San Diego Bicyclists’ Most Likely Places for Tickets
Contrary to popular belief, you can receive a traffic ticket while on a bicycle. Many San Diego bicyclists don’t realize that bicycles must follow most of the same traffic rules as motor vehicles on the road. The San Diego Police Department recently reported that bicyclists in the area accounted for 278 tickets for running stop signs between January of 2015 and May of 2016.
The most likely places for bicyclists to receive tickets include an intersection near Balboa Park and several intersections in Pacific Beach. A new piece of state legislation introduced in February of 2017 would allow bicyclists to roll through stop signs where safety allows. This may sound unsafe at first, but the premise behind it is the fact that bicyclists who come to a complete stop at an intersection take longer to get through the intersection. More time spent in an intersection means a higher chance of an accident.
How to Protect Yourself
Bicycling in San Diego can be very enjoyable given the area’s incredible weather, but it’s vital to take precautions to prevent both injuries and unwanted traffic tickets. Until the new bill becomes law, consider your bike like any other vehicle, and come to a complete stop at all stop signs. Take care when pulling out to continue through the intersection, and be sure to signal to other drivers when you intend to turn.
When riding a bike in San Diego, it’s also important to keep your personal identification and a cell phone with you at all times in case of an emergency. You may want to also install reflectors on your bike and wear reflective clothing if you ride your bicycle at night. Doing so will make you more visible to drivers and lower your chances of being hit by a driver who couldn’t see you. Additionally, consider investing in a high-quality bicycle helmet with Department of Transportation approval. These helmets will greatly reduce the risk of permanent head injury or death from hitting your head on the road or other surfaces.
Injuries from Bicycling Accidents
Bicycles do not offer the same protection to riders as passenger cars, or even motorcycles. Bicycle frames are relatively fragile, and even mild collisions with cars can leave bicycles severely damaged or completely destroyed. Falling from a bicycle or blunt force trauma from accidents can cause broken bones, “road rash” from sliding across asphalt, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and a host of other possible wounds.
The new bill would allow bicyclists to get through stop signs much more quickly, thus mitigating the chances of another driver striking a slow-moving bicycle, struggling to move through an intersection. Of course, this new bill also poses a question of safety, as it will be up to individual riders to accurately assess whether or not it is safe to roll through a stop sign before doing so. Pending further notice in any situation, traffic violations are applicable to bicyclists who bypass stop signs.
What If I’ve Been Injured?
If you’ve suffered an injury while riding your bicycle, a San Diego personal injury attorney may be able to help you secure the compensation you need for your medical bills and other expenses. Depending on what caused your accident, your lawsuit may take many possible forms. For example, if you’re in a bicycle lane and a parked driver opens his or her door into you after failing to check, he or she is likely liable for your injuries and damages. If the local municipality failed to repair a known road hazard in a timely fashion, you may be able to pursue damages from the responsible agency. Please note that suing a government agency is very different from suing another private citizen or business, so speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a bicycle accident to weigh your options.