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.

Bay Area Cyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Dudek Law Firm

On May 15, a cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run car accident in the San Francisco area, according to Claude Wyle at InjuryBoard.com. Bo Hu, a 57-year-old cyclist from Dublin, California, was struck by a Mercedes-Benz while cycling on Dougherty Road. The driver proceeded to leave the scene of the accident. The alleged suspect is a San Francisco attorney, according to Dublin Police Lt. Herb Walters. Hu is a Chinese citizen who was visiting the Bay Area. A passerby called 911 and Hu was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect was arrested and identified as 32-year-old Spencer Freeman Smith of San Ramon, California. Investigators used debris from the scene to identify the car as a 2012 Mercedes-Benz and found other clues to identify Smith. There is never an excuse for fleeing the scene of an accident. If Smith was not at fault in the bicycle accident, he may not…
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Bicycle Lanes: Worth Every Penny

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Dudek Law Firm

It is beneficial for cities and communities to invest in bicycle lanes for its roads—they keep cyclists and motorists safe. Bike lanes define road space and provide a layer of protection for vulnerable cyclists. According to The Department of Cambridge Community Development, the construction of bike lanes in Davis, California decreased bicycle accidents by 31 percent. Motorists are more likely to keep an eye out for cyclists on roads with marked bike lanes. They also encourage cyclists to stay out of the way of cars and trucks. When bicycle lanes were added on a main road in Eugene, Oregon, the crash rate reduced by half for cyclists and also decreased significantly for all car accidents. On roads that have bike lanes, cyclists obeyed stop signs 81 percent of the time versus 55 percent on roads without the lanes. If your community does not have marked bike lanes on roads cyclist…
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Summer Safety Tips and Bicycle Maintenance

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Dudek Law Firm

With summer time approaching and more and more citizens in Southern California taking up cycling, we thought it would be a good time to review some bicycle safety and maintenance tips. Whether you are new to cycling or an experienced cyclist, keep these tips in mind: “A” is for Air. Check your tire pressure. Checking the PSI on your tires should be a daily habit for all cyclists. If your tires are underinflated, it can cause damage to your wheels. If you do not know how to check the pressure, ask a trusted friend or a bicycle mechanic. Both underinflated or overinflated tires cause accidents. “B” is for Brakes. Check the brakes! This may seem like an obvious point, but faulty brakes are the cause of many bicycle accidents. If you have experience with bicycle brakes, fixing them can be as simple as adjusting the cables. If you do not…
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