Hand Signals for Bicycles:

• Stop – Extend the left hand and arm downward
• Left Turn – Extend the left hand and arm horizontally
• Right Turn – Extend the left hand and arm upward, or extend the right hand and arm horizontally.

A bicycle is a vehicle and a person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle. This, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, gives good legal cause to sharing the road with bikes. Bicyclists that do not follow street signs and laws are subject to the same penalties as a motor vehicle driver. If you ride a bicycle, you should check your own city’s bicycle laws as well as city ordinances on wearing a helmet.

Additional laws bicycles need to follow:

Here’s some additional information which is not only good for the bicyclist to know, but those driving around bicyclists as well. If a person operating a bicycle on a roadway is moving slower than the flow of traffic, they need to ride as near as possible to the right curb or edge of the roadway. However, there are exceptions to this law. Under the following conditions the law allows bicyclists to take the full lane of travel when:

• The person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction.
• The person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway.
• When there are unsafe conditions on the roadway, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, or surface hazards that prevents the person from safely riding next to the curb or edge of the roadway.
• The lane is of substandard width (less than 14 feet in width and not having a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane) making it unsafe for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.

And persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast, but they must share a single lane. They may not impede the normal flow of traffic and they may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles. I’ve been stuck behind a row of those guys at the lake. Although, the view wasn’t so bad, I still want those hours of my life back.

Share the road with bikes:

If you are a bike enthusiast or just a weekend warrior, you may be interested to know that now, in Texas, you may purchase specialty license plates from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles that will hopefully remind people about sharing the road with bikes. And, a portion of the fee funds a variety of Bike Texas programs such as the Safe Routes to School program, the Community Trails Program as well as the Share the Road program for bicyclist and motor safety education.

Until next week…bicyclists are people too (just goofier looking). Look out for them.

Daun Thompson
Writer/ Comedienne/ Artist

Sharing the Road With Bikes – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Bicycle Safety

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), bicycles on the roadway are, by law, vehicles with the same rights, and responsibilities as motorized vehicles. NHTSA’s bicycle safety program focus is on research, education, and enforcement of bicyclists’ and motorists’ behavior to enhance roadway and bicycle safety and reduce bicycle injuries and fatalities in our nation.

In regards to Texas Motor Vehicle Laws, bicyclists using city streets during a ride must follow all traffic rules just like a motor vehicle. This includes stopping and yielding at signs, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks and displaying proper illumination (front & back of bike). This also includes riding with the traffic flow on designated “one way” streets in designated bicycle lanes. Even Lance Armstrong couldn’t keep up with the flow of traffic in this state. And, using turn signals (hand signals…and, no, not the finger). Bicyclists must use hand signals to signal their intent to stop, turn left, or turn right.

Proper Hand Signals:

• Stop – Extend the left hand and arm downward
• Left Turn – Extend the left hand and arm horizontally
• Right Turn – Extend the left hand and arm upward, or extend the right hand and arm horizontally

People That Do Not Use Their Turn Signals or Blinkers

Well, if you just watched the video you will see how the general public really doesn’t know what to do. I ride a bike and drive a car and know the importance of hand signals. Seriously, your life or someone else’s life can depend on them.

There are actually 9 hand signals that bicycle riders use. If you are riding your bike on the roads it would be a good idea to learn all 9 of them. Some are as simple as alerting riders of loose gravel or dirt on the road, and others are more important…like stopping.

Comedy Defensive Driving

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I love to cycle, it’s a lifestyle and it says to the world, “I’m not that fit to be a runner!” just kidding, my fellow goofy attire pedal-cyclists. It’s important to understand that bicyclists have the same rights to the road as motor vehicle drivers. In 2008, 716 bicyclists were killed on our roads in the U.S.

Most accidents occur for these reasons:

1. Aggressive drivers/cars not yielding. Common man, Karma is a real thing you douche bag! Now a lot of accidents do occur by non-deliberate, faulty action by the driver but by using simple defensive driving techniques, such as PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, can eliminate most of the accidents.

2. Parked cars opening doors. Now if no one gets hurt and you just so happen to be filming this, a bicyclists going head over heels can be funny but if he breaks his coccyx, vestigial tailbone (his ass bone) then no one is laughing anymore….it’s not funny!!!! Check your mirrors and a quick head check just like if you were making a lane change before you open your door.

3. Bicyclist error. The third reason is the blame of the bicyclists. Yes, us who love to “Ride like the wind to be free again” have a responsibility to obey ALL traffic laws; otherwise you give us all a bad name. When you break the traffic laws, know that somewhere Lance is shaking his head and his one testicle with a tear running down his face and Christopher Cross is too ashamed to ride a bike and took up “sailing.”

Ride in the lane going with the flow of traffic and try to stay off busy streets. Use hand signals to communicate with other vehicles, the CORRECT/FRIENDLY hand signals.

We can all do our part to make the roads friendlier for everyone. Bicyclist, don’t act like you own the road, motorist, give us a break and share the road, you greedy bastards!

The road is wide open

You don’t need a membership or even a license

The road is for everyone

Your symbol of freedom, exploration and discovery

The road is waiting for you

Join me again next week and until then…

Take care and be safe-

Danny Keaton

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