Tag: biking

The only thing more fun than a bike ride is a safe bike ride. Follow these rules from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to make sure you get home safely.
Bicyclists:

• Must obey all traffic signals and stop signs.
• Are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of roadway in rural areas where there is no alternate route.
• Must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.
• Shall ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical– not on the sidewalk.
• Are legally allowed to ride in the center of the lane when moving at the same speed as other traffic.
• May move left to pass a parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, animal, avoid debris, or other hazards.
• May choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.
• Should ride single file on a busy or narrow street.
• Must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.
• Must signal all their intentions to motorists and bicyclists near them.
• Must wear a helmet if under the age of 18.
• Should carry identification.
• Shall not operate a bicycle on a roadway during darkness unless the bicycle is equipped with:
• A brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel stop on dry, level, clean pavement.
• During darkness bicyclists must have the following equipment:
• A front lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet.
• A rear red reflector visible from a distance of 500 feet.
• A white or yellow reflector on each pedal or on the bicyclist’s shoes or ankles visible from a distance of 200 feet.

Of course, being safe and visible only gets you so far. Safe bicycling requires safe drivers. Drivers should:

• Allow a four-second following distance. You will need this space to avoid hitting the bicyclist, if he or she brakes suddenly or falls off their bike. Bikes generally can stop faster than passenger vehicles.
• Allow the bicycle a full three feet. Although it is not illegal to share lanes with bicycle, it is unsafe.
• When you make a turn, check for bicyclists and gauge their speed before turning.
• Look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning right.
• Remember that road conditions which are minor annoyances to you pose major hazards to bicyclists. Potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement can cause bicyclists to change speed or direction suddenly. If you are aware of the effect of these conditions and drive with care and attention, you can help reduce bicyclist injuries and fatalities.

Remember: Bicycles are small, and they can easily disappear into a vehicle’s blind spots.
Drive cautiously, respect everyone’s right of way, and get home safely!
 

It may not look like much, but that two-wheeled contraption in your garage is a lean, green, health, economic and safety machine.
We rounded up some facts and stats from the Bikes Belong Coalition. Consider these talking points when you ask your employer to install a free bike locker.
1. Bicycling is for everyone

• Bicycling is the second most popular outdoor activity in the United States. (Outdoor Foundation, 2010)
• 47% of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2008)
• Most trips Americans make are short: 50% are less than 3 miles, 40% are less than 2 miles, and 28% are less than 1 mile. (US Department of Transportation, 2009)

2. Bicycling can help you live longer and better

• Adults who bike to work have better weight, blood pressure, and insulin levels. (Gordon-Larsen, P., et al., 2009)
• Women who bike 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. (Luoto, R., et al., 2000)
• Adolescents who bicycle are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults. (Menschik, D, et al., 2008)

3. Bicycling boosts the economy

• The U.S. bicycle industry sold $5.6 billion in bicycles and equipment in 2009. (National Bicycle Dealers Association, 2010)
• More than three times as many new bicycles (14.9 million) are sold in the U.S. each year than cars (4.6 million). (National Bicycle Dealers Association, 2010; Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2010)
• Studies have shown that homes closer to bike paths are more valuable. (Various sources)

4. Bicycling is less expensive than driving a car

• The average American househould spends $7,179 per year on owning and driving their cars. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2010)
• On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save around $10 daily. (Commute Solutions, 2011)

5. Bicycling reduces road congestion and air pollution

• Traffic congestion wastes nearly 3.9 billion gallons of gas per year in the U.S. (Texas Transportation Institute, 2010)
• For every 1 mile pedaled rather than driven, nearly 1 pound of CO_² (0.88 lbs) is saved. (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2009)

6. Bicycling is safe, and together we can make it safer

• The health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by a factor of 20 to one. (Hillman, M., 1992)
• There is safety in numbers: the more cyclists there are, the safer bicycling is. (Jacobsen, P., 2003)

Biking is a great way to make your commute happier and healthier, but outside of the first world, bicycling replaces walking as a faster means of mobility for:

• Women, who typically spend more time than men walking through performing domestic duties like gathering food, water and firewood
• Children, who face long walks to school and arrive too tired to learn
• Healthcare workers, who often walk long distances to provide medication and counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS and malaria in their homes
• Unemployed people, who can start bike shops, delivery businesses, tourism ventures or spin off projects making trailers, racks and other add-ons

Bay Area-based World Bike sends bikes, parts, and skilled teachers to places like Cuba, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, and Thailand. This is the story of how the bicycle supports a Kenyan woman’s commerce.

When Lydia needs fertilizer, seed or grain, she buys only what she can carry on her head or, if she’s fortunate to have enough money to ride in a ‘matatu’ (a local bus), she fits more on her lap. When it’s time to sell milk produced by the family’s cow, Lydia takes whatever price is offered by the broker who visits the farm by truck. She has no other means to get the milk to the market, where it would fetch a fair price.

Maya Pedal in Guatemala uses bicycles to make “bicimaquinas”, that are used to de-grain and grind corn, pump water, de-pulp coffee, wash clothes, and more. The human-powered source of power helps families conduct jobs which enable them to send their children to school.
Another group, Movement Bikes, is dedicated to designing and sourcing sturdy bikes that can survive the rugged conditions of places like rural Africa, but can be built and shipped for $10.
There are several  organizations doing this sort of work all over the world, and many of them are based within the Bay Area.

• Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger. -National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation
• Cycling at least 3 hours a week cuts your risk of heart disease in HALF compared to those who do not cycle or perform other exercise, according to the British Heart association.
• Exposure to some air pollutants and toxic compounds can be 2 to 10 times higher inside cars than outside. A two year study in California found that concentrations of carbon monoxide, benzene, MTBE, and other harmful compounds are higher inside cars than at roadside monitoring stations. – ‘Divorce Your Car’, Katie Alvord
• Loose the extra pounds. A 15-minute bike ride to and from work or school five times a week burns off the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year. – Leeds: Cycling and Health
• Multiple studies have found that moderate exercise, such as bicycling, has been found to reduce levels of depression and stress, improve mood and raise self-esteem.
• Bike commuting reduces the air pollutants that cause asthma and bronchitis.
• Every day in California cyclists prevent over 7 tons of inhalable particles from going into the air. Why not join the clean-up crew? – MPBTA, 2002

For many of us, a bicycle is a form of transportation. It reliably takes you to work, errands, and home again. Maybe you occasionally ride with a friend on the weekends around your neighborhood, but you ride a bike – you’re not a “cyclist”.
Maybe this fall is your chance to change your mind. These three local cycling clubs are made of people that bike for transportation like yourself, but they find fun, community, and friendship in riding as a group, too.

The Diablo Cyclists, Thanksgiving 2009

The Bay Area Velo Girls

Velo Girls was founded in March, 2002 by Lorri Lee Lown, a San Francisco Bay Area cyclist. The club is a place where women and girls can share their love for cycling in a safe, friendly, encouraging environment.
The club focuses on fun, recreational riding, with the opportunity to attend cycling skills and general fitness clinics to improve riding and overall fitness. There are scheduled rides for all level of riders from beginners, recreational riders, and racers. We number almost 250 members from throughout the greater Bay Area, including San Francisco, North Bay, East Bay, Silicon Valley, the coast, and the Peninsula. Our online community numbers over 1,000 women cyclists and is an incredible resource.
We offer rides and events every single day of year, including road rides for all levels, mountain bike trail rides, cyclocross training, and lots of fun!

Diablo Cyclists

Located 30 miles east of San Francisco in Walnut Creek, California, the Diablo Cyclists is a recreational road, touring and off road bicycle club. We are focused on providing cyclists of all levels an opportunity to ride, train and socialize with other bicycle enthusiasts. Our emphasis is more on the fitness, skill building, and social aspects of bicycling and less on racing. Please come out on one of our rides and get to know the friendly members of the Diablo Cyclists.
Check out their schedule of weekly Wednesday evening rides.

Delta Pedalers Club

The Delta Pedalers is a cycling club located in Eastern Contra Costa County. We are a bicycle touring club having bike rides throughout the week. We also support cycling advocacy and cycling events in the East County area. Come join us on one of our rides.

The only thing worse than being hit by a car on a bicycle is hitting someone else with your car while they’re on a bicycle.
For starters, meet the “sharrow”. A sharrow, or “shared arrow” is shown on the right. This design indicates that bicycles and cars should share full use of the lane. If you’re behind a slow moving bicycle, treat it like any other slow moving vehicle. If you’re on your bike, look for reasonable and safe opportunities to let cars pass you.
Treat a bike lane like any other lane.
As the Bay Citizen’s data shows, bicyclists are everywhere – not just on streets with bike lanes and signs.
The Californi DMV offers these words of advice (actually, requirement) to help drivers reduce their risk of injuring others.

• At intersections without “STOP” or “YIELD” signs, slow down and be ready to stop. Yield to traffic and pedestrians already in the intersection or just entering the intersection. Also, yield to the vehicle or bicycle which arrives first, or to the vehicle or bicycle on your right if it reaches the intersection at the same time as you.
• Do not obstruct bicycle traffic by reducing the width required for safe bicycle passage, typically three to four feet.
• When you are making a right turn and are within 200 feet of the corner or other driveway entrance, you must enter the bicycle lane only after ensuring there is no bicycle traffic,and then make the turn. Do not drive in the bicycle lane at any other time.
• You may park in a bicycle lane if your vehicle does not block a bicyclist and/or there is not a “No Parking” sign posted.
• When passing a bicyclist in the travel lane ensure enough width for the bicyclist, typically 3 feet. Do not squeeze a bicyclist off the road.
• Bicyclists may occupy the center of the lane when conditions such as a narrow lane or road hazard make it unsafe to ride in a position that may provide room for a vehicle to pass.
• With any slow-moving vehicle, drivers should follow at a safe distance. When it is safe the bicyclists should move to a position that allows vehicles to pass.
• Allow sufficient clearance, and ample room for movement and unexpected road conditions.
• Always look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning.
• Allow bicyclists enough room to avoid colliding with vehicle doors that are opened into traffic.
• Do not try to pass a bicyclist just before making a turn. Merge safely where it is allowed, then turn.
• Make a visual check for bicyclists when changing lanes or entering traffic. Bicycles are small and may be hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot.
• Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a two lane highway or freeway.

Do you have anything to add?

Is your employer or business a bike-friendly business?
Long, driven commutes are connected to higher divorce rates, as well as high stress and high costs. Living closer to your destination and traveling by bike is good for your wallet, your health, and your environment. Encouraging your co-workers and employees to make the switch to bike commuting, even once a week, can keep your office happier, healthier, and more productive.
What can you do in…
30 seconds?
Request a free bike locker at your workplace! Give a bike commuter a safe place to store their bike during work hours.
30 minutes?
Start a bike commuting club. You know that person that would bike but needs a little bit more motivation (unless it’s you). Organize a group ride once a week. Meet in a specific location at a set time, and ride to work together. You’ll arrive at work energized, and get to know your colleagues along the way.
As long as you have your bike at work, consider adding something special to the routine once a month. Do people want to bike to a lunch picnic or happy hour?
3 hours?
511 Contra Costa offers no-cost training seminars for both employers and employees that want to encourage bike commuting to their workplace. Are you willing to host a free workshop on no-cost green commute options for your employees? Give us a call us at (925) 969-0841 x204.
Topics include:

• Pre-tax benefits for commute expenses, such as TranBen, TransitChek (Transit Center),  Commuter Check, WageWorks, Benefit Resource Inc. (eTrac), Clipper Direct
• Teleworking or compressed work week program development mini-grants
• Obtaining Green Business Certification
• Establishing company-sponsored commuter rewards programs
• Administering employee transportation surveys

These seminars are for more than bike commuters. Ask how transit riders and vanpoolers can set aside up to $230 of pre-tax income per month, saving up to $1,000 a year.
Are you already a bike-friendly business?
Let the world know with a designation from the League of American Bicyclists! Submit an application (or browse it for more ideas) today!
Want more local recognition? Start getting ready now for the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s 2012 Bike-Friendly Business Awards.
Share your story.
Is your company an inspiration to bike commuters, or a cautionary tale? What would you like to see employers do to make bicycling to work easier? Share you experiences in the comments!