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Rules of the Road, Cycling the Seacoast!

For people who spend a lot of time on the road, getting along with other motorists and vehicles is essential. Bicyclists are all over Seacoast roads this Spring – but do you know the Rules of the Road when it comes to cyclists? (And perhaps more importantly, do they?!) 

According to New Hampshire and Maine law, bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers of motor vehicles. (NH RSA 265:143, ME 2001, c. 667, Pt. C, §17 (rpr).)  This means that bicyclists can ride with traffic (responsibly), but are also subject to the same rules about signaling, passing and safety. Cyclists can’t just ride willy-nilly all over the road! We did some research to find out the real deal.

 Where are cyclists supposed to ride? Can they really be IN the road?
Cyclists are supposed to be on the right side of the road if there is a shoulder wide enough to ride on. That said, if there is no shoulder, or if there are parked cars along the road, cyclists may be in the road, even in the center of the lane.

 Can cyclists pass me?
Cyclists are subject to the same rules as cars. No vehicles, bicycles included, are allowed to pass cars by using the shoulder on the right! Cyclists may not ride the wrong way on a one-way street.

 Can’t bicycles just stay out of the road and ride on the sidewalk?
Nope. According to law, cyclists may not ride on sidewalks.

What about turning? How am I supposed to know what cyclists are planning?
Cyclists must signal well in advance of turns (at least 100 feet), so that other vehicles know their intentions. Cyclists may not turn or move across the road unless it can be done safely. Cyclists must use hand signals when turning. Left turning: hand out to left. Right turning: hand facing straight up or right arm out. Cyclists are allowed to signal, then use their hands to operate the bicycle, but must signal. In preparing to turn left, they must do so from the farthest left lane available (even if that is a turning lane in the road).

 Can people ride side by side?
Nope - not if it keeps you from getting down the road! The law is single file on a laned road and side by side only if there’s no traffic. The NH law reads “Persons riding bicycles two or more abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.” (RSA 265:144-1)

 Do cyclists have to stop at signs, lights and intersections?
Absolutely.
 Before entering the roadway, cyclists must yield the right of way to approaching traffic. Cyclists must stop and yield to cross traffic at a stop sign. Cyclists may not cross the stop line when the traffic signal is red. Cyclists must stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk without traffic signals, and may not pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk.

 Don’t cyclists need to wear helmets?
New Hampshire does not have a helmet law, but Maine does for riders under the age of 15.

 Do cyclists need to have lights on their bikes?
When bicycling after dark, cyclists must use a white front headlight and a red rear light or rear reflector. These lights must be visible from 300 feet in NH, 500 feet in Maine.

 Do I need to yield to cyclists?
Consider cyclists to be just like cars, with the same rights of ways as a car. When turning, drivers are required yield to on-coming bicyclists (going straight) or any other vehicle, even those at the far side of the road. At stop signs, drivers must stop and wait until no traffic, whether bicycle or car, is close enough to be a danger. A yield sign means drivers must wait for traffic, cyclists included. This may require you to stop.

 Is it my job to look for cyclists after I park?
Yes! When getting out of a car, check for approaching bicyclists before opening the door. It’s the law! (RSA 265:96)

How am I supposed to pass cyclists on these narrow roads?
According to the law, you need to wait until it’s safe to pass a cyclist, even if that means crawling along 1A at 15 mph behind a rider. Remember, if there’s no shoulder that the cyclists can ride on, the cyclist may be in the road, just like any other vehicle. You may cross the center line (even in a no-passing zone) to pass a cyclists once you can see the road a sufficient distance ahead to know that there are no oncoming vehicles. Ultimately, drivers are responsible for using due care to avoid colliding with a bicyclist.

 Some cyclists seem like they’re in the middle of the city street!
If you think a bicyclist is farther out from the curb than necessary, look closely. Bicyclists need to ride at least a door's width away from parked cars to avoid being hit by a suddenly opening door. Bicyclists also need to allow room to avoid potholes and debris and to pass double-parked cars.

 Where aren’t bicycles allowed?
Maine: The only roads from which bicycles are prohibited are Interstates 95, 195, 295, and 495 as well as the section of Route 1 between Brunswick and Bath (a distance of ten miles).