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A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Bicycles (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 1-6

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From page 1...
... Bicycle safety problems have a long history in the United Stated, dating back to 1896 when a motor vehicle collided with a bicycle on a New York City Street -- the first recorded automobile crash. More than a century later, safety continues to be a primary concern for modern bicyclists, with the challenges of traffic congestion, increasing distances between destinations, larger vehicles, and higher speeds.
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From page 2...
... The number of bicyclists injured in collisions with motor vehicles decreased by 35.3 percent over the same time period (Raborn, 2004) , but these decreases may reflect a downward trend in overall bicycling as much as they indicate safety improvements.
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From page 3...
... The 2005 number represented about 2 percent of those killed in all motor vehicle crashes for the year, a proportion that has remained relatively constant in recent years. A total of 45,000 bicyclists were estimated injured nationwide in crashes with motor vehicles in 2005, which represents an increase in both the number of bicyclists injured and the proportion of all traffic injuries (2 percent)
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From page 4...
... . In a six-state study of 3,000 bicycle crashes taken from hard copy police reports, the most frequent bicycle/motor vehicle crash types were as follows: Crossing Path Crashes % of All Crashes • Motorist failed to yield to bicyclist (includes drive out/through 21.7 at intersections and at Midblock/driveway locations)
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From page 5...
... Objectives of the Emphasis Area Reducing the number and severity of collisions involving bicyclists requires strategies that are targeted towards addressing the main factors that lead to collisions. Based on what is known about bicycle-related crashes, the following objectives -- targeted both toward locations where crashes occur as well as toward the causal factors of crashes -- are most likely to reduce the number and/or severity of crashes: • Reduce bicycle crashes at intersections • Reduce bicycle crashes along roadways • Reduce motor vehicle speeds • Reduce bicycle crashes at midblock crossings • Improve safety awareness and behavior • Increase use of bicycle safety equipment • Reduce influence of hazards Each of these strategies can be accomplished through a variety of the 23 individual strategies (i.e., treatments)
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From page 6...
... B5. Provide bicycle-tolerable shoulder rumble strips (T)
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Key Terms

  • rumble strip
  • rumble strips
  • bicycle lane
  • bicycle lanes
  • signal timing

  • pavement markings
  • motor vehicles
  • access management
  • bicycle safety
  • motor vehicle

  • bicycle facility
  • pavement marking
  • roadway signage
  • contraflow bicycle
  • driveway intersections

  • accommodate bicyclists
  • bicycle helmet
  • vehicle traffic
  • bicycle facilities
  • improve visibility

  • shoulder rumble
  • vehicle crashes
  • federal highway
  • surface irregularities
  • bicycle safe

  • roadway facilities
  • highway administration
  • national highway
  • bicyclist safety
  • highway traffic


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