More Florida residents are using their bicycles for traveling short distances and enjoying outdoor recreation. And more bicycles on the road leads to more opportunities for accidents involving cyclists.
The good news
The fact that there are fewer overall biking accidents at a time when more bicycles are on the road may seem a bit counterintuitive. But this fact is a reality. One reason for this progress is the work done by biking advocates across the country.
Advocates have convinced jurisdictions across the country to embrace cycling culture and facilitate safety for riders. Protective medians and bicycle lanes are common in many cities. Riders also have access to more information regarding bicycling safety practices. The end result is fewer personal injury claims from riders.
The bad news
Despite the decrease in the number of bicycling accidents on American roads, a higher percentage of these accidents result in fatalities. The factors that contribute to these fatalities include:
- Lack of safety training for new riders
- Motorists who do not exercise caution when traveling near cyclists
- Lack of biking infrastructure in cities
The solution
The efforts to make American cities safer for cyclists is bearing fruit but still a work in progress. Ongoing education efforts include bicycling safety courses for adults as well as more education for children. The changes cities are making to roads and highways include:
- Adding stripes to biking lanes
- Providing off-road bike paths
- Taking measures to increase biker visibility at intersections
- More facilities for bike parking
Cyclists who become involved in an accident face a significant risk of injury. The high risk is relevant because cyclists do not enjoy the same protection on the road as a person inside a vehicle. An attorney may represent the best answer for a cyclist injured in an accident.
