Edhat Staff
Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
The Goleta Police Department will step up bicycle safety enforcement operations on April 11th with focused enforcement on collision-causing factors involving motorists and bike riders. Special patrols will be deployed to crack down on drivers and bicyclists who violate traffic laws meant to protect all roadway users.
The department has mapped out locations from over the past 3 years where bicycle involved collisions have occurred and noted the violations that led to those crashes. Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and bike riders alike that can lead to life changing injuries.
Bicycle fatalities are rising in California as more people use bicycling for commuting, exercise and recreation. Locally, the Goleta Police Department has investigated 62 collisions involving bike riders during the past three (3) years. Of those 62 collisions, 54 were injury collisions, one was a fatal collision and seven were non-injury collisions. < br />
California witnessed 147 bicyclist deaths in 2016, accounting for over four percent of all traffic fatalities, much higher than the national average of over two percent. Nationally, 70 percent of all bicyclists who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2015 died in urban area crashes. Over a 10-year period (2006 to 2015), the average age of ¬cyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes has steadily increased from 41 to 45.
The following safety tips can save lives and stop this tragedy witnessed far too often.
Drivers:
– ‘Share the road’ with bicyclists.
– Be courteous; California law now mandates at least three feet of clearance when passing a bike riders.
– Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space.
– Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
– Be especially watchful for riders when making turns, either left or right.
Bicyclists:
– Wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. If under 18 years of age, it’s the law.
– A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
– Riders are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
– When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
– Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, and at dawn and dusk.
– To be noticed when riding at night, the law requires a front light and a red reflector to the rear.
– For additional safety, use a flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traf fic Safety Administration.
The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for police services.
I understand sometimes cyclists need to ride a little further away from the curb while in the bike lane, but here’s a thought I had yesterday driving Cathedral Oaks with tons of cyclists, many of whom where riding *on* and even over (in the car lane) the bike lane line: If there is a 2 (or more) lane road (2 in each direction) and the car in the right lane starts driving so close to the lane line that the car in the next lane is forced to swerve into the center dividing lane and hits oncoming traffic, then who is at fault? The car that swerved in the right lane, thus causing the car in the next lane to have to avoid it by moving across the centerline, right? SO, how is this any different for cyclists who “choose” to ride on the bike lane line and swerve and weave into the car lanes? Do they not understand that their actions can endanger others? Is it ignorance or selfishness? Maybe both?
Maybe it’s debris in the bike lane
MM1970 – Yesterday on Cathedral Oaks it was not due to debris as some cyclists in the large pack were in the middle of the bike lane, while others where on (and over) the line for long stretches. I can understand needing to avoid debris, but this was sustained riding in the edge of their lane.
Stay in the bike lane.
I ride a bike occasionally and what irks me the most is not cars it’s other bikers on the sidewalk, riding up a oneway bike lane and cutting pedestrian off. Lets all share the road, why we all just live in harmony somehow! Ugh.
Debris in the bike lane, then the cyclist should be traveling at a safe speed for the conditions (just like cars) and be able to use their brakes in time to stop, not just ride faster in other lanes just because there is or may be debris.
EDHAT – exactly! Cyclists constantly are crying out “share the road” but so many of them just absolutely refuse to obey the same laws that other road users (cars) must obey. Stopping at stop signs, traveling at a safe speed to avoid debris without swerving into the next lane, etc etc etc….
Traffic infractions such as these are important to address. While they may not be “real crime,” they are concern for public safety. How many times do we see “bicycle vs car” headlines here? This is a problem and I’m happy to see it addressed!
Down-voting a suggestion to ticket bicyclists riding on the sidewalk? Ok, grow a pair and come out and explain why you think this is a bad idea….. come on, stop hiding behind your down-votes!
today at 6am there was a group of joggers in the dark (with very little reflective clothing) taking up half of Cambridge drive road…almost impossible to see…as bad as the cyclists