The Dallas area has seen a serious increase in the number of bicycle-auto collisions this year. In a one-week period in June seven cyclists were injured or killed. A recent issue of Bicycling magazine rated
Dallas as one of the worst cities in the country for cyclists,
based on factors such as traffic congestion and lack of traffic laws to
protect cyclists.
One reason for the increase is the fact that more and more people are riding bicycles rather than driving cars, as the price of gas goes through the roof. We not only have people riding for recreation and fitness, but also for business transportation.
Here are a few cycling laws from the Texas Legislature, as itemized in a recent Dallas Morning News newspaper article:
•Ride near the curb, unless passing, and go in the same direction as other traffic.
•Use hand and arm signals.
•May ride two abreast as long as they don’t impede traffic.
•Carry only one rider per seat.
•Keep at least one hand on the handlebars.
•Have brakes capable of making the braked wheel skid.
•Shouldn’t carry any more people than the bikes are designed for.
•Cannot attach a bike to a streetcar or vehicle on a roadway.
•Must have a white light on the front and a red reflector or red light on the rear when riding at night.
•Have the same rights as motor vehicles to use roads and highways as long as they follow the standard traffic laws.
“•Ride near the curb, unless passing,…”
This is wrong.
Texas law states that cyclists must ride “as far to to the right as is PRACTICABLE” (Practice + Able), staying clear of drain grates, broken pavement, and trash. It further states that if the lane is below standard width (12 feet wide0, a cyclist may position themselves in the middle of the lane, so long as they don’t impede the flow of traffic.
Riding close to the curb results in motorists attempting to pass cyclists without deflecting from their line.
Thank you for your clarification. Obviously “Ride near the curb…” was an oversimplification to shorten the list. While that statement is generally true, your itemized exceptions are important to show that bicycles do have the same rights to “control the lane” as automobiles do.