With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the warm weather with a bike ride.
But whether you’re cycling through the streets of downtown South Bend or exploring some nature bike trails with the kids, it’s important to practice safe bicycling habits.
It’s also vital for drivers to be aware of cyclists and ensure the streets are a safe place for both cars and bikes.
According to a database from the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), there have been about 300 bicycle crashes in St. Joseph County since 2019, nine of which were fatal. National trends show bicycle-related deaths peak between June and October as more people enjoy the summer months outside the National Safety Council says.
Dustin New works as MACOG’s active transportation planner, and he’s also a longtime volunteer at the South Bend Bike Garage, where he and other volunteers offer bike repair services and resell donated bicycles every Wednesday.
New had several important safety tips for both cyclists and drivers to follow at any time of year, but especially during the summer months.
Tips for cyclists
The best advice New had for cyclists? Be aware.
“You are what we call a ‘vulnerable road user,'” he said. “So if you go up against a car, you’re going to lose.”
Cyclists are supposed to adhere to traffic lights and signs like a motorist would, New said. Many bike-related crashes and incidents happen in intersections, he said, so he urged cyclists to make sure they follow all signals and remain visible to drivers around them.
“Cyclists get a bad rap for blowing stop signs, running through lights and those kinds of things,” New said. “Drivers get frustrated with that. So be conscious of that.
“… If you’re not following the rules, why should they follow the rules? Don’t give them reason to not follow the rules.”
Where to ride
When riding on a street, either in the actual travel lane or in an adjacent bike lane, New said, make sure you’re traveling in the direction of traffic rather than against it. Most drivers will respect the bike lane and give cyclists room, but that doesn’t always happen, New said.
“The bike lanes are supposed to be for bikes only,” New said. “Cars will veer into that; there’s obviously generally nothing separating that lane from the actual car lane. … You should be safer in that bike lane, but that safety part is up to you, so be conscious, be aware of what’s going on around you.”
If there’s no designated bike lane, New recommends that cyclists “take the lane” — make themselves visible to drivers by occupying as much space as possible in the regular car lane, traveling with traffic in the lane rather than off to the side by the curb.
While cycling on the sidewalk is technically illegal, he said, cyclists are allowed to do so if they don’t feel safe riding on the road. But, New said, that brings additional hazards to watch out for, from opening front doors to pedestrians.
“Now, you’re the major vehicle,” he said. “So be very conscious of people that are walking, running, … people that are not on a bike. Honestly, even people that are on a bike.”
Travel in style
Perhaps the most important thing cyclists can do, New said, is wear a helmet.
“Everything else can get scratched up and get healed and whatnot,” he said, “but protect your head.”
And when biking at night, New suggests, wear reflective clothes or a vest. But what works even better than reflective clothes, he said, are reflectors or, preferably, lights on the bike itself.
“Ideally, if you’re riding at night, you should have lights,” New said. “The visibility of lights is just literally night and day different than without.”
Dangerous places for cyclists
Generally, New said, the most dangerous places for cyclists to ride are the busiest roads.
In the South Bend region specifically, he said, these spots include the entirety of Lincolnway and the area’s many bridges.
“Our area has a lot of rivers, which means we have bridges to get across those rivers; and lacking bridges means people have to ride on the roads generally nearest those rivers,” he said. “So Lincolnway, for instance, we see a lot of serious crashes with vulnerable road users on Lincolnway.
“And it’s really that combination of high vehicle traffic as well as high cyclist numbers, just to get around from one bridge to another to get across the river.”
Tips for drivers
For drivers, New said, patience is a virtue when it comes to coexisting with cyclists.
Cyclists are allowed to travel in the lane with cars, he said, and while motorists can pass them, it’s up to the driver to ensure that’s done safely. New advises drivers to give cyclists a chance to find a safe place to get out of the way before passing.
“It’s still only a minute or two versus potentially causing some real damage to somebody that’s on a bike,” New said. “… Part of the reason that they’re out riding is to enjoy it, and for me to pass close to them makes them tense, makes them nervous, takes away the enjoyment of that ride. So as a driver, do what you can to make the ride enjoyable for the cyclist.”
Indiana law also requires drivers to give cyclists at least three feet of space, but, New said, more is always appreciated.
And the same rule applies for groups of cyclists, he said. Drivers should still give at least three feet of room, and, if passing, treat them like a vehicle, albeit a very long one.
Be aware of bike lanes
Because bike lanes are on the right shoulder, New said, drivers should be especially careful when moving over into a turning lane. He reminded motorists to always use their turn signal, because it clearly communicates to bicyclists what the car is doing.
“As the driver, you need to be aware of cyclists and take a look,” New said. “If you passed them a couple blocks before, they’re probably still back there, and they may be coming, and they may have the right-of-way.
“… If we’ve [cyclists] got the right-of-way to go straight, it’s just like with cars. Let us go through, but at the very least, please look and don’t turn in front of us.”
But regardless of whether there’s a designated bike lane, New said, drivers have the responsibility to be aware of cyclists.
“Cyclists may be anywhere,” he said. “We are legally allowed to be on any street in the area, South Bend in particular, are designated as share streets, so the bike has every right to be in the lane as you do.”
Put the phone down
New said he believes a rising cause of bicycle-related crashes is distracted drivers.
It’s been an issue in the past, he said, but the statistics are still getting higher.
“If you follow the laws, which are to not have your phone up at your face, … that is a big factor in making things safer for everybody,” New said, “both you as a driver as well as vulnerable road users such as cyclists.”
Email South Bend Tribune staff reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: 7 bike safety tips to keep cyclists, drivers safe during summer months
Reporting by Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
