
Now that
you know the problems
you can find the answers.
Improving
your community's score…
1. Did you have a place to bicycle safely?
a) On the road?
- No space for bicyclists to ride (e.g. no bike lane or shoulder; narrow lanes)
- Bicycle lane or paved shoulder disappeared
- Heavy and/or fast-moving traffic
- Too many trucks or buses
- No space for bicyclists on bridges or in tunnels
- Poorly lighted roadways
What you can do immediately
- pick another route for now
- tell local transportation engineers or public works department about specific problems; provide a copy of your checklist
- find a class to boost your confidence about riding in traffic
What you and your community can do with more time
- participate in local planning meetings
- encourage your community to adopt a plan to improve conditions, including
a network of bike lanes on major roads
- ask your public works department to consider “Share the Road” signs at
specific locations
- ask your state department of transportation to include paved shoulders on all their rural highways
- establish or join a local bicycle advocacy group
b) On an off-road path or
trail?
- Path ended abruptly
- Path didn't go where I wanted to go
- Path intersected with roads that were difficult to cross
- Path was crowded
- Path was unsafe because of sharp turns or dangerous downhills
- Path was uncomfortable because of too many hills
- Path was poorly lighted
What you can do immediately
- slow down and take care when using the path
- find an on-street route
- use the path at less crowded times
- tell the trail manager or agency about specific problems
What you and your community can do with more time
- ask the trail manager or agency to improve directional and warning signs
- petition your local transportation agency to improve path/roadway crossings
- ask for more trails in your community
- establish or join a “Friends of the Trail” advocacy group
2. How was the surface that you rode on?
- Potholes
- Cracked or broken pavement
- Debris (e.g. broken glass, sand, gravel, etc.)
- Dangerous drain grates, utility covers, or metal plates
- Uneven surface or gaps
- Slippery surfaces when wet (e.g. bridge decks, construction plates, road markings)
- Bumpy or angled railroad tracks
- Rumble strips
What you can do immediately
- report problems immediately to public works department or appropriate agency
- keep your eye on the road/path
- pick another route until the problem is fixed (and check to see that the problems are fixed)
- organize a community effort to clean up the path
What you and your community can do with more time
- work with your public works and parks department to develop a pothole or hazard report card or online link to warn the agency of potential hazards
- ask your public works department to gradually replace all dangerous drainage grates with more bicycle-friendly designs, and improve railroad
crossings so cyclists can cross them at 90 degrees
- petition your state DOT to adopt a bicycle-friendly rumble-strip policy
3. How were the intersections you rode through?
- Had to wait too long to cross intersection
- Couldn't see crossing traffic
- Signal didn't give me enough time to cross the road
- The signal didn't change for a bicycle
- Unsure where or how to ride through intersection
What you can do immediately
- pick another route for now
- tell local transportation engineers or public works department about specific problems
- take a class to improve your ridingconfidence and skills
What you and your community can do with more time
- ask the public works department to look at the timing of the specific traffic signals
- ask the public works department to install loop-detectors that detect bicyclists
- suggest improvements to sightlines that include cutting back vegetation; building out the path crossing; and moving parked cars that obstruct your view
- organize community-wide, on-bike training on how to safely ride through intersections
4. Did drivers behave well?
Drivers:
- Drove too fast
- Passed me too close
- Did not signal
- Harassed me
- Cut me off
- Ran red lights or stop signs
What you can do immediately
- report unsafe drivers to the police
- set an example by riding responsibly; obey traffic laws; don't antagonize drivers
- always expect the unexpected
- work with your community to raise awareness to share the road
What you and your community can do with more time
- ask the police department to enforce speed limits and safe driving
- encourage your department of motor vehicles to include “Share the Road” messages in driver tests and
correspondence with drivers
- ask city planners and traffic engineers for traffic calming ideas
- encourage your community to use cameras to catch speeders and red light runners
5. Was is easy for you to use your bike?
- No maps, signs, or road markings to help me find my way
- No safe or secure place to leave my bicycle at my destination
- No way to take my bicycle with me on the bus or train
- Scary dogs
- Hard to find a direct route I liked
- Route was too hilly
What you can do immediately
- plan your route ahead of time
- find somewhere close by to lock your bike; never leave it unlocked
- report scary dogs to the animal control department
- learn to use all of your gears!
What you and your community can do with more time
- ask your community to publish a local bike map
- ask your public works department to install bike parking racks at key
destinations; work with them to identify locations
- petition your transit agency to install bike racks on all their buses
- plan your local route network to minimize the impact of steep hills
- establish or join a bicycle user group (BUG) at your workplace
6. What did you do to make your ride safer?
- Wore a bicycle helmet
- Obeyed traffic signals and signs
- Rode in a straight line (didn't weave)
- Signaled my turns
- Rode with (not against) traffic
- Used lights, if riding at night
- Wore reflective materials and bright clothing
- Was courteous to other travelers (motorists, skaters, pedestrians, etc.)
What you can do immediately
- go to your local bike shop and buy a helmet; get lights and reflectors if you are expecting to ride at night
- always follow the rules of the road and set a good example
- take a class to improve your riding skills and knowledge
What you and your community can do with more time
- ask the police to enforce bicycle laws
- encourage your school or youth agencies to teach bicycle safety (on-bike)
- start or join a local bicycle club
- become a bicycle safety instructor
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