Dear Miss Panniers: How to commute safely? #ghcc

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Dear Miss Panniers,

I am a new bike commuter. While I’m committed to riding at least a couple days a week during Bike Month, I’m nervous about riding in traffic. Forget about etiquette, I just want to be safe. What advice do you have for me?

-Tottering Tanya from Tukwila

Gentle Teeter-Totter,

The only things that pleases Miss Panniers more than bicycle etiquette is bicycle protocol. Protocol specifies the proper and generally-accepted behavior for a situation. Commoners call this “rules of the road.”

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In fact, understanding and employing bicycle protocol is the single most important action we can take to ensure our safety. Here are Miss Panniers’ priorities for proper pedaling protocol:

  • Ride in same direction as traffic.
  • Stop at all stop signs and red lights.
  • Yield to pedestrians.
  • Pass on the left.
  • Follow the first come, first served rule at four-way stops, traffic circles or unregulated intersections.
  • Signal your intent to turn or change lane position.
  • Ride as far right as is reasonable.

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Because this last point is a constant conundrum from both an etiquette and a protocol point of view, Miss Panniers will offer some additional insight about “riding right.” The law of the land states that bicyclists should right as far to the right of the travel lane as is reasonable. Some feel that etiquette calls for bicyclists to hug the very rightmost edge of the road. Miss Panniers must insist that this is NOT reasonable. This area is prone to all manner of undesirable objects, including standing water, potholes, storm grates, gravel, broken glass and poor unsuspecting bicyclists.


Miss Panniers encourages her readers to ride at least three feet from the far right edge of the lane, whether that edge is a line parked cars, a paved shoulder, or even a bike lane. This position increases our ability to maneuver around aforementioned obstacles, offers enhanced visibility from both fore and aft, and still allows for motorists to pass when it is safe for them to do so. Much more reasonable.

Etiquette and protocol are also the primary tools of diplomacy. Miss Panniers cannot stress enough that this holds true for bicycling, as well. By riding well, you will not only enhance your own safety, you build positive diplomatic relations with pedestrians, other bicyclists and motorists. The resulting peace on earth and goodwill toward all bicyclists will further improve safety.

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