If you’re an avid cyclist or even a casual weekend rider, odds are you have experienced drivers failing to give you enough space. They’re supposed to leave three feet between a bike and their car, but they may be unwilling to do so.
It’s important to note that the driver may claim they were unable to do so. For instance, maybe there was oncoming traffic, so they couldn’t move over at all, meaning there weren’t three feet of extra space. However, this is an inaccurate assessment by the driver. They are supposed to wait until they can pass safely, so forcing their way by is still showing an unwillingness to accommodate cyclists. It’s become a major problem, with thousands of injuries in accidents every year.
Why do drivers fail to yield space to bikes?
One of the main reasons that drivers do this is that they think of the road as a space for cars. They see cyclists as invading that space. Those drivers don’t want to accommodate bikes or bicyclists, as they consider them an inconvenience.
Not all cases of “road hogging” are so malicious, however. Many drivers simply do not know how much space is really safe and may believe they are far enough away when they’re actually so close they could cause a serious crash.
What if you get injured?
Getting struck by a car while riding your bike can be life-altering. It may happen as cars attempt to pass or when they turn in an unsafe manner. No matter how it happens, you need to know if you have a right to compensation for medical bills and other costs.
