“National Bike Safety Month”
May is National Bicycle Safety Month. This month is a time to bring awareness to how we can all stay safer on the road, whether we are behind the wheel or behind the handlebars. With warmer weather rolling in, more people are dusting off their bikes, which means it is a good time for a reminder about safety and responsibility. In this week’s blog, we will cover tips for bicyclists and drivers regarding sharing the road.
Cyclists:
Ride in the same direction as traffic: This is the law in Illinois and in almost all 50 US States.
Signal before turns: Use hand signals to indicate turns and stops. An outstretched left arm indicates a left turn. To indicate a right turn, place your left arm at an upward 90° angle or a horizontal right arm. To indicate slowing down and stopping, place your left arm at a downward 90° angle. Indicating your intentions helps give others around you time to react to your potential movements.
Wear a helmet: It may not be fashionable, but it is functional and could save your life.
Make yourself visible: Wear bright clothing, reflective gear, or lights especially at night or in lower visibility areas.
Obey traffic signs and lights: Follow all road laws just as if you were driving in a car.
Ride predictably: Predictability allows others to have a good idea of where you are and where you will be. Do not weave in and out of traffic or between parked cars.
Drivers:
Give space: Give at least 3 feet of space when passing a bicycle. It is a simple courtesy, but it also creates a safer space for bicyclists. Do not be in a hurry to pass a bicyclist. Pass in a legal area and pass a bicycle as if you were passing another vehicle
Look twice before turning or opening your car door: Cyclists can appear faster than you think. Cyclists are also much smaller than cars and may be more difficult to see.
Slow down: Especially in residential areas, near parks, or schools where people are more likely to be out riding.
Bikes have a right to be on the road: Bicycles should have the same respect and rights as vehicles on the road.
Everyone on the road has a role to play. Cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers all need to be alert and aware. Accidents happen when people are distracted or assume someone else will pay attention for them. Keep your eyes on the lookout for cyclists especially as the weather begins to warm. Bicyclists, follow road laws, be predictable, and signal your intentions. The roadways are for all of us, and they allow us to enjoy this country.