With over 120 miles of bike paths throughout the city, Long Beach has pioneered several safety programs targeted towards bicyclists, which could be a reason why bicycle-involved collisions dropped in the city when ridership has risen. Projects focusing on bicyclists include connecting Atherton Street to the San Gabriel River Bike Trail, the recent launch of the bike-sharing program, monthly bicycle safety classes, and involvement in Operation Firefly, which offers free bicycle lights.
Among some of the most important lessons a bicyclist can learn are the basic rules of the road. According to Nathan Baird, Bicycle and Healthy Living Coordinator for the city of Long Beach, many of Long Beach’s immigrant communities who come from rural areas will ride bicycles against traffic. In an urban setting, it’s much safer to ride a bicycle with traffic. According to Baird, if a cyclist is at fault in a fatal collision, it’s usually because the bicyclist was riding against traffic.
Baird also emphasizes the dangers of riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, especially in crowded business districts. Children may be present and vehicles may appear suddenly in driveways. Another Long Beach community group that focus on bicycling, Empact Communities, leads safety workshops for bicyclists. Empact Communities’ director offers more basic safety advice: you are a car. Cyclists are subject to the same rules of the road as cars. Cyclists cannot run red lights, nor run stop signs.
See the news article from the Press Telegram here.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle collision, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at (800) 333-0000 for a free consultation. Cyclists involved in car collisions are at a high risk of catastrophic injury, and having an experienced law firm on your side can increase your chances for a favorable outcome. Contact our offices today. We are here for you 7 days a week.
