Bicycle Safety

Bike Roswell! is your local advocacy organization.

One of our main goals is to help and encourage people to get out and ride their bicycles for transportation as well as recreation. A key component of this is providing education for bicyclists AND motorists alike. If you ride bicycles or drive other vehicles there are safety rules and laws you need to know. These are a few...

ROAD POSITIONING

The following video is an excellent video that reviews the importance of road positioning. Simple changes to your position in the lane can help mitigate many common, unsafe encounters with other users on the road. If you are ready to try riding your bike on the road or already regularly ride on the road this is a MUST watch.

For drivers this video provides an excellent overview of cyclist positioning, why the rider you see on the road is riding where they are in the roadway and things to keep in mind when you approach a person riding a bicycle on the roadway.

BICYCLISTS RIDING TWO ABREAST

Georgia Law [40-6-294(c)]

"Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, or when a special event permit issued by a local governing authority permits riding more than two abreast."

Why Cyclists Ride Two Abreast

In Group rides, social interaction is huge and so is the need for safety. One technique cycling groups use to reduce the risk of collisions is riding double file, particularly in narrow lanes and when approaching intersections. This article discusses how riding double file can deter common crash types and... [more here]

Share The Road: Georgia's 3 Foot Law

It's the Law: Motorists must give a bicycle a minimum of 3 feet of clearance when passing.

. . .

Click here for video by Officer Zac Frommer, Roswell Police.
(Pass this around to your friends.)

Georgia Code 40-6-56

(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'safe distance' means not less than three feet.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, when feasible, the operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between such vehicle and the bicycle and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

Click here for Georgia's bicycling law - House Bill 101 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

________________________________________

Share the road!

Cyclists are sons, daughters, mothers and fathers. By showing common courtesy and respect on the road, we can ensure the two-way street is a safe street for all. Click here for AAA Exchange bicycle safety webpage of excellent resources.

Distracted Driving

80% OF DRIVERS MISTAKENLY BELIEVE hands-free devices are safer than handheld.
Drivers talking on handheld or hands-free devices can FAIL TO SEE 50% OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS

Distracted Dirving Poster 2015
Provided to us by Vikram Kaul, Ph.D.
Kimberly-Clark, Roswell, GA

Additional Distracted Driving statistics and information from ohiovalleypilawyers.com

Bicycle Safety Videos:

Bike Safety - A Bicycle Friendly America (Roswell is a Bicycle Friendly Community)

Share the Road: Adored Dad, driver.

Bike Safety - Introduction to Bike Safety and Sharing the Road

Bike Safety - Safe Cycling Tips for Adults

Passing Others While Riding - Rules of the Road

Bicycle Safety Tips for Adults

Bicycle Safety PDFs

Share The Road Flyer

Bike Basics - brochure

Georgia Bike Sense: A Guide for Cyclists & Motorists

Published by the Georgia DOT:

In Georgia, motorists and cyclists share the road. Both have equal rights and responsibilities to obey all traffic laws. All road users should show respect and consideration to each other.

Georgia law was revised requiring motorists to allow a minimum of 3 feet clearance when passing a cyclist. See Video

Click here for illustrated excerpt of Motorists and Cyclists: Sharing Georgia's Roads

________________________________________

Cycling Awareness Tests:

Test Your Awareness #1: Do The Test

Test Your Awareness #2: Cyclist Test

________________________________________

Bike Safety for Kids - Info and Tips:

Let's face it. It's difficult to properly teach kids when we don't know the subject matter all that well ourselves. This especially goes for teaching kids about bike safety. Read this material and your children will find the learning process fun because, after all, children love riding their bikes. Then pledge to be a good "Roll Model" with them. You'll be glad you did!

Hand Signals Getting to School Safely by Walking & Biking Rules of the Road for Riding Safely

Tips for Youth: Bike Safety Bicyclists Make Safe Choices! Bicyclists Make Safe Choices!

ABC Quick Check Youth Pledge Wear a Helmet

Demonstrating Bicycle Helmet Effectiveness: A How-to guide

Click here for a lot more safety information from the NHTSA.

Safe Bicycling from a Kid's Eye View

A Kids View of Bike Safety — Kids Bike Safety Video

Click on Images to help children learn bike safety and why it’s important to wear a helmet. The cartoon Jeff will tell kids why you need to wear a helmet and how to make sure your helmet fits correctly. Let your children watch the videos with you!

Downloads:

Bike Safety - Bookmark

So Your Child Wants a Bike - brochure

Georgia Bikes videos: Bicycles = Fun / Freedom - at any age. (click on images)

60 seconds 30 seconds

________________________________________

[wpcol_1half id="" class="" style=""]

Stay Focused: Don't Text & Drive

Mobile phones are essential to everyday life - many of us like to keep ours within reach at all times. But we can't allow them to be a distraction behind the wheel. Join us with your pledge to drive responsibly.