Bike to Work Day Safety Tips

Bike to Work Day is Friday, and police are urging those traveling by two—and four—wheels to make it a safe ride.

"What we find out is we get your weekend bicyclist out on this day who isn't always prepared to commute to work in a heavily congested roadway," said San Diego police Sgt. Mark McCullough, who works in the traffic division.

The added vehicles mean extra trouble when cyclists don't follow right-of-way laws—a common factor in accidents—and when drivers aren't paying attention, McCullough said.

According to the 2009 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, San Diego ranks fourth in the number of miles of bike lane and paths, but just 93rd in percentage of commuters who travel by bike.

McCullough said traffic officers have been asked to be more alert on Friday in anticipation of the influx of commuters not used to biking to work. The sergeant also offered the following safety tips:

• Give your bike a tuneup on Thursday night. "Make sure it's in good operating order. They don't want to break [down] in and amongst all those cars," McCullough said.
• Dress appropriately. "This isn't a weekend summer jaunt where you're wearing shorts and a casual shirt. You're going to be dealing with commuter traffic," McCullough said. Cyclists should wear bright clothing, especially jackets with reflectors, and helmets, "something the motorist is going to at least see," he said.
• Stop at stop signs.
• Stay to the right and change lanes with caution. It's OK for cyclists to move over to left lanes when they will be turning, but until then they need to remain on the right side of the roadway, McCullough said. It's also important for bike riders to make sure they have the right of way to change lanes when moving to the left, he said. Many cyclists forget that they aren't moving at the same speed as the cars around them and immediately change lanes as soon as they gesture to do so, leaving drivers little time to see them, he said.
• Don't ride in the middle of the lane, especially not if roads are wet. Oil buildup in the center of lanes can make them very slippery, McCullough said. Painted lines, such as crosswalks, also can be slippery so cyclists should proceed carefully, he said.
• DRIVERS: Be extra cautious and on the lookout for cyclists making sudden, or unanticipated lane changes and turns, McCullough said. Sometimes, drivers making right turns are surprised by cyclists who come up behind them and turn, too, he said.

The League of American Bicyclists, which sponsors Bike to Work Day, also has lots of safety and commuter information on its website.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter @lajollapatch.