May marks Bicycle Safety Month

SANTA CRUZ >> For those in Santa Cruz riding around on two wheels, May is National Bicycle Safety Month. To that end, the California Highway Patrol and Office of Traffic Safety want to remind outdoor enthusiasts that whether you are a cyclist, pedestrian, or driver, traffic safety laws are in place to save lives.

“As more Californians choose walking and bicycling as primary modes of transportation, creating a safer environment for all roadway users is a shared responsibility,” said Commissioner Amanda Ray in a prepared release on Bicycle Safety Month.

Drivers can help create a safer environment for cyclists by checking their blind spots when changing lanes, proceeding with caution through intersections, remembering to look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn, and always looking for cyclists before opening the car door near streets or bike paths. California law also requires drivers to maintain a minimum of three feet of distance when passing or overtaking a cyclist. If there is not enough room to safely pass, be patient and wait until it is safe.

“If you're driving, be the best version of yourself,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney in the release. “We are all pedestrians at one point and many of us ride bikes. Slow down and share the road so we may all get places safely.”

According to the CHP's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, in 2020, California had nearly 8,800 bicycle crashes with 90% of them involving an injury. In that same year, 151 people were killed in bicycle crashes.

Although helmets are not required for people ages 18 and older, experts tell us that wearing a properly secured helmet helps to reduce a rider's chance of a head injury.

As part of National Bicycle Safety Month, the CHP has partnered with the Office of Traffic Safety to educate the public on bicycle safety and the laws that apply to all modes of transportation.