New Law for Bicyclist Using Highways

Ringing in the new year means new laws on the books, including one that will change the way drivers interact with people on bikes in California.

Starting Friday, the Highway Lane Use law will be tweaked. The law requiring slow-moving passenger vehicles to pull over safely to let traffic pass has been amended to apply to all vehicles. Under the new law,

AB 208, bicycles will now be included in the legal requirement that slow-moving vehicles use the next available turnout or other area to let backed-up traffic- five or more vehicles- get by.

In the past, cars would be forced to maneuver around slow-moving bikes or slowly trail behind them, but that’s all about to change, on Jan. 1 bicyclists too must pull over if they are going too slow on California highways.

“I think it would ease traffic congestion in a small town where the bike is taking up the lane. They should be required to pull over so the cars can go through to not create the major traffic jam,” said motorist Sharon Hutchinson.

While most motorists think it is a good idea, some bicyclists say highways are already too dangerous for them and this new law makes traveling on a bicycle even more difficult.

“It is pretty dangerous for a bike to pull over. The sides of the roads are already a mess and for us to get off the road is really dangerous. That is where most of the accidents happen, … right on the shoulder of the road,” said bicyclist Randy Ward.

“It is a little interesting that we are going to have to slow down for cars that are much bigger and faster. Of course I drive and ride, so I think it is good to be respectful for both but it seems more convenient for the cars and less convenient for bikers,” said bicyclist Duval Copozzi.

“As a cyclist I avoid holding up traffic as much as possible so I don’t think it will affect me although I do see some group rides where they take up the whole road and they disregard automobile traffic and they deserve a ticket,” said bicyclist Jeff Hager.

So the question now is how slow is too slow, and when does a bicyclist need to pull over before being threatened with a ticket.

“There is no limit as far as the speed limit goes. The way we justify it is if there are five or more vehicles behind you then that is when they have to let traffic go by,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Rolando Tejada.