Share the Road (Again)

Cycling Side-by-Side
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Chad Mullins
2012-04-27

Link: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53995663-82/lane-riding-canyon-roadway.html.csp

I found this article to be very interesting because, as an avid cyclist, I ride many mountain and canyon roads. These roads are narrow and certain sections become one lane.

When I first started riding mountain roads, I would always try to stay as close to the right as possible.  I felt this was the safest area of the road, safe from vehicle traffic behind me as well as on-coming. Unfortunately, I may be safe from vehicle traffic, but I am still exposing myself to another hazard, road debris. 

All too often I would be riding along, in the "zone", and bump into some road debris.  I've hit large rocks, small rocks, fallen branches, road kill, sweaters, water bottles, broken glass, beer cans, you name it, I've hit it. 

On few occasions, sharp rocks and broken glass have pierced my tires.  Once, while riding with Annette from Glendoramtnroad.com, I was lucky enough to get two simultaneous flats.

This article discusses bicyclists side by side riding of each other, sharing the road and how far to the right should a bicyclist ride. I find riding closer to the middle of your lane to be much safer than to the far right.  Riding closer to the middle of your lane keeps you visible and vehicles are more likely to notice you from a distance as the mountain road twists and turns to the contours of the mountain.

So here is the first few paragraphs of this article.  I hope you find it informative and helpful.

"Frustration rises as motorists and people riding bicycles vie for road space in the canyons, where roadway shoulders are often too narrow to ride safely, and the travel lanes are not wide enough for riders and motorists to share.

Symptoms are being mistaken as the cause when Emigration Canyon residents ask Salt Lake County to pass an ordinance requiring bicyclists to ride single file in the canyon.

Riding single file is the courteous thing to do when bicyclists impede traffic, and conforms to Utah law ("Ride no more than two abreast [on the roadway] and then only if you would not impede traffic (41-6a-1105)). As with all slower traffic, people riding bikes should move to the side of the road when safe to do so, allowing motorists to pass. Continue Reading ..."