Wheel Family Fun: Why it’s right to ride right and share the road

There are two sides to every road — the right and the left. In our country, by law, vehicles travel on the right, pedestrians walk on the left, facing traffic. In most states, including New Hampshire, the law states that “bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Bicycles are vehicles (NH RSA 265:143).” By definition then, bicyclists should ride on the right, traveling in the same direction as other vehicles. N.H. law also states, “Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic (RSA 265:16: II). Riding against traffic is illegal.”

Two recent letters to the editor in the Sun challenged these laws. In the June 28 edition, John Slack of Albany said the rules should change. He felt the laws were “all wrong and dangerous for bikes and other vehicles on the road.” He advocates that people bike on the left. Another letter on July 7 by Gregory Wallace stated, “All bicycles, like pedestrians, should ride facing oncoming traffic.” He rides facing traffic and has trail tires on his bike so he can get off those shoulderless roads easily if a car comes too close. He wants to change the laws, too, so that cyclists ride facing traffic.