Safe Cycling in Denver and the Laws to Guide You

December 09, 2010 (Press-News.org) Safe Cycling in Denver and the Laws to Guide You

The proliferation of bicycles on Colorado's roads may be rooted in many things; the economy and high gas prices, the "green" movement, or more people enjoying the sport. However, with the increased amount of pedal traffic, serious injuries have also been on the rise.

Injuries on the Increase

A 2009 report by the Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons reported that the previous five years had seen a 15 percent increase in chest injuries and a tripling in the number of abdominal injuries resulting from bicycle accidents. A Reuters study shows a dramatic increase in the number of hospitalizations following bicycle accidents between 1996 and 2006.

According to Dr. Jeffry Kashuk, professor of surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and senior attending surgeon at the Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center at Denver Health Medical Center, doctors are seeing "injured spleens and livers, internal bleeding, rib fractures, and hemothorax [blood in the chest]" resulting from bike crashes.

Denver has put an emphasis on accommodating bikers, and has increased the number of bike lanes and sharrows (a marking to indicate a lane shared by both bikes and traffic). The number of bike lanes has nearly doubled in the last two years, from 20 miles to 38 miles. The number of sharrows has also nearly doubled during the same period, from 12 miles to 21 miles.

Even with an effort to increase the number of bike lanes and sharrows, bikers still face a big danger from cars and trucks.

Bicycle Laws

According to City and County of Denver laws, bicyclists are required to follow all the traffic rules and regulations of the road, including the same yield and right-of-way procedures as cars. Bicyclists are also obligated to obey all traffic signals and signs -- running red lights and stop signs puts cyclists at increased risk of accidents and injury.

Other laws that bicyclists must obey:
- Must have a permanent seat attached to the bike
- Cannot carry more passengers than what the bike is designed to carry
- Cannot carry "any package, bundle or article which prevents" the biker from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars
- Cannot ride two abreast, unless road is designated for bicyclists
- Must ride as near the right-hand side of the road is as safe
- Cannot ride at a speed that is faster than what is reasonable and prudent for the conditions, factoring in weather and the number of other cars, bikers and pedestrians that are on the road
- Cannot ride on sidewalks, with limited exception
- Must yield right-of-way to pedestrians

While there are numerous rules governing bicycles, there are also rules that apply to vehicles and their responsibilities as they pertain to bicyclists, including:
- Allowing for a minimum of three feet between the vehicle (including the mirror) and the bicyclist, sometimes referred to as the "safety bubble"
- Cannot pass a bicycle when there is oncoming traffic, with limited exception
- Allow bicyclists the same yield and right-of-way rights as another vehicle

All of the rules, for both bicyclists and vehicles, are intended to keep bicyclists safe. But they cannot prevent all injuries and accidents, and are only effective when they are obeyed.

Stay Safe on the Road
- To be safe on the road, bikers should:
- Obey the traffic laws
- Obey traffic lights and signs
- Ride in designated bike lanes when possible
- Assume that a vehicle does not see you and ride defensively
- Wear a helmet -- an increase in the number of accidents includes an increase in the number of injuries to the head
- Ride with the flow of traffic
- Yield to pedestrians
- Wear bright-colored clothing
- Use appropriate lights after dark
- Use hand signals when making turns and stops

Riding a bicycle provides a mode of transportation and exercise, but it should always be remembered that there is a risk of injury associated with riding. If you are injured or involved in an accident seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you seek money damages for medical bills, lost wages and bike repair.

Article provided by Coppola & Marlin PC
Visit us at www.coppolamarlin.com