Sharing the Road

BACA believes that both motorists and bicyclists share the responsibility of safely utilizing the public roadways. Bicycling is not only a great form of exercise, it is one of the most efficient and cost effective means of transportation. Riding a bicycle has many obvious health benefits. It also reduces the demand on the roadways and can play a significant role in reducing air pollution levels and traffic congestion.

BACA is working closely with government agencies and other individuals on a number of exciting bicycle/pedestrian trail development issues and other projects designed to expand cycling, running and walking opportunities throughout the area.

As a part of the Share The Road initiative, BACA intends to explore the following possibilities:

Place “Share The Road” road signs along key bike corridors. The signs would be intended to alert motorists that bicyclists frequently utilize the identified routes. Develop and implement a motorist and bicyclist education program. Develop and distribute literature on how to Share The Road safely and to highlight the benefits of cycling. Explore the possibility of obtaining special “Share The Road” automobile license plates. Design and distribute bumper stickers with the Share The Road message. Inform both cyclists and motorists on the applicable laws regarding shared road usage and the responsibilities of all users of public roadways.

Please check this webpage for periodic updates on the progress of the Share The Road initiative.

Head-On:

If meeting a pedestrian head-on on a bike path or the River Trail, the bicyclist, as the faster moving participant in the encounter, must chose where to go. Pick the side with the most room, and catch their eye by moving around a bit. Slow down and point to the direction you plan to pass. If you can't get their attention, slow down even more, and swing wider around them.

From the Rear:

When approaching a pedestrian from the rear, pass as far away as you can to avoid startling them. Say "Passing left," or "Passing right" to let them know that there's a bicycle approaching and what action they should take. If they have headphones on, you might need to shout; otherwise, just use a slightly louder than normal voice. Don't wait until you are on top of them, but don't yell from so far away that they won't know they're affected. As always, slow down to pass.

Crosswalks:

Pedestrians in crosswalks seem to have a hard time estimating the speed with which a bicycle is approaching and tend to assume it's moving slower than it is. If you see a pedestrian approaching a crosswalk, prepare to slow down, and try to catch their attention. Remember that they're watching for cars, not bikes. If they step out in front of you, stop.

Kids on bike paths:

Parents often take children for walks on bike paths because they're isolated from the dangerous streets. Give them as wide a berth as you can. Never get between a child and its parent, and make sure they know that you know that they're in front of you by smiling or saying "Hi." A similar rule can be followed for dealing with dogs and their masters.

Bicyclists and pedestrians fill similar places in the transportation grid. With cooperation, we can get and keep pleasant places to bicycle and walk.

Hitting Pedestrians: Don't ever assume a pedestrian is looking out for you. If you hit a pedestrian, it's your fault even if you have the right of way. Legally the pedestrian always has the right of way. It is your responsibility to be aware of all the thoughtless, crazy moves the pedestrians will make.

Riding the Wrong Way down a street and hitting a pedestrian who is looking in the opposite direction. This is the biker's fault; there is no excuse for this type of accident.

Pedestrian Walking Against a Light, crossing with their ears, not their eyes. Most people look only when they hear something approaching. They will not look for you, so you must expect the unexpected. When they see you, they will panic, move to the left, then to the right, and then suddenly at the last moment, they will run right in front of you.

Pedestrian, Obscured by a Van or Truck, Comes Out of Nowhere into the Middle of the Road. This is the hardest type of accident to avoid. It happens in standstill traffic. Again, the best thing to do is to ride very slowly in such situations. Moral of the story: go very slowly when entering highly congested areas. Do not go blazing through a thick wall of pedestrians at 30 mph. The pedestrian has the right of way.

Remember, a properly tuned bike is almost silent; those on foot may be listening rather than looking for trouble. Bells let people (including non-English speakers) know a cyclist is coming. But to get the attention of drivers and peds, nothing beats the human voice. "YO!" "Stop!" "Coming through!" or even a loud "Excuse me!" do the trick. The goal: Let them know where you are, where you are going, and what you want them to do.

Still, don't count on people responding. The law calls for using extra caution to avoid pedestrians, regardless of right-of-way. If things get dicey, hit the brakes. Hitting a ped will stop you just as quickly as hitting a solid object, and the repercussions are far more serious. Riding unnecessarily close to pedestrians ("buzzing" them) scares them and endangers both of you and is the worst publicity cyclists can get. A slight miscalculation or last-minute move can cause a serious (and seriously stupid) accident.