Traffic Violations are a Two-way street

Cruising through stop signs, speeding, riding the wrong direction are all traffic violations for motorists and cyclists.  Citations are issued for breaking these traffic laws. Worse, when you break a traffic law, you are behaving in a way that no one can predict and are more likely to cause an injury accident.

Four Points to Complete a Safe Pass

1.     Stay a safe distance behind a cyclist when waiting to overtake. Overtake only when it is safe to do so.

2.     Leave at least 3 feet of space between your vehicles and the cyclist. Extra space may need to be allowed in certain cases, for example, for children.

3.     Glance over your shoulder or in your mirror to make sure your vehicle is safely past the cyclists before returning to the right side of the road. Cyclists may be moving fast and might require a long distance to pass safely.

4.     If you drive a large vehicle, be mindful of the air blast you can create. Leave extra space for cyclist safety.

 Left with Caution

The most frequent bicycle accident motorists cause is turning left in front of an oncoming cyclist. Motorists must be alert to all oncoming vehicles (bicycles!) and carefully estimate their speed to make sure they have time to turn without interfering with the cyclist.

Right Past a Cyclist

Another common crash accident occurs when a motorist makes a right turn across the path of a cyclist, (also known as the right squeeze). A motorist should be absolutely sure he or she can safely pass the cyclist before making a right turn, or wait for the cyclist to clear the intersection before turning.

Turn Signals

Cyclists are not mind readers. A driver must use turning signals well in advance of the intersection so a cyclist understands the driver’s intentions.

Lane Position

Motorists may not always know why a cyclist is positioned where he or she is in a traffic lane.  For example, cyclists may be positioned further out in the lane than the motorists would expect because of broken glass, to reach a traffic light sensors, or to avoid a door being opened from a parked car.

Pulling Out of Small Roadways

Children often ride bikes on sidewalks. Motorist should look carefully before pulling out of or into driveways. Intersections with smaller side streets have the same problem and need to be treated with caution.

Child’s Play

Children often play on bicycles near homes, parks and schools. Motorists should be very careful in areas where children may play. Children are not aware of all traffic rules. They may make dangerous moves, such as riding out from between parked vehicles.

Thank you for taking the time to read these tips. When we all follow these tips, our community is a safer place for everyone. Remember you have a friend who bikes.