Why Do We Bike? And where, how, who, when, and with what

Why Do We Bike? And where, how, who, when, and with what

What will I learn today? Knowledge of laws for bikes in traffic: your rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist and motorist Examples of safe and unsafe behaviors by both cyclists and motorists

SOUTH CAROLINA LAW On June 5, 2008, Governor Sanford ratified The Bicycle Safety Act, making our state a leader in legal protection of cyclists. The law gives law enforcement new tools to improve safety on our roads.

BICYCLE SAFETY PARTNERSHIP 2008: This partnership improved the bike laws in SC, for safer bicycling 2008-2010: Distributed bicycle law cards 2011: Formed Safe Streets Save Lives (SSSL) campaign 2012-2013: Media campaign with 4 video-psa s and distributed more bike law cards 2014: Began workshops for ambassadors

SOUTH CAROLINA LAW The Underlying Principle of Safe Cycling: Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle. S.C. Code Ann. 56-5-3420.

SOUTH CAROLINA state of bicycling The trend: Increasing number of bicyclists and bike trips. The result: Increasing number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

The New Laws Give us these New Rights and Responsibilities SIX big changes in 2008: 1. Explicit right to be on the road 2. Adds rules for bicyclists 3. Deletes some old laws for bicyclists 4. Added the safe passing distance law for motorists 5. Imposes civil fines for motorists hitting cyclists 6. Anti-harassment clause

1. Bicyclists have an explicit right to be on the road Your destination dictates position. Even if a side path available, you can still be in the road. If a bike lane exists, you should be in it, unless you need to go in a different direction. Bike as far to the right as practicable, unless you need to get into a different lane because you need to turn left, avoid an obstruction, or pass another vehicle.

You have an explicit right to be on the road. Safe Streets Save Lives Video 1: How to Bike

2. New rules for bicyclists. You cannot ride more than 2 abreast, or 2 side-by-side Keep at least one hand on the handle bars if carrying something To turn left, extend left arm straight To turn right, either 1) extend right arm straight, 2) raise left arm straight up, or 3) extend left arm out like an L Must have front light, and rear reflector (light recommended) Penalty for not following is $25 Bicyclists must not hold onto another vehicle

3. Old, outdated laws changed. You are no longer required to have a bell!! Updated signaling rules to go right and left

New rules for bicyclists, and old outdated laws changed. Safe Streets Save Lives Video 2: Signals and Safety

4. Added a required safe passing distance for motorists. The motorist is obligated to maintain a safe distance from the bicyclist

5. Imposes civil fines for motorists hitting bicyclists Minor injury up to $500 Great bodily injury up to $1000 These fines are in addition to what an injured cyclist may recover from damages.

Adding a required safe passing distance and imposed civil fines for motorists. Safe Streets Save Lives Video 3: How to Drive

6. Added an Anti-harassment clause A motorist cannot harass a bicyclist 1. By taunting them, or 2. Maliciously throwing an object If they do, they can be charged with a misdemeanor of at least $250, or Imprisoned for no more than 30 days

Added an anti-harassment clause. Safe Streets Save Lives Video 4: Anti-Harassment Law

Other Tips for Bicyclists 1. Ride with the Flow of Traffic In the traffic lane Or in the bike lane Never ride Against Traffic! You may take the full lane, by riding in the middle, if it feels safer to do that, especially in narrow lanes in high density, urban streets.

2. Bicycling through an Intersection Who has the Right of Way at a 4-way Stop Sign? Other Tips for Bicyclists

Other Tips for Bicyclists 3. Bicycling through an Intersection Straight

Other Tips for Bicyclists 4. Bicycling through an Intersection Right If the car in front is idling at a stop sign or light, wait Right patiently for your turn; then turn right

Other Tips for Bicyclists 5. Bicycling through an Intersection Left, the SAFE Way

Other Tips for Bicyclists 6. Bicycling through an Intersection Left, a SECOND SAFE Way Copenhagen Left

Other Tips for Bicyclists 7. Bicycling through an Intersection Left, a THIRD SAFE Way Pedestrian Left

Other Tips for Bicyclists 8. Bicycling through an Intersection Left, the UN-SAFE Way

Other Tips for Bicyclists 9. Crossing a Railroad Track Cross perpendicularly, at 90 degrees

Other Tips for Bicyclists 10. Avoiding hazards and doors Before weaving left, look behind you and signal If encountering parked cars on the right, steer clear of the Door Zone

So what are the Bike Safety Tips?

And what are the Safety Tips for Motorists?

More Tips for Motorists 1. It s up to the motorist to provide a bicyclist safe passing distance 2. As you approach a bicyclist, wait until it is safe to pass them. Allow the cyclist plenty of room. 3. As you pass a bicyclist, do not slow down; do not stop quickly or turn sharply to the right once you ve passed the bicyclist

More Tips for Motorists 4. Watch for bicyclists at intersections; they are small and you may not see them quickly 5. Be aware; bicyclists are everywhere 6. Yield to bikes in bike lanes

Yet More Tips for Motorists 7. Your car can kill with its size and weight. A bike cannot. Respect that.

Yet More Tips for Motorists 8. Be kind. Do not harass, taunt, or throw objects.

Yet Even More Tips for Motorists 9. It s not true that only Motorists pay for the roads Here s how bicyclists also PAY for roads Property Tax Income Tax Sales Tax Fuel Tax (bicyclists drive too) These are facts. 10. We ALL own AND pay for the road, even if we can t drive because we re too old, young, or otherwise not able.

So what are those Safety Tips for Motorists?

We All need to Get There. So Let s Get There Together.

BICYCLE SAFETY TIPS Obey traffic signs & signals Ride with flow of traffic Use front & rear blinking lights for visibility Use hand signals to indicate actions

CAR SAFETY TIPS Pass bicyclists with care and respect Wait until there is enough room to pass do not squeeze through Never harass others on the road

We need You Together we can: Make our roadways and communities safer Change our driving culture..

We need You Together we can: Set an example by being courteous, safe, and lawful when biking or driving

Thank you!

..credits.. Content by: Palmetto Cycling Coalition BikeLaw Funding for videos from: SC Department of Public Safety With some references with permission by: Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Oregon), Safe Routes for Kids Bicycle Safety Curriculum The Adam Little Foundation, Driver s Ed presentation and graphics Vince McCall, Unpull LLC, some graphics The Alliance for Biking & Walking, photos Lunch and Recess, video PSA s

Any questions? Comments? Discussion?