Share the road: May is Bicycle and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Bicycle and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and more and more, Americans see walking, running and bicycling as a cost effective, healthy and convenient way to travel. Recognizing this, some communities have become more bicycle and pedestrian friendly by adding bicycle lanes and trails to their infrastructure.  However, this is not possible in every community, making it necessary for motorists and cyclists to share the road.  

With the arrival of warmer weather, here are some tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for drivers to help keep everyone as safe as possible on the roads.

1. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities to the road as drivers.

2. Treat bicyclists as you would other drivers and be as aware of them in traffic as you are of vehicles.

3. Pass bicyclists as you would vehicles – pass on the left and only when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane.  Give them room and don’t pass too closely. Kansas law requires motorists to give bicyclists three feet of space at all times. 

4. Drive defensively. Check your blind spots for bicyclists and pay special attention at stop signs and cross walks.  Before making a right-hand turn, make sure a bicyclist isn’t approaching from the right rear of your vehicle.  Look left, then right and left again. Remember to check behind you as well. 

In addition to recreational bicyclists, Kansas welcomes several cycling events each year including the Great TransAmerica Race, Race Across America, Bike Across Kansas, The Dirty Kanza and other events which will bring hundreds of local, national and international riders to our cities and towns this summer.  

Remember to ditch the distractions and share the road.

Class is in session: Back-to-school safety part one

School is back in session for many this month. The inevitable return to classes means that an increase in safety is needed. We will be sharing a few blogs about back to school safety.

Back to School: Safety Session #1 – Driving  

With the end of the dog days of summer, family vacations and summer camps are over and the beginning of another school year is upon us. More than 50 million children will soon be heading back to school. That means increased traffic and congestion as kids and parents hurry off to school every morning.  Being prepared and taking a few extra precautions as a driver can help improve safety. 

• Ditch the distractions.  Children can be quick — whether it’s crossing the street, darting out to pick up something they’ve dropped or emerging from between parked cars.  Drivers need to focus on driving —shut off your cell phone, use the “do not disturb” feature on your mobile device or toss it in the back seat so you’re not tempted to check it. 
• Slow down and allow extra time.
• Seat belts save lives. Always remember to buckle up.

Share the road with young pedestrians.

• Don't block the crosswalk.  This forces pedestrians to go around you and could put them in the path of moving traffic.
• Always stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Watch for school crossing guards and obey their signals.
• Watch for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks and in all residential areas.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

Share the road with teen drivers.

A new school year means newly-licensed teen drivers will be navigating traffic, drop off areas and parking lots, which can mean a potential for more incidents.  According to the National Safety Council, teen crashes spike in September and happen more commonly in the mornings and afternoons, when school begins and ends. Drivers need to keep these tips in mind:

• When dropping off your kids at school, be on high alert for new teen drivers.
• Keep in mind that new drivers may not have the skills that come from experience, such as gauging gaps in traffic, reading the general flow of traffic on roads and having situational awareness while driving in congested areas.
• Give teen drivers the space they need as they learn to navigate traffic, drop-off/pick-up procedures and parking lots.

Know your school’s drop-off procedure

• Be familiar with your school’s drop-off procedures and keep the following tips in mind:
• Don't double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
• Don't load or unload children across the street from the school.

Share the road with school buses

According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are four to seven years old, and they're walking. They are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus. A few precautions go a long way toward keeping children safe around buses:

• Never pass a bus if it is stopped to load or unload children.
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

Share the road with bicyclists

Children on bikes may not be able to properly determine traffic conditions and safety.  Use care when sharing the road with bicyclists.  

• When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave three feet between your car and the bicyclist.
• When turning left with a bicyclist approaching from the opposite direction, wait for the bicyclist to pass.
• If you're turning right and a bicyclist is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, then proceed with the turn.

Pedal power

Today is National Bike to School day and students across the country are using pedal power to make it to classes this morning.  Biking to and from locations is a great way to exercise, save on fuel and it can be a lot of fun! But before you hop right back on that bike seat there are a few things that you may not know when it comes to riding your bike safely and legally. 

Before you read any further, we challenge you to check your bicycle riding knowledge with KDOT’s “How Well Do You Know How to Ride?” quiz.

Let’s address just a few of those questions with some bicycle safety tips:

Wear a properly fitted helmet: This isn’t your ordinary fashion accessory. This is the most effective way to prevent a serious head injury in the event of a bicycle crash.  According to Safekids.org there are a few ways you can check to ensure your helmet fits properly.

EYES check: Position the helmet on your head. Look up and you should see the bottom rim of the helmet. The rim should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.

EARS check: Make sure the straps of the helmet form a "V" under your ears when buckled. The strap should be snug but comfortable.

MOUTH check: Open your mouth as wide as you can. Do you feel the helmet hug your head? If not, tighten those straps and make sure the buckle is flat against your skin.

Be safe. Be seen. Wear bright colors:  Regardless of the time of day, it is important to wear bright colors and reflectors so that you can be easily seen easier by motorists. According to Kansas Law, if you are biking at night you should use a headlight on the front of your bike and a red reflector on the rear of your bike. A rear red light emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet may also be used.

Ride WITH traffic, not against it: This one is actually confusing to a lot of people. An easy way to remember this tip is remember the two Ws. If you are using WHEELS you ride WITH traffic.

Use Hand signals and obey all traffic signs.

Young children should have supervision when riding: Make it a family event, and ride alongside the children. Safekids.org suggests limiting children under 10 years old to
sidewalks. Regardless of their age make sure they are safe and understand the importance of staying alert. Help them to look out for cars and other vehicles. Check out or 10 Simple steps for Bicycle Safety Chart for more information:

 

For more information about bicycle statutes in Kansas check this webpage:
https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burRail/bike/BicycleStatutes.asp

And check out these links for more bicycle safety tips:

https://www.safekids.org/tip/bike-safety-tips

https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicyclists

KDOT calls for Transportation Alternative Program projects

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is calling for projects for the 2017 and 2018 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.

The TA Program, as administered by the department, provides funding for a variety of alternative transportation projects. These include pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure for non-driver access to public transportation, projects that enhance mobility for bicyclists and pedestrians, improvements to the scenic or environmental assets in our state, Safe Routes to School projects, and others. An estimated $18 million in federal funds are anticipated to be available over the course of two Calendar Years. All selected projects will be required to meet a 20% local cash match.

KDOT’s 2017 and 2018 TA Program Guidance & Application Packet, which includes timeline, application, eligibility, scoring criteria, and project selection notes, is available for download at: https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/TransAlt.asp

Important Dates:

Monday, May 8, 2017 – Call for Projects announced and website will be live with application and guidance documents.

Monday, May 15, 2017, 9 am – 12 pm – TA Workshop in Topeka at KDOT headquarters, 700 SW Harrison, 4^th Floor Auditorium A & B.  This will be geared toward eligible Project Sponsors.  Space is limited; please RSVP by 2 pm on May 12, 2017 to Matthew.Messina@ks.gov.

KDOT will host this workshop to inform eligible Project Sponsors about the process and go over changes from past Calls for Projects.  Staff from various state and federal agencies will be available to discuss TA program categorical information and the project application process.

Friday, July 7, 2017 4:00pm – Applications are due (5 paper copies and one digital copy in PDF format) mailed to KDOT headquarters:

Attn: Matthew Messina, 700 SW Harrison St. 2^nd Floor, Topeka, KS 66603

July, 2017 – September, 2017 – Site Visits for all projects.

November, 2017 – Final selections by KDOT and announcement of awards.

For more information, please contact Matt Messina at Matthew.Messina@ks.gov or call 785.296.7448.

Cyclists will be on the losing end

By Don Snyder

Don and his wife, Michelle

     I have been an avid bicycle rider most of my life, riding quite a lot when I was much younger, and then taking the sport back up after a long hiatus about 11 years ago. I thoroughly enjoy the sport, with the feeling of the open air and getting to see a lot of territory at a slower pace than what you can experience driving down the road in an automobile. During the past eight years, my cycling experiences have included participating in the annual “Biking Across Kansas” (BAK) ride in early June.  This is a wonderful way to see the scenery in our great state and to get together with friends you meet every year on the ride, plus get great exercise to keep fit.
     In early May of 2014, I was in the process of training to get ready for the BAK ride. The BAK route is different every year, getting to see a new part of the state and stop at new towns each night. The 2014 route was going to be special, riding from the very southwest corner of the state to the very northeast corner, and it was the 40^th anniversary of the start of the BAK rides.  Needless to say, I was eagerly anticipating the ride that year!
     I do quite a bit of riding late in the evening due to a normal 8-5 work schedule, and because the temperatures are more moderate for riding late in the day. Because I often ride after dark, out on public roads, I have very good lights on my bike to make me more visible to car traffic. My wife and I were out riding after dark on a Friday evening four weeks to the day before the BAK ride was set to begin, riding on South Rock Road adjacent to McConnell AFB in southeast Wichita. 
     I do not recall exactly what happened next, as I ended up in the hospital for a week recovering from my injuries, but I was told later that we were struck from behind by a motorist who drifted to the side of the road and hit us. I was riding behind my wife and was struck first, and we are unsure if the impact launched me into my wife or if the car struck her also. The motorists said she was retrieving her phone from her child sitting in the back seat. Whatever actually happened, the motorist was not paying attention to where she was driving.
     Fortunately, I did not suffer any broken bones that immobilized me, even though I ended up going to the hospital. I did suffer from a concussion severe enough that I was not aware of where I was for three to four days, various cuts and bruises, and was very sore and stiff for a month after the accident. I also had nerve damage in my right arm that made my hand and fingers numb, that eventually had to be operated on to relocate a nerve that had been pinched. My wife has also had a number of issues with damage to her shoulder and knee that required surgery.
     We as bicyclists are aware of the potential for accidents when we ride, and try to watch out for each other when we ride in groups, watching for traffic coming up from behind. But a rider cannot watch behind themselves 100% of the time. Unfortunately we have to accept the fact that not all drivers are as attentive as they should be and that accidents do happen. 
    Since the time of my accident, I have been aware of several other accidents that have happened where the cyclist who was hit died of their injuries. This is a sad fact that someone who was out enjoying their favorite sporting event and staying fit was struck and injured or killed by an inattentive motorist. I was especially fortunate and blessed that my injuries were not more severe, and was able to return to cycling about six weeks after my accident. I have even been able to resume by BAK rides for the past two years, but mostly have no lingering effects from the accident.
     As you are out driving in your automobiles, please be aware that cyclists may be out on the same roads you are traveling on. Please be courteous and respectful of them and encourage your friends and families to do the same. Cyclists will be on the losing end of a car/bicycle accident, and we want to return home to our families just like highway workers in a work zone want to.


Don Snyder is the Wichita Metro Engineer for KDOT

To read more stories about the importance of safety check out our Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day blog: http://ksdotblog.blogspot.com/