Reply to Why do cyclists cut to the front of the line at stop signs and red lights?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]... But it is not illegal for a cyclist to cut to the head of the line at stop signs and red lights in DC - it is called spawning, and it is legal ....  [/quote]
This poster is correct; it is perfectly legal and proper for bicyclists to pass on the right when cars are stopped.  Here is a helpful summary of bicycle laws published by the Washington DC Department of Transportation.  http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/Publication%20Files/On%20Your%20Street/Bicycles%20and%20Pedestrians/bike-ped_traffic_reg_summary.pdf  Here are two key passages:

[quote]Where to Ride: Ride with the flow of traffic [u]as closely as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of 
roadway[/u] or left-hand curb on one-way streets.  [u]Full lane use allowed[/u] when traveling at 
the normal speed of traffic, passing, preparing for a turn, avoiding hazards, traveling in 
a lane 11 feet wide or less, avoiding a mandatory turn lane and when necessary for the 
bicyclist's safety

Passing Cars: [u]Allowed to pass on left or right[/u], in the same lane or changing lanes, or pass off road[/quote]

Note that the general requirement that bicyclists follow the same rules (and receive the same considerations) as cars is not absolute.  That general requirement applies only when more specific rules for bicyclists do not supersede or conflict with the general requirements.  These rules allowing bicycles to pass on the right, and to operate outside the normal car lanes, is one example of where the rules of the road explicitly give bicyclists more options than cars have.  Bicyclists are not required to use the full lane at all times, but are allowed to use the full lane in various circumstances (e.g., traveling at the speed of traffic, traveling in narrow lanes, when necessary for safety, etc).

If you search on the internet, you also can find lots of articles and posts about why it makes good practical (and safe) sense for bicyclists to pass stopped lines of cars.[/quote]

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