South Lake Tahoe, CA-May is not only National Bike Month but also National Bike Safety Month. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) is encouraging drivers to slow down when passing bicyclists and asks bicyclists to be visible, predictable, and safe on the road.
The SLTPD will be conducting special traffic enforcement details throughout the month of May targeting vehicle and bicycle interactions in an effort to reduce collisions and injuries.
The SLTPD has provided some useful tips for drivers and bicyclists, so they can both be safe while sharing the road:
Drivers
- Slow down. Give at least three to five feet of space when passing a bike.
- Wait for a safe place to pass when driving behind a bike, especially on narrow roads. California law requires drivers to provide at least three feet of space between a vehicle and bicycle.
- If making a right turn, assume a bicyclist is traveling through the intersection unless they signal otherwise.
- When making a left turn, yield to oncoming bicyclists just as you would for other drivers.
- Look for cyclists before opening a car door.
Bike Riders
- Be predictable, safe, and seen: obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
- Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
- Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
- If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
- Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
Funding for this program has been provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.