Bicycling is a great way to enjoy the outdoors in Indiana. However, not all cities have made sure that bicyclists have a safe place to ride. Here’s how to determine whether a community is bikeable.
A place for bicyclists to safely ride
In order for bicyclists to stay safe, they need to have a secure place to ride, such as in a bike lane or on the shoulder of the road. The area should be free of potholes and debris and lit well. When bicyclists don’t have a safe place to ride, it often results in pedestrian and bicycle accidents.
Safe intersections
Just because an intersection isn’t dangerous for cars doesn’t mean that it is safe for bicyclists. Bikeable communities have intersections that give bicyclists enough time to safely cross the street. Bicyclists should also be able to easily see the crossing traffic without having to deal with any obstructions in the way.
Drivers’ response to bicyclists
Not all communities look at bicyclists favorably. When this happens, drivers often don’t want to make room on the roadways for them. They may end up driving too fast when they are near them or fail to look for them at interactions. Bikeable communities tend to have drivers that encourage bicyclists. They do their part to ensure that they drive safely when they are around bicyclists.
Many individuals choose bicycling as a way to get adequate exercise and travel from one location to another. For those that choose to ride their bikes on a regular basis, it’s best to do so in a bikeable community. This will allow them to remain safe while they are sharing the roadways with drivers, pedestrians and other bicyclists.
