How Well Do You Know State Bicycle Safety Rules and Laws?

This past week a cyclist was hit by a tractor-trailer and killed a few miles from my home, and the fault was that of the cyclist, not the truck driver. Unfortunately, I can almost guarantee that there will be more of these types of accidents as the summer wears on and commuters turn to bicycles for transportation to avoid the high cost of gas. Bicyclist as well as vehicle drivers need to be mindful of the traffic rules and laws involving bicycle riders. People, who have not ridden bicycles in years or have ridden them very little, are now riding them alongside major roadways to work, the grocery store, church, and many other places. Now is the time for these people to brush up on bicycle safety and bicycle state and local traffic rules and laws. How much do you know?

Below are basic questions related to bicycle traffic laws that every bicyclist should know.

1. Where should bicyclist ride on the road?

2. What should a bicyclist do when crossing an intersection?

3. Who goes first at a four-way stop when vehicles and bicycles are present?

4. What should a bicyclist do when they see a flashing red light?

5. Should a bicyclist use hand signals?

6. Do you know what hand signals are?

7. Can bicyclist make right hand turns on at a red stoplight?

8. If riding at night, what kind of lighting do you need?

9. What is a bicyclist suppose to do when they approach a stopped school bus?

10. Do you know the right-of-way at all types of intersections?

Answers:

1. You should always ride in the same direction as the traffic.

2. Look left, right, and then left again and proceeds with caution.

3. Everyone takes his or her turn going through a four-way intersection. Whoever arrives first goes first.

4. Bicyclist should stop at all flashing red lights.

5. Yes. Hand signals let motorist know you intentions.

6. A right-turn hand signal is your left arm extended straight out from the side of your body and bent upward at the elbow. A left-turn hand signal is your left arm extended straight out from the side of your body. A stop hand signal is your left arm extended straight out from the side of your body and bent downward at the elbow.

7. Yes. Some states allow right turns on red.