Cycling Tips

Back to Tip List

How To Ride In Bike Lanes

1. Safety considerations

Bikes are not required to travel in bike lanes when preparing for turns
Never ride within three feet of parked cars; beware of the door zone
Avoid bike lanes that you think are poorly designed or unsafe; alert your local government

2. Intersections
Avoid riding in lanes that position you on the right side of a right-turn lane
Bike lanes should stop before an intersection to allow for bikes to make left turns
Always signal as you move out of a bike lane into another traffic lane

3. Debris
Report obstructions and poor maintenance to your local government
Avoid riding immediately adjacent to curbs where trash collects
If debris forces you out of the bike lane, signal your move out into traffic

4. Parked cars
Never ride within three feet of parked cars
Watch for brake lights, front wheels, signals and driver movements
Position yourself in the field of vision of a motorist pulling out of a parking space

5. Right turns
Avoid riding in lanes that position you on the right side of a right-turning motorist
Move out of the right-turn lane if you're not turning right
Ride in the rightmost lane that goes in the direction that you are traveling

6. Left turns
Move out of the bike lane well in advance of the intersection; signal every move
Position yourself in the rightmost left-turning lane
Reposition yourself after executing the turn; remain clear of parked cars

Tip courtesy of the League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org).

Address: Room B428 North Garden Office, Oriental Plaza, 218-1 Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing,China

(North Garden Hotel Side Entrance, next to Wangfujing Book Store)

Tel: (+86) 133-8140-0738 (English), (+8610)6522-9478;