Law Says Cyclists Must Curb Desire to Travel in Packs

Dear Street Smart:

I commute daily from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach via Pacific Coast Highway. It has come to my attention that cyclists riding their bikes in large groups throughout the day in and around Orange County occasionally ride their bikes two to three people deep, thereby flowing out into the traffic lane closest to the bike median. This leaves the vehicle driver with the choice of unnecessary lane changes or simply delaying traffic by waiting until the cyclists decide to move over into their designated bike lane.

I realize that pedestrians and bicyclists have the right of way, but I do not feel this applies when they are creating traffic problems and hazards. Not only is it extremely annoying, it is inconsiderate of cyclists who expect vehicles to be cautious and considerate of them. It appears that the cyclists’ attitude is that they are without error in their judgment and it’s the drivers’ problem, not theirs.

Is there any law that prohibits such actions of cyclists? If so, is it ever enforced and how is that done?

Candyce Wood

Huntington Beach

State law requires bicyclists to stay as close as possible to the right-hand curb. This automatically precludes riding several abreast, as you describe, even in bike lanes. The only exception is for bicycles traveling the same speed as automobile traffic going in the same direction which, according to CHP spokeswoman Anne Richards, almost never occurs.

As for enforcement, she says, “when we see them, we cite them.” Enforcement along the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway you mention is, for the most part, the responsibility of city police departments.

Dear Street Smart:

A friend of mine says he is covered by his own insurance when he drives a relative’s uninsured car. I understand the logic, but is the owner of the uninsured car free from liability in case of an accident?

M.W. Gregory

Laguna Beach

Not at all. Under California’s financial responsibility law, the driver and the owner of a vehicle are held liable in the event of an accident, according to Dana Spurrier, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Insurance.

Dear Street Smart:

Let’s say a car collector owns five cars, all in running order, but is the only driver. Is there any insurance company that will cover him only for liability, without insuring all five cars at a whopping expense?

R.W. Wagner

Irvine

The state Insurance Department knows of no company that will insure the driver only, Spurrier said. The car collector must insure each car, but don’t get too alarmed. Most insurance companies offer multi-car discounts under which four of the cars in your hypothetical scenario would receive low rates, while only one would be insured as the owner’s primary car.

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