Safe Riding Strategies, Positioning, and Sharing the Road
Be visible and be predictable
Ride where drivers can see you. The left third of the lane often gives the best view and mirror presence, but move as conditions change. Avoid riding in a car's blind spot; if you cannot see the driver's mirror, the driver probably cannot see you.
Following and lane use
- Keep at least a two-second following gap in good conditions; add more in rain, darkness, or heavy traffic.
- Do not share a lane with a car. Lane splitting is not authorized in Puerto Rico.
- At stops, stay out of the center of the lane, where oil drips accumulate.
- In groups, ride staggered, not side by side.
Intersections
Cover the brakes and choose an escape path. Never assume eye contact means the driver saw you. Watch for left-turning vehicles, cars rolling through PARE signs, and pedestrians.
Worked example
A car waits to turn left across your path. The driver looks at you. Answer: slow down, cover the brakes, and move away from the car's likely path. Eye contact is not proof the driver will yield.
Traps that cost marks
Riding beside a car; tailgating to claim the lane; sitting in the oil strip at a light; assuming a turn signal guarantees the turn; passing on the shoulder.