Tips for Safer Pedaling Through the Streets of San Diego

Bicycle safety is extremely important for a community like San Diego, which are known for having a high population of cyclists. Whether you are a fair weather rider or a daily cyclist, a little extra bike safety knowledge can keep you out of harm’s way.

• Avoid riding during rush hour- Almost 70 percent of all bicycle accidents in San Diego occur between the hours of 4pm and 8pm.
• Avoid University Avenue- a study by Circulate San Diego released a study that showed that about 30 percent of bike accidents happened on the same eight roads, and that University Avenue was the most dangerous. Streets like University Ave. that have wide lanes, parked cars on the side, and no bike lanes are considerably more dangerous than other streets.
• Use streets with bike lanes- Studies have shown that streets with designated bike lanes reduce the risk of being hit by 50 percent.
• Plan your route- Like the point before, it’s better to know where you’re going before you leave. Use Google Maps to determine the best routes. It has an option for bicyclists that will direct you to the safer pathways.
• Don’t drink and bike- A lot of people mistakenly think that they are being safer by riding a bicycle out for a night of drinking. While it is true that you will likely do less damage to other people or property, it is very hazardous for yourself. About 24 percent of bicyclists who were killed had a blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit for driving a car.
• Wear a Helmet– Helmets aren’t supposed to look cool. Helmets are supposed to keep your noggin safe. More than 65 percent of all bicycle fatalities involved a rider not wearing a helmet.

Every time you take your bike out for a spin, your chances of being in an accident are about one in 30,000. This may seem like good odds, but the odds don’t really matter much to the one person who got hit. Stay safe out there.

Bonnici Law Group – Bicycle injury lawyer