On the road, the same traffic rules and regulations for vehicle drivers apply to bicyclists.
Per Kansas statute, “Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.”
In general, when riding on roadways, a bicyclist must:
- Ride on the right-hand side of the road, and with the flow of traffic – not against it.
- Yield to crossing traffic.
- Yield when changing lanes.
- Be positioned in traffic according to one’s speed: parked/stopped next to the curb, slower-moving toward the right, faster-moving closest to the center line.
- Control the lane. In a narrow lane, ride in the center of the lane or just to the right – this is legal in all states. In a wide lane (14’ or more) that you can share safely, ride about three feet to the right of the motorized traffic.
- Be positioned carefully at intersections so as to avoid conflicts with the movement of other drivers. Most vehicle/bicycle crashes occur during turns. Think about where you would position yourself if you were driving a car. Be in the correct lane, and position within the lane, for each turning scenario.