Five Key Traffic Principles 

Simple rules to help keep you on the straight and narrow.

These key principles are taught in cycling traffic safety courses around North America and were first put forward by John Forester – the author of 'Effective Cycling'.

They apply to all road users regardless of the type of vehicle they are operating.

  • Ride with (not against) traffic.

      — Never ride on the left facing traffic, or on the sidewalk.

  • Yield to crossing traffic when appropriate.

      — The person on a minor street yields to those on a major street.

      — At uncontrolled intersections (e.g., 4-way stops), the person who arrives last yields. If two people arrive at the same time, the person on the left yields to the one on the right.

  • Yield to same-direction traffic when appropriate.

      — The person changing his or her line of travel must yield to others already in that line of travel.

  • Position yourself at intersections according to your intended direction beyond the intersection.

      — Turn left from the left third of the roadway; turn right from the right third of the roadway.

      — At a multiple-lane intersection, choose the rightmost lane that serves your intended direction.

  • Position yourself between intersections according to your speed relative to the rest of the traffic and the useable width of the road.

      — Slower vehicles stay to the right. If you are the faster vehicle, pass on the left. If you are travelling at the same speed as the rest of traffic, ride in the centre of the lane. Passing on the right is allowed in certain instances.

      — On a lane that is too narrow to safely share with other road users, , ride in the middle of the lane. (A narrow lane is one in which you do not have adequate clearance between you and motor vehicles, or between you and the curb — as a rule of thumb, about a metre either side.)

 ►Applying these principles properly and safely takes training and attention. These principles are provided for information only and are not intended as a how-to guide. To learn how to increase your safety on the road, sign up for a cycling course.

Allan Dunlop

Director, The Center for Cycling Education -- www.TheCCE.org

The CCE's team is dedicated to working with cyclists and aspiring cyclists to increase their safety and comfort on our roadways and multi-use paths.

The Center for Cycling Education is actively involved in the development and delivery of:

• cycling education materials;
• cycling courses and workshops;
• training and support for cycling instructors and course coordinators.

*This text is protected under the following Creative Commons licence:

Attribution Non-Commercia No Derivative (by-nc-nd)