There is a real push in recent years to increase the number of California commuters who ride their bikes. It makes sense: Biking is a great source of exercise, it’s great for the environment, it’s affordable, and it has the potential to significantly reduce congestion on the roadways. However, there is one big negative: The increase in bike riders has also increase the number of bike accidents.
California bike enthusiasts have a new mission: Lights
Bike shops and bike enthusiasts have long been battling to ensure that those in their industry are staying safe on their bikes. Recently they have started encouraging riders to ride with lights not just at night but during the day too. As of this moment, the laws in California only require that a bike cyclist have a front lamp during nighttime rides. That light is required to emit white light that can be seen from at least 300 feet away.
Cyclists are also required, at night, to have a red reflector on the back of their bike, or a back flashing red light, that is visible from 500 feet away. There are currently no laws that require bike riders to have lights during the day but safety experts say it can make a huge difference. They say that daytime bike lights can help reduce the number of accidents between cars and bikes.
The issue was brought up at the Rider Safety Visibility Summit
Last year, experts held a Rider Safety Visibility Summit which was hosted by California Bike Inc. Their message was clear: Bike riders need to use their lights in the day and at night. This helps to increase how visible they are, which can decrease accidents. One sales manager at a bike shop said that he has seen numerous daytime accidents in which the bike was the only vehicle without daytime running lights.
Bikes size and quietness make them a potentially big danger
One of the reasons that it is so hard to keep bike riders safe is that they are small and quiet when compared to motorcycles or cars. It is true that having daytime running lights is not going to prevent 100% of bike crashes but if they prevent even one then we will be happy with that. The community is pushing for daytime running lights just as they are pushing for bike lines, helmet usage, and other steps that could make the roads safer for bike riders.
Have you been injured in a bike ride?
If you were injured while on a bike then we encourage you to reach out to a personal injury attorney to find out if you have legal grounds for a personal injury case. You can contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. We will begin by ensuring you know what your options are so that you can make the most informed decision.
