Spring is here! With the weather warming up, many of us are already spending a lot more time outdoors. We’re walking, swimming, playing ball, and bicycling with the family. Although, bicycling is a fun and healthy exercise, you should take time to learn the rules before hitting the road. Many bicyclists are seriously injured in accidents because they do not practice safe riding skills.

According to the California Vehicle Code, your bicycle must be equipped with the following to operate legally on the roadway:

• A brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

• Handlebars raised so that the operator must elevate their hands above the level of their shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.

• A lamp emitting a white light which illuminates the highway and is visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and the sides of the bicycle, when ridden at night.

• A red reflector mounted on the rear of the bicycle and visible from 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.

• A white or yellow reflector mounted on each pedal visible 200 feet to the front and rear of the bicycle and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle.

Safe bicycling involves more than keeping your bike in good mechanical order- you must also learn the rules of the road. Did you know that bicyclists in California must obey the same road rules as motor vehicles? Bicyclists on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers. Bicyclists are entitled to share the road with other drivers. Below are some rules for drivers and cyclists to remember.

Bicyclists:

• must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.

• must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical- not on the sidewalk.

• must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes.

• may legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, another bicycle, an animal, or to make a turn, avoid debris, or other hazards.

• may choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.

• may use a left turn lane. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.

• must not wear any headset covering, or any earplugs in, both ears.

• must not carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.

Drivers must:

• look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning right.

• safely merge toward the curb or into the bike lane.

• not overtake a bicyclist just before making a right turn. Merge first, then turn.

Take time to learn the proper hand signals and use them when you are making turns. Most important, adults and children should wear a helmet at all times. Remind your 18 and under children that, by law, they must wear an ANSI or SNELL approved helmet. Remember a bicycle is a vehicle. By observing California’s bicycle laws and following safety rules, your bicycling will be enjoyable and more importantly, safer!

For complete details on California’s vehicle codes relating to bicycles, go to www.sacbike.org/sacbiking/ CVCLaws.htm. For more information on bicycle safety for children, got to www.kidshealth.org key word ‘bike safety.

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: bicycling, safety