Share the Road!
The topic of this week’s #traffictiptuesday – Share the Road!
Believe it or not, it is finally March. Hopefully (fingers crossed, and toes as well, just to be safe) winter is going to be behind us soon. This means you may start seeing more bicyclists on Harford County roads. A couple of my good friends are avid road cyclists. One of them describes the experience as “often terrifying.” He is referring to the way motor vehicles drive near him when he is riding. To avoid people getting squished, let’s look at some of the things we can do (and are REQUIRED to do) to safely share the road with bicyclists.
The number one thing you can do is to SLOW DOWN. This goes for most things we do while driving. The lower our speeds, the less chance of a serious injury. This is especially important where cyclists are concerned. We also need to remember that, according to Maryland law, bicycles are considered vehicles and should be treated as such. Only pass a bicyclist when it is safe and legal to do so. A no-passing zone does not change simply because the vehicle in front of you is human-powered. The one special consideration given to bicycles is that you MUST give a minimum of three feet of space between you and the bicycle when passing. If you approach an intersection and the bicycle was there first, you are required to give them the right of way.
Now, this doesn’t mean that bicyclists are off the hook. If a rider decides to use a public roadway, Maryland law requires that they operate according to the rules of the road. Failing to signal for turns, not yielding right of way, or riding more than two abreast are just a few examples of things that cyclists can be cited for if they fail to obey these traffic laws. Also, do not forget your safety equipment. Helmets, pads, and gloves can be your best friends in a bicycle crash. Moreover, the law actually REQUIRES a helmet on all riders younger than sixteen who are riding on public property.
As the weather warms and Spring approaches, both bicycle riders, and car drivers need to work together to keep the roads safe for all.
As always, if you have a question or concern, please leave it in the comments below. Also, if you have a specific concern with unsafe driving in your area, such as speeding, drag racing, etc., give us a call, send an email, or reach out on social media. Until next week, slow down, pay attention, wear your seatbelt, and drive safely!
HCSO Main Line – 410.838.6600
Northern Precinct – 410.692.7880
Southern Precinct – 410.612.1717
HCSO Traffic Unit – 443.409.3324
traffictiptuesday@harfordsheriff.org
@hcsotrafficsgt on Instagram