bicycle lawyer

E-Bike Speed and Dangers for Minors

Posted on by Rahman Law PC
ebike by bridge image

At Rahman Law, we want to support the use of bicycles and advocate fiercely for pedestrian and cyclist safety. Better regulations are a part of that safety. e-Bikes are new and therefore lack a solid foundation of safety regulations just yet. Unfortunately, this places minors at risk for fatal injuries due to reaching speeds that shouldn’t be accessible to them on an e-bike because while laws differ widely in different states, counties, and cities regarding e-bikes, what doesn’t differ is the universal law that speed kills.

When we look at automotive collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, we know that the risk of serious injury to a pedestrian doubles between 16 MPH and 23 MPH. Similarly, a pedestrian in a collision with a vehicle has a 10% chance of being fatally injured at 20 MPH but a 40% chance at 30 MPH. Even worse, the risk jumps to 80% at 40 MPH. With an e-bike, the rate of increase in severity of injuries is thought to follow a similar rate of increase, though studies are still in progress.

e-Bikes that may be used by minors under the age of 16 typically have a requirement not to go above 20 MPH and manufacturers largely comply with that. These are considered Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes.  But teenagers are smart. Some e-bikes only put a speed regulation on the motor, so as soon as you pedal with the motor, you can go faster. Other e-bikes have a governor, but cutting a cable might disable it easily. There are also apps out there to help navigate around the speed limitations put on by a manufacturer. Apps are easy to use.

Many cities are creating educational campaigns to help teach parents about the risks of e-bikes for minors and of going too fast on an e-bike in general. We don’t let minors under the age of 16 drive cars capable of going at high speeds for good reason. Allowing minors to go 20+ MPH on an e-bike (which can be categorized as a ‘motor vehicle’ depending on motor size and laws in your area) poses huge risks to the rider and the public. Law enforcement may be at a disadvantage in enforcing speed laws for e-bikes when it can be hard to determine the age of a cyclist, so this is something parents must be aware of before another e-bike fatality happens to a minor.

If you have a teenager who rides an e-bike (or even rents one periodically), be sure they understand the need for safety. The includes wearing a helmet, riding at safe speeds, and staying off of the sidewalks.

If you want to do more for your community to advocate for e-bike safety, subscribe to a non-profit doing work to bring about better regulations for e-bike safety for minors and all riders, like PeopleForBikes. Part of the battle we face in advocating for e-bike safety is that bikes are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, but motor vehicles are regulated by the NHTSA and e-bikes fall into a gray area where they might be one or the other. The oversight of e-bikes is currently under review by both of these agencies which makes now a great time to make your voice heard. E-Bikes offer more people the opportunity to ride who may not be physically capable of riding a traditional pedal-powered bike, but safety for the rider and the community around them needs to come first.

Is Riding a Bike on the Sidewalk Safe or Even Legal?

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

In California, someone riding a bicycle may move out of the bicycle lane when “reasonably necessary” to avoid hazardous conditions, even if they are moving slower than traffic (Cal. Veh. Code § 21208).  When vehicle traffic is heavy and few pedestrians are in sight, it might be tempting to ride on the sidewalk to avoid road hazards, but as personal injury attorneys here in California, we want to share a few thoughts about riding a bike on the sidewalk.  Ask yourself if it’s really safe to ride a bike on the sidewalk?  Or, for that matter, if its even legal where you are?

Safety Considerations

Too often, cyclists are hit and killed by vehicles and California is in the top three states for pedestrian and cyclist fatalities due to collisions.  Speed is often a contributing factor, but most fatalities from a collision involving a cyclist occur in urban areas.  The reality is that many cyclists are not seen by drivers until it is too late.  Riding on a sidewalk where the driver of a vehicle isn’t expecting you may mean they are not looking for you.  If a car is backing out of a driveway, they might be looking for coming traffic on the road without looking for a bike coming down the sidewalk.  Trucks coming in and out of alleys making deliveries are also a high-risk factor for a cyclist on a sidewalk as the buildings along the alley may block their view of you on the sidewalk.  Being seen is vital for cyclists.  Nearly 25% of bicyclist fatalities in California happen at intersections. 

Additionally, sidewalks don’t have the same advantages of maneuverability as the roadways.  Even if there’s a bike lane, a cyclist can enter the vehicle travel lane(s) as needed to avoid hazards.  Trees and landscaping, uneven surfaces, benches, mailboxes, and other things take up a lot of real estate on the sidewalk, and can create unexpected obstacles with little room to avoid them.

Pedestrians also don’t anticipate faster moving bicycles or scooters and combined with the limited space a sidewalk provides can lead to devastating collisions with those on foot.  

Legal Considerations

Local governments in California are allowed to make their own regulations when it comes to the use of bikes, skates, and scooters on sidewalks.  For example, in San Francisco, children under the age of 13 may ride a bike on the sidewalk (unless otherwise posted) per the San Francisco Transportation Code, Section 1007.  In San Luis Obispo, California, the Municipal Code Section 10.72.100 restricts all people from riding a bike on the sidewalk.  However, the City of San Luis Obispo has re-opened discussions within the Active Transportation Committee on allowing bikes to ride on the sidewalk, believing ticketing cyclists for riding on the sidewalk to be a deterrent from riding as a way of commuting.  San Luis Obispo has set a goal of raising the share of commuter trips by bike to 20% by the year 2030 and is actively implementing new safety measures and bike lanes for that purpose.  San Francisco is also working diligently to make the streets safer for cyclists.  As a result, it would be best to keep an eye on the regulations and policies in these and other cities in California for the legal implications of riding a bike on the sidewalk.

Children Riding Bikes on the Sidewalk

Many children learn to ride a bike on two wheels in a driveway or residential area with minimal vehicle traffic.  They will also likely have parental/guardian supervision while learning to balance and pedal.  As children become more comfortable riding on their own, they may be hesitant to ride in the street, which is understandable as cars are much bigger and faster than a child on a bike.  In some areas in California, like San Francisco, it may be legal for a child to ride their bike on the sidewalk, but the same safety considerations that we outlined above apply to children, too.  Even in a residential area, there will be cars going in and out of driveways.  Parked cars, trees, and other objects may limit the visibility of the sidewalk to a driver as they navigate a driveway and children can be even harder to see as they are not as tall on a bicycle as an adult.  And keep in mind, most fatal collisions with a bicycle happen between 6:00 and 9:00 PM, which may be when people are returning home from work and children may be out riding in their neighborhood.  Children may also be tempted to use the sidewalk when the commute on a bike going to and from school as they may think the route is safer or more familiar, but they will then face the same challenges as an adult riding a bike on the sidewalk with limited maneuverability, reduced visibility at intersections, and increased hazards. 

Sadly, children under 14 make up 37% of all fatal bicycle collisions each year and one of the hardest things we ever have to do as bicycle accident attorneys is represent the family of a child who lost their life while riding a bike. 

Be sure to talk to your children about the safety considerations of where they ride, even if it is legal in your area for them to use the sidewalk on a bike. 

If you or a loved one has been injured while riding a bike, contact us today for a free consultation. 

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Cyclist Accidents – Personal Injury Lawsuit FAQs

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

We take our work in the bike community seriously and we are always here to talk to cyclists and answer questions about what to do if you’ve been injured or had your bicycle damaged in a car crash.   Sometimes, we just help cyclists navigate a claim on their own with an insurance company (you can download our free toolkit to help you with your property damage demand to get the insurance company to pay for your bike here), but sometimes having a lawyer in your corner is the best option.  Here are answers to some of the questions we get asked most often.

Is there a statute of limitations on a personal injury lawsuit?

Yes.  Generally, in California, you have two years from the date you were injured to file a lawsuit.  However, there are some types of personal injury cases like those involving public buses (MUNI or SamTrans), trains, or other transit (BART) that have much shorter deadline to file a lawsuit, and require a claim to be filed first within 6 months of an injury, before a lawsuit can be filed.  If you’ve been in a bike crash it can give you piece of mind to call us as soon as you can to get the information that applies to your specific facts. 

Should I get a  police report if I’m hit by a car?

In an ideal world, police officers will automatically prepare a police report in every traffic collision.  Sadly, it is not a perfect world.  If police are sent to the scene of a collision and are told no one was injured, most officers will not do a report.  If the call to 911 says no one was injured, the police will usually not be sent to the scene either. Understandably, cyclists just hit by a vehicle are often in shock and do not understand if they are actually injured.  It’s important to try to take a moment to assess not only if you feel pain but if you just don’t feel right, you should request an ambulance.  If the police won’t do a report, if possible to gather as much information as possible at the scene like names of witnesses, the license plate number of the vehicle that hit you, the name of the driver and insurance information. If you’re able pull out your phone and snap a quick picture of their insurance card and driver’s registration as these two documents will have a lot of the information you need You can also go to the nearest police department and file a counter report.

Can I recover lost wages?

Yes.  If you missed work as a result of your injury, even just the day of the accident, it is possible to recover lost wages.  This is actually quite common in a bicycle accident resulting in an injury.  There may be time spent in a hospital, time recovering at home, or frequent doctor visits that force you to step away from work.  Be sure to keep track of the hours you miss as a result of your injury.

Can I recover medical expenses?

Yes.  If you were injured as a result of a cycling accident, you are entitled to all past and future medical expenses, even if your health insurance company paid for those expenses. Your health insurance provider may cover your medical bills initially, but be sure to keep records of your visits and co-pays If you were injured, the first thing you will want to do is seek medical attention.  It is so important to take care of yourself.  Many people feel confused about if they should or shouldn’t go to the doctor after an accident.  If you’re hurting or are worried about a potential injury like a concussion, seek help.

Can I recover the cost of my bicycle and helmet?  What about a broken phone?

Yes.  If you have been in an accident while riding your bicycle and as a result your helmet, bike or other personal property, like your phone, gets damaged, you are entitled to be reimbursed for these expenses.  If you were not injured but had your property damaged, take a look at our free toolkit on writing a property damage demand letter to the insurance company.  If you get stuck, give us a call. 

Do I need a lawyer if I’m injured?

We get this question a lot.  Here’s our best answer – there are some cases where we feel that having a lawyer just won’t add value to your case—meaning you would do better handling it on your own.  There are other cases where we believe we can really help you.  But more importantly we will have a long conversation with you and discuss what is right for you. We never look at whether a case is “big enough” or “small enough”, we take each person who calls us as a unique situation and try to find a solution that makes sense.

How much does a personal injury lawsuit consultation cost?

Our personal injury lawsuit consultations are free.  You can contact us here to get started or call us at either our San Francisco office at (415) 956-9245, or at our Paso Robles office at (805) 619-3108.

What if I got hurt because of road conditions and not a collision with a car?

We handle many cases that involve dangerous roads poorly maintained or designed by cities, counties or the State.  These cases are very complex and because of that, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible so that evidence can be preserved.

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Conquer Your Fear of Cycling in the City

Posted on by Lacey

In a podcast a few years back, principal and founder of Rahman Law, Shaana Rahman, mentioned the fear she had when first riding in San Francisco.  There were new ins and outs that she had to learn including how to cross railcar tracks safely (go straight across) and negotiate busy intersections.  Urban riding can be dangerous, but we’ve pulled together some great tips for you to conquer your fear of cycling in the city. 

  • Plan your Route in Advance

A lot of people skip this step when riding and just take the same route they would take in a car.  But riding a bike in the city may cause you to take a different route to stay within safe riding areas and minimize the number of obstacles you’ll face.  There are several interactive maps available online to help you mitigate your chances of an injury including the Vision Zero Hight Injury Network Map: https://sfgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=335c508503374f5d94c95cb2a1f3f4f4 and the SF.gov map: https://sfgov.org/scorecards/transportation/traffic-fatalities. 

If you live and/or work in an injury corridor, you may not be able to avoid all of the intersections known to be dangerous, but you will know to be extra alert when passing through.  Awareness and planning can really help reduce the fear of cycling in the city.

  • Practice Outside of Rush Hour

If you’re planning a new route or riding for the first time in a while, it will help you conquer your fear by riding outside of the rush hours before and after work and at lunch.  Try riding first thing Saturday morning when there is less traffic as you become familiar with your route.  Or for an even more positive experience, try riding your route a few times with a friend.  Remember to ride in line and not side-by-side. 

  • Be Visible

When riding at night in California, a headlight is required plus a rear reflector or red light along with the standard side-facing reflectors on both sides of the bicycle.  And while the lights and reflectors required by California law are a great start, the more visibility you can give yourself, the safer you’ll be.  Invest in a reflective jacket you can wear over your work clothes if you plan on being a cycling commuter.  You can also put lights on during daytime riding, especially in foggy San Francisco, for an extra layer of visibility.  You can also add reflectors to your helmet if it doesn’t include them already. 

  • Practice Hand Signals and Obey Traffic Laws

If it’s been a while since you last used hand signals, there’s a refresher for you here: https://www.bikemn.org/mn-bicycling-handbook/hand-signals/.  Remember to use your hand signals to let the traffic around you know that you’ll be moving into or across their lane.  And always obey traffic lights and signs.  Being on a bicycle does not mean road rules are optional.  You can brush up on your road rules in California here: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/.

  • Use the Vehicle Travel Lane When Needed

You may not find wide bicycle lanes available throughout your planned route, though San Francisco has been increasing the visibility of these lanes where possible as part of the Vision Zero initiative.  If you’ll be riding along lanes of parked cars, be prepared to use the vehicle travel lane by always giving yourself a safe escape window while riding.  Parked cars can lead to open doors and opening doors can lead to injuries. You have the right to use the vehicle travel lane when needed. 

Conquering any fear takes work.  Taking the time to plan your route, practice it, and being familiar with traffic laws can all help you be more confident when you take to two wheels in the city.  We also recommend having our phone number saved in your phone in case of a collision.  Call 911 first if there are any injuries, gather as much information as you can on the scene, then give us a call if you need help reclaiming damages from a broken bicycle or injury.  We’re personal injury lawyers and we’re here to help.  Consultations are free.

Contact us at our San Francisco office at 415.956.9245, or our Paso Robles office at 805.619.3108. 

Bike Month Activities for the Whole Family! 

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

National Bike Month is here and we want to celebrate!  A lot of what we post relates to rules of the road, laws and ordinances, and safety, but today we’re going to talk about all the fun ways to celebrate National Bike Month with bike activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. 

Plan a Ride with a Local Group

Ever city has cyclist riding groups, sometimes you just have to look for them.  And most of them offer rides for varying degrees of skill.  Some groups post their rides on the website and app Meetup (https://www.meetup.com) where you can find others to ride with for free.  In San Francisco, there is the San Francisco Cycling Club (http://www.sfcyclingclub.org) and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (https://sfbike.org) that frequently post scheduled rides.  You can also talk to the Coalition as they may know other groups with organized rides.  In Paso Robles, there is a list of groups that ride at Cycle Central Coast (https://www.cyclecentralcoast.com/resources) including a group that goes out every Sunday from Templeton and they frequently have beginner rides.  You can also talk to Bike SLO County (https://bikeslocounty.org) to find other organized rides and events. 

Tune Up Your Bike

A lot of riders are “fair weather riders” and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  If you put your bike away for the winter, and even if you don’t, the spring is a great time to get a tune up on your bike.  You can tune it up yourself if you’ve got experience, or take it into a local bike shop for some help.  In San Francisco and San Luis Obispo, there is the Bike Kitchen (http://bikekitchen.org and https://bikeslocounty.org/programs/kitchen) available on select nights where you can bring your bike in and tune it up alongside other cyclists.  This can be a great bike activity to make new friends and riding buddies. 

Introduce Your Kids to Riding with Others

Many kids have a bike and ride around on their own street but don’t go much further.  This month is a great time to introduce your kids to an organized ride.  Talk to other parents and plan to have adults front, middle, and back of a few kids riding together in a quiet area.  There are bike trails to keep them away from traffic completely, or you can make this a time to learn the rules of the road by finding a route with minimal traffic and wide bike lanes to give them room.  Remember to ride single-file and obey traffic ordinances like red lights and stop signs.  Both the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Bike SLO County organize riding events for kids, so be sure to check their calendars and see if there is an event you’d like to bring your kids to: https://sfbike.org and https://bikeslocounty.org.

Set Up an Obstacle Course

This bike activity can be fun for the whole family or you can arrange it for adults with a few modifications to the difficulty levels.  Break out some sidewalk chalk on a street or set up cones (sometimes you can find small cones at the $5 and under stores or at sporting-goods stores).  You can make it exciting with a few water balloons on the ground you have to ride over to pop or use a pool noodle to create a limbo pole.  You can set up tight curves or even really thin lines to make a sort of on-the-ground balance beam to help work on precision riding. 

Ride to Geocache Locations

Have you ever gone Geocaching?  It can be a lot of fun and even a little bit addictive.  There are even Geocaches in hard-to-reach places like bike trails that normal Geocachers can’t get to, which makes this an excellent activity for cyclists.  What is it, you ask?  It’s a game where you use GPS coordinates (and your phone) to guide you to hidden compartments that contain a log book for you to sign and sometimes an object for you to trade with.  Always bring a pen with you to sign the log book as some compartments are too tiny to hold a pen.  For objects to trade, think small: a friendship bracelet, charm, keychain, or small plastic toy can all be Geocache treasures to trade for what you find in the compartment, if it has something for you to trade with.  Learn more here: https://www.geocaching.com/play.

Ride to Rewards

If Geocaching isn’t your idea of a treasure hunt, think of something worth riding for, like ice cream or a fancy doughnut.  Call up some friends or grab your family and ride to a local boutique with your favorite treat.  Afterall, it’s National Bike Month and that’s something worth celebrating with ice cream! 

Make it a Game

If you’ve got a group of kids, there are lots of great bike activity games out there you can play.  You can play music and all riders must freeze when it stops, or cycle in a line and play copy-cat with the leader of the line.  There are 20 games outlined in this PDF we found: https://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/media/mksfflaz/cykellege_bog_engelsk_4.pdf. 

Whatever you do, have fun!  We like to think ever month is bike month, but really, May is our National Bike Month and it’s time to get your bike prepped and go out there are ride! 

What you Need to Know About California Assembly Bill from a Bicycle Accident Lawyer’s Perspective

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

California Assembly Bill Number 122 was introduced in December of 2020 but has undergone some amendments in March and May of 2021, as is typical in the lifecycle of an Assembly Bill.  Here’s what you need to know about Assembly Bill 122 to limit bicycle accidents from a bicycle accident lawyer’s perspective. 

First, it’s important to know that more than a dozen bicycle advocacy organizations support the Bill across the state of California, including MCBC (Marin County Bicycle Coalition, an organization focused on bicycle safety which we support).  Also, other states already have similar vehicle codes in place, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Arkansas, and Delaware, which means AB 122 is not a new concept. 

What does AB 122 Change?

If passed, California Assembly Bill Number 122 would change the vehicle code in California to allow bicyclists to treat Stop signs as they would a Yield sign.  This increases bicycle rider safety and decreases bicycle accidents, which has been demonstrated in studies in Idaho (who was first to create the stop-as-yield law) and Delaware.  In 2008, an investigation was conducted locally by the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which has added to the data on this subject.  In 2009, a study of Idaho conducted by J. Meggs at UC Berkeley showed a decrease of 14.5% in bicyclist injuries after the passage of the new law. 

As bicycle accident lawyers, we support new systems which reduce the rate of bicyclist injuries. 

What does AB 122 Not Change?

California Assembly Bill Number 122 is not a free license to blow through stop signs all the time or every time.  Bicyclists will still obey red traffic lights and treat them as a full stop.  Bicyclists will also still give the right-of-way to pedestrians who always have the right of way.  And bicyclists will continue to stop at stop signs when there is traffic with the right-of-way.

Intersections are Dangerous for Cyclists

While according to the NHTSA, most bicyclist fatalities occur away from intersections in 45- and 55-mph zones, most bicyclist injuries occur in 25-mph zones where intersections and stop signs are most prevalent.  Bicycle accidents do often happen at intersections and the UC Berkley study calls intersections the “most dangerous zone” for bicyclists.  Reducing injury rates by 14.5 % would be a great step in the right direction. 

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When Adding Bike Lanes Actually Reduces Traffic Delays

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

In New York, smart street design helped the city have its safety and its speed, too. 

A great article on Mother Jones about “level of service” and how California is a state that is leading the charge against it. “Level of Service” is the argument against implementing bike lanes for fear that less road space for cars will cause more traffic and delays. Mother Jones explains a new report by the New York City Department of Transportation which shows car traffic can be maintained while increasing rider safety.

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/09/adding-bike-lanes-reduces-traffic-delays-new-york-city

 

The Status of Bay Area Bike Share

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

bikeshare

(Source: http://thecityfix.com/blog/bike-sharing-the-newest-mode-of-public-transport/)

Happy belated one-year anniversary to Bay Area Bike Share!

Unfortunately, financial problems at the program’s operator and supplier have held up plans to add bikes and locations. According to representatives of SFMTA, the response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive, and is considered a success. The system has 5,000 annual members and 28,000 “casual” members with the bikes being used an average of 3 times a day.

Despite the popularity, reported success and plans for expansion, the program is facing financial problems. The city currently has approved funding to add 1,000 more bikes system wide to 17 new locations, including stations the Castro and the Mission. On top of that, the SFMTA is seeking $25 million in private funding in order to add 3,000 more bikes at 250 more stations. However, talks with private companies are stalled because Bay Are Bike Sharing’s bike and bike software supplier—Public Bike System Company (PBSC)—has filed for bankruptcy and been sold to another company.

Regardless, it seems that expansion of the program is going to happen, but it might not be as fast as SF bike riders want or need.

If you ever need a bicycle accident attorney in San Francisco, Paso Robles, or the surrounding Central California Coast area, contact us for a free consultation.

(Source: http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/08/29/bay-area-bike-share-expansion-stalls/) 

Three Feet for Safety Act

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

Three-Feet-for-Safety-Act (Source: http://theavtimes.com/2014/09/15/three-feet-for-safety-act-takes-effect-tuesday/)

This is the moment all bicycle advocates have been waiting for- after years of joined effort by advocates, the “Three Feet for Safety Act” signed by Governor Jerry Brown finally came into effect September 16, 2014. This act ensures that motor vehicle drivers give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing them. The following are the newly implemented rules in the “Three Feet for Safety Act”:

21760. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Three Feet for Safety Act.

(b) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall pass in compliance with the requirements of this article applicable to overtaking and passing a vehicle, and shall do so at a safe distance that does not interfere with the safe operation of the overtaken bicycle, having due regard for the size and speed of the motor vehicle and the bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and the surface and width of the highway.

(c) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.

(d) If the driver of a motor vehicle is unable to comply with subdivision (c), due to traffic or roadway conditions, the driver shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle, taking into account the size and speed of the motor vehicle and bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and surface and width of the highway.

(e) (1) A violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d) is an infraction punishable by a fine of thirty–five dollars ($35).

(2) If a collision occurs between a motor vehicle and a bicycle causing bodily injury to the operator of the bicycle, and the driver of the motor vehicle is found to be in violation of subdivision (b), (c), or (d), a two –hundred–twenty–dollar ($220) fine shall be imposed on that driver.

(f) This section shall become operative on September 16, 2014.

Added Sec. 3, Ch. 331, Stats. 2013. Effective September 16, 2014.

As a rider and supporter of the biking community, Shaana Rahman anticipates that the “Three Feet for Safety Act” will aid in making San Francisco a truly bike-friendly city.

If you ever need a bicycle accident attorney in San Francisco, Paso Robles, or the surrounding Central California Coast area, contact us for a free consultation.

(Source: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21760.htm)

Study Confirms Cyclists Feel Safer in Bike Lanes

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

 

Protected-Bike-Lanes-Mean-Business-e1398201572990

(Source: http://www.sfbike.org/news/protected-bike-lanes-mean-business-in-sf-and-around-the-country/)

This June, the National Institute for Transportation and Communities released the final report of the first intensive study conducted on “Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S.” The growing presence of various bike-friendly communities around the U.S.  and consequently  increasing bike traffic undoubtedly led the institute to compile and evaluate data that will aid in developing safer biking communities.

The study included data that examines protected bicycle lanes from five cities: Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, D.C. This study purports to indicate the effects of protected bike lanes through surveys, video observation of ridership and interaction between bicyclists, motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians. The study gives strong indication that the vast majority (approximately 91%) of residents in a particular city support the presence of bike lanes: “residents and bicyclists indicated that any type of buffer shows a considerable increase in self-reported comfort levels over a striped bike lane…”  The following are few of the various data revealed in the report:

  • Nearly all cyclists (92%) who used the intersections with separate bicycle signal phases agreed that they felt “safe” when riding through the intersection. This exceeded all other intersection designs and is the only design evaluated where the protected lane carries all the way to the intersection.
  • Designs with more physical separation had the highest scores for cyclist comfort. Buffers with objects (e.g. flexposts, planters, curbs, or parked cars) had higher comfort levels than buffers created only with paint
  • Nearly every intercepted bicyclist (96%) and 79% of residents stated that the installation of the protected lane increased the safety of bicycling on the street. These strong perceptions of improved safety did not vary substantially between the cities, despite the different designs used.
  • Three in four residents (75%) said they would support building more protected bike lanes at other locations. This support was strong even among residents who reported “car/truck” as their primary commute mode —69% agreement).
  • Overall, 91% of surveyed residents agreed with the statement “I support separating bikes from cars”. This includes primary users of all modes (driving, walking, transit, and bicycling).

The report is full of data that generally indicate one clear message: Protected bike lanes are good and wanted by not only bikers, but also by pedestrians and motor vehicle drivers. This report is extensive in its research and, fortunately, includes surveys conducted on our very own San Francisco residents, solidifying the reasons why this city’s movement for a more bike-friendly environment is not for nothing.

 

(Source:  http://ppms.otrec.us/media/project_files/NITC-RR-583_ProtectedLanes_FinalReportb.pdf)