Start seeing bicyclists – we are everywhere!

…and we are your friends, neighbors, and family.

The biggest difference between bicyclists and motorists as road users is that bicycles are less visible, quieter, and don’t have a crumple zone around them. Drivers must always be aware of bicyclists that may be on the road.

Watch for cyclists. Check side mirrors when turning. In urban areas, bikes and cars can travel at comparable speeds, so just because you passed a cyclist doesn’t mean the cyclist has been left behind. Don’t pass a cyclists just to make a right turn-wait for them to cross the intersection. Always use turn signals.

Slow down! Hitting a bicyclist going over 25 mph is much more likely to result in injury or death. Injuring or killing a cyclist due to reckless driving would weigh heavily on your conscience. Slow down, be careful, and, well, relax.

Be careful when making left turns, especially the “Pittsburgh Left”. We know that some things will never change. One of those things is the “Pittsburgh Left.” However, many Pittsburgh cyclists aren’t aware of this geographically specific practice so be sure to keep an eye out for bikers. They may not be anticipating your turn.

Share the road. Give cyclists the space they need. When the road is too narrow for cars and bikes to travel safely side by side, bicyclists often take the travel lane, or ride in or near the center of the lane. The extra time it takes to drive safely around a cyclist could save a life.

Look before you open car doors. Being hit by a car door is a common cause of cycling crashes. “Dooring” a cyclist is always the motorists fault.