Supporting Safe Cycling in South Carolina

Biking SOUTH CAROLINA Supporting Safer Cycling Understanding Our DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT South Carolina has experienced a population growth of over 15% in recent years, placing us in the Top 10 fastest growing states. The median age of our citizens is now 37.9 years old Encourage CYCLING FACTS RESPONSE Encourage Master Plans & "Complete Street' strategies in Nationally, in communities with a higher % of commuters riding bicycles, fatalities DECREASED. your town. These approaches to street planning provide safe access for pedestrians, bicycle, children and When protected bike lanes the elderly. are installed, injury crashes Be an Advocate. Most states for all road users (drivers, pedestrians, and sponsor an annual bicycle event to promote bicycling as an activity S.C. doesn't. cyclists) typically drop by more than 40%. Fund SAFETY FACTS RESPONSE South Carolina is in the Top 5 worst states Support Safer Laws. Encourage for the HIGHEST BICYCLIST FATALITY elected officials to pass the "three foot passing" lane guidelines to rate. provide a buffer to cyclists while on 24 the road. GUTHCAR We are in the Bottom 3 states for the LOWEST SPENDING. Education. South Carolina is one of on the few states without a State bicycle and pedestrian projects. Bicyclist Manual. Let's get one! In South Carolina only 10% of bicycle Invest in Safety. Our State spends fatalities are children or elderly. The 0.9% of federal transportation majority of bicycle fatalities are WORKING AGE MEN. dollars on bike & pedestrian projects - among the very lowest level nationally. With one of the worst bicyclist fatality rates, maybe it's The majority of bicycle-vehicle crashes are time to consider boosting the not a result of environmental factors, eg. 0.9% funding level to the darkness, fog, or rain. national average of 2%. Use your BRAIN Bicyclists are 2X as likely as motorcyclists to sustain head injuries in a crash. South Carolina has no bicycle helmet law. Children RIDERS RESPONSE FACTS Children (5-14 years), adolescents, and Use Your Head. We support young adults (15-24 years) have the bicycle helmet requirements for HIGHEST RATES of nonfatal youth cyclists, recommended by the CDC, and still not required in S.c. bicycle-related injuries, accounting for almost 60% of all bicycle-related injuries seen in emergency rooms. Be a "Roll Model" Tools & Tips available for parents and teachers from NHTSA: http://goo.gl/VALIX2 In 2012, 18% of the bicyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes were 14 and younger. Louthian Columbia, SC www.LouthianLaw.com law firm, p.a. DATA SOURCES Alliance for Biking & Walking: Bicycling and Walking in the United States, 2014 Benchmark Report Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars US Department of Transportation, Children & Traffic Safety Facts Report 2012, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812011.pdf Institute for Road Safety Research (SWOV), http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/library/details.cfm?id3D4224 American Journal of Public Health, http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300762?journalCode=ajph& PROVIDED BY: LOUTHIAN LAW FIRM, P.A. - wwW.LOUTHIANLAW.COM Designed by Gladiator Law Marketing