Last week a bicyclist was struck and killed while riding in the 3800 block of west Crawford Street in Saline County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, along with this tragedy, come the discussions, often heated and full of inaccurate information, about bicycles, vehicles, and their usage of the roadway. This, combined with the addition of bicycle lanes around the Salina area, prompted the patrol to provide information that explains the law pertaining to bicycles.

Kansas statutes, KSA 8-1586 through KSA 8-1592, and KSA 8-1516, address the majority of issues pertaining to bicycles and vehicles on the road.

Here are a few of the most commonly discussed areas:

* Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle…KSA 8-1587

* Every person riding a bicycle shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable; except when passing, making a left turn, or avoiding other objects…KSA 8-1590

* Bicycles shall not ride more than two abreast…KSA 8-1590

* Wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway….KSA 8-1590

* The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a distance of not less than three feet and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle the driver of a vehicle may pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction in a no-passing zone with the duty to execute the pass only when it is safe to do so…KSA 8-1516

* After stopping for a reasonable period of time, a bicyclist may proceed through a red traffic light that has failed to turn green because of a malfunction or failure to sense the bicyclist. The bicyclist must yield to other vehicles that are in or near the intersection…KSA 8-1508