Category Archives: Bike Safety

San Diego bicycle safety best practices and California bike law information for help understanding the rules of the road for bikes.

San Diego Bicycle Master Plan Vote Delayed

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

San Diego’s Bicycle Master Plan, an initiative to expand the city’s network of bike lanes to make cycling safer, faster and more efficient, was passed in 2013, but has recently come across a snag in its implementation. The San Diego City Council was scheduled to vote to speed up the plan’s implementation, but that vote has since been delayed. According to bicycle advocates, the plan may not be strong enough to accomplish the City Council’s goals. The Bicycle Master Plan The Bicycle Master Plan is a part of the city’s Climate Action Plan, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego, the majority of which are produced from cars and trucks. To accomplish this reduction in emissions, the city must heavily focus on changing commuting habits. It is hoped, under the plan, that by 2020, 6 percent of San Diegans living near major public transit stops will be…
Read More »

Posted in Bike Safety | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How Do I Get Stoplights to See Me While Cycling?

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

It’s not legal in California to roll through stoplights yet – though the “Idaho Stop,” as they call it, may become legal soon – so while cycling, you’re still required to obey traffic signals. But sometimes you are cycling and you get stuck at a red light that just won’t seem to turn. Crossing the intersection during a red light would be dangerous, and there are cars building up behind you. How do you get the light to change? Traffic signals are triggered not by weight, but by an electrical current induced by the metal of your bike. So, if you have metal wheels or a metal frame, the signal should be able to detect you. However, you have to be in the right place. Sometimes, you can look at the pavement and see the cuts the city made to lay down the wires. If the cuts are circular, your…
Read More »

Posted in Bike Safety | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bicycle Accident Risk in California: Elders and Children

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

Who is more at risk for bike accidents in California – children and teens, or the elderly? According to injury data collected from hospitals by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, children and teens are getting into less bicycle accidents than they used to. However, for cyclists 55 years and older, injury rates are increasing. Additionally, compared with younger riders, seniors are more likely to suffer serious injuries that require hospitalization. Due to loss of bone mass and density resulting from aging, seniors are more likely to suffer fractures from the same trauma that a younger person would not necessarily suffer fractures from. Seniors are also more likely to be on medications that can increase harm after an accident, such as blood thinners. Statistics Related to Cycling Accidents in the Past Decade For senior cyclists whose injuries required hospitalization, the older they were, the more likely they…
Read More »

Posted in Bike Safety | Tagged | Leave a comment