All you have to do is venture outside—weekday or weekend—to realize that more and more people are riding bicycles in Sonoma County. Whether it’s for fun or for transportation, bicycling has significant benefits. It’s great exercise, a fabulous way to enjoy time outdoors, a good way to make new friends and, if you’re riding for transportation, it will save you money. Bicycling is an activity that people of practically any age or fitness level can enjoy.
Bicycling is also good for the economy. Organized bike rides like Levi’s GranFondo and events like the Amgen Tour of California pump millions of dollars into the Sonoma County economy each year. Bicycling has become a top reason that people visit Sonoma County, making it a key feature of our thriving tourism economy. What’s more, tens of thousands of local residents enjoy road, mountain and neighborhood riding for sport and recreation; these folks patronize local shops for bikes, gear, parts and maintenance.
There’s a strong connection between bicycling and shopping local. According to April Economides, a Long Beach-based consultant working on Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts across the United States and Canada, people who choose to get around by bike, “shop more often and tend to spend more money,” and are more likely to shop at local stores than are those who shop by car. Encouraging bicycling can help revitalize sluggish business districts, and many businesses report increased revenue after implementing bike-friendly programs.
Sonoma County has a lot to gain by protecting and improving safety for those who wish to ride bicycles here. A repeat of the summer 2012 spate of deadly and injurious car/bike collisions could damage the bicycle tourism economy and discourage locals from taking up cycling.
Tragedy tends to trigger finger pointing, and the unusual number of crashes in May through July certainly did just that. Pitting “driver” vs. “cyclist” is divisive and counterproductive. It also misrepresents reality: Most people who ride bikes in Sonoma County also drive cars here. Rather than place blame, let’s work together to make our community a safer place for all road users.
When bicycling
Always ride in the same direction as traffic. It’s the safest way to ride, and it’s also the law.
Honor traffic lights and stop signs.
Signal turns and stops. Use standard hand signals to communicate clearly with other road users.
Ride predictably. Don’t weave in and out of parked cars.
Walk your bike on sidewalks and in crosswalks.
Light up your bike at night.
Ride as far to the right as is safe based on road conditions. If there isn’t a shoulder, or if the shoulder is cluttered with debris or is cracked badly or eroding, ride in the travel lane until it’s safe to move right. Be aware of your surroundings; if there are faster vehicles waiting to pass you, move to the right as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Don’t stay to the right if you’re going straight through an intersection. If you’re traveling straight through an intersection with a right turn lane, move left into the through travel lane (even if it means leaving the bike lane) to go through the intersection.
Merge into the left turn lane to make a left turn. Don’t turn left from the through lane or the right lane.
Do not wear earphones when riding.
Yield to pedestrians.
Warn other people before you pass. Warn people before you pass by ringing your bell or calling out. Remember it’s OK to slow down if necessary to pass safely.
When driving
Give your full attention to driving. Don’t make phone calls or send text messages.
Use turn signals and clearly communicate your intentions to other road users.
Make eye contact with bicycle riders, pedestrians and other drivers at intersections and crosswalks.
Pass bicycles at a safe distance —three feet is considered the minimum. If you can’t pass at a safe distance, slow down until you can. Please be patient: Wind and other factors can make it difficult for a bicyclist to hear you approaching from behind. Remember that it isn’t illegal for people to ride bicycles two or more abreast; they must move to the right, however, to let faster moving traffic pass.
Yield when necessary. When approaching an intersection to turn right, don’t cut off a bicycle rider to make your turn. Merge to the right of the road behind the bicyclist (if there’s a bike lane, the solid white line becomes a dashed line to indicate where you should merge) and turn after he or she has turned or proceeded through the intersection.
Take your turn. Resist the well-meaning temptation to give bicycle riders out-of-turn right-of-way. For example, if you arrive at a four-way stop before a bicyclist, take your turn rather than waving the bicycle rider through, which can confuse others who may approach the intersection. It’s easier and safer if we all follow the rules.
Remember that it’s OK to slow down to be safe.
Avoid retaliating. Even if you know a bike rider is in the wrong, don’t threaten, swerve your car or take any other action that could cause harm to him or her. Everyone has a role to play in keeping our roads safe, but we have the potential to cause the gravest damage when we’re driving. Letting anger or impatience take over could cause the death or injury of a more vulnerable road user. It’s not worth it.
Whether you’re driving or riding a bike (or skateboarding, running, walking,or using a wheelchair), traffic safety boils down to a few key points:
• Pay attention;
• Communicate clearly;
• Follow the rules; and
• Be nice.
We’re all in this together. If we team up to help Sonoma County be a safer and even more amazing place for everyone to ride a bike, we’ll reap great heath, environmental and economic rewards.
If you’d like to learn more about how to bicycle safely or how to drive safely around bicycles, take Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition’s “Street Skills” course. This monthly class helps bike riders of all levels become safer and more communicative, and helps non-bicycle riders understand why people on bikes do the things they do. You can take the class for just $5 if you mention reading this article.
Sandra Lupien is the outreach director at Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. She drives, bikes, walks and occasionally runs on roads throughout Sonoma County. You can reach her at (707) 545-0153 or Sandra@bikesonoma.org.
