Bulletin E-Edition:
more photosA 14-year-old boy who tried crossing Greenwood Avenue on his bike was hit by an oncoming car Tuesday afternoon. Despite not wearing a helmet, he escaped with only cuts and bruises, according to Elizabeth Lawrence with the Bend Police Department traffic unit. With warmer weather and soaring gas prices, now is the time to follow the rules of the road and bike safely.
Anthony Dimaano / The Bulletin
Sharing the road
As summer approaches and gas prices skyrocket, cyclists are taking to the streets. To help prevent accidents, local experts offer tips on
By Lauren Dake / The Bulletin
Published: June 19. 2008 4:00AM PSTIn the 25 years Mike McMackin has been navigating Bend’s streets on a bike, he’s picked up on a few things.
“The saying about never forgetting how to ride a bike is true, when it comes to balance and pedaling,” McMackin said. “But there is a certain etiquette that a lot of people don’t understand.”
As the temperature rises and gas prices set records, more people are opting for two wheels instead of four. Streets all over Bend are dotted with bikers, especially this week with Commute Options’ Commuter Challenge, during which local residents are encouraged to get to work without their cars.
With more cyclists on the road, more accidents are bound to occur. But there are simple steps any cyclist or motorist can take to reduce risk.
“The majority of problems are the bicyclists’ fault,” said Sgt. Kurt Koester with the Bend Police Department.
“They aren’t following the rules of the road; they don’t ride on the correct side of the street, they ride through lights and stop signs, they are going straight where a right turn only is permitted, and they aren’t paying attention.”
Koester said it’s the recreational or occasional bicyclist that is most often involved in accidents.
Already this week there have been a couple of bike crashes in the city. One involved a 14-year-old boy who tried crossing Greenwood Avenue on his bike Tuesday and was hit by an oncoming car. Despite not wearing a helmet, he escaped with only cuts and bruises, according to Elizabeth Lawrence with the Bend Police Department traffic unit.
When it comes to maneuvering through a difficult roundabout or intersection, the advice is the same, according to Steve Esselstyn, community liaison officer with the Bend Police Department.
The rules are the same
You’re both vehicles, he said. Cyclists need to follow the same rules they would if they were driving, and motorists need to treat the cyclist like they would a car.
In 2006, the latest year for which data was available, there were 312 crashes statewide because motorists failed to yield, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
“If a bicycle has entered and is coming around (a roundabout), you have to yield to that bicycle,” Esselstyn said. “Conversely, if you’re a bicycle you have to yield, don’t tuck to the right side.”
For bicyclists, it’s important to travel through the roundabout in the center of the lane and to signal when exiting the roundabout.
If McMackin, who is the general manager of Hutch’s Bicycle Shop, had to formulate a top-three list of the most important tips for cyclists, they would be: stop at stop signs, wear a helmet and make your actions predictable.
“If there is going to be any peace and harmony between motorists and cyclists, make your actions predictable, which goes with signal when you’re going to turn and don’t be squirrelly,” he said.
Cyclists need room
And his advice for cars? When it comes to roundabouts, give the cyclist plenty of room, he said.
“Most people aren’t aware how fast a bicycle can go around one of those,” he said. “That intimidates me as a cyclist in a roundabout, when I see a person coming in a car that thinks they can get around it faster than me. … Unless, you’re driving a Porsche, four wheels don’t navigate as fast as two wheels.”
There are of course laws by which every rider must abide: ride with traffic, wear a helmet if you are younger than 16, no more than two cyclists can ride side by side in a bike lane, and proper reflectors are required during times of poor visibility. But it’s really in the hands of motorists and cyclists to ensure safety.
More than 20 percent of all bike crashes statewide happened at dusk or dawn or when visibility was poor because of light conditions, according to information from ODOT.
Rick Root, transportation planner with the city of Bend and a member of Commute Options, said cyclists should always wear bright clothes and make sure their bikes are equipped with lights on the front and rear.
He also mentioned that after a long winter, debris has accumulated on the streets, so bikers should be mindful. Root mentioned that in some areas of town, the bike lane paint has worn off, and he has heard people complain of storm drains that aren’t raised and catch bikers by surprise when they drop off.
And as Jeff Monson, executive director of Commute Options, said, setting a good example is important.
“Parents need to ride with their kids and teach them bike safety through experience,” Monson said.
“I think that goes a long way, when a parent wears a helmet and insists on their child wearing a helmet. … Get out and enjoy bicycling but just follow the rules of the road, I think that’s the main message.”
Lauren Dake can be reached at 419-8074 or at ldake@bendbulletin.com.
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