Regulation of circulation. Important changes for the bicycle

We premiered 2013 year with changes in the regulation of circulation for this first quarter, and as protagonist the bicyclea own title in the regulation, specifically the VI.

We do not know if due to the unfortunate news that has been jumping to the media or that finally has taken into account the pressures from the cycling sector, are already specifying some of the proposals that we will detail below:

• It is insisted that every driver (including the cyclist) has obligation to respect traffic lights, that before opening the doors of a vehicle it is necessary to make sure not to endanger any user (especially cyclists and pedestrians). It is regulated that drivers of motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles will be able to get ahead until they are on the line of detention, circulating with caution among the rest of the stopped vehicles and if there is a zone of advanced detention approaching it in the same conditions. Currently it is forbidden to draw vehicles.
• The limit is maintained at 50 kilometers per hour as a rule, but in single-lane streets and a single lane the limit is set at 30 kilometers per hour, even going down to 20 kilometers per hour in case the roadway and the sidewalk are at the same level as it happens in semi-pedestrian zones. Slowing down cars is a good way to promote the bicycle or the pedestrian.
• Title VI is added that verbatim requires that "bicycle users must comply with the general traffic regulations, and in their use they will adopt the appropriate measures to ensure coexistence and road safety with other vehicles and with pedestrians. " On roads with a speed limit of more than 50 km / h, they will travel on the shoulder, being able to do it in a parallel position, in a two-by-two column, edging to the extreme right of the road. On roads with a limit of 50 or less, they will run on the road.
• In cases where they exceptionally transit on the sidewalks, they can not be allowed where they have a width of less than three meters, when the density of pedestrians prevents it from causing risk or undue obstruction and never at a distance of less than one meter from the facade. of buildings. Children under 14 can travel on the sidewalks, if the density of pedestrians allows it, and if they are accompanied by adults, they can also circulate through them.
• It will regulate a very common practice, currently prohibited, and is that in the steps for pedestrians who do not have specific steps for bicycles, cyclists can use those to cross the road, adapting their movement to the pedestrian. In this case, bicycles will have priority of passage over motor vehicles, and pedestrians over bicycles. Likewise, traffic lights that do not regulate traffic at intersections and only signal a pedestrian crossing, may be overtaken by bicycle drivers, always at a moderate speed and respecting in all cases the priority of pedestrians.
• In streets where the speed is limited to 30 km / h or lower, the municipal authority may allow the circulation of bicycles in contradiction, by using the appropriate signaling, in order to inform all users of the same. via.
• Bicycles can transport passengers, even in trailers. Cyclists must have lit the lighting that must be equipped with bicycles, according to the General Vehicle Regulations (one white light in front and one red behind), when they circulate between sunset and sunrise. In these circumstances, when they travel on interurban roads, they will also have an approved reflective garment that allows other drivers and users to distinguish them at a distance of 150 meters.
• And to indicate their position to the vehicles that approach them from behind, especially on interurban roads, cyclists can make use of signaling devices that indicate the perimeter of 1,5 meters that every driver must respect when overtaking them. These devices shall be of flexible material and may include reflective elements and may project laterally a maximum of one meter from the longitudinal axis of the bicycle.

Source: biciblog.com