Oregon leads nation in bike safety, but room for improvement still exists

May 08, 2013

May is National Bike Month. The second week of the month is National Bike to Work Week and National Bike to School Day is May 8. At the beginning of the month, the League of American Bicyclists put out the 2013 Bicycle Friendly States rankings. Oregon ranked third and was in the good company of Washington, Colorado and Minnesota.

The Oregon Bicyclist Safety program acknowledges there is still work to reduce the number of bicyclists killed or injured in motor vehicle accidents. From 2008 - 2010, 688 individuals suffered injuries in bicycle accidents on average each year. The program uses educational efforts and public information campaigns with the goal to lower the average by three percent each year through 2015.

These accidents can easily occur on the scenic routes posted around the Portland metro area. Motor vehicles on country roads may not watch for cyclists, which can increase the dangers. Advocates at a recent national summit suggested some ways to reduce accidents.

Towards Zero Deaths

Advocacy groups blame bicycle fatalities on distracted driving, poor road maintenance and higher motorist speeds. Some proposals offered by the group Toward Zero Deaths at a recent national bike summit included:
- Limit urban traffic speeds
- Build networks of protected bike trails and lanes
- Improve transportation infrastructure with well-maintained roads and complete streets initiatives that take into account pedestrian and bicyclist safety
- Reduce distracted driving

Gerik Kansky, advocacy director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance would like to see Oregon follow a highway strategy that moves toward zero deaths similar to what the United States Department of Transportation adopted. The BTA has been instrumental in Portland's efforts to build bicycle boulevards, also called 'neighborhood greenways.'

Another interesting effort at the bike summit was the creation of a Congressional Bike Caucus of congressional members who pledge to encourage state and local agencies not to overlook bicycle and pedestrian safety.

While advocates work on a variety of broad safety measures, individual cyclists can also take steps to ride safely.

Cyclist awareness and safety measures

Wearing a helmet and staying visible are important measures that cyclists can take to stay safe while riding on Oregon roadways. Oregon law requires that children under 16 and any child passengers wear a helmet; however, it is important that all riders wear correctly fitted helmets.

Dawn and dusk are when many Oregon car vs. bicycle accidents occur, because visibility may be limited. Oregon law requires that during limited visibility conditions, a bicycle must have a front white light and a rear red reflector or light. Light colored clothing or reflective strips also help make cyclists more visible.

While cyclists can take precautions and ride defensively, it is impossible to avoid all accidents. Following a bicycle versus car accident, contact an Oregon personal injury attorney. A lawyer can ensure that your rights are protected and you receive fair compensation for your injuries.

Article provided by Harris Law Firm
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