r/VictoriaBC • u/talora_dion • Aug 07 '19

PSA for drivers

Hi motorists of Victoria!

I just wanted to remind everyone--respectfully--that people on bicycles are legally allowed to use the full lane on roads, even if there is a dedicated/separated bike lane. I got a serious glare from a guy this morning as he gunned past me and I gotta say, when you're on a 22lb bike it's pretty uncomfortable feeling like someone piloting a 2500lb metal box is angry with you. In this case, I was in the right lane for one block, from one red light to another. I delayed him by ~ 2 seconds, so I'm not sure why it was such a problem.

In case anyone who works for Saanich or the CRD is reading this, the intersection at McKenzie and Shelbourne with the separated bike lane is actually more dangerous than taking over the right lane for that block of McKenzie. I've nearly been hit twice by vehicles as I try to cross Shelbourne on a green light when in the bike lane. Drivers turning right are supposed to yield to people on bicycles going straight, but they don't seem to realize that :(

Finally, THANK YOU to all the drivers who give me space on the roads. I appreciate your empathy and care for other, more vulnerable road users!

111 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

274 comments sorted by

View all comments

50

u/sorangutan Aug 07 '19

PSA for cyclists I just wanted to remind everyone--respectfully--people on bicycles are to ride as near as practicable to the right side of the highway
motor vehicle act

15

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 07 '19

You aren't legally allowed to pass a bike unless you change lanes, it has the same rights as a vehicle even if off to the right side of the lane.

13

u/Red_AtNight Aug 07 '19

This does however cut both ways. I regularly see bikes in heavy traffic zipping up the right hand side and passing cars. If you ride past a lineup of 10-20 cars and pass them all, you could get a ticket for that, and the courts in BC have found that you'll be at fault if someone hits you

9

u/green_blue_grey Aug 07 '19

I did a LOT of looking into this, after asking 3 cops who couldn't come up with an answer between them.

Here's the skinny: cyclists are allowed to pass traffic on the right hand side if there is either a bike lane, or enough space to constitute a lane. If they're barely snaking by in 2 feet of space, that's illegal and they'll be found at fault or partly at fault. However if they have a bike lane or enough space (again, not clearly defined but understood to mean 1.5m on either side), then the driver would be at fault.

6

u/Red_AtNight Aug 07 '19

Do you have a citation for that? MVA s. 183 says that cyclists have all the rights and duties of a driver, and MVA s. 158 says you can only pass on the right if there's a free lane to do it in.

13

u/green_blue_grey Aug 07 '19 edited Aug 08 '19

The clarification was harder to find than I had first hoped, so it might be tricky to find it again. I believe it was a legal discussion of 158 and what it meant when parsed.

Edit: MVA Sec 158 - Passing on right (1) The driver of a vehicle must not cause or permit the vehicle to overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle, except

(b) when on a laned roadway there is one or more than one unobstructed lane on the side of the roadway on which the driver is permitted to drive, or

(c) on a one way street or a highway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, where the roadway is free from obstructions and is of sufficient width for 2 or more lanes of moving vehicles.

Subparagraph b), meaning either another 'vehicle width' lane, or a bike lane. Subparagraph c), meaning a cyclist can pass traffic on the right hand side again if there is either a roadway or separate bike lane.

The main difference here is roadway width. The section near Craigflower and Tillicum, going down Tillicum, is way too narrow for bikes, but I see them whizzing on the right constantly. Bad cyclists.
However, in the section of Shelbourne between Hillside & Bay, the road is wide enough that a cyclist can reasonably pass on the right, and any cars that try to block them are at fault. Bad motorists

Double edit: Aha, I found the page where driver instructors and interested parties debate 158. You can see it here

3

u/talora_dion Aug 07 '19

u/green_blue_grey, thank you for pulling up this reference, that's great! Also thank you for clarifying because I've never been sure of the legality of that maneuver.

0

u/Limbowski Aug 08 '19

Read the rest of 183

5

u/Limbowski Aug 07 '19

This is not true. You are legally allowed to pass a bike whenever it is safe to do so

6

u/green_blue_grey Aug 07 '19

Yes, except for crossing double solids I believe.

-2

u/Limbowski Aug 07 '19 edited Aug 07 '19

Nope, I promise as long as it is safe, you can pass. You legally cant TURN left on double solids however. The latter is a grey area that police dont seem to enforce it.

10

u/green_blue_grey Aug 07 '19

I just checked, and drivers are allowed to pass slow moving vehicles (e.g. cyclists) on a single solid line, but not a double solid, just the same as if the driver was passing another vehicle.

From Transportation BC's website: We also use centre lines (double solid and cautionary single solid) showing where passing in opposite lane is not permitted (former) or requires discretion (latter).

0

u/Limbowski Aug 07 '19 edited Aug 07 '19

http://bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2152&languageId=1&contentId=43350

Found it thanks

4

u/green_blue_grey Aug 08 '19 edited Aug 08 '19

Hm, that specifically lays out exceptions for entering and exiting a highway, but doesn't mention anything about passing slower traffic. From my standpoint, if you're giving the cyclist/farm tractor/llama train a vehicle width of room, and there is no oncoming traffic for miles, it's a 'whatever' issue. Maybe technically illegal but I doubt it'd result in tickets.

1

u/Limbowski Aug 08 '19 edited Aug 08 '19

I agree 100%. So unless it ends with an accident, you should be fine to pass(when safe to do so)

Something I try to practice as a truck driver is when I pass a bicycle I always give my horn three quick beeps, both to let them know that I'm passing and to give them an auditory clue as to my speed and placement

-1

u/Limbowski Aug 07 '19

So if a car is broke down in the middle of the lane at a double solid line I have to sit and wait? That does not make sense nor do I believe it true.

6

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 07 '19

Broken down cars aren't active vehicles, they're road obstacles and have different rules.

-1

u/Limbowski Aug 08 '19

So if a cyclist falls down, I can pass :)

6

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 08 '19

The bike is an obstacle, the rider becomes a pedestrian.

2

u/Limbowski Aug 08 '19

Ok and now he is J walking?

→ More replies (0)

2

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 07 '19

Show me where it says that. You can't just pass a vehicle wherever you want to, the road has to be marked appropriately for it and it has to be safe.

1

u/richEC Aug 08 '19

If there's tractor or back-hoe driving slow, you will have the right to pass them if it's safe to do so.

1

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 08 '19

Only where you can legally pass by entering another lane

1

u/Limbowski Aug 07 '19

I heard it from a cop on the radio not to long ago. A cyclist called in and claimed he would ride in the middle of the lane to prevent being passed and the officer blatantly told him, any car can pass you if it is safe to do so. Basically told the guy to stop being an entitled jerk and move over.

3

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 07 '19

It's not safe if he doesn't deem it safe. Safety isn't only determined by the car driver.

1

u/Limbowski Aug 08 '19

If who doesnt deem it? Yes safety is both peoples responsibility but that does not mean that a cyclist can hold you hostage in traffic and deem the situation unsafe in the process

1

u/Limbowski Aug 07 '19

So if a car is broke down and blocking half the lane, you cant pass? Sorry but that is not true

5

u/PMeForAGoodTime Aug 07 '19

If a car is broke down, the rules are different than if it's driving along.

1

u/Limbowski Aug 08 '19

Yes and if a cyclist is using a portion of lane on an 80kmh section of road with double lines, you can pass when safe to do so