Now that we have on-street bike lanes over many of Chicago's major streets, many motorists have become considerate about their use. As a cyclist, it is important to remember that while the bike lanes are a convenience, they do not guarantee you safety. Follow some basic guidelines when cycling along on-street bike lanes:
- Pay attention to markings on the road. Stay inside the solid while line and avoid weaving in and out of traffic Signal if you need to swerve to avoid an obstacle. Use caution where the solid line turns into a dashed line. This indicates that vehicles may merge into the bike lane for bus stops and turns.
- Use extreme caution at major intersections, where bike lanes disappear entirely. Since bike lanes are retro-fitted into many existing roads, there simply isn't enough room for them at intersections where turn lanes, through lanes and bus lanes take up the width of the street. City officials have chosen to discontinue the bike lanes before such intersections, and install signs to remind drivers to yield to cyclists.
- When the bike lane stripe ends, continue riding straight ahead, preferably in the middle or to the left side of the right hand lane, which clearly indicates to other road users that you are going straight through the intersection. Don't ride to far to the right, which implies you may be turning, and can cause right-turning vehicles to cut you off. Where a right turn is allowed at a red light, move left far enough to allow any cars behind you to make a turn.
- To execute a left turn from a bike lane, give yourself plenty of room, look behind you, signal, and merge left when it's safe, until you get to the left turn lane. Or, you can follow the green light to across the intersection, stop, turn at the corner, wait for the light to change and proceed on the cross street.
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