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Health & Fitness

May is National Bike Month

Of the 630 bicyclist deaths in 2009, eight out of 10 were adults over 21, so the League of American Bicyclists and AAA partnered to encourage adult bicyclists to take five easy steps to safer riding.

Did you know that if you are parked on PCH or any road in Malibu and open your car door, and a car, truck or bike takes it off or mows you down, you are the guilty party? Years ago, my dad got out of the driver’s seat and opened the rear car door on the street side to get his briefcase—a truck took off the door and sent my dad to the hospital. It was his fault for not waiting until it was safe to open the door. So save two or three minutes, and possibly your life, by checking that no vehicles, including bikes, are coming. Then get out of the car safely.

If you read Malibu Patch regularly, and I’m sure that you do, you probably saw last week about biking on PCH. To date, it has generated almost 150 comments and has been extremely popular no matter which side of the fence you are on. Since it’s National Bike Month, I thought it was worthwhile in my regular safety blog to bring joint advice from the American Automobile Association and the Bike Month’s sponsor, American League of Bicyclists. Of the 630 bicyclist deaths in 2009, eight out of 10 were adults over 21, so the League of American Bicyclists and AAA have partnered on a campaign to encourage adult bicyclists to take five easy steps to safer riding:

  • Follow the Rules of the Road:
    • Always ride with traffic, using the rightmost lane, obeying the same laws as motorists.
    • Use hand and arm signals to indicate your intention to stop, merge or turn.
    • (I am adding for emphasis) Stop at red lights and stop signs.
  • Be Visible:
    • Ride where drivers can see you. Do not ride on the sidewalk.
    • Wear brightly colored clothing at all times. At night, use a white front light and red rear light or reflector, and wear reflective clothing.
  • Be Predicable:
    • Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars.
    • Make eye contact with motorists to let them know you are there.
  • Anticipate Conflicts:
    • Always be aware of traffic around you and be prepared to take evasive action, exercising additional caution at intersections.
    • Learn braking and turning techniques to avoid crashes.
  • Wear a Helmet:
    • Helmets, when worn properly, are up to 85 percent effective in protecting the head and brain in the event of a crash. Should you crash, or have an impact that affects your helmet, replace it immediately.
    • Fit matters: Wear your helmet level on your head, low on your forehead, with no more than two finger widths above your eyebrow.

Motorists should also make an effort to reduce bicyclist injuries and fatalities.

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AAA encourages its members to take the following precautions when sharing the road with bicyclists:

  • Stay alert, avoiding all distractions while driving.
  • Yield to bicyclists when turning.
  • In bad weather, give bicyclists extra passing room.
  • Check mirrors and blind spots for bicyclists before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.
  • Slow down and give at least three feet of clearance when passing.
  • Reduce your speed when passing bicyclists, especially when the road is narrow.
  • NEVER honk your horn at a bicyclist just to let them know you are there; it could cause them to swerve into traffic or off the roadway and crash. Save your horn for emergencies.
  • Always check for bicyclists before opening your car door.

For information on bicycle safety, please visit BikeLeague.org and SharetheRoad.AAA.com

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