Via Southern Maryland New Net
\n Hundreds of Maryland Students Participating in National Bike to School Day, Wednesday, May 6; Drivers Urged to Be Aware of Increased Bicycling Activity around Schools
\nSHABike to School Day events on Wednesday, May 6 raise awareness for the need to create safer routes for bicycling and walking, as well as the health and environmental benefits of biking. The Maryland Department of Transportation\u2019s State Highway Administration (SHA) praises schools who will participate in National Bike to School Day and urges drivers to be alert for bicyclists around schools during arrival and dismissal times. Several Maryland schools will host events, supported by Maryland\u2019s Safe Routes to School program, which provides funding to support walking, and bicycling to and from elementary and middle schools.
\n…
\nFor drivers:
\n\u2022 Expect bicyclists on the road and share the road.
\n\u2022 Stay vigilant at all times, especially when pulling out of driveways or side streets.
\n\u2022 Always follow the speed limit, which may be lowered in designated school zones.
\n\u2022 Pass bicyclists with at least three feet of space \u2013 it\u2019s the law.
\n\u2022 Leave plenty of space between you and the bicyclist in front of you.
\n\u2022 Before turning, make sure the path is clear of bicyclists.
\nFor children walking and biking to school:
\n\u2022 Obey the rules of the road, including traffic signals and stop signs.
\n\u2022 On a bike, ride with traffic but walk on the sidewalk facing ongoing traffic.
\n\u2022 Wear a helmet \u2013 it\u2019s the law for anyone under age 16, but everyone should to prevent head injury.
\n\u2022 Wear reflective material\u2026it makes you more visible to drivers.
\n\u2022 Walk your bike across intersections.
\n\u2022 Use hand signals.
\n\u2022 When walking, use crosswalks and follow pedestrian signal indicators.
\nhttps:\/\/smnewsnet.com\/archives\/288139\/maryland-safe-routes-to-school-program-recognizes-bike-to-school-day-participants\/
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\n[B’ Spokes: “Walk your bike across intersections.” ??? Maybe that’s good advice for small children just starting to bike but I have yet to see any compelling evidence that being a pedestrian is “safer” then being a cyclist in this state (our pedestrian traffic fatalities make up a higher percentage of traffic fatalities than the national average.) But more than that SHA is setting this up to give everyone the impression that ALL bikes must be walked across the intersection at all times and that is just wrong. There is no legal bases for this statement and certainly no study that shows that this is indeed good advice.]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Via Southern Maryland New Net Hundreds of Maryland Students Participating in National Bike to School Day, Wednesday, May 6; Drivers Urged to Be Aware of Increased Bicycling Activity around Schools SHABike to School Day events on Wednesday, May 6 raise awareness for the need to create safer routes for bicycling and walking, as well as … <\/p>\n