bike road laws

[jeremy]

After our little yelling match with that guy in the car this morning got me thinking of our actual rights as vehicles, does anyone know of a website that lists the laws and rights we as cyclists have and need to obey?

[Rolf]

I haven't checked it for currency, but here's some of the relevant law pulled out by the GVCC:

http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/index.php?option= ... &Itemid=57

They didn't preserve the indents for subparagraphs, so it's a bit hard to read. If in doubt, click on this link to the full text of the Motor Vehicle Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws ... e/96318_00

There was also a relevant (and lively) discussion on the TS forum a year ago on this topic:

http://tripleshotcycling.servebbs.com/v ... hilit=laws

Who was that Phox guy anyway?

I think it's fair to say that sometimes we may not stick to the letter of the law in the interests of pursuing a safer outcome in a context perhaps not fully anticipated by the legislation.

[Roland]

What happened this morning?

[gav_eaton]

I'm lost too - did this happen on the way to coffee after I headed home?

[dreeves]

On the way to coffee. We were riding in the bike lane toward the light on Richmond at Bay Street. The group was continuing straight on Richmond and a car (who was signaling) turned Right in front of us. I yelled, he stopped, opened his door and yelled some things that I don't think were too nice. The Easter eggs behind then yelled a deep "yolk' roar toward the driver. We were trying to figure out who had the right of way. I thought, in the end, that he may have, but felt good that my trusty eggs were willing to spill their yolks in my/our defense.

d

[Josh.E]

If there was a painted bike lane, you have the right of way. He has to wait until it is clear of cyclists to turn right across it,
If it is a broken line approaching the intersection with a dedicated right hand turn lane for cars, he has to be clearly in front of you and signal to move across in front of you in preparation for a right turn.

If there was no painted bike lane, then the rules of "passing" apply for him, and you are considered a slow moving vehicle under the motor vehicle act. When you pass a slow moving vehicle, you have to be "at a safe distance" from the slow moving vehicle. You are not allowed to put one wheel into the next lane over and squeeze around, and you are definitely not allowed to partially pass someone, then slow down and turn right in front of them, forcing them to slow down. Imagine doing that to another car.

When there is no bike lane, if he was completely around you and already clearly in front of you before he signaled then you are another vehicle in his lane, and he has a right to signal and turn. You do not have a legal right to come up from behind and pass him on the right in this case. If he turns in front of you, it's your fault

Many of these rules, especially the "safe distance" while passing a slow moving vehicle, rarely get followed in real life, but it is in the motor vehicle act.