Tag Archives: bicycle safety laws

Bicycle Safety Starts With Regular Maintenance

Properly maintaining your bicycle can save you hundreds of dollars in repairs and replacement parts—it can also prevent accidents. Jacob Arnold of The Oregonian recently wrote a column to provide some cycling safety tips and consulted with Seth Richardson, owner of Meticon Bikes in Portland. Richardson stressed the fundamentals of every day cycling maintenance—checking tire pressure, the chain and your handlebars. Make sure all screws and bolts are tightened and reflectors and lights are working and visible. “If your chain is squeaking, you should have lubricated it a while ago,” says Richardson. Your chain should shift gears within one revolution of the pedals, according to Richardson. If yours is not shifting smoothly and quickly, it could be a problem with your derailleurs or your chain needs lubrication. Another maintenance check that riders sometimes overlook is inspecting the rims. Richardson stresses that the rims should have a groove where the brake…
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May is National Bike Month!

May is National Bike Month, and cycling enthusiasts in San Diego are excited to celebrate their passion with the mainstream. On May 1, cyclists and community leaders met downtown to gather for a press conference at the County Administration Center. Officials have planned some events for the month, including National Bike to School Day on May 8, Bike to Work Day on May 17, a Bike to Work Corporate Challenge throughout the month and several other bicycle safety events. “There are so many reasons to support Bike Month,” said Congressman Scott Peters (D-San Diego). “First, promoting cycling can promote our economy; bike-related businesses generate as much as $69 million and 300 jobs in the 52nd Congressional District alone. But biking is also a great way to improve our quality of life. It’s a fun way to stay healthy and it’s a great way to reduce the number of cars on…
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Austin Police Department Announces Bicycle Safety Initiative

The Austin Police Department announced that it would begin to target motorists that fail to provide a cushion when passing cyclists on the street as part of its bicycle safety initiative. Police will be targeting both motorists and cyclists that break the law, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said, according to KTCB-TV in Austin. “This is your warning. Starting on the 8th [of May] we will have undercover officers…if you are stopped by a member of the APD under this initiative for failure to obey the passing rule, you will be cited,” Acevedo told reporters. The law in Austin requires motorists to leave a three to six foot cushion while passing cyclists. If there is no room, the motorist must wait. “We are going to see some new strides in enforcing it consistent with other measures that have been taken in other cities, as everyone recognizes that we really need…
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