Bicycles are a legitimate form of transportation and bicyclists
are legal drivers of vehicles, with laws and regulations established for their
use. Yet a major issue is that many bicyclists feel they are not respected by
motorists and must fight for their place on the road. Like motorists, cyclists
need space to safely operate in traffic. They need to anticipate correctly the
actions of drivers and other road users. This requires mutual respect, which
can be promoted by public information, motorist education programs, and legal
measures.
Strategy #1 Create a coordinated "Share
the Road" public education campaign that can be adapted at the state and local
levels.
- Evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a campaign emphasizing
the importance of sharing the road.
- Survey successful state and local level programs to guide campaign development.
- Identify the themes, content, and target audiences for the campaign.
- Create tools that incorporate multiple forms of media and compelling stories
to communicate "Share the Road" messages.
- Design specific outreach activities to promote bicycle safety
for motorists and bicyclists.
- Encourage local organizations and bicycle advocacy groups to sponsor the
campaign in their community.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign.
Strategy #2 Amend
the motor vehicle code to give precedence to bicyclists in the absence of overriding
traffic rules.
- Research morbidity, mortality, and cost issues related to existing laws
to further policy development.
- Work with the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances
to determine needed policy changes.
- Draft model language for inclusion in the Uniform Vehicle Code.
- Develop a constituency of bicyclists and motorists to advocate for those
code changes needed.
- Facilitate passage of code-changing bills within state legislatures.
Strategy #3 Include
components on "safe bicycling" and "sharing the road" in driver education programs.
- Survey current programs to determine if and how bicycle safety is incorporated
into driver education for beginning drivers and license renewal.
- Draft model text, graphics, and/or audio-visual material about bicycles,
bicyclists, and sharing the road to be included in the driver's license training
classes and materials.
- Draft questions about bicycles, bicyclists, and sharing the road that can
be adapted for driver's license testing systems.
- Encourage states and driver education providers to integrate
model program components into existing driver's education programs including,
but not limited to, novice driver training, license renewal, taxi cab driver
training, professional driver training, bus driver training, commercial driver
licensing, traffic (violations) schools, and the 55 Alive Program (offered
by the American Association of Retired Persons).