph net impact speed 75mph or over double, much less survivable should a collision impact happen. and that's if everyone is going at speed highly unlikely in the case of the car which is probably doing 60 to 65 MPH. Plus it would be like running into a brick wall.

 

Again not to mention the legal obligations  to follow the law

 



Edited by RRH_88 2012-08-29 12:53 PM
2012-08-29 12:51 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
In the country...of England? Most definitely.
2012-08-29 12:53 PM
in reply to: #4386296

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

audiojan - 2012-08-29 12:47 PM You do realize that a bike is a vehicle right? Would you drive the car on the left as well? You simply can't just ignore the law just because you want to.

 

Driving the car on the left on a country road would result in more car accidents and death.  Riding the bike on the left on the country road would seem to result in fewer accidents and fewer deaths.  They are not analogous.  And I am not ignoring any law because I want to, I am asking if it is safer and in everyone's best interest to ignore this law.

2012-08-29 12:54 PM
in reply to: #4386307

Alpharetta, GA
Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

paxsarah - 2012-08-29 1:51 PM In the country...of England? Most definitely.

I like this answer.

Andi



Edited by Anditrigirl 2012-08-29 12:57 PM


2012-08-29 12:56 PM
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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
brooklynpatriot - 2012-08-29 1:53 PM

audiojan - 2012-08-29 12:47 PM You do realize that a bike is a vehicle right? Would you drive the car on the left as well? You simply can't just ignore the law just because you want to.

 

Driving the car on the left on a country road would result in more car accidents and death.  Riding the bike on the left on the country road would seem to result in fewer accidents and fewer deaths.  They are not analogous.  And I am not ignoring any law because I want to, I am asking if it is safer and in everyone's best interest to ignore this law.

 

NO

2012-08-29 12:56 PM
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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
By that logic, wouldn't you be more likely to get head on by a car that swerved into the shoulder because they are talking, drinking, etc instead of from behind?  That's going to be a lot more force on impact.
2012-08-29 12:56 PM
in reply to: #4386302

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
RRH_88 - 2012-08-29 12:48 PM

You would think so but actually the potential for injury is much greater as the impact speeds when they Happen are much higher, So on the right you are going 20 MPH the cars speed 55mph net impact speed 35 mph. if a collision should occur going against traffic , your speed 20 mph car speed 55mph net impact speed 75mph or over double, much less survivable should a collision impact happen. and that's if everyone is going at speed highly unlikely in the case of the car which is probably doing 60 to 65 MPH. Plus it would be like running into a brick wall.

 

Again not to mention the legal obligations  to follow the law

 

 

That's a good point so I guess you would have to weigh  odds of an accident occurring vs severity of injury if accident did occur.

2012-08-29 12:58 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

I ride "in the country" and we don't have shoulders on our roads. I wouldn't want to be riding into traffic and have no way to get out of the way.

As a driver, if I saw a bike coming at me going the wrong way on a road I would probably stop to yell at them for beign stupid.

2012-08-29 1:00 PM
in reply to: #4386321

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

Artemis - 2012-08-29 12:56 PM By that logic, wouldn't you be more likely to get head on by a car that swerved into the shoulder because they are talking, drinking, etc instead of from behind?  That's going to be a lot more force on impact.

Well the idea is that if you are on the left, you see the car coming for at least a few seconds before he gets to you.  If he is swerving, driving recklessly, or just too close to the shoulder you can always move over in the shoulder or ride your bike off the road and into the grass next to you.



Edited by brooklynpatriot 2012-08-29 1:00 PM


2012-08-29 1:02 PM
in reply to: #4386331

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
sci - 2012-08-29 12:58 PM

I ride "in the country" and we don't have shoulders on our roads. I wouldn't want to be riding into traffic and have no way to get out of the way.

As a driver, if I saw a bike coming at me going the wrong way on a road I would probably stop to yell at them for beign stupid.

I ride next to grass/corn fields so have plenty of room to get out of the way.  If the road had no shoulder or nowhere to go that would be different.

2012-08-29 1:02 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
I ride 100% of my rides in very rural country. I can go for a 50 mile ride and have less than 10 cars pass me. I have never thought of riding on the left side of the road. Besides the legal as already mentioned it would feel very strange to ride on that side. I'm not going to, but it has made me think if it would be safer somehow.
2012-08-29 1:02 PM
in reply to: #4386266

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
No. Please don't. Gives a bad name to the rest of us who follow the law.
2012-08-29 1:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
I can understand your logic, but honestly, you're much safer riding like any other vehicle. Many accidents are caused by unpredictable behavior both from the motorist and the cyclist.

Plus, it doesn't really matter what we think about riding on the right or the left, the law is there for a reason.
2012-08-29 1:05 PM
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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

Country roads are NOT WIDE.  And the people drive BIG TRUCKS.  Most drivers seem to favor the center of the road unless there is oncoming traffic then they hug their side.

IMHO, no matter which direction you ride you will have people coming up from behind you that will have to avoid you.

So, no...it isn't safer.  It's actually less safe because you are not doing what people expect you to do.  Vehicles on the road operate safely when everyone follows the legal rules of the road.  If a vehicle decides to NOT follow them (drive the wrong way, not stop at the stop sign, etc.) that's when accidents happen.

Edited to add that I do live in the middle of nowhere so I know a thing or two about country roads...I ride almost exclusively on them!



Edited by jldicarlo 2012-08-29 1:05 PM


2012-08-29 1:06 PM
in reply to: #4386323

Wichita
Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
brooklynpatriot - 2012-08-29 12:56 PM
RRH_88 - 2012-08-29 12:48 PM

You would think so but actually the potential for injury is much greater as the impact speeds when they Happen are much higher, So on the right you are going 20 MPH the cars speed 55mph net impact speed 35 mph. if a collision should occur going against traffic , your speed 20 mph car speed 55mph net impact speed 75mph or over double, much less survivable should a collision impact happen. and that's if everyone is going at speed highly unlikely in the case of the car which is probably doing 60 to 65 MPH. Plus it would be like running into a brick wall.

 

Again not to mention the legal obligations  to follow the law

 

 

That's a good point so I guess you would have to weigh  odds of an accident occurring vs severity of injury if accident did occur.

In the same vain, the reaction time of the oncoming traffic is far less than the reaction time of the traffic going with you... i.e. 75 mph difference you get there faster than the 35 mph difference.  Thus giving you a better chance to be hit, especially in a hilly area.

2012-08-29 1:07 PM
in reply to: #4386348

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

lisac957 - 2012-08-29 1:02 PM No. Please don't. Gives a bad name to the rest of us who follow the law.

I would think that following a law  and teaching people to follow a law that leads to more traffic accidents would give someone a bad name.  Following the law just because it is the law and for no greater reason makes no sense and is actually at odds with our legal system.

I am not saying I am right or this way is certainly safer, but it is worth a discussion and looking into. 

2012-08-29 1:08 PM
in reply to: #4386349

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Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?

audiojan - 2012-08-29 1:02 PM I can understand your logic, but honestly, you're much safer riding like any other vehicle. Many accidents are caused by unpredictable behavior both from the motorist and the cyclist. Plus, it doesn't really matter what we think about riding on the right or the left, the law is there for a reason.

It exists because in makes sense in many situations, particularly in cities.  But there are plenty of laws that people used to think made sense but were then changed because they were wrong or unsafe.

2012-08-29 1:09 PM
in reply to: #4386336

Wichita
Subject: RE: Safer to ride bike on the left side of the road in the country?
brooklynpatriot - 2012-08-29 1:00 PM

Artemis - 2012-08-29 12:56 PM By that logic, wouldn't you be more likely to get head on by a car that swerved into the shoulder because they are talking, drinking, etc instead of from behind?  That's going to be a lot more force on impact.

Well the idea is that if you are on the left, you see the car coming for at least a few seconds before he gets to you.  If he is swerving, driving recklessly, or just too close to the shoulder you can always move over in the shoulder or ride your bike off the road and into the grass next to you.

So you are saying that riding your bike (assuming road bike) off into grass in the country is going to be safe?  So you don't think there are any hidden objects in the grass?  It is people like you that give the rest of the bikers a bad rap.

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