Every Spring, National Bicycle Safety Month is observed throughout the U.S. This observance provides the perfect excuse to raise awareness of safety issues that regularly endanger cyclists and bike riders and to promote public works projects aimed at better ensuring that those who choose to travel on two wheels may do so safely. The California Highway Patrol famously responds to National Bicycle Safety Month each year by reminding both riders and motorists to “share the road.” This is an important sentiment, but is one lacking the kind of context that could genuinely help to keep riders safer than they are at present. Is “Sharing the Road” Enough? The idea of “sharing the road” is important, primarily because it reminds motorists that California’s roads don’t belong to them alone. Many motorists are surprised to learn that bike riders and cyclists have legal rights when it comes to traveling by roads that were designed with car traffic in mind. The “ share the road ” slogan, thus, serves as a good reminder that if a bike rider or cyclist is in front of you and isn’t moving at the speed you’d prefer, they don’t need to move out of “your” lane… as the lane in question belongs to the rider as well. However, the phrase “share the road” is limited in the message it conveys. Motorists don’t just have to share the road. They also need to respect the unique needs that riders have and the unique challenges that riders face. For example, many riders choose to travel at night either out of necessity or simply because they enjoy the experience. However, even when riders are decked out in reflective gear and have flashing lights on their bikes, they can be difficult to spot in the dark unless a car’s headlights hit them just right. It is the responsibility of motorists to look out for bike riders on surface streets (not on freeways, as these riders aren’t permitted on freeways) and a failure to exercise caution when driving at night in deference to any riders that may be on the streets could leave motorists liable to legal and financial responsibility for any harm they may cause riders who cross their paths. Generally speaking, motorists can be held accountable under California civil law if their conduct while driving is negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous and causes others harm. Therefore, it isn’t enough to share the road. It is important to embrace the concept of responsibility for the safety of those you may encounter while driving who aren’t traveling via motor vehicle. Shared Responsibility for Rider Safety There is little question that motorists must take the safety of those traveling around them seriously, especially if fellow travelers are on foot, are unguarded on bicycles, or are otherwise more vulnerable than motorists – shielded on all sides by metal – are at any given moment. Because of the massive size of their vehicles and their v ehicles’ capacity for destruction , motorists generally bear more responsibility for operating their vehicles safely while they are on the road than their fellow “active travelers” do. With that said, however, cyclists and bike riders generally have the same rights and responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists do. When bicycle accidents happen, it is unusual but not impossible for a rider to be totally at fault for a collision involving a motorist . Like motorists, riders must refrain from drunken, drowsy, drugged, distracted, and overly aggressive approaches to operating their modes of transportation. They are required to follow all signs and to respect all traffic laws . Yes, motorists need to do more than share the road with cyclists and bike riders, of this there is no doubt. Motorists also arguably bear more responsibility for the safety of those traveling around them than riders do. However, biking safety does boil down to shared responsibility. Everyone on the road needs to exercise caution and respect for the safety of those they encounter. It is possible that by embracing the concept of “shared responsibility” as opposed to simply reminding motorists to “share the road” that Californians could dramatically improve rider safety for the better. According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System , nearly 800 bicyclists were killed and more than 51,000 were injured over the past five years in crashes in California. Rider safety remains an urgent public safety issue deserving of attention, respect, and significant resources. The argument could be made that the state also bears shared responsibility for ensuring the safety of riders… calling on motorists to share the road just isn’t doing enough. Legal Aid Is Available If you have been injured in a biking accident, you almost certainly have legal options available to you at this time. While bike safety is a shared responsibility, it is rare that bike riders and cyclists bear full responsibility for the harm that they suffer as a result of accidents involving motor vehicles. Additionally, because California is a pure negligence state, bike riders and cyclists who are partially responsible for their injurious circumstances remain empowered to hold motorists responsible for any negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous conduct on their part that may have contributed to the harm in question. In short, even if you were partially to blame for your biking accident , make sure to explore your legal options as soon as you can, as chances are very good that you have strong grounds upon which to file a claim. Our firm strongly believes that all injury victims deserve to understand their rights under the law, regardless of their ability to pay for legal advice. As a result, we offer free, risk-free consultations to all injury victims interested in learning about their options. If you haven’t yet scheduled a consultation with our experienced team, please do so now. We look forward to speaking with you.