Utah law clearly states:

bq. A person operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway except when … Reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right hand edge of the roadway including … A lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

According to the Utah Department of Tranportation’s Utah Bicycle Commuter Guide: An Introduction to the Fun and Rewarding Art of Bicycle Commuting,

bq. Riding in the center of a lane (taking the lane) may be the safest course of action in certain situations, such as when … lane width does not permit a motorized vehicle behind you to safely pass.

Now, you might insist that I should have been riding on the sidewalk, since there is an adequate one on Redwood. However, the Utah Bicycle Commuter Guide (and virtually every other bicycle safety document I’ve read) also states:

bq. Sidewalk riding is more dangerous than street riding (and in some areas is illegal) due to reduced sight distances and reaction times.

As it happens, even though you’re a fool, you couldn’t help but notice me because of where I was riding. In order to pass me, you made a (very discourteous) lane change, thereby putting over six feet of distance in between us. If I had been riding as far to the right as possible, you probably would’ve buzzed past me at high speed with inches between us and nearly killed me. So, even though you’re stupid, I was actually safer last night because I was following laws that exist precisely for my protection.

If you drive a motor vehicle or ride a bike and you don’t know much about bicycle safety laws, I would encourage you to read the relevant sections of the Utah Bicycle Commuter Guide or locate a similar guide for your state or country. Or, check out the links I’ve provided below, especially the “Sharing the Road” section on the first site.

See also

* League of American Bicyclists: Rules of the Road
* Ken Kifer’s Bike Pages: Bicycle Traffic Safety

I’ll be riding my bike in the Harmons MS Bike Tour this year on June 23 in Cache Valley, Utah. Read on to find out how you can help me.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and, in severe cases, causes impaired mobility and disability. There is currently no known cure for multiple sclerosis and more than 400,000 Americans live with this debilitating illness. This tour (and about a hundred more like it across the country) is a chance for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to raise awareness and funds, and it’s a great way for me to get in shape and have some fun this summer.

I’m posting this primarily to ask you—yes, you!—to sponsor me in this event. My goal is to raise $500 for MS research and programs. Your contribution is tax-deductible and will be used not only to fund research toward a cure in the future, but also for programs addressing the needs of people living with MS today. Here’s a breakdown of where your dollar goes:

Your contribution can, and will, make an immediate difference for everyone who must face the unpredictable nature of multiple sclerosis. Because of your help, each mile I ride in the MS Bike Tour becomes more powerful and brings us closer to a cure.

However much you can give—great or small—will help. Thank you for your support!

I’d also like to invite you to join me on the tour. Feel free to contact me if you’d like to come along for the ride or if you have any questions.

For more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from the MS Bike Tour are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against multiple sclerosis, visit fightmsutah.org.