How to Share the Road: The Ultimate Guide to Bike Safety

Rules of the Road: The Ultimate Guide to BIKE SAFETY I THE HUMBLE BICYCLE RACES BACK TO THE STREETS The number of trips made by bicycle more than doubled from 1.7 billion in 4 billion in 2001 2009 to The Growth Of Bike Commuting Portland, OR 12% 443% Total Percentage Increase from 1990-2011 6.3% 1990 Bicycle Commuter Share Lexington-Fayette County, KY 1950/ 435% Denver, CO 183% 2000 Bicycle Commuter Share 24% 2011 Bicycle Commuter Share Washington, D.C. Anchorage, AK 315% 157% L2% 3.2% 1.2% San Francisco, CA New Orleans, LA Minneapolis, MN L6% 258% 154% 108% 2% 12%. L9V 34% 2.3% 3.4 Philadelphia, PA Austin, Texas Boston, MA 210% 142% 98% IK L9% Overall Growth of Bike Commuting (2000-2011) Non-bicycle friendly communities 220/ 3L70 ohhháốn 47% United States average Bicycle friendly communities 80% TWO-WHEELERS IN A FOUR-WHEEL WORLD In 2011, 677 pedalcyclists died in From 2010 to 2011 there was a 9% increase in pedalcyclist motor vehicle crashes. deaths. Pedalcyclists: Riders of bicycles, tricycles, and even unicycles powered by pedals, not motors 12 Adolescents 15-24 and adults 45+ have the highest rates of bicycle death. More than half of the deaths occurred between 4pm and midnight. Men are more likely to be killed or injured on a bike than females. Most bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas. HOW TO SHARE THE ROAD Bike rules vary state to state, so check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Following bike rules may not in fact be state law, but those guidelines are great for overall safety recommendations. Obey traffic regulations 07o Use marked bike lanes Red lights and stop signs aren't just for cars. STAY STRAIGHT Ride in a straight line to avoid car doors Beware of the "DOOR ZONE" Pass Zone Door Zone RIDE WITH TRAFFIC, not against it To cross an intersection, use the lane farthest to the right pointing TOWARD YOUR DESTINATION. If you can't change lanes to turn left, ride across the street to align with traffic YES YES SIGN YOUR WAY FROM POINT A TO POINT B LEFT TURN STOP RIGHT TURN THE RIGHT GEAR TO STAY IN THE CLEAR Ring-a-ling your bell Light it up Fasten a small bell to your bike's handlebars to alert drivers, pedestrians, and other cyclists. If riding at night or in inclement weather, outfit your bike with lights (white headlight, red taillight) and wear reflective clothing. Block the sun Skip the headphones Keep ears free to pay attention to traffic and sirens. Wear a pair of sunglasses to lesson distractions from bright rays and keep dust, debris, and insects out of your eyes. Wear a helmet In 21 states and the District of Columbia, helmet use is required by law (at least for minors). WA мт ND NH NY MA OR MN ID SD WI RI MI ст WY PA IA NJ NE OH DE NV IN IL MD DC UT Co VA KS мо KY CA TN ок SC • 11 and younger AZ NM AR MS AL GA • 14 and younger LA • 15 and younger TX • 16 and younger AK 17 and younger HI • Other No law Whether you're biking around your neighborhood or on the main road, safety should always be your primary concern. Take these tips into account the next time you go for a ride. SOURCES bikeleague.org nhtsa.gov/research/ bicycledriving.org nhtsa.dot.gov claimsjournal.com cityofchicago.org bicycling.com cyclistsforlife.com nyc.gov BROUGHT TO YOU BY IN PART NERSHIP WITH CUSTOM M MADE GHERGICH&Co.