Contact Us for a Free Consultation 303-766-8766

Blog

May is National Bicycle Safety Month!

Posted by Jordan Travis | May 26, 2022

Being aware of your surroundings and sharing the road with others is crucial when it comes to navigating the roads in Colorado.

People on bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities as people behind the wheel of a vehicle. Motorists should keep the following in mind when sharing the road with cyclists:

  1. Give cyclists room. Make sure you do not pass too closely.
  2. Drivers turning right at a red light should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting an approaching cyclist. Make sure to stop completely and look left-right-left and behind before turning.
  3. Yield to cyclists as you would to another motorist. Do not underestimate a cyclists speed. Yielding to a cyclist will help avoid turning in front of those traveling on the road or sidewalk.
  4. Obey the speed limit. When road conditions are rough, reduce speed. Drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist.
  5. When in a parking lot, at a stop sign, backing up or parking make sure to search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bicycles.

Because Colorado is such an active state, it is very important to share the road when driving and keep an eye out for cyclists.

2019 Cyclist Fatalities

In 2019 there were 846 pedalcyclist fatalities, which accounted for 2.3% of all traffic fatalities during the year (NHTSA, 2019). 

More than 3/4 of pedalcyclist fatalities occurred in urban areas (78%) as opposed to rural areas (22%) in 2019. Of those fatalities, 27% occurred at intersections, 64% occurred at locations that were not intersections, and 9% occurred at other locations, including but not limited to, shoulders/roadsides, parking lanes/zones, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and driveway accesses (NHTSA, 2019)

No matter the time of the year, bicyclist deaths occurred most between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

For more information for safety as a cyclist and as a motor vehicle driver interacting with cyclists please check out https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety.

About the Author

Jordan Travis

Jordan M. Travis - Jordan observed first-hand the practice of law while growing up in Colorado. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating #1 in his class, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Leadership. Jordan also attended the University of Colorado ...

Contact Us Today

Travis Legal Offices, LLC is committed to answering your questions about vehicle collisions, uninsured & underinsured motorists claims, wrongful death claims and insurance bad faith claims in Colorado.

We offer a free consultation and we will gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Menu