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.

“Bike the Bay” Event Allows Cyclists to Cross Coronado Bridge

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

On August 24, San Diego’s seventh annual “Bike the Bay” event will allow cyclists of all skill levels to pedal across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, and enjoy a preview of the newly expanded Bayshore Bikeway. The 25-mile trail allows riders to experience some of the best waterfront views in San Diego County, as it winds through the city’s most popular areas. More than 3,500 cyclists are expected to participate. This is the only opportunity cyclists have to see the bridge’s magnificent views outside of a car. To accommodate the huge number of cyclists, one lane of the bridge is closed to regular traffic. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) hosts the event as a way to encourage residents to see biking as a real commuter option. Starting at Embarcadero Marina Park South, the ride crosses the Coronado Bridge and leads riders to the Bayshore Bikeway, one of the city’s…
Read More »

Posted in Bike Safety | Comments Off on “Bike the Bay” Event Allows Cyclists to Cross Coronado Bridge

Police Officer Suspended After YouTube Tirade Against Cyclists

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

All travelers have a responsibility to treat each other safely. Pedestrians and bicyclists are incredibly vulnerable on the road, so every driver has a “duty of reasonable care” to exercise more caution around them. Some motorists believe that as the largest vehicle, they are entitled to act recklessly. They feel no responsibility to protect vulnerable travelers, driving under the assumption that, “It’s your job to get out of my way.” A volunteer police officer in California has been placed on administrative leave after posting a video to YouTube expressing her hate for bicyclists. The woman has several “comical” rants on her YouTube channel, but her latest tirade garnered attention from the Santa Paula Police Department and several angry viewers. In it, the reserve police officer berates and wishes harm on bicyclists who have done nothing wrong. The two-minute clip shows the woman proclaiming that she “hate[s] bicyclists, every single one…
Read More »

Posted in Bike Safety, San Diego | Comments Off on Police Officer Suspended After YouTube Tirade Against Cyclists

Are Distracted Drivers A Threat to Cyclists?

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Dudek Law Firm

The chances for a collision increase greatly when cyclists and motorists are forced to travel in the same lane of traffic. Studies have shown that cyclists are safest when they travel on their own bike trails or in designated bike lanes. Cyclists can face numerous road hazards even in their own lane, but their biggest threat comes from drunk and distracted drivers. Cyclists travel at low speeds and are less visible than motorists, so reckless drivers may easily miss a bicyclist on the road. The most common contributing factor in collisions between a bicycle and another vehicle is “failure to look properly,” especially at junctions. “Failing to look properly” was attributed to the car driver in 57 percent of serious bicycle accidents. What Counts As Distracted Driving? Texting and driving is the most commonly cited distracted driving activity, but other distractions can include changing radio settings, eating, looking into a…
Read More »

Posted in Bike Safety, Cycling Accidents, San Diego | Comments Off on Are Distracted Drivers A Threat to Cyclists?