SPORTY BIKE cbm-rulesofroad | Page 13

R U L E S O F T H E R O A D RIGHT-OF-WAY Never assume you have the right-of-way. Your first responsibility at all times is to avoid a crash. It is true that in many instances another vehicle opera- tor should yield to you. However, many people have been seriously injured because they insisted on the right-of-way. Right-of-way rules and regulations do not authorize negligent bicycle driving. When approaching an uncontrolled intersection at approximately the same time as another vehicle, the operator of the vehicle on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right. Cyclists should signal and scan for traffic before merging into the lane. When changing lanes in traffic, you must yield to all vehicles in the other lane which are close enough to be a hazard. Don’t change lanes if another vehicle must slow down for you. Always look behind you and signal before changing lanes. You should yield to pedestrians under all condi- tions. They have the right-of-way at crosswalks and intersections whether the crosswalks are marked or not. BICYCLES & TRAFFIC SIGNALS Cyclists and cars should yield to pedestrians under all conditions. Many traffic signals are triggered by motor vehicles driving over electrically charged wires buried in the pavement. When a car drives over the loop, the metal disrupts the current. That sends a signal to the traffic light control computer, which then directs the signal to change. Most bicycles have enough steel or aluminum in them to trigger the light. However, if your bike does- n’t trigger the light, either move forward to leave room for a car to place itself over the loop, or go to the sidewalk and press the pedestrian push-button. To trigger a light, position your bike over the bike indicator. 1 4 To trigger a light, position your bike over the bike indicator.