bicycle safety -

Bicyclists can have it pretty rough, especially on busy Southern California roads.  In Los Angeles, drivers tend to get so focused on making it through the gridlock to get to their destination that they fail to take into account the rights of cyclists, who don’t have nearly the same protection that an individual in a motor vehicle does.

To make sure that bicycle safety awareness is assured, thousands of cyclists throughout the country took part last week in an event known as the Ride of Silence.  Cyclists gathered at venues all across the United States to lend their wheels to the cause, which strives to honor those who have been injured or killed in a bike accident.

Around 100 people showed up in Pasadena, and throughout the duration of the ride, no one was allowed to speak.  The 12 mile course took cyclists through Old Pasadena to City Hall and eventually closed out at the Rose Bowl.  In years prior, the ride simply involved riding in laps around the Rose Bowl, but the event coordinator preferred the method used this year, as it’s thought to have drawn more awareness.

That same event coordinator says that 25 people on bicycles have already been killed in Southern California this year.  Riders on hand for the event were able to attest to the danger themselves, with around half claiming that they have been hit while on their travels.

Given that May has been designated as National Bicycle Safety Month, there’s perhaps no better time to get your child more invested in wearing a helmet every time they head out on two wheels.  To make sure that your kids are properly protected, consider some valuable tips from Safe Kids and the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.

The first thing you can do is set a good example for your child.  If you put on a helmet every time you ride, your kids will be more likely to do the same.  Should your kids still be hesitant to put on a helmet, talk to them about its importance and detail how their bike is basically their first vehicle.  Ask them to show that they can demonstrate responsibility.

Having a helmet properly fitted is almost as important as wearing a helmet in the first place.  To figure out if a helmet has been adequately affixed, have your kid look up and tell you if they can see the rim.  If they can, you’re good to go.  A “V” shape should form below your child’s ears, and the helmet ought to be tight but not painfully so when your kid opens his or her mouth.

Make sure to swap out the helmet if your child is involved in a crash, but otherwise, conduct replacements whenever the helmet falls into disrepair.  And every helmet you buy should come with the a label detailing the approval of the CPSC.

Just under 1,000 Bicycle Forks under the Surly Pugsley brand have been recalled by the Bloomington, Minnesota-based Surly Bikes.  Each of the affected bike forks would have been available online and across the country between May of last year and this past February.  By themselves, they cost $100, but if attached to a bike, said bike could cost around $1,750.  In the area atop the disc brake mount, bending could occur and lead a cyclist to be thrust from the bike.  One incident without injury has been reported.  Owners are being asked not to use any bikes containing these forks.  Instead, a dealer that can offer a free inspection and repairs should be sought.

Click here for more about the recall.

With May’s dual designation as Bicycle Safety and Motorcycle Safety Month, we’re seeing a lot of agencies roll out tips geared toward one of the two conveyances.  Today, we thought we’d relate some bicycle safety tips from the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The first thing emphasized is the idea that bikes are required to adhere to the same laws as motor vehicles.  Although that means that automobile drivers must respect persons on bikes the way they would any other vehicle, it also means that bikes must respect the rights of pedestrians, understanding that persons on foot are afforded the right of way.

Cyclists should also take pains to make themselves seen along the roads.  Reflectors on the front and back of the bicycles are a must, as are lights and bright clothing that further increase the rider’s visibility.  Appropriate gear also extends to a helmet, which can protect a cyclist from certain impact injuries that can occur during a crash.

Bicyclists should only ride a bike one person at a time, and risky maneuvers such as jumps and other stunts should be avoided, especially along busy thoroughfares where a crash could topple you into the road.  Don’t latch onto another automobile to get where you’re going faster, and always keep two hands on the bike.  The only exception to the latter rule should be when you’re signaling your intention to turn.

Cyclists have a lot to worry about on the road.  Inattentive drivers are commonplace, individuals might fling their doors open right as you’re coasting past a vehicle, and other reckless automobile operators might simply ignore your right of way in certain circumstances.  Although you can take steps to limit your danger (wearing a helmet, increasing visibility), your efforts are undermined when a defect of your bicycle compromises your safety.

That’s why it’s important to take note of this next recall, which was announced by the Hong Kong-based 3T Design.  The recall concerns Cervelo P-Series Bicycles of the 2013 model year that came with Aura Pro model custom bike handlebars.  Said handlebars will contain the words Aura Pro, Ultimate Performance, and 3T.  676 bikes are impacted by the recall, with all but 53 sold in the United States (the remainder were available in Canada).

The clamps on the handlebars are in danger of falling off while the cycle is being ridden.  The person onboard at the time could thus lose their ability to properly navigate, an issue that could cause them to crash and sustain various injuries.  One injurious situation has already been reported.

The bikes in questions cost around either $3,600 or $6,000 (depending on the model type) when they were on sale between September and January.  Consumers should not ride the bikes until they can fix the problem with a free repair kit.  Barring that, the bikes can be brought to a dealer for no-cost repairs.

Los Angeles was recently the site of a CicLAvia event that aimed to spread awareness about bike safety and give cyclists the chance to have the roads to themselves without fear of being struck by a motor vehicle.  But that event’s over, which means cyclists must bring their full awareness back to safety.

Recently, the police department of Gaithersburg, Maryland conducted a pedestrian safety operation that sought to impress upon cyclists and vehicle drivers alike the necessity of taking the proper precautions.   By using decoy pedestrians dressed in bright clothing, officers were able to spot cyclists and motorists whose actions put themselves and others in danger.

We bring this up because the department also issued a number of tips that can further bolster safety.  Cyclists are required to follow the same rules as all vehicle operators, which means no blowing through stop signs or otherwise committing a safety violation.  They also should do something automobile drivers don’t have to:  wear a helmet.  This can drastically cut down on some of the most serious injuries that can occur in the wake of a crash.

For their part, drivers should make sure that they give bicyclists ample space to navigate.  If you can’t provide a person on a bike at least three feet of room when you attempt to pass, then wait to pass until you can.  Be particularly attentive when making a turn or approaching an intersection.

Yesterday found cyclists flocking to the Los Angeles area in droves to participate in a CicLAvia event. Participants were able to navigate often treacherous California roads without having to worry about being struck by a motor vehicle.

But as a new article in the Los Angeles Times points out, not having to worry about motor vehicles isn’t a luxury that’s commonplace throughout the rest of the year.  Even as the city and county work to install new bike lanes in order to accommodate riders and encourage safety, accidents still take place.  That’s why representatives of the bike sharing program known as Bike Nation decided to relate some important safety tips that could be followed by all riders, not just those in Los Angeles.

Cyclists first need to make their intentions known to drivers at all times.  A straight line is preferable to constant swerving, and whenever you have to make a turn, you should use the proper hand signals.

Cyclists should also take pains to avoid the type of situation where they could be struck by a vehicle door being opened.  This area is known as the door zone, and it pertains to the three foot area along both the passenger’s and the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Finally, cyclists must ride with traffic as opposed to against it, as this can also go a long way toward improving safety.

The importance of bicycle safety will come into stark relief now that spring has arrived and more and more bikes are seen out on the road.  But with this abundance of cyclists also comes a greater array of dangers.  The Sheriff of Georgia’s Dougherty County is so concerned about the issue that he’s related some important safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and we’re relating them to you in the hope that they can prevent an injury or worse.

Many safety precautions can be taken before you even start your commute on the back of a bicycle.  Helmets can greatly limit your exposure to danger and should be worn at all times.  Bright clothing increases your visibility, which increases your safety.  A bike festooned with reflectors and lights can also improve safety, especially at night.  You need to use particular caution when it’s dark outside.

Make sure you’re comfortable riding.  The seat tends to accommodate cyclists best when it’s brought to an area in which a rider is able to bend their knee ever so slightly when their legs are extended to the pedals.  The handlebars should be adjusted until they’re level with the seat.  Take a quick spin around the block to make sure you can properly navigate within your chosen seating position.

Once it comes time to actually ride, it’s imperative that you obey pertinent laws.  Remember that you’re held to the same standards as motor vehicles.  You need to stop at red lights and stop signs, ride on the proper side of the road (with traffic), and alert other drivers to your intentions.  Weaving in and out of traffic is inadvisable, as one simple lane change by another vehicle can lead to a potential tragedy.

Just because a traffic light or stop sign isn’t there does not mean you can just plow through the intersection in a cavalier manner.  In those instances, it’s imperative that you slow down and look both ways for oncoming traffic.  In a battle between a bicycle and a motor vehicle, the automobile will win every time, and knowing that you were supposed to have the right of way holds little solace when you’re recuperating from a serious injury in a hospital.

You also need to minimize distractions.  All drivers ought to put down their phone, headphones, or other means of distraction, but this is particularly important for cyclists.    It’s easy to underestimate how much hearing plays a role in how you navigate.  Even if you don’t realize it, your mind is attuned to subtle noises that could signal a traffic hazard.  Also keep an eye on hazards you can see, like potholes, railroad tracks, and anything else that could cause you to be thrust from your bike.

Recently, researchers and medical professionals with NYU Langone Medical Center attempted to get a better grasp of what types of circumstances typically lead cyclists and pedestrians to be involved in a collision with a motor vehicle.  The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery features the eye-opening results, the understanding of which could improve safety on the West Coast as well.

By studying over 1,400 pedestrian or cyclist patients who were injured in a crash over the course of two and a half years, researchers noticed certain trends.  For one thing, the presence of a crosswalk and walk signal did not equate to safe conditions.  A whopping 44% of the pedestrians injured received those injuries when they crossed the street in the crosswalk after the walk signal told them it was the right time to do so.

This suggests that attentiveness is perhaps the most important factor in avoiding an injury, something somewhat seconded by the fact that distraction in the form of electronic devices accounted for 8% of collisions.

Also eye-opening:  under 33% of those cyclists analyzed had been utilizing a helmet when they were hit.  This is despite the fact that such protective devices can go a long way toward protecting riders.

Taxis also proved to be a scourge.  25% of pedestrians were struck by such a vehicle, a number that jumped to 40% among cyclists.

A member of the Bakersfield City Council recently wrote an editorial focused on the myriad ways that the city has attempted to improve bicycle safety.  The legislative body’s Community Services Committee recently approved standards for safe bike parking, but that’s just one of the steps the city is reportedly taking to help out cyclists.  The city is also investing in shared-use markings, which signal to cyclists and drivers that a driving lane is to be shared by both conveyances.  Bike paths are receiving beautification attention, and 11 miles’ worth of bike lanes are being installed thanks to grant money.  The council member also describes how the city hopes to be the beneficiary of a Safe Routes to School grant which should allow them to improve bike safety in school zones.  The city is also attempting to enact various education efforts to enlighten drivers and riders about the importance of safety.

For more information about Bakersfield’s efforts, follow this link.