2013 is Year of the Bike in Utah: keep it fun; keep it safe

May 22, 2013

2013 has been declared the Year of the Bike in Utah. Many important public partners have joined together in the state to embrace the use of bicycles for commuting, exercise and fun in both urban and rural areas. The program is being used to enhance and promote bicycle-transportation education, events, awareness and infrastructure development.

For example, in April the Salt Lake City Bike Share program GREENbike opened with 10 downtown bike-share stations home to more than 100 green bicycles for public use. Throughout the year, the city will further develop its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan using regular public outreach in an effort to improve upon the city's bike-friendly infrastructure and policies.

Utah bicycle accidents

The city and state can be commended for working hard to establish biking as an environmentally friendly alternative to using vehicles powered by polluting carbon-based fuels and for attempting to keep cyclists safer in traffic. Unfortunately, it is also true that there will always be bicycle accidents, and those when bikes and motorized vehicles collide are especially dangerous, sometimes even fatal, to bikers.

Severe injury possible

Bicycle crashes can happen on country roads or city streets, whether on overland rides for pleasure and exercise; during work commutes; or when people use their bikes for short errands, visits or just for fun. Bicycle-crash injuries can be serious and sometimes permanent, and may include head and brain injuries; broken bones; road rash, bruising and cuts; spine and back injuries; and facial disfigurement.

Take steps to enhance safety

With the onset of summer, Utahns will be hitting the roads on their bikes in rising numbers. To stay safer, bikers of all ages should be educated about state and local rules of the road applicable to them. Bicycles should be of good quality and regularly maintained. Riders can enhance safety by wearing quality helmets and eye protection, as well as padded and reflective clothing. Don't wear headphones that can mask sounds that indicate danger, and use hand signals. As for night riding, Utah law has specific lighting and reflector requirements for bikes.

Seek legal counsel

Any Utahn in a bike accident should speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney with specific bicycle crash experience. Such a lawyer can launch an important investigation into the mishap to uncover all relevant information. For example, liability may attach to an array of sometimes unexpected parties: insurance companies; negligent drivers and pedestrians; road designers and maintainers who do not adhere to accepted standards; bicycle manufacturers and sellers who allow equipment into the stream of commerce that may be defectively designed or made.

Article provided by Eisenberg Gilchrist & Cutt
Visit us at www.egclegal.com