Keeping roads safe for cyclists

By Jake Blumgart

On Sunday, thousands of cyclists found out what it's like to enjoy car-free city streets. They were taking part in Bike Philly, an annual ride hosted by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia that includes 10- and 20-mile loops closed off to traffic.

There's no mystery why the coalition includes the "car-free" hook. A recent study shows that even in bike-friendly Portland, Ore., a strong majority are intrigued by urban bicycling but fear for their safety. Not without reason: According to 2009 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 70 percent of that year's 630 cycling fatalities (15 in Pennsylvania) occurred in urban areas. The vast majority of cyclist deaths are caused by cars.

These tragedies aren't an inevitable side effect of an inherently risky mode of transportation. Drivers and cyclists can safely coexist. Here are three simple tips to help you get started:

Ride with traffic. Most people would never drive their cars against traffic but some bicyclists think this law doesn't apply to them. Dubbed "bike salmon" by the blogger Bike Snob NYC, these outlaws frequently bike the wrong way on our bike lanes and one-way streets. According to Jeff Mapes' Pedaling Revolution, a 1996 study "found that as many as a third of all bike accidents involved simply riding against the flow of traffic." A Florida bike advocacy group claims that such reckless behavior is responsible for "45 percent of bike-v-car crashes in Orlando." There is never a good reason to be a bike salmon.

Stay off sidewalks. Riding on the sidewalk may have been pretty neat when you were a 5-year-old on a tricycle. It's a lot less cute now. First, riding on the sidewalk is illegal and you'll be subject to a fine if the police catch you. Second, it is obnoxious for pedestrians, who deserve to stroll the sidewalks in peace. Third, riding on the sidewalk is dangerous for cyclists.