May is National Bike Month, as well as National Bicycle Safety Month — an opportunity for the public to learn the benefits of cycling and more about bicycling safety.
These days, people of all ages are riding bicycles for health, economic and environmental reasons. In fact, from 2000-2013, there was a 62% increase in the number of Americans commuting by bike.
Here are just a few benefits of commuting by bicycle:
- Commuting by bike burns an average of 540 calories per hour.
- The average person loses 13 lbs. in the first year of commuting by bike.
- A daily 4-mile bike commute will save about 66 gallons of fuel per year.
- If the average person biked to work once every two weeks instead of driving, we could prevent nearly one billion gallons of gasoline from entering the atmosphere every year.
- Bicycling 20 miles per week reduces a woman’s risk of heart disease by 50%.
However, more bicyclists on the roads also unfortunately means more bicycle accidents and fatalities. A recent report on bicycling deaths revealed that 2015 was the deadliest year in a decade for bike riders, with 818 cyclists across the United States killed in collisions with motor vehicles.
National Bike Month: Be A “Roll Model”
Throughout National Bike Month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the League of American Bicyclists are helping to raise awareness about cycling safety by encouraging bicyclists, as well as the drivers who share the road with them, to be a “Roll Model.”
Being a “Roll Model” includes:
- Riding and driving prepared — expect the unexpected.
- Safety first — bike riders should wear a helmet and drivers should wear their seat belt.
- Know the law — on the road, a bicyclist is considered a vehicle and must obey the same laws and adhere to the same responsibilities as motorized traffic.
- Share the road — those driving motor vehicles and those riding bikes should respect each other’s right to be on the roadway and “look out for each other.”
Motorists should remember they must treat a bicycle like any other vehicle on the roadway, and that the failure to respect cyclists on the roads can lead to a serious bike accident and injury. At the same time, bicyclists should remember that they must also obey the rules of the road, as well as those laws that apply specifically to bicycling.
For more information on National Bike Month, visit the NHTSA and League of American Bicyclists websites.
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle collision, or have questions about the rules for Michigan cyclists or how the no-fault law comes into play in a bike crash, contact our experienced bicycle accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
