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Bicycle Safety Task Force Report, Appendix <br /> <br />Appendix: Identifying problem areas, goals, messaging, and target audiences <br /> <br />I. Motorist and Cyclist Education <br />Problem: New and existing car drivers, and many cyclists, are not learning the laws <br />that pertain to cyclists and are not learning how to interact with each other on the road. <br />Because they do not know the laws, some motorists and cyclists may each feel that <br />the other is disrespectful of their place on the road. In addition to existing laws, new <br />state laws affecting cyclists and motorists, including new passing laws, went into effect <br />in October 2016, and the public needs to be aware of them. <br /> Non-recreational (e.g., transportation and commuter) bicyclists include riders who <br />are inexperienced, who are new to our communities, or who may have language <br />barriers and cannot find the rules pertaining to bicycling in their language. Non- <br />recreational cyclists may include riders who choose bicycling as their mode of <br />transportation because they do not have funds for other forms of travel. <br />Existing crash analysis can help prioritize the messaging. <br />Goals: <br />A. To be sure that all users of the road know the laws, including cyclists, motorists, <br />commercial drivers, and law enforcement, so that misinformation can be <br />eliminated. (Piggyback on state publicity for getting word out about the new law.) <br />B. To be sure all users of the road understand the best practices for sharing the road <br />when they encounter other vehicles, paying special attention to the area of <br />passing. <br />C. To make mutual respect the norm by emphasizing and promoting best practices, <br />including: be courteous, be aware of your space in relation to those around you, <br />use common sense and courtesy, ride and drive with respect for all. <br />D. To move expectations beyond rights and laws to common sense courtesies. <br />Define what is understood as courtesy for passing and focus on safe passing. <br />Look at Defensive Driving/Riding courses. <br />Message: Cyclists fare best and are safest when they act like and are treated like <br />drivers of vehicles. Learn the laws of the road, including: <br />1) Bicycles are considered vehicles and the same rules of the road apply to <br />cyclists and motorists unless otherwise stated. <br />2) Cyclists must ride in the same direction as other vehicles. <br />3) Cyclists should ride as far to the right as practicable, and have the right to <br />use the full lane or ride abreast when that is the safest position (e.g., to be <br />more visible, to discourage unsafe passing, or to avoid obstacles in the road). <br />4) On Oct. 1, 2016, new law GS 20-150(e) allows the driver of a vehicle to pass a <br />cyclist or moped on a road with a double yellow line, provided the driver gives a <br />minimum of 4 feet between the car and the cyclist, or the driver completely <br />enters the other lane of the highway. (Note that all other requirements of <br />passing, such as having clear sight distance, must be observed). A full recap of <br />the new laws can be found in Appendix 1. <br />5) In Orange County we watch out for each other on the roads: <br />“Ride Friendly, Drive Friendly” <br /> 69