It is often safest for cyclists to use a dedicated bike lane. Ideally, the city will have established protected bike lanes to give cyclists an extra degree of safety.
When these bike lanes are not present, however, the California Vehicle Code states that a cyclist who is riding slower than the speed of traffic around them should generally stay as close as they can to the right-hand side of the road. They do have a right to share the road with traffic, but it is safest for them to be close to the right-hand curb.
That said, there are some important exceptions to keep in mind.
Passing, left turns and dangerous conditions
To start with, there are cases when a cyclist may be passing another cyclist or a slower vehicle. If so, they can move to the left to do so.
Similarly, when a cyclist needs to make a left turn, they may need to ride on the left-hand side of the lane. On a city street, they may even need to change lanes to use a dedicated left-hand turn lane.
Furthermore, dangerous road conditions sometimes mean that the cyclist needs to move to the left. Perhaps the road is in poor condition and riding near the right-hand curb means there are surface hazards like potholes. Cyclists may also need to avoid parked vehicles, pedestrians, animals and many other hazards.
Compensation after a cycling crash
In some cases, cyclists will be struck by negligent motorists while they are legally moving to the left-hand side of the lane and trying to navigate traffic. Those who have been injured due to the mistakes made by these drivers need to know how they can seek financial compensation.
