Many residents of megacities understand that a bicycle is the most successful alternative to a car and public transport. Firstly, there is no need to stand in traffic jams, and secondly, the family budget is significantly saved.
In the recent past, when there were very few cars on the roadway, bicycles were the best way to travel. They were ridden by both adults and children. In small towns, villages and villages, two-wheeled transport is indispensable to this day.
In the modern world, a bicycle is a fashionable and useful vehicle. A cyclist sitting on his “iron horse” is considered a participant in the road traffic, which means he must know the traffic rules and not violate them.
But unfortunately, not every owner of a two-wheeled structure is aware of this fact, which exposes himself, the drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians to danger.
Requirements for technical equipment of cycling
Unfortunately, most motorists believe that cyclists should not ride on the road. The reason for this is the lack of appropriate protective uniforms for drivers of two-wheeled vehicles and their non-compliance with traffic rules on the road.
In fact, a bicycle is a real vehicle that can be used to travel on roads. A person who has sat behind the wheel of a bicycle automatically becomes a participant in road traffic, which means that he must comply with traffic rules.
It is important for the cyclist to remember that his “iron horse” must meet the requirements of the technical condition. Before leaving, it is very important to check the condition of the wheels, make sure that the brake system and sound signals are working. Particular attention should be paid to fastening the steering wheel and saddle.
It is important to check the operation of lighting equipment. Especially if the trip is scheduled in the evening. On the front of the bike must have a central white light and headlights. On the back side there is a red lamp and retroreflectors.
A bicycle driver is strictly forbidden to drive along the street in the dark with defective or completely absent light devices. The same goes for bike malfunction and brake.
Modern bicycle models have a small engine with power up to 0.25 kW with automatic shutdown system when typing by a cyclist at high speed. Such modifications of two-wheeled vehicles are equated to classic models of bicycles and are allowed to traffic on the roads.
Age restrictions
Few people were interested in information on the age limits of cyclists. According to the majority, everyone can drive a two-wheeled vehicle - both a child and an adult. In principle, the way it is. Initially, children sit on three-wheeled structures, having matured a little, transplant on two-wheeled bicycles. Respectively, technical characteristics of cycling with each stage of growing up of children increase, and it becomes uninteresting to ride in specially designated places.
There is a subsection to this account in the SDA, which clearly states that a cyclist who has not reached the age of 14 is not allowed to ride along the carriageway and roadside. Children between the ages of 7-14 years must travel exclusively along the pedestrian zone and bicycle paths. Babies under 7 years old are only allowed to travel in pedestrian areas under the supervision of adults.
In addition, cycling along the roadway implies not only an age limit, but also knowledge of the rules of the road.
Do I need a driver’s license?
Despite the fact that the cyclist is a full-fledged participant in the road, rights are not issued to them. At the same time, many cycling enthusiasts have a driver's license for driving a passenger car, but there is no need to take a document with you to travel around the city on a bicycle.
Actually, the presence of a driver’s license indicates the passage of a specialized driving school, where the rules of behavior on the road are studied for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists (and the latter have a unique opportunity to change their status in fractions of a second). In simple words, while a person is on a bicycle - he is a driver. As soon as he got off the bike and drove him close by, he became a pedestrian.
Where and how can I ride?
Many drivers daily risk getting into an accident involving a cyclist, the reason for this is their lack of knowledge of the rules of the road. And what to dissemble, car drivers do not always remember where and how to move a cyclist.
To resolve this dispute, it is necessary to recall the set of rules of the road, where it is clearly and clearly stated that the cyclist is allowed to move along the roadway to the right of passing vehicles. We are talking about the edge of the road or in general about the right lane in multi-lane traffic.
In addition, the SDA defines where a cyclist who has reached the age of 14 must move:
- cycle paths or bike lanes, as well as lanes reserved for bicycles;
- on the carriageway, the cyclist must ride on the right side of the road;
- a bicycle driver is allowed to ride on the side of the road;
- on the pedestrian part.
It is important to note that the items presented in this order are applied in the absence of previous ones. For example, a cyclist can ride along the side of the road if there is no bike path and there is no way to ride along the road. But, like any rules, traffic rules have a small list of exceptions:
- a cyclist can move along the roadway if the width of the transport and the trailer possible to it is more than 1 m;
- cyclists can ride on a column road.
There are times when the cyclist breaks down the “iron horse” or he himself gets injured. In such cases, it is important for the injured driver to behave correctly on the road. Firstly, the cyclist who got off the bike automatically turns into a pedestrian. Pedestrians, when driving on a road outside settlements, should go against the automobile direction.
However, persons who ride a bicycle next to them must move in the direction of other cars.
Secondly, in order to get to the intended goal, it is extremely important for the cyclist to correctly build the route. To avoid accidents, it is preferable to choose roads with a low rate of traffic. Of course, you can hit the road along public roads, for example, along the Moscow Ring Road or along the highway, if the final destination is a remote village. But even keeping to the right of the general flow of cars, there is a high probability of getting into an accident.
With children and adolescents under the age of 14, the issue of behavior on the roadway is not even raised. They can drive along sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle lanes. Kids are required to ride their vehicles only under the supervision of their parents. But even children during the movement must follow the road ahead of themselves. They should not be a hindrance to other people.
Parents are advised to accustom their child in advance to the behavior of the driver of a two-wheeled vehicle and, first of all, to explain that the location of his “iron horse” should be on the right side.
By motorway
Most cyclists, knowing that they can move along the roadway, wedge themselves into car traffic, not paying attention to the road value. For this reason, there are many emergency situations where the driver most often recognized as the driver of a passenger car. But there are times when the fault in the accident falls on the shoulders of a cyclist. In this case, it is a question of riding a cyclist on a motorway.
According to the approved traffic rules, cyclists are not allowed to travel on the roadway where the signs “Road for cars” and on motorways are displayed. Otherwise, the cyclist may receive an administrative fine.
On the side of the road
If the bike meets the technical requirements, and the driver himself has reached the age of 14, he is allowed to drive onto the roadway, but move exclusively along the side of the road. Keeping to the right of the general flow of cars, the cyclist will be able to calmly move forward, while not disturbing other road users.
But this does not mean that the bike owner should keep as close to the curb as possible or ride along the very edge of the asphalt section of the road. And, most importantly, do not be nervous. Some rushing motorists begin to signal with the demand to get off the road and let them through. A cyclist in a similar situation should still keep to the right. The road markings are designed with a sufficient margin, so that all vehicles are comfortable moving forward.
Crosswalk
As mentioned earlier, the cyclist is a full-fledged road user. But as soon as he gets off his "iron horse" - it automatically turns into a pedestrian.
If a cyclist needs to be on the other side of the road, he is obliged to get to the pedestrian crossing, get off his transport and on foot, riding a bicycle nearby, cross the road. Crossing the road while sitting in the saddle is strictly prohibited. Climbing off a bicycle, a person automatically changes his legal status and gets a pedestrian priority.
In the case when a cyclist gets into an accident while driving on a pedestrian crossing, the driver of a crashed vehicle can safely call the traffic police to draw up a protocol and identify the degree of guilt of each participant in a traffic accident.
What is forbidden to do?
Before riding a two-wheeled vehicle, a cyclist must become familiar with the rules of the road and learn how to put them into practice. But even experienced cyclists, finding themselves on the same road with a stream of cars, admit traffic violations.
The most common violations of cyclists are the movement towards and the passage of a bicycle through a pedestrian crossing. In such situations, the cyclist himself does not understand that while driving a two-wheeled vehicle, he is a driver, not a pedestrian.
Both presented traffic violations are extremely dangerous and can lead to the death of a bicycle driver. Motorists, according to the rules of the road, should only allow pedestrians; the rider riding the bicycle has nothing to do with them.
Some cyclists can afford to drive two-wheeled vehicles while intoxicated. Doing this is strictly prohibited. Sure, it will not work to take away the driver’s license from the bike owner, but the traffic police may write an administrative fine.
In addition, the cyclist is prohibited from making U-turns and turning left if the road is designed for 2 lanes or more. The same applies to the availability of tram tracks. Cyclists must not carry passengers if the design of the bicycle transport is not designed for an extra seat. The rules of the road prohibit cyclists from transporting goods whose dimensions are more than 50 cm from different directions.
Cyclists, like other road users, are prohibited from talking on the phone while riding. You can not do any other things in which the driver must completely release the steering.
Among other things, drivers of two-wheeled vehicles rarely pay attention to traffic signs, for example, “brick” or “bicycles are prohibited.”
Penalty Violations
You can find out how empty the cyclist’s wallet is for the fine written by the traffic police officer using the latest version of the publication of traffic rules. Almost at the end of the book there is a section with a transcript of the alleged article and the amount of administrative penalties. The minimum fine is 800 rubles. In this case, the monetary punishment is designed only for minor offenses. If damage has been caused to private property or the health of other participants in the movement has been harmed, the amount of the fine issued will increase several times.
Traffic police officers punish cyclists who are caught in a state of intoxication while driving under the influence of a bicycle. The amount of the fine ranges from 1000-1500 rubles. Of course, this size of an administrative offense cannot be called large, but, according to the traffic police, it’s very effective.
Every year the amount of payment for administrative offenses increases depending on the rise of 1 MCI. A couple of years ago, the minimum fine was some 200 rubles, and for serious offenses a cyclist had to pay 500 rubles. And in most cases, the bicycle driver managed to get off the warning of the traffic police. Today it’s so easy to avoid punishment.
On how to properly move cyclists in the city, see below.
