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.

Do I Need Bicycle Lights during the Day?

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

Bicyclists can be very difficult to see at night, hence the necessity for lamps, reflectors and bright clothing at night. But recently, a group of independent bicycle dealers, industry representatives and bike advocates attended the Rider Safety Visibility Summit at California Bicycle, Inc. in San Diego to push a slightly different message: cyclists should not only use lights for visibility at night, but also during the day. It only takes a second when a cyclist enters a road environment for an accident to happen, and without lights and other visibility aids, cyclists can be hard to see for drivers. At the summit, advocates demonstrated a slew of new products that could help cyclists be noticed; for example, a Bluetooth-activated helmet containing lights and blinkers that could broadcast to other drivers the cyclist’s intention to turn. Others demonstrated super-reflective clothing and one consultant even showed off a rub-on product that would…
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Caltrans Holds Multi-Modal Field Trip to Celebrate New Bike/Pedestrian Plan

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

A group of Caltrans workers, including Director Malcolm Dougherty, celebrated the recent release of the new statewide bike and pedestrian plan with a multimodal field trip. The group took their bikes by train from Sacramento to Emeryville before riding the Alex Zuckerman Bicycle/Pedestrian Path along the Oakland Bay Bridge to the new Vista Point. For many of the Caltrans workers and partners who rode along, it was their first ride on the bridge. The plan, called Toward an Active California, was created to push better bicycling and pedestrian paths and access throughout the state by 2040, employing a variety of techniques and philosophies. The first priority action items in the plan include: Putting bicycle and pedestrian safety information into the DMV driver’s handbook Researching methods for setting and enforcing speed limits (as opposed to the current 85 percent rule the state uses to avoid charges of creating speed traps) Closing…
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Be a “Roll Model” – Encourage Cycling Safety in California

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

The California Office of Traffic Safety is encouraging cyclists in the state to become “roll models.” The effort comes during May, which is National Bicycle Safety Month. Roll models are cyclists who are actively decreasing the risks of traffic crashes, preventable injuries and deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 818 cyclists died and over 45,000 were injured in 2015. Cycling deaths increased 12 percent from 2014, highlighting the need for comprehensive education and awareness efforts. How to Be a Roll Model Ride and Drive Focused. Avoid distractions while cycling, such as listening to music. Ride and Drive Prepared. Cycling accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and can lead to catastrophic accidents and injuries. Prepare and expect the unexpected. Safety First. Make sure you never get on a bicycle without a helmet. Ensure night safety by making sure you have all of the needed reflectors…
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