Louisville is quickly becoming a pedestrian and bicycling city
Take a look around Louisville and you will notice the city scape is changing. From the huge Omni HotelTo the Bridges project including the Big 4 Bridge and everything in between. Traffic patterns are changing and the big push for this ‘New’ Louisville is pedestrian access.
Initiatives such as Move Louisville Aim to make Louisville competitive among other large cities in public transit and accessibility. And thus far Initiatives such as these have been widely successful. In fact, Louisville now ranks 31st as the most bike able city in the U.S. with miles of new bike lanes and wider road ways. Not only this but, RedFin ranked Old Louisville in the top 10 most bikeable down towns in the U.S.
MostBikeable_16.4.27
https://www.redfin.com/blog/2016/05/top-10-most-bikeable-downtowns.html
New Bicycle Lanes can mean greater Bicycle Accident probabilities
Lets face it, your average driver probably doesn’t know bike laws. This lack of education compounded by new lanes changing roadways and different traffic patterns can create a dangerous situation.
Unfortunately – “despite the city’s feel-good bike vibe, frustrations endure. The mayor’s proposed budget for bicycle infrastructure was reduced by half. A nascent system of neighborways (roads prioritized for bicyclists) lacks the kind of infrastructure, such as traffic diverters, to make them truly effective. And, where peer cities like Indianapolis and Pittsburgh boast impressive protected bike lanes and bike share systems, Louisville is just beginning to implement them—it recently installed its first 2 miles of protected bike lanes and is planning to launch a bike-share program in 2017.”-http://www.bicycling.com/culture/news/the-50-best-bike-cities-of-2016/slide/31
The statistics behind Bicycle Accidents are alarming
According to GHSA, pedestrian traffic fatalities increased by 19% from 2009 to 2014 and another estimated 10% from 2014 to 2015. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 5,376 pedestrians were killed and 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States in 2015.
According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that bicyclist fatalities in 2015 were at the highest level since 1995, with a 12.2% increase over the previous year. In addition to the fatalities, 45,000 people were injured in bicycle accidents in the United States in 2015.
Tips for sharing the road with bicyclists:
.Drive Cautiously. Reduce speed when encountering cyclists. Don’t tailgate, especially in bad weather. Recognize hazards cyclists may face and give them space.
.Yield to Cyclists. Bicycles are considered vehicles. Cyclists should be given the appropriate right of way. Allow extra time for cyclists to traverse intersections.
.Be Considerate. Scan for cyclists in traffic and at intersections. Do not blast your horn in close proximity to cyclists. Look for cyclists when opening doors.
.Pass with Care. When passing, leave four feet between you and a cyclist. Wait for safe road and traffic conditions before you pass. Check over your shoulder before moving back.
.Watch for Children. Children on bicycles are often unpredictable. Expect the unexpected and slow down. Don’t expect children to know traffic laws. Because of their size children can be harder to see.
Tips for bicyclists:
.The same laws that apply to motorists apply to cyclists. Obey all traffic control devices and use hand signals to indicate stops and turns.
.Always wear a properly fitting helmet. Wear a helmet, no matter how short the trip.
.Ride on the right. Always ride in the same direction as traffic. Use the furthest right lane that heads to your destination. Slower moving cyclists and motorists stay to the right.
.Ride Predictably. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve in the road or between parked cars. Check for traffic before entering street or intersection. Anticipate hazards and adjust your position accordingly.
.Be visible. Wear brightly colored clothing that provides contrast. Use a white front light in low light conditions and a red rear light in low light conditions. Use a reflector or reflective tape or clothing anytime. Announce yourself by making eye contact with motorists
-Bicycle safety information provided by http://www.safeny.ny.gov/media/beSmart-bike.htm
Louisville Kentucky Bicycle Accident Attorneys
The Experienced bicycle accident Attorneys at Nutt Law Office are here to help you pick up the pieces if you have been injured in a bike accident due to someone elses negligence. Bike Accidents can be extremely costly, medical bills, and insurance can compound into outrageous payments, not to mention the danger involved with being in a vehicle collision. If you are a cyclist who has been injured while riding because of driver inattention, failure to obey traffic signs, intoxication, refusing to yield, speeding or any other negligent act; contact Kentucky bicycle accident attorneys at Nutt Law Office for a free initial consultation at our Louisville firm.