Riding too far right is Hazardous and Stressful

Adapted from Savvy Cyclists.

"I thought bicyclists had to keep all the way to the right."

WV law §17C-11-5 says “Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable...” Practicable means "can be practiced under the prevailing circumstances". For example, if the right side of the lane is littered with broken glass, the practicable course for the cyclist to take would be to avoid riding through the glass. It leaves the decision up to the cyclist based on conditions such as:

• When overtaking and passing another vehicle
• When preparing for a left turn
• Where a lane is too narrow to share safely with another vehicle
• To avoid any condition that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge

Many surface hazards – such as potholes, puddles, debris, and broken glass – are more common near the edge of the roadway.

Keeping to the right can often hide a bicyclist from a turning motorist at the critical time and place. Check out this animation to see all the hazards a bicycle driver faces when trying to stay to the right.

There are also times when the cyclist should discourage passing typically when line of sight ahead of poor like a sharp bend, or crest of a hill. Also if the cyclist can hear traffic coming, that the motorist cannot.

View larger <-- it's much easier to read.