Safety Tips for Bicyclists and Motorists

Each year in California, more than 100 people are killed and hundreds of thousands more are injured in bicycle collisions. Some bicycle related crashes are connected to the bicyclists behavior, while others are due to the motorists lack of attention.

icycle riders on public roads have the same ri!hts and responsibilities as motorists, and are subject to the same rules and re!ulations. "efer to the California #river $andbook to become familiar with these rules. %otorists must look carefully for bicyclists before turnin! left or ri!ht, mer!in! into bicycle lanes, and openin! doors ne&t to movin! traffic. "espect the ri!ht'of'way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with you.

Four Basic Safety Tips $ere are four basic bicyclin! tips( 1. %aintain control of your bicycle. ). *rotect yourself+reduce the risk of head injury by always wearin! a helmet. ,. e visible, alert, and communicate your intentions. -. "ide with traffic. Maintain Control of Your Bicycle .here are many thin!s you can do to control your bicycle, even in an emer!ency. /irst, ensure your bicycle is the ri!ht si0e and properly adjusted to fit you. 1 properly fitted bicycle is easier to control, more comfortable, and causes less fati!ue. 1 bicycle shop can help you choose the correct si0e bicycle. Ensure your bicycle is in !ood workin! order by inspectin! it re!ularly. .he California 2ehicle Code 32C4 contains specific laws pertainin! to bicycle riders. /or e&ample, it is unlawful to operate a bicycle while under the influence of an alcoholic bevera!e or dru! 3C2C 5)1)00.64. Convictions are punishable by a fine of up to 7)60. 8f you are under )1, but over 1, years of a!e, your drivin! privile!e will be suspended or delayed for one year once you are eli!ible to drive. Protect Yourself : Wear your helmet correctly!

Be Visible and lert Even if you obey all traffic laws, there is always a risk of bein! hit by a motorist who is not obeyin! the laws, or who simply does not see you. "ide carefully+vehicles waitin! at stop si!ns, in driveways, or parkin! spaces may suddenly pull out in front of you. 9atch for vehicles that have just passed you and may turn ri!ht, as well as vehicles comin! the opposite way that may turn left in front of you. Be prepared to stop or ta!e e"asi"e action# :se hand si!nals before makin! turns or chan!in! lanes to warn traffic around you. .o si!nal a left turn, look behind you, over your left shoulder, and then e&tend your left arm out. .o si!nal a ri!ht turn, hold your left arm up with your elbow bent 3you may also hold your ri!ht arm strai!ht and point to the ri!ht4. ;ou do not have to keep your arm e&tended while completin! the maneuver always have at least one hand on the handlebars to maintain control. .o si!nal that you are slowin! or stoppin!, e&tend your left arm down.

:sin! li!hts and reflectors at ni!ht is the law 3C2C 5)1)014. #urin! darkness, bicyclists must have the followin! e<uipment(

1 front lamp emittin! a white li!ht visible from a distance of ,00 feet. 1 rear red reflector visible from a distance of 600 feet. 1 white or yellow reflector on each pedal or on the bicyclists shoes or ankles visible from a distance of )00 feet. 1 brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel stop on dry, level, clean pavement.

8ncrease your visibility by wearin! li!ht or bri!ht colored clothes, such as yellow or lime !reen. "ed appears black in fadin! li!ht and is not a !ood choice for ridin! in the evenin!. %irrors provide opportunities for increased awareness of your surroundin!s, but use mirrors only as an aid. 1lways look over your shoulder to make sure the lane is clear before turnin! or chan!in! lanes. %ake sure your brakes are in !ood workin! order. $ide With Traffic "ide in the same direction as traffic. .his will make you more visible to drivers enterin! roads or chan!in! lanes, because they will know where to look for possible conflicts. =n a one'way street, you may ride on the left as lon! as you are ridin! with traffic. )

%o& Far to the $i'ht( "ide on the ri!ht, but not so far that you mi!ht hit the curb. ;ou could lose your balance and fall into traffic. #o not ride too far to the ri!ht(

9hen avoidin! parked vehicles or road ha0ards. 9hen a traffic lane is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side. 9hen makin! a left turn so that vehicles !oin! strai!ht do not collide into you. .o avoid conflicts with ri!ht+turnin! vehicles.

%a)ards >eep your eyes on the road ahead. 1void runnin! over potholes, !ravel, broken !lass, draina!e !rates, puddles you cant see throu!h, or other unsafe road conditions. ?ook over your shoulder to avoid swervin! suddenly into traffic. 9hen possible, si!nal before chan!in! lanes. Par!ed Vehicles icyclists should ride far enou!h away from parked vehicles to avoid bein! hit by an openin! door.

When to Ta!e the Traffic *ane 1 bicycle lane is a desi!nated traffic lane for bicyclists, marked by a solid white line, typically breakin! into a dotted line at the corner. #ifferent from a simple white line showin! the ed!e of the road, a bicycle lane follows specific width re<uirements and is clearly marked as a bike lane. %any roads do not have desi!nated bicycle traffic lanes, so bicyclists will share the traffic lane to the left of the white line. 8f there is no shoulder or bicycle lane and the traffic lane is narrow, ride closer to the center of the lane. .his will prevent motorists from passin! you when there is not enou!h room. icyclists can travel at speeds of )0 mph, or faster. ;ou should also use the traffic lane when you are travelin! at the same speed as the traffic around you. .his will keep you out of motorists blind spots and reduce conflicts with ri!ht'turnin! traffic. Motorists Passin' Bicyclists e patient when passin! a bicyclist. Slow down and pass only when it is safe. #o not s<uee0e the bicyclist off the road. 8f road conditions and space permit, allow clearance of at least three feet when passin! a bicyclist. ,

+bey Traffic Si'ns and Si'nals icyclists must obey S.=* si!ns and red si!nal li!hts. 8ts a !ood idea to stop for yellow li!hts too+rushin! throu!h a yellow li!ht may not leave you enou!h time to make it across the intersection before the li!ht chan!es. *eft Turns .here are two proper methods for makin! a left turn on a bicycle( ,# -sin' Traffic *anes

1s you approach the intersection, look over your left shoulder for traffic. 8f clear, si!nal your turn and move over to the left side of the lane, or into the left or center turn lane. *osition yourself so that vehicles !oin! strai!ht cannot pass you on your left while you are makin! your left hand turn. ;ield to oncomin! traffic before turnin!. 8f you are ridin! in a bicycle lane, or on a multilane road, you need to look and si!nal each time you chan!e lanes. @ever make a left turn from the ri!ht side of the road, even if youre in a bicycle lane. .# -sin' Cross&al!s

1pproach the intersection stayin! on the ri!ht. Stop and either cross as a pedestrian in the crosswalk, or make a A0 de!ree left turn and proceed as if you were comin! from the ri!ht. 8f there is a si!nal li!ht, wait for the !reen or 91?> si!nal before crossin!. ;ield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. -