Rethinking Road Safety: The Case for Banning Right on Red

Major Cities are Considering New Restrictions on Right Turns Amid Growing Concerns for Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

While it may seem hard to believe, across the United States, the familiar sight of cars turning right at red lights may soon be a thing of the past. With an alarming increase in accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, many cities are seriously considering banning this practice.

Let’s take a closer look at the true dangers presented by right on red, and what some cities are doing to mitigate those risks.

The Dangers Lurking at Red Lights

In most parts of the country, excluding New York City where right on red is already banned, the “right on red” maneuver is a common practice – yet more perilous than one may think. Danger often arises when drivers, focused on finding a gap in traffic, overlook pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road.

This oversight has led to a disturbing rise in injuries and fatalities, prompting a few major cities to contemplate a total ban on right turns at red lights.

Which Cities are Leading the Charge for Change?

Washington, D.C., recently set a precedent with its City Council approving a right on red ban effective from 2025. In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is exploring similar restrictions. Ann Arbor, Michigan, has already prohibited these turns in its downtown area.

Other major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver are also considering bans, signaling a significant shift in urban traffic policies.

While San Francisco’s proposed ban seems likely to become law, making it the 2nd largest U.S. city to do so, prospects for a ban in car-centric Los Angeles may be more remote — at least for now.

An October, 2023 article on the subject published in the Los Angeles Times said the following:

“In Los Angeles, advocacy groups have pushed to hold pedestrian-friendly events to get across to the public the need to walk more and drive less, as well as advocating for lowering speed limits on some streets and other measures to improve safety. But even the most ardent supporters are doubtful that a push to ban right turns on red lights would gain any traction in the county, at least for now.

“This is something that’s going to take years of work to even get to the point where it would be considered in L.A.,” Kevitt said.

The Origins of Right on Red

The right on red policy originated in the 1970s during an energy crisis in the U.S. It aimed to reduce fuel consumption by preventing cars from idling at stoplights. While the policy was energy-conscious, it failed to consider its impact on road safety.

Subsequent studies have shown a stark increase in accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists following its implementation.

Statistical Insights: A Safety Hazard Unveiled

A 1982 study highlighted the unintended consequences of this policy, revealing a substantial rise in collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. In Ohio and Wisconsin, these incidents skyrocketed, indicating a clear correlation between the right on red policy and road safety risks. In Toronto, right on red turns have historically accounted for a significant percentage of pedestrian and cyclist deaths. Extrapolating these figures to the U.S. context suggests about 190 fatalities annually, a concerning statistic that underscores the need for policy change.

The Takeaway

The debate to ban right on red is not just about traffic regulations; it’s a question of prioritizing human lives over convenience. With nearly 200 fatalities a year linked to this practice, the evidence is compelling.

Cities contemplating this ban are not just challenging a long-standing traffic norm but are taking a bold step towards safeguarding their residents. It’s time to reassess our road rules and make necessary changes for a safer future for all road users, whether they are drivers, cyclists or pedestrians.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

Why Have Cycling Injuries Reached a Multi-Decade High?

New studies show that American roads are becoming more treacherous – and Los Angeles is ground zero for cycling risk.

Cycling is booming in the United States, as the COVID-19 pandemic created countless new converts to the cause – something that spurred many cities to invest in infrastructure to support the trend.

However, this rise in cycling has seen a parallel bump in cycling fatalities. According to a recent study published by Jerry, a direct-to-consumer insurance company, the total number of cycling fatalities has increased a staggering 58% between 2011 and 2021.

Analysts at Jerry reviewed more than 8,000 fatal crash records from the National Highway Transportation Association while also analyzing population data from major metropolitan areas.

That data didn’t just reveal more dangerous roads, however. It also indicated that the danger level for cyclists is largely dependent on where they do their pedaling.

Which Cities are the Most Dangerous for Cyclists?

If you’re a California resident, the results of Jerry’s research are doubly troubling. New York City and Los Angeles saw the most cycling deaths from 2011 through 2020. The New York City and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, a stretch of coastal South Florida from Palm Beach to Miami, and the Phoenix and Tucson areas in Arizona ranked among the deadliest large metro regions on a per capita basis.

What is Driving This Trend?

So why are cycling fatalities on the rise? Some point to the increase in distracted driving, as more and more drivers use smartphones while behind the wheel. Others note the trend toward larger vehicles, which can deliver more force to cyclists in the event of an accident. Whatever the cause, it’s clear that more needs to be done to address the issue and make our roads safer for cyclists.

What Can We Do to Stay Safe?

One way to address the issue is through better infrastructure. Cities can invest in bike lanes, paths, and other measures to help separate cyclists from vehicle traffic and reduce the risk of accidents. Additionally, more can be done to increase public awareness of the risks faced by cyclists and encourage safer driving practices.

Cyclists can also help themselves by always wearing protective gear, including a helmet, and obeying all traffic laws, while staying visible to motorists by wearing bright clothing and using lights and reflectors. Situational awareness is also critical, keeping an eye out for potential hazards and watching how others behave while sharing the road with you.

Ultimately, however, the onus should not be on cyclists to protect themselves. We need a combination of commitment from political leaders, enforcement of existing laws designed to protect cyclists and better infrastructure if we want to make California roads safer in 2023 and beyond.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

California Legislature Takes First Step Toward a Bicycle Handbook

California cyclists have some good news coming out of the state legislature.

Assembly member Tasha Boerner Horvath has introduced A.B. 1188, a bill that would help speed creation of a California Bicycle Safety Handbook. Should the bill pass, state cyclists will finally have a handbook on par with the Driver’s Handbook, creating much-needed parity between the two groups.

The proposed handbook will cover existing laws for bicycles and e-bikes, safety equipment, and how to share the roads and bikeways with other users. In essence, the book would be a one-stop-shop for all cycling knowledge.

A Long-Term Effort May Finally Pay Off for Cyclists

Advocates have long pushed the DMV to create and distribute a handbook like this, as they already do for seniors and motorcycle riders. Up until now, bicycle info has played a subordinate role and has been limited to the information contained within the Driver’s Handbook.

The bill calls for teamwork among the DMV, Caltrans, CHP, and the California Office of Traffic Safety, as well as major cycling organizations like the League of American Bicyclists and the American Bicycling Education Association. As these organizations already have extensive resources and materials on bike safety, creating the handbook won’t be a herculean task; it’s just a matter of collating the info and adding California-specific regulations.

Having this handbook available online and in DMV offices will not only be useful for safety but will also send a clear message: California bicycle riders have just as much right to use the roads as those car and truck drivers.

According to a recent Streetsblog post about the subject, the handbook is even more important with e-bike popularity surging. Jim Baross from the San Diego Bicycle Coalition pointed out that increased adoption of e-bikes will create a much more acute need for safety training and resources.

What’s the Next Step?

California’s bicycle laws have been changing, and they’re likely to continue evolving. The three-feet-for-safety law wasn’t around ten years ago, and now there’s even a lane-change requirement. Bills like A.B. 73, which would let cyclists treat stop signs as yield signs, keep coming back, despite previous defeats. So, having a Bicycle Handbook at the DMV would be the perfect starting point to keep everyone in the loop.

A.B. 1188 hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing, but action is expected soon. If everything proceeds as planned, California could have a much needed Bicycle Handbook in the near future — a key step toward ensuring safe streets and safer rides for all Californians.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

E-Bikes: Good for the Planet, but Sometimes a Threat to Public Safety

Why legislators and safety advocates are working to create safer e-bike use

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are becoming increasingly popular as a mode of transportation, but not all Californians have been thrilled with this development, thanks to high-speed crashes and daredevil riders. Now, there is a new law that observers hope will address these concerns. 

The Risks of E-Bikes

Unlike traditional bicycles, e-bikes are equipped with a motor that can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour or more, which can make it difficult for riders to control the bike and avoid accidents. Additionally, e-bikes can be heavier than traditional bikes, which can increase the risk of injury in the event of a collision.

Another potential danger of e-bikes is their lack of visibility. Many e-bike riders do not wear helmets or other safety gear, which can make them difficult to see on the road. This lack of visibility can increase the risk of accidents, especially at night or in poor weather conditions.

According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, e-bike injuries in the area have been rising. The Times wrote:

“During the first 10 months of last year, staffers at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo documented 198 e-bike injuries. Doctors saw 113 injuries in 2021 and just 34 in 2020, according to data provided by the hospital,” she reports. “Between January and October of last year, 78 of the 198 people who suffered an injury on an e-bike were not wearing helmets and 99 suffered some type of head injury, data show.”

Tetsuya Takeuchi, the trauma medical director at Providence Mission Hospital, told Fry it’s her feeling “we got a device a little bit too fast, and the culture is not completely set for it. It’s a convenient vehicle, it’s environmentally friendly — there’s a lot of advantages. But we need to think about the safety of the rider and the safety of the people around them.”

Legislative Progress on the Issue

In addition to safety advocates raising public awareness of e-bike injuries, state legislators are also trying to solve the problem.

State Bill 1946, which became law in 2022, requires the Department of Transportation to create new e-bike-specific training and safety programs.

The bill’s language is as follows:

“This bill would require the department to develop, on or before September 1, 2023, statewide safety and training programs based on evidence-based practices for users of electric bicycles, as defined, including, but not limited to, general electric bicycle riding safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road, and laws pertaining to electric bicycles. The bill would require the safety and training programs to be developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and to be posted on the internet website of the department.”

This law represents the first progress on the issue from a legislative standpoint. However, safety still begins with California cyclists making good choices.

How to Ride Safely

To minimize the dangers associated with e-bikes, riders should take proper safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet, using lights and reflectors, and obeying traffic laws. Additionally, e-bike riders should be aware of the limitations of their bikes and avoid riding in conditions that may make it difficult to control the bike.

Perhaps most importantly, e-bike riders should be aware of how high speed increases the risk of injury, to themselves and others.

If you ride safely, take precautions and are still injured because of the negligence of another person, it may be time to contact a California bicycle accident lawyer.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

California Cyclists Will Benefit from New Safety Laws, Expanded Access in 2023

The OmniBike Bill contains several new provisions that should lower risk and increase fairness for state cyclists

California cyclists have been making incremental progress for years in the battle for safer streets, sidewalks and trails and greater accessibility.

Thanks to the state’s new “OmniBike” bill, signed in late 2022 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, several small yet important safety and fairness measures are being enacted simultaneously.

Four Key Changes

The OmniBike bill introduces four changes to the California state vehicle code.

  •  The new law still requires drivers to pass a cyclist with at least three feet of clearance, but also move over to an adjacent lane if one is available. Additionally, if a motorist cannot comply with these requirements, then the motorist must slow down and pass only when it is safe.
  • Accessibility for Class 3 e-bikes has been expanded. Class 3 e-bikes’ motors are capable of reaching 28 miles per hour whereas most other e-bikes can only reach 20 miles per hour. The prior law prohibited Class 3 e-bikes from bike lanes, bike paths, and recreational trails. The new law allows these bikes on all of these previously prohibited routes. However, cities, counties, and park and recreation departments can still limit e-bike use on their paths and trails within their jurisdiction.
  • Bicycle licensing laws are now limited statewide. A city or county which adopts a licensing ordinance cannot prohibit the operation of unlicensed bikes with their jurisdictions.
  • Finally, on January 1, 2024 state law will allow cyclists to cross streets with pedestrians during pedestrian walk symbols, even when facing a standard solid red traffic control signal. Advocates say this will help improve the flow of traffic while also keeping cyclists safer.

Small Steps Can Create Larger Change

While these may not be earth-shattering changes individually, taken as a whole they represent a larger step forward for safety, accessibility and fairness for all California cyclists.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

Worries of Danger for Cyclists near the 6th Street Bridge are Vindicated

A local cyclist was killed on a stretch of road that advocates had criticized for being insufficiently protective

Sergio Cordova was killed while riding his bicycle near 6th street on Oct. 26. His death was the 12th this year among LA cyclists, and the 71st in Southern California. Those numbers are at or near historic highs.

Cordova’s death occurred on a stretch of road leading to the 6th Street Bridge, a new 4 lane roadway. When the bridge opened, safe streets advocates called the design and existing infrastructure potentially dangerous for cyclists, even though the bridge has dedicated bike lanes.

According to an article published in LAist when the bridge opened in July, activists wondered why the bike lanes are “permeable” and not blocked by concrete structures.

LAist wrote:

“The bridge has Class IV bike lanes on both sides of the four-lane roadway, consistent with the direction of traffic lanes. That lane type is “physically separated from motor traffic with a vertical feature.

On the viaduct, that’s achieved with round plastic posts set on rubber strips that are similar to parking blocks. The strips are placed a few feet apart from each other, with the plastic bollards set roughly every 15 feet. The bike lane is separated from the pedestrian sidewalk by a short concrete wall.

Many wondered why the concrete barriers weren’t placed between the bike lanes and car lanes to better protect people biking the span, given that concrete is harder for a vehicle to crash through than plastic posts.”

Why Permeable Plastic Bollards?

State officials told LAist that the permeability of the bike lanes was needed to accommodate vehicles that need to pull off after being in a collision or stalling in traffic/running out of gas. However, observers noted that while plastic bollards may deter some drivers, highly inebriated drivers, people texting or other “worst case scenario” drivers would not be at all deterred by plastic. Only a strong vertical feature like concrete has the ability to offer true protection in such cases.

With this latest cyclist’s passing, the fears of traffic advocates look prescient – and the onus is on public officials to ensure that cyclists don’t merely enjoy convenience from bike lanes, but also genuine protection from the worst possible outcome.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

Huge Spike in Bicycle Accidents Forces Carlsbad Leaders to Take Action

Bicycle and e-bike accidents have risen so sharply in Carlsbad, California that city officials declared a state of emergency within the city this summer. The emergency declaration cited a 233% yearly increase in bike accidents, some of which involved serious injuries or death.

Local news outlet KUSI detailed the consequences of the declaration.

With the declaration, Carlsbad City Manager Scott Chadwick has called on resources from the city’s police, fire, transportation and community education departments to develop action plans to be presented to the City Council Aug. 30, followed by a comprehensive plan on Sept. 27.

According to the city, an emergency declaration allows the city to reallocate resources, expedite certain actions and temporarily bypass lengthy processes to address an existing or imminent threat. The official declaration covers the safety of bicycles, e-bikes and other motorized devices, which could include electric scooters and motorized skateboards.

“This is an issue that affects every single member of our community, and it will take all of us working together to make our streets safer,” Chadwick said.

Now, additional data has come to light providing more context on the cycling problems in Carlsbad.

Learning from Data Analysis of Local Accidents

Local newspaper the Del Mar Times recently analyzed data from each of the 249 bicycle and e-bike accidents cited by Carlsbad leaders within their state of emergency declaration. This analysis was able to uncover some key trends.

  • 40% of all accidents occurred on the coastline west of I-5. The area around Carlsbad Village alone accounted for 25% of all accidents.
  • E-bike accidents are surging. In 2019, e-bikes only accounted for about 11% of accidents. Last year, that number was more than 50%.
  • Automobiles were involved in roughly half of all bike and e-bike accidents. The automobile driver was found responsible for the collision in the majority of cases.
  • The most common accident types were sideswipe, broadside collision, rear end collision and hit object, with the rest of the accidents falling into a more varied “other” category.
  • Accidents were fairly well distributed over days of the week, although Saturdays saw twice as many accidents as Monday.
  • Speed, improper turning, right of way violations and other unsafe behavior were responsible for 2 of every 3 accidents, according to traffic data.

The Takeaway

Carlsbad civic leaders have taken an important first step in the battle for less dangerous streets. Armed with contextual data, and the ability to reallocate resources via emergency declaration, the city now has the tools it needs to keep cyclists, motorists and pedestrians safe.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

If You’re a Beginning Cyclist, Pay Attention to These Important Tips

We get it — you’d rather be out enjoying your new bike than reading a list of tips to stay safe and comfortable. Yet here’s the deal: Give yourself five minutes to read this article, and we promise you’ll not only stay safer, you’ll also enjoy your next ride a lot more.

Tips to Help New Cyclists Stay Safe and Comfortable

First, let’s review a few key tips for staying pain-free while cycling.

1. Make sure your seat is properly adjusted.

Beginning cyclists often don’t know that having the wrong seat height can not only lead to uncomfortable rides, it can also cause knee and back pain. To figure out the correct height. Bicycling.com says to do the following:

At the right seat height, your knee should be slightly bent at the bottom of your pedal stroke, without rocking your pelvis. Measure the distance between the bottom bracket and the top of the seat. This is your seat height. It should be very close to the product of your inseam (in centimeters) multiplied by 0.883.

If that doesn’t work, head down to your local shop and ask them to help.

2. Take care of your gear

By making an extra effort to maintain your bike and its components you will extend their useful lifespan and get a better ride out of it as well. Bicycle.com encourage you to do the following:

Routine maintenance—like lubing your chain—will not only save you a bundle at the bike shop, but it will also prolong the life of your bike and its components. Keeping the recommended amount of air in your tires (look over your tire to find the psi range) makes your rides a lot easier, too, and prolongs the life of your tires. Check out these other easy bike repairs and maintenance tasks your bike mechanic wishes you’d do.

3. Make sure your bike fits.

When people buy bikes, fit often goes overlooked — and that’s a shame because ignoring fit can lead to some very uncomfortable bike rides. Fortunately, determining fit is not difficult. According to Bicycling.com:

To get the right fit, two elements are key: seat height and reach. The seat height should be high enough to give you a very slight bend in your knee when your foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke, as mentioned above. Proper reach means your arms and torso make a 45-degree angle over the bike. Too long, and your back will be sore reaching for the handlebar; too short, and your knees will be too close to your arms.

Now, let’s review some basic safety tips.

  1. Know the weather forecast
  2. Be situationally aware
  3. Carry a patch kit
  4. Wear proper safety gear
  5. Carry sunscreen and water for longer rides
  6. Bring your ID and a camera
  7. Ride with traffic not against it
  8. Never pass on the right
  9. Give yourself plenty of cushion
  10. Exercise extra caution at intersections

Follow all of these steps, and you’ll progress from a beginner to a happy, secure and safe experienced rider in no time at all.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

Why Has Vision Zero Stalled?

Vision Zero promised safer roads. Yet to some observers, that initial vision has yet to produce much in the way of tangible progress.

The backers of Vision Zero made an extraordinary promise: If you commit to our plan, it’s possible to reduce road fatalities to zero in cities across the world.

When met with skepticism, Vision Zero advocates would point to a city such as Oslo, Norway, which managed to have zero pedestrian and cyclist deaths in 2019 by taking steps such as car-free zones and creating new road fees to reduce congestion in downtown areas.

However, slow implementation of Vision Zero policies in many of the cities that promised to adopt them have led to minimal progress – and San Francisco is no exception.

Stalled Progress on Safer Streets in San Francisco

Nearly a decade ago, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, the city’s police and public works departments and more than a half-dozen local agencies agreed to work to enact Vision Zero goals, which included significant new commitments to safety infrastructure and policy changes to protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Tangible progress has been minimal. So far, not much has changed in terms of annual traffic deaths and injuries – a state of affairs that some observers believe is due to a lack of commitment by government officials.

Safe Streets Advocates Hit Back

Recently, safe streets advocacy group Walk San Francisco issued a press release decrying the lack of progress with Vision Zero:

“In 2014, the City of San Francisco committed to end severe and fatal traffic injuries within ten years: Vision Zero. Vision Zero launched an interagency, data-driven approach to traffic safety. But while some important changes have come out of this commitment, including a focus on redesigning the streets with the highest crash rates, progress has stalled. City budget challenges put Vision Zero at further risk.

“Vision Zero continues to be the right approach and our best hope for traffic safety,” said Medeiros. “Streets can be designed and enforced to keep people safe. But it will take real commitment and real changes from City leaders, as well as much deeper interagency coordination.”

Walk San Francisco isn’t alone in their concerns. Streetsblog published an article on Vision Zero’s stalled progress (scathingly headlined “Zero Progress on Vision Zero) that made the following argument:

“the aggregate of 30 deaths a year in San Francisco and many more throughout the Bay Area is absolutely attributable to a lack of serious political commitmentbad road designs that prioritize speed over safety, and the watering down of projects.”

After 8 years of halting progress, it remains to be seen whether sufficient political commitment can be gathered to seriously address the concerns of the city’s beleaguered cyclists and pedestrians.

One thing that remains clear, however, is that the roads and streets of California’s cities continue to become increasingly dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians, rather than safer. We’re not just making zero progress – we are actually moving backward.

 

California Road Rage Incidents Continue to Plague Cyclists

2022 has seen a rise of dangerous conflicts instigated by angry drivers, with the latest example occurring in San Bernardino County.

Road rage episodes are always dangerous, but they can be especially deadly when a cyclist is involved. Without 2,000 pounds of steal to protect them for irrationally angry drivers, the results are often devastating.

Such incidents are on this rise in southern California, with the most recent episode occurring in San Bernardino County. A cyclist was killed after being crushed by a hostile motorist.

According to a recent article about the incident in bikinginla.com, the intentional killing has sparked a regional manhunt for the motorist. The website writes:

“According to the Desert Dispatch, 40-year-old Barstow resident Bennett Warner was riding his bike westbound on Main Street around 12:53 pm Monday when he was approached by a man identified as 22-year-old Raymundo Alberto Rodriguez-Cordova of Barstow.

The two men got into an argument, after which Warner rode into a parking lot on the 1000 block of Main. Cordova followed Warner in his pickup and accelerated into Warner, slamming him into a parked car.

Cordova fled the scene following the crash, leaving Warner to die later of his injuries.

There’s no word on what the two argued about, whether it had to do with road rage or a personal dispute between the two men.

Police are looking for an older model pickup, possibly a 1993 Chevy S10, black with red or primer markings on the front, Kansas plate 180GRS.

Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Tom Lewis at 760/255-5187.”

According to the most recent data, this episode is already the 22nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third in San Bernardino County.

If you find yourself in a similar situation while cycling, doing the following can help keep you safe:

  • Do not escalate the situation
  • Try to calm the other person, even if you are in the right
  • Contact law enforcement if you feel at risk or if the other person is behaving irrationally
  • If you perceive an imminent threat, remove yourself from the scene
  • Wear a body camera, a helmet camera or some kind of recording device. The realization that they are on camera may calm some aggressors and cameras can provide key evidence.
  • If you have suffered a property loss of sustained an injury due to road rage aggression, contact a local attorney who specializes in bicycle law.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

The Facts About California Bicycle Accidents

California is arguably the greatest of all 50 states for cyclists, with endless miles of gorgeous scenery to enjoy and some significant infrastructure to support cyclists, including thousands of miles of protected bike lanes.

However, California can also be deadly. In 2020, the state saw a 25-year high in cycling fatalities. California typically ranks first or second nationwide in cyclist deaths each year, and averages more than 100 fatalities annually. Additionally, tens of thousands more Californians are injured each year while cycling.

Common Causes of Serious Cycling Injuries

While there are myriad scenarios for getting injured on a bike, collisions with cars and trucks are by far the most common way to sustain a serious injury.

Distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving and impaired driving are a few of the most frequent causes of these collisions.

Additionally, there are many cycling-specific scenarios that lead to serious injury or death. These can include being “doored” (having a driver or passenger open a vehicle door without looking and causing a cyclist to crash into the door).

Drivers sometimes fail to respect cyclists’ rights to share the road. They become angry because they have to slow down and this can can lead to road rage incidents.

Additionally, many drivers exhibit poor situational awareness, drifting into lanes, failing to yield and performing other actions that may only cause a slight fender bender when colliding with a car, but can be deadly when cyclists are involved.

Your Rights as a Cyclist

Under California state law, cyclists have almost all of the same rights as drivers. They can generally ride in the main portion of a lane as long as they are going at the speed of traffic. Otherwise, they should ride as close as practicable to the right side of the roadway.

Whether a cyclist can travel on sidewalks is a question that is controlled by local jurisdictions as opposed to state law.

What Happens If I’m In a Collision?

Cycling collisions can lead to serious injuries. The worst of these injuries can diminish your quality of life, lower your earning power and lead to lifelong financial expenses.

Fortunately, California law protects cyclists who are injured through no fault of their own.

Negligent drivers can be held responsible for injuring cyclists by engaging in any of the dangerous activity outlined above.

Property owners or government entities can be found liable if they fail to maintain safe roads. If an accident occurs because of broken asphalt, potholes or some other hazard that was identified and not fixed in a timely manner, the injured cyclist may be awarded compensation.

Finding an experienced cycling attorney is critical in such cases, given how complex liability can be to establish in personal injury cases.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.

Bicycle-Friendly California Ranks 4th in the Latest League of American Bicyclists National Rankings

If you’re a local cyclist, we’ve got some positive news to share.

California ranked 4th among all US states in “Bicycle Friendliness” in the latest national rankings published by the League of American Bicyclist.

The rankings are a gauge of all the steps states undertake to create safe cycling opportunities for residents and visitors. Among the categories that states are graded on include the following:

  • Infrastructure and Finding — California scored a B-minus
  • Education and Encouragement — California scored a B
  • Traffic Laws and Practices — California scored an A
  • Policies and Programs — California scored an A
  • Evaluation and Planning — California scored an A

In its scorecard, the League characterized California’s overall bicycle friendliness by saying the following:

“California has made significant advances in bicycle policy in recent years, but those advances must be institutionalized more thoroughly in local Caltrans offices and in funding decisions made by Caltrans and the state legislature. For example, while California’s Active Transportation Program has expanded in recent years, it still fails to meet the demand for biking and walking investments with a nearly $2 billion gap in funding in the last application round.”

2021 drew renewed and unprecedented attention to the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). California should ensure that its version of the MUTCD reflects the leadership of Caltrans in promoting Complete Streets. Work with bicycling and walking advocates on a comprehensive update that prioritizes safety.

Local advocates point to lack of community engagement and outdated design standards often imposed on local projects by Caltrans as issues. Caltrans should work to improve its community engagement and design standards so that it can more effectively implement cultural change for safe streets and encourage more biking and walking. Caltrans District Level Active Transportation Plans are a great initiative.

Advocate concerns persist about a disconnect between Caltrans leadership and day-to-day activities. Caltrans’ implementation of a Safe System Approach and development of state-level guidance for quick builds are welcome steps to creating a cultural change that prioritizes safety for all people and recognizes changes to the built environment as key to safer streets. AB43 provides significant new authority for localities in California to lower speed limits and we look forward to its implementation.”

The League also gave California positive marks for making progress on creating a Safe Passing Law, instituting a 10-year bike plan, spending 2% or more of federal transportation funds on biking and pedestrians and creating a Bicycle Safety Emphasis Area.

While there is still much more progress to be made, California can once again definitively say that it remains one of the most cycling friendly states in the union.

Finding the Right Bicycle Accident Attorney

Gary Brustin is a lifelong cyclist and a specialist in bicycle accident law. In fact, these are the only types of cases he accepts. If you’ve been injured in a collision, we urge you to contact Gary for a complimentary consultation.