GEORGIA BIKES!, a statewide bicycle advocacy organization, has released a safety oriented publication, the Georgia Bicycle Law Enforcement Pocket Guide. This guide, the first of its kind for Georgia, provides a ready reference about traffic laws and safety standards for law enforcement officers and others who are faced with the task of enforcing traffic laws or investigating crashes that involve cyclists. The local biking organization, Fayette Biking for Life, has distributed the Pocket Guides to each law enforcement agency in Fayette, along with informative brochures from the Southern Bicycle League (SBL) (“Cyclists: Don’t Be a Road Warrior/Motorists: Don’t Be a Road Hog”). This last publication is intended for the general public. Officers throughout Fayette will soon be receiving these publications along with related guidance and/or training.

Cyclists can be seen throughout Fayette, whether riding for recreation and exercise, transportation, or in organized rides and competitions, and the numbers of cyclists and motorists will only increase. This makes it especially important that both motorists and cyclists understand and abide by the law. Being unaware the law, ignoring the law, or being inconsiderate contributes to intolerance and unsafe conditions.

Bob Dallas, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, says that, “Too often, neither motorists, law enforcement, nor cyclists themselves, know exactly what the law says about cycling. This pocket guide spells out very clearly and concisely what cyclists’ rights and responsibilities are and underscores the facts that bicycles are legal vehicles and that cyclists are the more vulnerable party in crashes with motor vehicles.” GEORGIA BIKES! Executive Director David Crites says that, “In speaking with members of Georgia’s law enforcement community, it became clear that there are not sufficient Georgia, bicycling-centric, training and reference materials available to law enforcement officers. We developed this guide to help fill that void.” Toward that goal, the guide was prepared with the review and input of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

A few examples of misconceptions regarding cycling laws include:

• That cyclists should only ride on paths or sidewalks and don’t belong on roads - A bicycle is defined as a vehicle, and a cyclist has all of the rights to the roadway applicable to any driver.

• That cyclists can ignore stop signs or traffic signals - Cyclists are considered drivers, and a driver must obey all applicable traffic control devices (signs, markings and traffic signals).

• That cyclists should ride facing the traffic, like pedestrians - Cyclists are to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when turning left, avoiding hazards to safe cycling, when the lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle, when moving as fast as other traffic, or when passing another vehicle.

• That cyclists must always hug the right side of the road

• That cyclists don’t need illumination when riding at night - When riding a bicycle between sunset and sunrise, the bicycle must be equipped with an illuminated light visible from 300 feet to the front and a red reflector visible from 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of the upper beams of headlights.

Cooperative road sharing and showing consideration on the road also includes the following:

Motorists:

• Don’t toot your horn when passing cyclists or, if you feel you must, honk from a friendly distance (several hundred feet) to avoid startling a cyclist and potentially causing a crash.

• Give cyclists at least three feet of extra space if passing, and cyclists move more to the right, if possible.

• Be patient and wait until it is safe to pass.

• Scan for bicyclists and pedestrians as is normally done for other vehicles.

• Motorists, use caution when turning right to avoid cutting off a cyclist going straight.

• Use caution at driveways and curb cuts.

• Use electronic or hand signals when turning, slowing down or stopping.

Cyclists:

• Ride in a predictable manner and without weaving.

• Do not ride in a right turn lane if not turning right.

• Do not pass on the right unless a bike lane, wide curb lane or shoulder exists.

• Use hand signals when turning, slowing down or stopping.

• Use caution at driveways and curb cuts.

• Use extra caution around large vehicles like trucks and busses, due to their “blind spots” and inability to stop quickly.

• Ride no more than two abreast, and ride single-file on curvy or hilly roads or when motor vehicles are approaching from behind, especially on major thoroughfares or two-lane roads.

• Warn other cyclists in your group of approaching vehicles or hazards.

Since its inception, Fayette Biking for Life has promoted safe cycling habits among all types and levels of cyclists. To obtain a copy of the Georgia Bicycle Law Enforcement Pocket Guide or the SBL “Cyclists: Don’t Be a Road Warrior/Motorists: Don’t Be a Road Hog” brochure, visit your local law enforcement agency, bicycle shop, or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Georgia Bikes!, P.O.B. 49755, Atlanta, GA 30359. The Pocket Guide is also available for review and download at www.GeorgiaBikes.org.

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