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National Bike Month
National Bike Month
May 1
May is National Bike Month
National Bike Month is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and is celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month highlights the many benefits of bicycling. It also encourages more people to giving biking a try.
Many cities support walking and biking as a means to meet our climate action and active transportation goals. You can, too! In addition, wear a red and blue enamel awareness ribbon pin in either a personalized or non-personalized version to call attention to this important month. Both are available on the Personalized Cause website.
Cyclist Safety Tips During National Bike Month:
- Bicyclists are required to stop and yield at traffic signals and stop signs. State law requires bicyclists to operate with the same rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a motor vehicle.
- Use hand signals to let others know when you’re turning, changing lanes, or stopping. Signaling your intentions gives drivers notice of your movements. Look over your shoulder and up ahead (scan), then signal your turn and make your move.
- Be alert. Be aware of other vehicles and predict movements of drivers and pedestrians. Anticipate turning movements and opening car doors to avoid collisions.
- Ride as far to the right as practical. Practical does not mean possible. Do not ride in the gutter, and avoid hazardous conditions such as debris and potholes. Be sure to leave enough room to avoid hazards like parked cars with opening doors. A cyclist may ride in the middle of the lane if the lane is less than 14 feet wide or is too narrow to safely operate with a motor vehicle side by side.
- Always ride in the same direction as traffic. Bicyclists operate as vehicles when in the roadway and are required to travel in the same direction as other drivers. Never ride into the flow of oncoming vehicles. This wrong-way travel is one of the leading causes of bicycle-motorist crashes.
- Claim your space at intersections. When approaching an intersection, use the rightmost lane going in your destination direction. When making a left turn with multiple turn lanes, select the rightmost lane turning left. Position yourself at intersections to be seen to avoid a crash.
- Be seen while riding at night. Wear reflective materials and white or bright colors. When bicycling at night, a front headlight and a rear reflector or rear red light are required by State law.
Slow Roads Save Lives
Safe roads, slow streets, and thriving communities are what we all want. Roads are where people biking, walking, using mobility devices, and driving can all get home safely. Ultimately, a “good road” is a slow road. A slow road is a safe road. And a safe road makes life better for everyone. So the League is launching a new campaign for better roads and better biking, the “Slow Roads Save Lives” campaign.
But what are “good roads”?
Neither by 1889 nor 2024 standards could what we have today in the United States be considered “good roads.” Certainly not by the metric of safety. For example, roads in the United States saw more than 42,000 deaths in 2021. This is the most recent year with national data. People biking have seen a more than 50% increase in deaths since 2009 to 966 in 2021. This was the highest number in 45 years.
“Slow Roads Saves Lives” calls on everyone – you, your neighbors, local leaders, traffic engineers – to embrace slowing down and saving lives.
Take the “Slow Roads Save Lives” pledge to help show how many people across the country support slow speeds and slow roads that save lives.
