Important Bicycle Safety Tips and Resources
“If only I’d been watching for bicyclists.” No Regrets When You DRIVE WITH CARE – Bicycle Safety message targeted towards drivers.
With more and more people riding bikes as a means of transportation, exercise and recreation, it’s important for drivers and riders to be extra careful and obey the rules of the road. This safety campaign tip card reminds us there are “No Regrets When You Drive With Care” and when you follow these basic traffic guidelines:
• Share the road with bicyclists.
• Stop before turning right on red.
• Passing bicyclists too closely is dangerous and illegal.
• Focus on the road.
• Avoid aggressive driving.
• Obey the traffic laws, signals and speed limits.
Double-sided bicycle safety bookmarks are distributed to libraries throughout our community with bicycle safety tips for drivers and cyclists.
Drivers are a primary target of our bike safety messages. The bookmarks remind driver to “Share the Road!” They also include traffic safety tips and laws:
• ALWAYS WATCH for bicyclists on the road.
• ALWAYS STOP and look in both directions before turning right on red.
• KEEP AT LEAST THREE FEET between you and cyclists.
• Phone Down. Eyes Up. Buckle Up!
We also include some general safety tips for cyclists of all ages, especially children to always “Wear Your Helmet!”:
• Your HELMET should sit two fingers above your eyebrows.
• The straps FITTING SNUGLY under your chin.
• RIDE ON THE RIGHT in the same direction as the traffic.
• Ride in BIKE LANES or on sidewalks.
• Be sure you can BE SEEN by using lights and reflectors.
• DON’T RIDE ALONE or AT NIGHT.
• Be alert… LOOK AND LISTEN for cars!
Sharrow – Share The Road Arrow for Drivers and Cyclists
Do you know what a “Sharrow” is? Many people have not seen them before and if they have, they really don’t know what it means. Throughout Florida there are these road markings in the middle of a lane showing a bicycle with two arrow lines above it. This is a Sharrow!
- A SHARROW is a shared-lane marking indicating where a cyclist has the right to ride.
- Give cyclists 3 feet of space when passing.
- Under Florida Law, bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles.
- Focus on the road and obey the traffic laws, signals and speed limits.
No Regrets When You SHARE THE ROAD
Northeast Florida’s Community Traffic Safety Program has created materials to help educate both drivers and cyclists about these Sharrow, shared-lane, markings. They include a goody bag for special events, easy tip card hand-outs and a poster with safety reminders and road rules for when there is a Sharrow and road sign saying bicyclists “MAY USE FULL LANE”:
- When there is no bike lane or when the road lanes are too narrow, the cyclist should take the full lane to encourage safe passing and reduce the chance of being “squeezed”, hit or forced off the road.
- The cyclist should take the full lane when passing parked cars in order to avoid open doors.
- On wide road lanes a driver overtaking a bicycle should maintain a clearance of at least 3 feet between the car and the bicycle.
Bicycle Safety Social Media Graphics – Free Resources
Be a Community Traffic Safety Team “Virtual Volunteer”. Share these bike safety reminders on your social media accounts. Don’t forget to tag us!
@trafficsafetyteam on Facebook and Instagram
@trafficsafetyfl on Twitter and Pinterest
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