[0:12] Hi, I'm Rhonda Shaw with AAA and today
[0:16] I'll tell you a little bit about bike
[0:17] safety and sharing the road. Every year
[0:20] preventable deaths and injuries
[0:22] involving bicyclists occur on our
[0:24] roadways.
[0:25] Learning the rules of the road for both
[0:27] bicyclists and motorists can help combat
[0:30] injuries and fatalities. Bicyclists
[0:33] should wear a properly fitted helmet
[0:35] every single time they ride. A helmet is
[0:37] the single most effective way to prevent
[0:40] head injury in the event of a crash.
[0:42] Bicyclists are considered vehicle
[0:44] operators. They are required to obey the
[0:47] same rules of the road as other vehicle
[0:49] operators including obeying all traffic
[0:52] signs, signals, and lane markings. When
[0:55] cycling in the street, cyclists must
[0:57] ride in the same direction as traffic.
[1:00] Drivers of motor vehicles need to share
[1:02] the road with bicyclist.
[1:04] Be courteous. Allow at least 3 ft of
[1:07] clearance when passing a bicyclist on
[1:09] the road.
[1:11] Look for cyclists before opening a car
[1:12] door or pulling out from a parking space
[1:15] and yield to cyclists at intersections
[1:17] and as directed by signs and signals.
[1:20] And don't forget to be especially
[1:22] watchful of cyclists when making turns
[1:24] either left or right.
[1:26] Bicyclists should increase their
[1:28] visibility to drivers by wearing
[1:29] brightly colored clothing during the
[1:31] day, dawn, and at dusk.
[1:34] To be noticed when riding at night, use
[1:36] a front light and a red reflector or
[1:38] flashing rear light and use
[1:41] retroreflective tape or markings on
[1:43] equipment and clothing. With education
[1:45] and understanding, we can make our roads
[1:48] a safer place for everyone.
[1:50] Know the facts and stay safe. You can
[1:53] find more information on bicycle safety
[1:55] and sharing the road on sites such as
[1:57] sharetheroad.aaa.com
[2:00] and bikeleague.org.