Summer Storybook

Summertime means more people on bikes, more children out walking and rolling… and more people in general enjoying the great weather. But just because it’s light for longer doesn’t mean safety moves to the backburner.

People who ride bikes and people who drive cars need to share our roadways by obeying the traffic laws, respecting each other's rights, and being courteous to all people using the transportation system.

In Oregon traffic law, bicycles are considered “vehicles” and abide by the same rules as a vehicle would.  But there is a new law that went into effect January 2020: People on bicycles can roll through stop sign intersections if they slow the bicycle to a safe speed. People on bicycles can also make a right or left turn into a two-way street or make a turn into a one-way street in the direction of traffic without stopping first. This law also applies to red flashing light intersections. It does not apply to intersections controlled by traffic lights.

Oregon law requires anyone under 16 riding a bicycle or being carried on a bicycle to wear approved protective headgear. The parent or person with legal responsibility for the safety and welfare of a child is held responsible. 

• A sharrow marks a lane that shared by people driving and people biking – this helps move traffic more efficiently. When you see sharrow markings, expect a person on a bike to take the lane. 
• Open your car door with the hand that is farthest away – this will prompt you to turn further and be more likely to see anyone riding alongside you, so you can avoid dooring a passerby.
• Where speeds are greater than 35 mph, you may only pass a person riding a bicycle in your lane when it is safe to do so and if you leave enough distance to prevent contact with the person riding a bicycle if they were to fall. This is called “fall distance.”
• The faster you drive, the more likely you are to kill a person on a bike if there is a crash: 20mph = 10% chance of death, 30mph = 40% chance of death, 40mph = 80% chance of death.
  

For people on bicycles, some safety tips 

• Ride a bike that fits you—if it’s too big, it’s harder to control the bike.
• Ride a bike that works — it really doesn’t matter how well you ride if the brakes don’t work. 
• Wear equipment to protect you and make you more visible to others, like a bike helmet, bright clothing (during the day), reflective gear, and a white front light and red rear light and reflectors on your bike (at night, or when visibility is poor).
• Ride one per seat, with both hands on the handlebars, unless signaling a turn.
• Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike.
• Keep an eye on the weather and pack enough water to stay hydrated.
• Tuck and tie your shoe laces and pant legs so they don’t get caught in your bike chain.
• Plan your route — if driving as a vehicle on the road, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane, on a bike path, or along a greenway.

We should be continually on the lookout for each other - people on bicycles as well as people driving. We are all people getting to the places we want to go!

This information is provided by Commute Options located in Bend. Commute Options promotes active transportation including walking, bicycling, carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting and transit.  Learn more at www.commuteoptions.org.​