Safe cycling: Rules of the road can avoid tragedy

With the warmer weather in Bend, many people are leaving their cars at home and commuting to work on two wheels.

“Biking to work is a great option — it’s healthy, get a suntan, it’s fun,” Commute Options Executive Director Jeff Monson said Tuesday.

But it can be dangerous if you don’t follow the rules of the road, starting with following the flow traffic.

“The majority of the time that a bicyclist is at fault in a crash, that result is because they are riding on the wrong side of the road, the wrong way,” said Bend police Lt. Chris Carney.

Even in a bike lane, bicyclists must ride the same way as traffic, and should only move out into the road if there is something blocking them in the bike lane. Monson said it’s legal to move out of the bike lane when turning left, or when traveling at the speed of traffic, such as in the approach to roundabouts.

Sidewalks are also a safe place to stay away from traffic, unless you’re in downtown Bend.

“In the city limits of Bend, you’re not allowed to bike on the sidewalks because there’s so much pedestrian traffic down there, people are coming out of shops,” Monson said.

Instead, bicyclists must take the lane and be defensible bikers, but remember to be predictable and use signals.

“Basically, the hand signals are just, point in the direction that you’re going,” said Monson.

If you’re riding at night, it is the law to have a reflector and light on the front and back of your bike that is visible for 500 feet.

“I always recommend you go beyond a normal typical white light, because really, there’s a lot of obstacles in the roadway,” said Carney.

As far as helmets, they are always recommended for your safety, but it is only the law for kids under 16 to wear one.

“There’s a lot of people out there riding,” Monson said. “The more people that get out and ride, the more numbers, the safer it will be too.”

Something you may find surprising: Talking on the phone and biking is legal in the state of Oregon, as cell phone laws refer only to motor vehicles. But local agencies such as Commute Options are working to make biking hands-free as well.