Jeremy Vine close-call is familiar to every bicycle commuter who ‘takes the lane’

Taking the lane is a legal practice in many countries around the world, and is based on the principle that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. In this practice, cyclists position themselves in the middle of a vehicle lane to prevent unsafe passing by motor vehicles when it is deemed necessary to do so for their own protection.

In the United States, laws regarding taking the lane vary by state. However, the general principle is that cyclists are permitted to take the lane when there is not enough room for a vehicle to safely pass them within the lane. For example, in California, the law states that “any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations: (1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, (3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656.”

In Canada, the laws regarding taking the lane are similar to those in the United States. In Ontario, for example, the law states that “every person on a bicycle or motor assisted bicycle who is travelling on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at that time and place shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except where… (b) the lane is too narrow for a bicycle or motor assisted bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.”

Taking the lane is a legal and important practice for cyclists in many countries around the world. While the laws regarding taking the lane may vary by jurisdiction, the general principle is that cyclists are permitted to take the lane when there is not enough room for a vehicle to safely pass them within the lane. By asserting their right to be on the road and ensuring their safety, cyclists and motorists can share the road safely and responsibly.

Of course, taking the lane can lead to confrontations with angry motorists, or for Vine any social media trolls, who just assume cyclists are trying to be intentionally annoying by slowing them down.

“Most London cyclists will have experienced ill-informed motorists who think we’re being arrogant or selfish when all we’re doing is taking a safe, government-approved road position,” Mike Cavenett, of the London Cycling Campaign, told the Guardian. “It can be extremely intimidating and dangerous to have an angry motorist behind you trying to overtake.The fact that even some police officers don’t understand the concept shows how vital it is that a cyclist’s right to take the lane is enshrined in the Highway Code.”