When thinking about sharing the road, and how cars and a road bike cyclist interact, the fact is bikers and cyclists do not really own the road like a larger vehicle. The difference really is in philosophy, realistic reasons, and safety for any road bike rider. The native Indian People of North America are amazing people, and realize something that immigrant European populations often forget; we do not own the resources we borrow and use each day. If we were to appreciate the gifts of nature more effectively, and one is our clear transport path to our end destination, we would be calmer, and better off in our lives in general.
Road Bike Lanes are Owned By No One
Even the bike lanes, and the road bike lanes are not owned completely by bikers and cyclists. The most you can learn from this way of thinking, is that a car, truck or any kind of motorized vehicle, can and will impede on bike lanes anywhere they exist. If you are lacking attention in your bike lane, someday this relaxed mode of attention will bring you safety risk, and offer you little in terms of simple safe travel. Take no bike lane for granted, and offer only respect to any and all vehicles that travel around you.
In terms of road bike traffic, you as well, do not have the same legal rights as vehicles. The very fact that a car, truck or other mass transit vehicle is larger, heavier and moves faster, creates more of a risk on this type of driver. They often carry more insurance than a road bike cyclist. They are often commercial, or use the road with permits and other tags and state registration. Cyclists and road bike riders often do not register their bikes.
Keeping this reality in mind, you do have the ability to ride on the road with these vehicles. The faster and heavier vehicles are definitely able to share the road with you, but they will be going at a different rate, are not as open and exposed as you, and offer better safety features than your road bike. You as a road bike rider, must always be more aware, more cognoscente, have better skills, and bring a kinder mindset to the road.
Road Bike Riders Are Classified as Vehicles
Vehicles are classified as any mode of transportation that uses the roads that the state or federal governments manage and police in your local area. The little old lady who pushes a wheeled grocery cart, is a vehicle when she enters the road way. Technically, this slow vehicle must be allowed to enter the road way when needed, but as well, the pedestrian behind the cart, must be very aware of her place in the road. In this example, a fast moving road bike cyclist, with experience and care, can ride with the faster cars and trucks, but never, ever, should the cyclist forget the differences between the heavier vehicles.
Road Bike Cyclists are Not Allowed to Occupy an Entire Road Lane
For safety reasons, in many local areas, road bike riders are often not permitted to control an entire road lane. The reason that this law exists, is simple and is built to keep road bike rides safe, by allowing them to enter the road way, but not control an entire section of road. The road bike cyclist is always required to move as far to the right of motorized traffic as possible. The best a road bike rider can hope to find is a respect and a form of dignity from car drivers and truck drivers, by being seen, and being kept safe on the road bike.
