Indiana cyclists appear to still be learning how to adjust to safe cycling practices. Since the amount of bicyclists has doubled since the year 2000, this makes some sense. This is echoed by statistics compiled by The League of American Bicyclists, which reports that the bicycle crash rate in Indianapolis is higher than most other large cities across the United States. Specifically, between 2007 and 2012, Indianapolis saw 492 bicycle collisions per 10,000 bike commuters. The Indianapolis bicyclist fatality rate was just as alarming: 4.88 deaths per 10,000 bicycle commuters.
Over the course of the last couple of years, the Indiana Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Caress Law Group in Indianapolis have seen a substantial increase in persons injured in bicycle crashes with both motor vehicles and other cyclists/pedestrians. So the question becomes – “What can each individual cyclist do to stay safe while biking and decrease the chance of being involved in a bicycle collision in Indiana?” We hope the following tips will assist all bicyclists who read this post.
DO’S
Use lights on the front and back of your bicycle at night (and even during the day to be extra safe)
Use the middle of the lane in the street if you do not feel safe by cars passing you in the bike lane (you have a right to be there!)
Wear a helmet. While on your bicycle. At ALL times.
Keep your eyes out for cars and other cyclists – cyclists should always be aware of their surroundings
Ride with traffic
DON’TS
Don’t ignore stop signs, stop lights, and other rules of the road. Indiana cyclists are required to follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles
Don’t ride against traffic
Don’t ride on the sidewalk, especially when a bike lane is available
Don’t wear headphones while riding your bicycle – it is important to be aware of all your surroundings while riding, and your ability to hear is key to that
As a motor vehicle operator, do not pass a cyclist and leave less than 3 feet of space. It is the law in Indianapolis to leave at least 3 feet of space when passing a cyclist
If you or a loved one has any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Indiana personal injury law and/or bicycle law, contact Indiana Bicycle Accident Attorney Lance Worland at 317-255-5400 or via email at Lance@CaressLaw.com at any time. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly and are free of charge. Caress Law Group’s Indiana bicycle lawyers are Indiana’s premier bicycle injury lawyers, and we have over 20 years of experience in assisting victims of injury due to negligence of others.