This article is written by Peters and Associates.
After last week’s article on motorcycle safety, several readers asked me to comment on bicycle safety and the laws surrounding cyclists here in Las Vegas.
Here are some tips and pointers to help us all share the road:
First, bicycle riders, when you ride with traffic, you are considered vehicles, not pedestrians. In other words, bicyclists must follow the same rules of the road as cars.
The biggest exception is in intersections, where turning vehicles must yield to cyclists continuing straight.
When a bicyclist is crossing the road in a crosswalk as a pedestrian would, it is best to “walk” the bike so you move slower and appear larger.
A new law for cyclists
Nevada’s latest law affecting motorcycle and bicycle riders took effect Oct. 1, 2014. It states that if a rider — motorcycle, bicycle or otherwise — has waited for two traffic signal rotations at an intersection, he or she can move through, even if the light is red. The rider still must make sure he is safely yielding to pedestrians and other traffic.
The law was introduced because motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds often are unable to trigger traffic light changes.
1. Always wear a helmet, wear brightly colored clothes and keep your bike in good repair.
2. Cyclists are required to ride on the right side of the road, unless he or she is planning to turn or overtake a vehicle.
3. Drivers passing bicycles on the driver’s right must move to the left lane when possible. When changing lanes isn’t possible, drivers must give bicyclists three feet of space.
4. Motorists must yield the right of way to cyclists on a bicycle path or in a bike lane.
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If you have a question you’d like to see answered by an attorney in a future issue, please write to questions@PandALawFirm.com.
Please note: The information in this column is intended for general purposes only and is not to be considered legal or professional advice of any kind. You should seek advice that is specific to your problem before taking or refraining from any action and should not rely on the information in this column.
