Motorists and cyclists can safely share the road.

Road conditions and where cyclists need to ride on the roadway:

• Often the edge of the road is broken, debris collects on the side of the road and shoulders often have drop-offs from 3 to 6 inches. In order to have room to maneuver, cyclists need ride from 20-24 inches from the edge of the road. The faster they are traveling, the further in the lane they will travel.

The motorist's appropriate behavior:

1. When approaching a cyclist from behind, first slow down and survey your surroundings. Determine the cyclist's speed and look at the terrain. If they are going uphill you will have the best chance of passing them. Be sure to check the road ahead to determine whether it is clear and if there is room for you to pass (do this just as you do before passing a car). If there is a blind curve, wait to pass until you can clearly see the traffic coming ahead.
2. Make sure to leave 3 to 4 feet between your vehicle and the cyclist when you pass. It is fine to give a light tap on your horn before passing but not a loud blaring horn, as you could startle them and cause them to swerve or fall.
3. If the cyclist is traveling downhill be aware that they can travel at speeds of 30 mph or more, so provide enough room before pulling back into their lane or before turning in front of them. You might be wise to wait until the terrain changes to uphill. Be sure to use your turn signal to inform them of your intentions. Always check for their location before pulling back into the lane.
4. After parallel parking, be sure to check for cars and cyclists before opening your door.
5. If the cyclist arrives at a stop sign before you or is on your right, you must yield to him/her, as with any other vehicle. If you are turning left and they are going straight, you must yield (again, as with any other vehicle).
6. Realize that this person could be your doctor, lawyer, child's teacher, someone's mother, grandfather, brother or sister.
   

The cyclist's appropriate behavior:

1. You are required to obey all traffic laws just as the cars. This means stopping for all red lights and stop signs, and yielding for pedestrians.
2. Do not pass vehicles on their right side, especially if they are stopped. Car drivers do not expect someone to come by on their right and they may turn into you.
3. You must also ride on the right side of the road like the cars do.
4. Make yourself predictable by giving hand signals before your turns and make them clear.
5. Although it is not the law (in most places), it is courteous to ride single file. If you have a large group it is advisable to break up into small groups and leave a gap between groups so traffic can pass more easily. If traffic piles up behind you it is wise to pull over and let timid drivers pass.
6. When stopping your bike to rest, regroup or read a map, get completely off the roadway and continue to face the direction of travel while astride the bike.