The San Diego sun shines almost daily throughout the year so its no wonder many of our residents spend it outdoors with activities such as running, hiking, surfing, and of course, cycling!
There are well over 1.3 million people living in America’s Finest City, making San Diego the 8th largest metropolis in the United States. So while the perfect weather and picturesque landscape are absolutely part of the appeal for locals to soak up all the outdoor living amenities offered in this city, it is also a crowded place where accidents can and will happen - and bicyclists are no exception to this unfortunate rule. However, promoting safety awareness is key in preventing injury or a potentially tragic bicycling accident.
Here are Some Bicycle Safety Tips
Wear a Helmet
While this safety tip is clearly one of the most obvious of choices a cyclist can make, you’d be surprised how many people who ride bikes don’t wear a helmet. According to an article published from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, “Two percent of motor vehicle crash deaths are bicyclists. In a majority of these deaths, the most serious injuries were to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent.” The helmet rule is universal in that it extends to bicyclists of all ages, not just children and teens. In fact, nearly eighty-three percent of bicycle deaths are persons 20 and older.
Riding at Night? Light it up!
If you’re riding at night, wearing lights and reflective gear is a must. Make sure you’re visible from the front and the back, similar to a car’s headlights and tail lights. You can get helmet lights, or lights that attach directly to your bike. It’s also a good idea to wear lighter or light reflective clothing to make sure motorists can see you clearly.
Slow Down in Heavy Traffic Areas
One of the most popular stretches of road for cyclists is the beautiful San Diego Coastline, also known as Highway 101 or the Pacific Coast Highway. Cyclists regularly ride from Oceanside all the way down to the southernmost regions of the city from Coronado to Imperial Beach. But with year round sunshine these roadways are almost always full of everything from motor vehicles to motorcycles and a slew of pedestrians such as runners, surfers, tourists, etc. When riding through areas like this it’s best to slow it down a bit, there are simply too many variables to ride freely at higher speeds.
Simply Put - Stay Smart and Don’t Get Hit
There are some simple strategies to put into practice on a regular basis, BicycleSafe.com offers ten ways that a cyclist can get hit and more importantly how to avoid them.
Another great resource is to visit San Diego Police Department resource on Bike Safety. There’s even a quiz you can take to test your bike riding knowledge.
The Bike Coalition of San Diego County is committed to the safety of cyclists and is another great community resource. Whether you’re a novice rider or an expert, it’s always a good thing to stay up to date on the latest news, laws, safety tips, and fun riding events and activities in the area.
The Team at Berman & Riedel, LLP wishes the utmost safety to all San Diego residents but the reality of accidents that result in serious injury or tragedy is all too real and frequent for any of us to ignore. Should you find yourself or a loved one in this unfortunate circumstance our legal team is here to help.
