Biking accidents can be harmful to cyclists, drivers, and witnesses. For people who ride often, it’s important to know that the cities they live in take bicyclists seriously. Bicyclists have a right to be on the road, and drivers need to be aware of them. Causing an accident because of negligence or driving errors puts a cyclist at risk of injury or death, which can normally be avoided with proper driving safety techniques. Those who are hurt then must spend time seeking compensation when they should be focusing on recovering; this is why many choose to work with an attorney.
Having a bicycling infrastructure is important to any city. It helps reduce traffic congestion and improves the air quality due to a reduction in pollution from gas-driven cars. Cycling also improves the health of individuals and can be a popular pastime.
The problem with cycling comes from safety issues on the roadways. When bicyclists and pedestrians are near busy roadways filled with vehicles, the risk of accidents increases severely. It’s important for local governments to take a stand and make the roadways safer for bicyclists and pedestrians by adding sidewalks, walking trails, and biking trails or biking lanes.
Slowing down traffic can also be beneficial to a city not only by preventing accidents but by making drivers take the time to look around and be aware of the areas they are driving through. This can help improve local economies at the same time as encouraging biking in the area. Drivers see more stores, shops, and local activities, which can help bring money into the economy.
Source: NJ Spotlight, “Profile: Life in the bike lane yields unique view of safety, business, commuting,” Feb. 24, 2016