{"id":202651681,"date":"2011-06-04T12:08:01","date_gmt":"2011-06-04T12:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=202651681"},"modified":"2011-06-04T12:08:01","modified_gmt":"2011-06-04T12:08:01","slug":"sha-on-bicycle-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=202651681","title":{"rendered":"SHA on Bicycle Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Bicycle\n<\/div>\n
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Summary
\"line\"<\/h2>\n

Riding a bicycle is environmentally-friendly, great exercise, and just plain fun. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous. In Maryland, there were a total of 686 pedal cycle-involved crashes in 2009, leaving 10 people dead and 578 people injured. Bicycles are considered vehicles in Maryland, and as such, cyclists must devote as much attention to riding a bike as they would when operating an automobile. Equally as important, motorists must allow cyclists the same respect and caution they would allow another automobile. When cyclists and motorists \u201cshare the road,\u201d we are all on our way to a greener, safer, Maryland.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/strong> <\/div>\n
Maryland Fast Facts:<\/strong> <\/div>\n
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  • On average, 40% of all pedal cycle-involved crashes and 57% of all pedal cycle-involved fatal crashes occurred between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm.<\/li>\n
  • On average, in 86% of the fatal and 52% of the total pedal cycle-involved crashes, the pedal cyclist was determined to be at fault, according to police crash reports.<\/li>\n
  • On average, 31% of all pedal cycle-involved crashes occurred between July and August.<\/li>\n
  • The vast majority of all pedal cycle-involved crashes and pedal cycle-involved fatal crashes occurred in daylight; 77% and 71% respectively.<\/li>\n
  • Of the 10 pedal cyclists killed in 2009, 3 were between 10-17 years old. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    National Statistics:<\/strong> <\/p>\n

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    • Pedalcyclists under age 16 accounted for 13 percent of all pedalcyclists killed and 20 percent of all those injured in traffic crashes in 2009. By comparison, pedalcyclists under age 16 accounted for 28 percent of all those killed and 40 percent of those injured in 2000. In 2008, 630 pedal cyclists were killed and an additional 51,000 were injured in traffic crashes.<\/li>\n
    • Alcohol involvement \u2014 either for the driver or the pedal cyclist \u2014 was reported in more than one-third (39%) of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedal cyclist fatalities in 2008.<\/li>\n
    • Most of the pedal cyclists killed or injured in 2008 were males (87% and 80%, respectively).<\/li>\n
    • The number of pedal cyclist fatalities in 2009 is 12 % lower than the 718 fatalities reported in 2008. The highest number of pedal cyclist fatalities ever recorded was 1,003 in 1975. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Maryland Laws
      \"line\"<\/h2>\n

      By Maryland law, bicycles are vehicles, and bicyclists have rights and responsibilities just as do drivers of motor vehicles \u2013 but bicycles are less visible, quieter, and don\u2019t have a protective barrier around them. <\/p>\n

      Motorists should drive carefully around a bicyclist; even a slight mistake can result in serious injury or death. Bicyclists fare best when they act like and are treated as drivers of vehicles.<\/p>\n

      Traffic Laws for Motorists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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      • The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle, including a bicycle, which is going in the same direction, shall pass to the left of the overtaken vehicle at a safe distance. <\/li>\n
      • The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle that is going in the same direction, until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle, may not drive any part of his vehicle directly in front of the overtaken vehicle. <\/li>\n
      • Drivers shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter being ridden by a person the driver of a vehicle must not pass any closer than three (3) feet to a bicycle or motor scooter if the bicycle is operated in a lawful manner. It is not lawful to ride against traffic.<\/li>\n
      • After passing you must make sure you are clear of the bicyclist before making any turns. The bike has the right of way, and you must yield to bike, when you are turning. Failing to yield right of way to a bicyclist, resulting in a crash in which the bicyclist is seriously injured can result in a $1,000 fine and three points on your driving record.<\/li>\n
      • Motorists must yield the right-of-way to bicyclists riding in bike lanes and shoulders when these vehicle operators are entering or crossing occupied bike lanes and shoulders. <\/li>\n
      • When riding on a sidewalk, where such riding is permitted, or a bike path, a bicyclist may made ride in a crosswalk to continue on their route. Motorists are required to yield right of way to a bicyclist operating lawfully in a crosswalk at a signalized intersection. (TR \u00a721-101, \u00a721-202, & \u00a721-1103) look for bikes coming from both directions.<\/li>\n
      • A person may not throw any object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle, an EPAMD, or a motor scooter. <\/li>\n
      • A person may not open the door of any motor vehicle with intent to strike, injure, or interfere with any person riding a bicycle, an EPAMD, or a motor scooter. Don\u2019t open door into traffic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
      		\"Bicycle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Traffic Laws for Bicyclists<\/strong> <\/p>\n

      Maryland law provides for the right-of-way of bicyclists, just as it does for the operators of motor vehicles. Bicyclists also have the duty to obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings, just as do drivers.<\/p>\n

      Riding in Traffic Lanes and on Shoulders<\/em><\/p>\n

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      • A bicyclist riding slower than the speed of traffic is confined to the right hand through lane (much the same way as a slow moving vehicle is) and as close to the right side of the road as is safe. A bicyclist can move further left to:\n
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        • Make or attempt to make a vehicular style left turn;<\/li>\n
        • Pass a stopped or slower moving vehicle; or<\/li>\n
        • Avoid pedestrians or road hazards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • This ride-to-the-right provision does not apply when operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle to travel safely side-by-side with another vehicle within the lane. The provision also does not apply where the right-hand lane is a turn lane, or the bicyclist is operating on a one-way street. (TR \u00a7 21-1205(a)) <\/li>\n
        • A bicyclist riding at the speed of traffic can operate in any lane, just as any other vehicle can..Where there is not a bike lane, a bicyclist may also use the shoulder of the roadway. (TR \u00a7 21-1205.1(b)) <\/li>\n
        • Bicycles may not be ridden in the travel lanes of any roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 miles an hour; however, bicycles may be operated on the shoulder of these roadways.<\/li>\n
        • Bicycles may not be operated on expressways (access-controlled freeways and interstate highways), except on an adjacent path or facility approved by the State Highway Administration. (TR \u00a7 21-1205.1(a)(2))<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Riding in Bike Lanes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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          Where there are marked bicycle lanes paved to a smooth surface, a person operating a bicycle must use the bike lane and may not ride on the roadway, except in the following situations: <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

          \"Bicycle<\/td>\n\n