Would you write an article on bike lanes? Please explain whether a bike in a bike lane can pass on the right of a car and the proper way for cars to turn right through a bike lane.
A bike lane is a special-use lane marked on the highway like any other lane, the difference being that motor vehicles must generally stay out of it.
The exception occurs at intersections where it is necessary to turn right and the line between the lanes has changed from solid to broken.
In this case, the driver must do a proper lane change over the segment with the broken line prior to turning and must not affect the travel of cyclists using the bike lane.
Otherwise, if there is no broken line, the driver must remain in the right most vehicle lane prior to turning and yield to any bike traffic before turning right and crossing over the bike lane.
Bicycles using the bike lane may pass with caution on the right of traffic in the lane to their left. This is because they are in a multiple-lane situation where there is an unobstructed lane on the right of overtaken traffic that the cyclist is permitted to use.
The requirement to pass with caution does place an onus on the cyclist to expect something other than unconditional right of way when passing.
For more information on this topic, visit www.drivesmartbc.ca. Questions or comments are welcome by e-mail to comments@drivesmartbc.ca. Tim Schewe is a retired RCMP constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. His column appears Friday.
