Share the Road Safety Tips

Bicycle Traffic, Safety and Riding Tips

How to Run a Bicycle Rodeo
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/SafetySkills/BicycleRodeo.htm

How to Ride in Traffic
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/traffic/traffic.htm

Bicycle Life Commuter Guide
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/PracticalCycling/commuteguide.htm

Teaching Children Bicycle Safety
http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/education/children.cfm

According to the South Carolina Law: “every Person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the laws applicable to the driver of a vehicle.”

Cyclist – Sharing the Road

Ride on the right

Always ride in the same direction as traffic
Use the lane furthest to the right that heads in the direction that you are traveling
Slower moving cyclists and motorists stay to the right

On the road

The same laws that apply to motorists apply to cyclists
Obey all traffic control devices, such as stop signs, lights, and lane markings
Always use hand signals to indicate your intention to stop or turn to motorists and cyclists

Always wear a properly fitting helmet

Make sure that the helmet fits on top of the head, not tipped back
Always wear a helmet while riding a bike, no matter how short the trip
After a crash or any impact that affects your helmet, visible or not, replace it immediately

Ride predictably

Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve in the road or between parked cars
Check for oncoming traffic before entering any street or intersection
Anticipate hazards and adjust position in traffic accordingly

Be visible

Wear brightly colored clothing at all times
At night, use a white front light, red rear light or reflector and reflective tape or clothing
Make eye contact with motorists to let them know you are there

Traffic Lights

Obey, obey, obey

Cyclists, just like motorists, must obey all traffic control devices
It takes longer to travel through an intersection on bike; plan to stop for yellow lights
Avoid cars that run red lights: wait for the signal to turn green; scan to make sure it’s clear

Detection

Bicycles must activate a vehicle detector just like a motor vehicle
Detectors are embedded in the roadway; look for squares cut into the roadway
Detectors use magnetic forces to pick up vehicles, not weight

Unresponsive signals

In most states, after two minutes, you can treat a red light as a stop sign
Pass through a red light only as a last resort
Yield to other vehicles while crossing the roadway

Turns and Turn Lanes

Positioning for turns

Before a turn: scan, signal and move into the lane that leads to your destination
Ride in the right third or middle of the lane, as lane width dictates
To traverse multiple lanes, move one at a time, scanning and signaling each move

Avoiding turn lanes

If your lane turns into a right turn only lane, change lanes before the intersection
Changing lanes too late could result in an overtaking motorist turning in front of you
Maintain a constant position relative to the curb or shoulder during a turn

Beware of blind spots

Most drivers do not always expect to see cyclists on the roadway
Do not ride next to another vehicle unless you are in a different lane or passing
If you can’t see bus, truck or car mirrors, drivers can’t see you

Signaling

Signal well before the intersection; make sure you are in proper lane position
Left arm out and down with palm to the rear to indicate stopping
Left or right arm straight out to indicate left or right turn

Scan

Constant identification of potential hazards in front and behind as well as to each side
Scanning allows you to avoid dangerous situations before they happen
Scan for motorists, road conditions, pedestrians, animals, traffic signals

Motorist-Sharing the Road

Drive cautiously

Reduce speed when encountering cyclists
In inclement weather, give cyclists extra trailing and passing room
Recognize situations that may be potentially dangerous to cyclists and give them space

Yield to cyclists

Cyclists are considered vehicles and should be given the appropriate right of way
Cyclists may take the entire lane when hazards, road width or traffic speed dictate
Motorists should allow extra time for cyclists to traverse intersections

Be considerate

Scan for cyclists in traffic and at intersections
Do not blast your horn in close proximity to cyclists
Look for cyclists when opening doors

Pass with care

Leave at least three feet of space between your car and a cyclist when passing
Wait until road and traffic conditions allow you to safely pass
Check over your shoulder after passing a cyclist before moving back to normal position

Watch for children

Children on bicycles are often unpredictable – expect the unexpected and slow down
Most children don’t have adequate knowledge of traffic laws
Children are harder to see because they are typically smaller than adults

Traffic Principles

Ride on the right

Always ride with the flow of traffic
Do not ride on the sidewalk
Allow yourself room to maneuver around roadway hazards

Yield to traffic in busier lanes

Roads with higher traffic volumes should be given right-of-way
Always use signals to indicate your intentions to switch lanes
Look behind you to indicate your desire to move and to make sure that you can

Yield to traffic in destination lane

Traffic in your destination lane has the right-of-way
Making eye contact with drivers lets them know that you see them
Signal and make your lane change early, before you need to

Directional Positioning

Position yourself in the right-most lane that goes in the direction of your destination
Ride in the right third of the lane
Avoid being overtaken in narrow-lane situations by riding in the right third of the lane

Cyclist should ALWAYS:

Carry proper identification, medical information and emergency contact information
Carry a cell phone
Carry plenty of water or other hydrating drink
Do not take the law into your own hands in a confrontational incident; phone police