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to be predictable. To be able to know before hand which direction that vehicle expects to go. A bicycle is a vehicle, two wheeled and certainly slower then the rest of the traffic, which is why they have right lanes. Bike paths do exist, and some are better then others. It is sad to say sometimes, how there is just not enough awareness of the fact that a bicycle is a vehicle. Without that awareness infrastructure design is not often optimal, which is why on any bike ride, cycle commute, you need to act just like any other vehicle. To take the lane, following through lanes, and merging with traffic when the bike path, ends up to far right. There is many areas on my own cycle commute that require that point of view. Some examples, well coming off a through road by the name of Boronda, most of it is covered on a right facing bike path, the thing is when I reach the intersection of Main and Boronda in Salinas it is necessary to merge with traffic for a left turn towards my home. Now certainly I could just keep following the bike path, but it takes you off to the right back down main. In making that left turn I first need to use my hand signal for a left turn usually straight out even if it is a busy road. As I make the first move to the far right lane, immediately thereafter I need to move over to the turning lane to the far left of what is the bike lane. In traffic the whole time, I reach the light and if it's red I wait, green I keep going staying within the necessary lane and following through on the sweeping left turn. Once the turn is complete I continue within traffic on a nice little downhill, at the next intersection I take a right to the first intersection and then another right. Each time following the same procedure using hand signals and traveling with traffic as a vehicle. That policy, enables me to be remain predictable and get me where I need to go. That is only one example, but the basic premise is the same. A bicycle is a vehicle and should be ridden as such, making for a better experience and a safer one.

Learn more about this author, Ray Marr.
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