Orange County NC Website
THE REPORT 6 <br /> Summary <br /> In mid-2016, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC)formed a <br /> Bicycle Safety Task Force, charged to provide recommendations to improve road safety <br /> for cyclists and motorists in the unincorporated areas of Orange County. The task force <br /> consisted of cyclists, community advocates, public safety and transportation officials, <br /> school leaders, and county staff. <br /> After six months of research and deliberation, the task force is recommending a public <br /> education and awareness campaign targeting all rural road users. The campaign, "Drive <br /> Safely, Ride Safely" intentionally shifts from hostile motorist/cyclist conflict toward the <br /> premise that most motorists and cyclists want to share the road safely. It is designed to <br /> foster mutual respect and shared interest in road safety. <br /> During its study, the task force discovered that many motorists and cyclists do not know <br /> the laws that pertain to cycling, including new state laws designed to allow safe passing. <br /> The group felt that education on laws and best practices was paramount, especially <br /> those relevant to motorists passing cyclists and to large groups of riders, two key areas <br /> identified by the task force. <br /> Anecdotally, the group also learned that the reports available through NC DOT and <br /> Orange County EMS likely under-report crashes and other incidents involving cyclists. <br /> The task force recommends a series of actions designed to improve rural road safety, <br /> centered on a public education and awareness campaign, improved data collection and <br /> measurements, and traffic safety improvements. The recommendations include: <br /> • Motorist and cyclist education, with local signage and messaging that focuses on <br /> common-sense safety and mutual respect. Campaign will emphasize safe <br /> passing, the importance of motorists and cyclists yielding to emergency vehicles, <br /> best practices for large groups of riders, and safety equipment for bicycles. <br /> • Instituting improved data collection and measurement about road incidents <br /> involving cyclists, as well as improved data counts on all types of road users. <br /> • Improving traffic signals to be triggered by bicycles as well as cars, and <br /> recommendations that align with the County's adopted Safe Routes to Schools. <br /> The task force also recommends the creation of a future task force to study <br /> infrastructure improvements in areas of the County where cycling is especially popular. <br /> A budget of$15,000 and appropriate County Staff support is requested to launch the <br /> campaign. Cycling advocacy groups and local civic groups will be approached, along <br /> with other possible partners, to provide volunteer resources and possibly additional <br /> funding to assist in the campaign. <br /> The plan anticipates participation from the County Sheriff and other law enforcement <br /> agencies, Orange County Schools, EMS and others to help encourage safe ways to <br /> share the road. <br />