In New York the vehicle and traffic law grants bicyclists all of the rights of the road applicable to motorists. NYS Vehicle and Traffic law section 1231. The law requires that bicyclists ride with traffic. NYS Vehicle and Traffic law section 1234(a). However, even if a bicyclist rides against traffic, the motorist must still avoid impact with a bicyclist, or is responsible for the injuries caused to the bicyclist.
When Mark was operating his bicycle against traffic, one sunny afternoon, a motorist failed to see him, crossed over the white fog line and struck him. Mark was thrown from his bicycle and suffered devastating injuries including a fractured leg and a fractured arm and wrist which required surgery and hardware to put him back together.
The law requires that all motorists exercise reasonable care in the operation of their vehicle, which means – don’t drink and drive, don’t use your cell phone and see and respond to conditions in the roadway within the motorist’s view. Motorists are required to keep a reasonably vigilant lookout for bicyclists. That also means sounding the vehicle’s horn when a reasonably prudent driver would do so in order to warn a bicyclists of potential danger.
While there is no hard and fast rule about passing a bicyclist, motorists should always allow at least 3 feet of space between their vehicle and the bicyclist to keep the bicyclist safe. That means travel in your lane, and don’t cross over into the shoulder.
When there is a crash between a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds, and a bicyclist who is completely exposed, the bicyclist loses.
It’s bicycle season. Pay attention and respect the bicyclists who are out on the roadways.