Riding the Line: Road Riding and the Illusion of Safety

There is little question that riding your bike on the road carries with it an inherent risk. Additionally, it can be intimidating to novice riders and it is frequently cited as a reason many people do not regularly bike commute. Trails and dedicated bike lanes or paths are wonderful, but in many places they are scarce, if they exist at all.

For those cyclists who do ride on the road, there are nuances of safety that take a while to learn, and many are counter-intuitive. The other morning, for example, I crossed paths with a fellow bicycle commuter. We were going in the same direction, at the same pace, so I rode behind him for a while. I typically ride solo, so it was interesting for me to observe another cyclist.

What stood out to me in this case was that this fellow bike commuter was frequently riding on the white line marking the edge of the lane or, when a car was trying to pass, on the narrow, uneven shoulder (it averaged about 4” wide). Judging by his calves, this guy was a regular road cyclist, so it surprised me that he had such an unsafe riding habit.

Why is this unsafe?

Some of you may be wondering what exactly was unsafe about this man’s riding style. It’s a valid question, and the answer is somewhat counter-intuitive. First off, riding on the white line is dangerous because it drastically reduces your traction. Any painted (or metal) surface is much slicker than concrete or asphalt, making it more dangerous for emergency stops or turns, or for riding in the rain. As you may recall, the last time I wiped out was because of wet, freshly laid blacktop. In general, avoid riding on any painted or metal surface and exercise caution if you can’t.

What about riding to the right of the white line – isn’t that safer than riding in the lane? If there is a sizable shoulder (2+ feet) than I don’t see a problem with using it as an impromptu bike lane, provided it’s not full of road debris (a common problem). The danger comes when it’s narrow, as was the case with my fellow cyclist this morning. Studies have shown that squeezing yourself as far right as possible actually decreases how much space motorists give you when passing. Like I said, it’s counter-intuitive, but consider this: if you squeeze to the side, you present the full lane to the motorist, so they are more likely to drive straight on, rather than moving to give you space. They don’t have to think about it as much and, as a result, you’ll have cars giving you little to no room. However, if you ride within the lane and give yourself adequate space, then drivers have to pay attention and pull over to pass you. By forcing them to think, you also force them to exercise greater caution. Even though it may feel “safer” to give the cars more room, it is just the opposite. Considering that getting rear-ended is by far the most lethal type of cycling accident (even though it is relatively uncommon), this is not a risk you want to take. Own the lane – you have every right to, and it’s safer for everyone involved.

Remember, you can walk the line, just don't ride it.
And on that note... ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Cash: