Do you have an equivalent document in the US? While in general all rules apply to all road users in the UK, there are variations for different types of vehicles.
It varies from state to state. Each state sets its own laws. And counties and municipalities are allowed to place certain additional restrictions if they like, depending on the roadway.
In Georgia,
there are certain statutes which apply only to bicycles, but otherwise, a bicycle is a vehicle just like any other and obeys the same rules.
As for passing, the law specifically states that a cycle should keep as far to the right (toward the outer edge of the roadway) as is safe, except when avoiding debris or when passing -- which means that passing must occur on the left (toward the center of the road) and passing on the right is illegal.
As far as I know, it is illegal for any vehicle -- motorcycle or bicycle -- to weave through traffic by moving between cars/trucks that are established in their lanes.
In short, when you come to a light, you maintain your position just like every other vehicle, and you do not pass other cars on the shoulder or between lanes.
Well, it's not pointless from the cyclist's point of view; approaching lights, I'm often able to keep moving and not have to stop at all.
Yeah, and if I roll through a stoplight or stop sign in my car, I don't have to stop, either. Still illegal and dangerous.
It's partly a matter of perception; you may think that a cyclist is delaying you, and you may have to drive slowly for a short while, but I think it's rare that a cyclist actually increases your overall journey time since you then catch up with the car in front; not to mention the fact that you do get past him which you may not have done if he was in a car.
It's not usually the time factor, but the safety, and a simple matter of politeness. Although the time issue is sometimes relevant, in many areas around here passing a bike is just dangerous because the lanes are narrow and hills and curves limit your sight distance. Some roads you can be stuck with the choice of following a bike at a crawl for half a mile or more or taking the chance and hoping an oncoming car doesn't force you to move back into the lane and thereby force the cyclist off the road, which in some cases would mean a very nasty fall down an embankment.
But politeness has a lot to do with it. A cyclist is another vehicle, plain and simple. We all take our places. Forcing people to pass you again and again and again is just rude.
I don't know what the roads are like in Gainesville, but as I said before, it's not a big problem in the UK, and our roads tend to be much narrower than in the US.
Gainesville was wonderful because the roads were wide and flat and there were plenty of ample bike lanes.
North Georgia is a different ball of wax. I had to stop riding my bike to work when I moved back up here, which was a real shame.
