Sharing the Road with Bicyclists
To pedestrians, bicycles seem more like vehicles; they ride on the road and move faster than a person’s pace. To drivers, cyclists seem like pesky pedestrians using the road but unable to keep up with traffic. Bicyclists are stuck between two worlds — each with its own set of rules. If you are a bicyclist and you’ve been injured in an accident with a car or with a pedestrian, contact a lawyer to find out if you have a legitimate personal injury complaint.
Pedestrian, cyclists, and automobile drivers have to share the roads in today’s urban centers. While sidewalks and bike lanes help keep everyone moving at a safe pace, there are plenty of intersections in which these groups cross paths. Each has to take responsibility for doing its part to keep the roads safe. Pedestrians can’t run into the street for a shortcut. Bike riders can’t use the sidewalks to avoid traffic lights. And drivers have to keep focused and undistracted.
While most accidents occur between bikes and cars, pedestrian and bikes accidents are on the rise in most cities where bicycle use is one the rise. Generally, pedestrians who cause accidents do so because of distraction. While it’s fairly easy for a jaywalking pedestrian to notice a big, loud car, it’s not as easy to notice a bike rider. If you were injured trying to avoid an out-of-place pedestrian, you might have a personal injury case.
As gas prices rise and bike-sharing programs increase, California residents will have to learn how to share the road with a myriad of transportation devices. From motorized people-movers to unicycle riders, there is an endless variety of interactions at the modern intersection.
