Tag Archive: Sharing the road
Bicycle Deaths On The Rise
November 6, 2014
Bicycle deaths are on the rise according to a report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Unlike motor vehicle deaths that increased by only one percent, bicycle deaths increased by 16 percent between 2010 and 2012.
The report also shows some big changes in the patterns and trends of bicycle deaths compared to years past;
- Eighty-four percent of the bicycle deaths involved adults aged 20 and over compared to 21 percent in 1975.
- Males made up 74 percent of the bicycle deaths.
- Sixty-nine percent of bicycle deaths occurred in urban areas compared to 50 percent in 1975.
- Commuting by bicycle has increased by 62 percent since 2000.
While bicycle deaths have increased nationwide, 54 percent of the bicycle deaths occurred in just six states; California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Michigan and Texas.
Another disturbing trend is that, unlike alcohol related motor vehicle deaths which have gone down, bicyclists with a relatively high BAC have remained fairly constant.
In order to stop the trend, several things have to happen:
- Roads and highways need to include dedicated bicycle lanes.
- Motorists need to become more aware that bicycles are considered vehicles and they have a right to use the road. Motorists also need to be on the lookout for bicyclists, especially in urban areas where bicycle commuting is on the rise.
- More awareness needs to be given to the protection afforded by bicycle helmets.
- More awareness needs to be given to the fact that bicycling under the influence is just as dangerous as driving under the influence.
Read more: Bicyclist Fatalities a Growing Problem for Key Groups
Cyclists And New Road Markings
October 8, 2014
Cyclists use bikes as a way to stay in shape, save money or to help protect the environment. Whatever the reason, cycling is growing in popularity and there are more and more bicycles on the roads. Bike sharing is also growing in popularity and bike sharing programs are showing up on major university campuses and in most of the major cities in the US.
Unfortunately, with the increase in cyclists on the road the number of cyclists killed in traffic collisions is also on the rise. In 2012, 726 cyclists were killed and 49,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. With both the popularity of cycling and the number of cycling fatalities on the rise, demands are becoming louder to protect cyclists on the road and traffic engineers are looking at new ways to do just that.
Here are a few road markings designed to make the road safer for cyclists that you may already be familiar with or that you may see in the near future.
Bicycle Lanes
The first and probably the most familiar type of lane markings are bicycle lanes. These lanes are set aside for cyclists and they are identified by the image of a cyclist. In some places, the lane may be painted green. No parking is allowed in these lanes. You may enter the lane in preparation for a right turn but only after checking to make sure the lane is clear of cyclists that may be coming up from behind.
Sharrows
Sharrows are lanes that are shared by both cyclists and motorists. Motorists need to be careful and understand that cyclists may move into the center of the lane to avoid obstacles or potholes and they may move to the left in preparation for a left turn. They are marked with the image of a bicycle with two chevrons on top.
Advanced Stop Line
The advanced stop line is painted just before the stop line and crosswalk. This area is also marked with the sharrow image. It allows cyclists to to make left turns or to proceed across an intersection in a safer manner. Motor vehicle traffic must stop at the stop line before the bicycle images.
Bike Boxes
Bike boxes are essentially the same thing as an advanced stop line. They will be painted green. Motorists must stop before the bike box.
