The Rules of the Road For Bikes and Vehicles

I have a new addiction and I am proud to admit it! It's bike riding, yep, and I am not afraid to say 'I love it'! I used to be a runner until a few injury's that took my knees out and kept me from running. I was looking for something to take it's place and it's cycling. I am not 'hard core' but I try to ride 8-10 miles a day, not bad for someone who has only been riding a couple of months, I already have over 400 miles on my bike! It's fun to load the bikes up and ride some of the great trails we have on the southcoast, the Cape Cod Canal is also a great place to ride.

One thing I have noticed since I've been riding is how drivers don't know what to do when a bike is riding along the road with them. If I am going to ride on the road I always try to take side streets to avoid traffic, eventually I do have to share the road with a car or two. It seems like when there is a car coming tword me, there is one behind me too, this is where I start to freak out a little bit because I know that the car behind me is going to blast by me without slowing down at all, they also cross over the center line causing the on coming car to have to slow down and almost drive off the road!

I have seen this on many of my daily rides, I just want to let those drivers know that if you have an obstruction in your lane, such as a parked car, bike rider what have you, it is the driver's responsibility to slow down and wait until it is safe to drive around the obstruction, not to floor it and blow past whatever is on the side of the road! That is the only thing I do not like about riding my bike, I have many friends who do the Pan-Mass Challenge every summer and they share the road with cars and trucks for over 100 miles, and they complain about the same thing cars not slowing down, I know a bike on the side of the road is a pain once in a while but the bike has just as much right to be on the road as the car.

Just a word to the wise, share the road!
I alway's wave to the cars that do slow down and wait until it is safe to pass. I love riding and plan on riding as much as I can it's a great way to stay in shape and suggest if you are looking for a way to get in shape that is low impact get on your bike and take to the open road, just make sure you have a mirror and your head on a swivel and enjoy the beautiful Southcoast scenery as you go by. See you on th road!