Why should you ride your bike on the right side of the road?

Captain Pessimism · 01-10-2008, 10:45 AM

Ever since I started riding bikes I've used the left side of the road isntead of the right in order to more easily get out of the way of the cars. Yet all the "rules" of biking say you shouldn't.

I've never understood this common safety precaution. Why would you ride on the side of the road where you can't see the cars coming? It stands to reason that if BOTH of you see eachother you'll be far less likely to have an accident than if only one can see you.

So why do all the safety rules of biking say you should ride on the right side of the road?
The day I get arrested for riding on a sidewalk, I'll start believing those "Bikes are vehicles" rules...
And what I'm saying is a ride on the left and then get off the road when I see a car.