Westport Police Offers Tips On Safe Biking And Driving On The Roadways

The following release is from the Westport Police Department:

WESTPORT, CT — Westport’s scenic coastline is a destination for many cyclists. By law, bicycles on the roadway are vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities. The Westport Police Department is asking pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists to be aware of each other on the roadways and to operate safely. We hope that by raising awareness, we can prevent injuries before they happen. We are asking cyclists to ride where you are expected to be seen, travel in the same direction as traffic and signal and look over your shoulder before changing lanes or turning. Cyclists are reminded that riding more than two abreast is against the law, except in designated bike lanes. Those riding two abreast cannot impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Below are some tips for biking safely:

• Wear equipment to protect you and make you more visible to others, like bright and reflective clothing, and outfit your bicycle with reflectors, a white front light and red rear light.
• Always wear a bicycle helmet.
• Tuck and tie your shoe laces and pant legs so they don’t get caught in your bike chain.
• Plan your route—choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds.
• Keep your bicycle in good mechanical condition (tires, chain, brakes).
• Obey all traffic rules and signs -- always give proper hand signals.
• Always ride with the traffic - as close as possible to the right side of the road.
• Ride in designated bike lanes when present.
• Be sure the roadway is clear before entering.
• Most bicycles are built to carry one person -- YOU! Ride one per seat with both hands on the handlebars.
• Yield right of way to pedestrians.
• Pass pedestrians and other bicyclists with care by first announcing “on your left” or “passing on your left” or use a bell;
• Slow down and look for cars backing out of driveways or turning.

We remind pedestrians to exercise caution while walking on our roadways:

• Please use sidewalks where available
• If there is no available sidewalk, walk against traffic
• Wear bright reflective clothing while walking in the evening or early morning hours
• Use crosswalks wear available
• The use of a crosswalk requires the pedestrian to leave the curb/sidewalk in a manner that would not cause a hazard to oncoming traffic.
• If there is no crosswalk available, do not cross mid-block and use available traffic control devices to aid in crossing the roadways

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) also provides safety tips for drivers
sharing the road with cyclists:

• Yield to bicyclists as you would motorists and do not underestimate their speed. This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway.
• Search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bicycles, at stop signs or when backing, parking or opening doors into the roadway.
• Drivers turning right on red should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear. Stop completely and look left-right-left and behind before turning right on red.
• Obey the speed limit, reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist.
• Give cyclists room. Do not pass too closely. Pass bicyclists as you would any other vehicle—when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane.
• Pedestrians have the right of way while in a crosswalk and motorists shall yield to pedestrians who have established themselves in a crosswalk.

Westport is here for everyone to enjoy. Let’s share the road and be courteous so cyclists, pedestrians and motorists can make it safely to their destinations. Additional biking safety tips can be found on the NHTSA website here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety