Starting January 1, there are some new laws for street safety. I’ll summarize most here, but go to SeattleBikeBlog.com (who I am plagiarizing liberally) to read in its entirety. Hopefully these will make Pinehurst streets safer.–Pedestrians: Current law is updated to clarify that a person walking on a roadway without a sidewalk or shoulder is not legally required to throw themselves into the bushes or a ditch in order to get out of the way of a car. You are still supposed to move out of the road, but only “when practicable.”
–Pedestrians: Someone with a disability is not required to use the sidewalk whether that sidewalk is accessible to them or not. This clarifies the existing law.
–Drivers: People driving will now have clear instruction on how to safely and legally pass someone on a bike:
- If there is more than one lane in the direction of travel, people driving must “completely” change lanes to pass.
- If there is only one lane in the direction of travel, people driving must slow to a safe speed “relative to the speed of the individual” and only pass once there is at least three feet of space between their vehicle and the person biking. If three feet is not available, people driving must change lanes into the opposing lane when it is safe to do so.
–Cyclists: The new law clarifies the responsibilities of people biking. If there is enough space in the lane for safe passing, people biking must ride to the right to allow passing. But they are not required to squeeze to the right if there isn’t enough space in the lane for safe passing, or if “other conditions make it unsafe to do so.” So if there is debris or damaged pavement or parked cars with doors that could swing open at any moment or another road user, cyclists are not required to move right.
–Cyclists:The new rules clarify that cyclists are allowed to bike in the right turn lane even if they intend to go straight.
Thanks for the tips, as a cyclist especially the cycling tips and reminding drivers of one reason a cyclist might not ride as far to the right as expected near parked cars – as car doors can open unexpectedly.
So my fave is peds dont need” to throw themselves into the bushes or a ditch in order to get out of the way of a car.” Good to know with those of us living with open ditches and no sidewalks. Now if we could get cars to stop parking where we are supposed to be walking that would be great too.