CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Could is Bay State Bike Month, 22News is working for you with a more in-depth have a look at how native communities are working to guard bicyclists.
To have fun Bay State Bike Month, The Mates of Northampton Trails and different bicycle advocacy teams held a neighborhood breakfast in downtown Northampton. This occasion was meant to start out a dialogue on the significance of making the infrastructure wanted for bikes all through the Pioneer Valley.
Biking has at all times been a preferred mode of transportation particularly now because the climate begins to heat up nevertheless it oftentimes can pose nice dangers. Whereas driving a motorbike has many advantages, one of many drawbacks is that for those who’re ever concerned in an accident, you’ll not have the safety you do whenever you’re in a automobile. The shortage of safety creates the very actual risk of being concerned in a probably deadly crash or fall.
Failing to yield the precise of means is the very best consider deadly bike crashes, adopted by bicyclists not being seen. All states require bicyclists on the roadway to comply with the identical guidelines and tasks as motorists to maintain everybody on the roads protected.
22News spoke with MassBike about native efforts to extend security and defend cyclists and pedestrians on the roads.
“Infrastructure is what’s going to maintain individuals protected they usually’re going to be putting in devoted sidewalk world bike lanes which might be going to create that separation. Separated bike lanes have been confirmed to extend security for not solely bicyclists however for pedestrians due to that added house and placing that funding right here in western Mass. the place it’s so stunning and folks need to trip is completely a necessity.” Jes Slavin, MassBike Communications Coordinator
In an effort to enhance security advocacy teams encourage individuals to take the precise precautions. That features doing issues like sporting your helmet and having reflectors. Rising your visibility will maintain you safer on the roads particularly at evening and within the early morning hours.
There may be numerous new laws that’s being pushed ahead proper now to handle this challenge. Most not too long ago a four-foot-wide legislation was handed, drivers at the moment are required to offer a “protected passing distance” of at the very least 4 toes when passing susceptible highway customers. The supply makes Massachusetts the thirty sixth state within the nation to set a protected passing parameter of at the very least three toes.