Question about law concerning two cyclists riding abreast

[lordofthemark]

@ImaCynic 210748 wrote:

Of course. One should avoid doing so and refrain from mis-quoting others.

“If you think someone quoting me about the internet is actually misleading people about what I said, you might need to reflect a bit”

Abe Lincoln

[baiskeli]

@Mark 210724 wrote:

That’s the problem. On the streets I mentioned in my post, there is a double yellow line throughout their entirety, whether or not there is sufficient visibility to pass. The double yellow line on these streets is not being used as a guide when to and not to pass.

Ah, I get your point now.

It’s possible that the traffic engineers know something you don’t, or that they’re being overzealous.

[lordofthemark]

@baiskeli 210753 wrote:

Ah, I get your point now.

It’s possible that the traffic engineers know something you don’t, or that they’re being overzealous.

Maybe I will go out hunting for this, but from my recall, and a bit of checking on google street veiews, I believe MStone is correct. Two lane roads in built up suburbs (at least around ALX and Arlco, and probably elsewhere in the region) and in cities, simply do not get dashed yellow lines regardless of road geometry. The choice is either a double yellow or no center line at all, depending on the nature of the street. If the expected volume is above a certain level they stripe the double yellow.

[Mark]

@lordofthemark 210754 wrote:

Maybe I will go out hunting for this, but from my recall, and a bit of checking on google street veiews, I believe MStone is correct. Two lane roads in built up suburbs (at least around ALX and Arlco, and probably elsewhere in the region) and in cities, simply do not get dashed yellow lines regardless of road geometry. The choice is either a double yellow or no center line at all, depending on the nature of the street. If the expected volume is above a certain level they stripe the double yellow.

I’m sure MStone is correct. I’ve been paying attention on my rides in Montgomery County. Less traveled streets have no marking in the cernter. More heavily used streets all have double yellow lines. I also discovered that in October Maryland passed a law that a) required cars to have at least 3 feet of space when passing cyclists and b) allows cars to cross the double yellow line when passing cyclists. (https://bikeaaa.org/2020/10/02/3-foot-passing-now-applies-to-all-maryland-roads/#:~:text=Wells%20and%20cross%2Dfiled%20by,required%20on%20all%20Maryland%20roads!) (I started this discussion by describing my conversation with a policeman, who said I was impeding traffic because cars had to cross the double yellow line to pass – he was clearly wrong. Even though I was riding next to another rider, I was well toward the right side of the road. And even if I had been on the shoulder, cars still would have been required to cross the yellow line to pass).

[lordofthemark]

@Mark 210755 wrote:

I’m sure MStone is correct. I’ve been paying attention on my rides in Montgomery County. Less traveled streets have no marking in the cernter. More heavily used streets all have double yellow lines. I also discovered that in October Maryland passed a law that a) required cars to have at least 3 feet of space when passing cyclists and b) allows cars to cross the double yellow line when passing cyclists. (https://bikeaaa.org/2020/10/02/3-foot-passing-now-applies-to-all-maryland-roads/#:~:text=Wells%20and%20cross%2Dfiled%20by,required%20on%20all%20Maryland%20roads!) (I started this discussion by describing my conversation with a policeman, who said I was impeding traffic because cars had to cross the double yellow line to pass – he was clearly wrong. Even though I was riding next to another rider, I was well toward the right side of the road. And even if I had been on the shoulder, cars still would have been required to cross the yellow line to pass).

Maryland and Virginia having the same law should simplify things for motorists 😉

I paid more attention in my weekend rides, and also note that in Alexandria and Arlington it appears double yellow is mostly striped based on volume, not on road geometry.

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