Cycling in Waterloo Region

[robdrimmie]

I thought continuous lines were illegal to cross. Are you sure they are only advisory?

Apparently (as of 2015) all painted lines in Ontario are advisory, so it's not even technically illegal to cross a yellow line, even the double yellow line.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-dr...e25498287/
https://www.ontario.ca/document/official...t-markings

It's often not safe to pass the lines, and they should be followed (and the G&M article states that signage is legally binding).

The MoT's language on all of this is really fuzzy, which I find deeply frustrating. I'd love a clear answer, but it doesn't exist that I've seen. The handbook does explicitly state:

Bike lanes are reserved for cyclists. They are typically marked by a solid white line. Sometimes you will need to enter or cross a bike lane to turn right at a corner or driveway. (See Diagram 2-12) Take extra care when you do this. Enter the bike lane only after ensuring that you can do so safely, and then make the turn.

https://www.ontario.ca/document/official...#section-1

The section on Right turns is somewhat contradictory though:

Unless signs or pavement markings tell you not to, always begin and end a right turn close to the right side of the road.

To make a right turn, signal well before the turn and move into the right-hand lane when the way is clear. If the right-hand lane is not marked, keep as far to the right of the road as possible. Look ahead, left, right and left again before starting to turn. If you have not seen any smaller vehicles or pedestrians, check your right rear blind spot. Let cyclists, limited-speed motorcycles, or moped riders go through the intersection before you turn. When it is safe, complete your turn into the right-hand lane of the road you are entering.

From a safety perspective, if a car takes up the bike lane while turning right, cyclists can't be there. That results in much less concern about right hooks, a term I learned from the video jamincan posted. It's well worth watching, though doesn't specifically address this topic. The video also recommends cyclists take the lane when going straight to reduce the likelihood of right hooks and other intersection collisions, a practice which I'm likely to start following.

On a personal note, I also stay around 3 cars back at most intersections, even when there is a bike lane (and often even when there's a bike box, which I feel are poorly understood by most road users), to allow the intersection to clear before I ride through and to afford any vehicles turning right the opportunity to do so, but I haven't seen any information explicitly suggesting this practice it's just something I do that makes me feel more comfortable.

Edit to add this article from 2017, which took me a bit to find but is the one that originally changed my mind on cars in bike lanes when turning right (and only when turning right): https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-dr...e34015444/