Wide outside lane

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A wide outside lane (WOL), sometimes known as a wide curb lane (WCL), is a term used by cyclists and bicycle transportation planners to refer to an outside lane of a roadway that is wide enough to be safely shared side by side by a bicycle and a wider motor vehicle at the same time. Generally, the minimum width standard for a WOL is 14 feet (4.3 m). A WOL may also be known as a wide outside through lane (WOTL) to differentiate it from a right turn only lane (an outermost lane for traffic that will turn right, not intended for use by through traffic).

Conversely, a narrow lane is a lane that is too narrow to be safely shared side by side by a bicycle and a wider motor vehicle at the same time. When the outside lane of a roadway is a narrow lane, it is sometimes referred as a narrow outside lane (NOL) or a narrow curb lane (NCL). To encompass only through lanes, the term narrow outside through lane (NOTL) is sometimes also used.

In some jurisdictions, the rules of the road apply differently for a cyclist when the roadway has a WOL or a NOL. For example, in the state of California all cyclists are legally required to ride "as close as practicable to the right-hand" side of the roadway when the lane is wide enough "for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane." What exactly constitutes "wide enough" is not specified and has not yet been addressed by case law. Vehicular cycling experts recommend that a cyclist always use the full lane when it is narrow. In other words, a person should not attempt to share a marked lane which is not wide enough for effective (i.e., efficient, safe and lawful) passing within the lane.

To illustrate how WOLs are generally considered to be facilities which primarily benefit cyclists, consider a road marked with a bike lane; if the bike lane stripe is removed, what remains is a WOL. Some vehicular cyclists and bike lane opponents advocate for WOLs instead of bike lanes, arguing that WOLs provide most, if not all, of the benefits, without any of the drawbacks that bike lanes impose on a person just because they are traveling by bicycle. Still others maintain that the primary purpose of providing the additional roadway width (whether in the form of a WOL or a bike lane) is to facilitate the passing of cyclists by motorists.


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