SOS - Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Tips

Pedestrians are reminded to:

Walk on the side of the road as far to the left as possible or on a paved shoulder AGAINST oncoming traffic where there are no sidewalks;
Cross the street at an intersection or designated crosswalk when possible and always stop, look left, right, and left again before crossing. Do not rely solely on pedestrian traffic signals;
Come to the edge of a parked vehicle, stop and look both ways if it's blocking the view of the street before entering the street. This is also recommended before crossing in front of a stopped vehicle at an intersection if there are additional lanes traveling in the same direction;
Try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them and do not assume that because you can see the driver, the driver can see you;
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up;
Be vigilant in parking lots, especially when accompanying small children;
Increase visibility at night by carrying a flashlight when walking and by wearing light-colored or reflective clothing that highlights body movements.

Bicyclists should:

Always ride WITH other traffic;
Obey the rules of the road as any other vehicle operator, including all traffic signs, lane markings and signals, and use hand signals to indicate turns, slowing or stopping;
Wear bicycle helmets and reflective clothing;
Stay as far to the right as practical when riding in traffic lanes;
Not ride more than two abreast in a single lane, so long as it does not interfere with the normal flow of vehicular traffic;
Avoid entering the roadway without first stopping to look for vehicles;
Ride predictably and defensively, and do not ride while drunk or distracted;
Always yield to pedestrians;
Have a white front headlight and a red rear reflector if riding after dark or in low light conditions.

Drivers should:

Look out for and always yield the right-of-way to people walking, jogging, biking, etc.;
Pull out slowly from driveways and parking areas while watching for vulnerable road users, including children and others on the sidewalk or nearby pathways;
Stop fully before turning at driveways and intersections to make sure you do not cut off pedestrians or approaching bicyclists with right of way;
Never turn right immediately after passing a cyclist - wait until the cyclist has completed the trip through the intersection;
Do not pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks, as they may be allowing a pedestrian to cross the street;
Yield to anyone crossing the street when turning left on a green light;
Watch for surprising changes in direction, especially by children or cyclists avoiding road hazards.
When parallel parked, check for approaching cyclists before opening your door;
Leave sufficient space when passing vulnerable road users and take every possible precaution to avoid collision.

Key Information

Resources

Laws