Bicycle Safety Facts You Need to Hear

According to Salt Lake City Councilman, Soren Simonsen:

• Cyclists have a  95% chance of survival after being hit by a motorist going 20 mph
• Bicyclists survival rate is reduced to 50% if they are hit by a car going 30 mph

Salt Lake City Council Members Meet to Discuss New 2010 Bicycle Measures

Salt Lake Tribune reports that on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, the Salt Lake City Council held a “Fact Finding Night on Bicycling” meeting. Beck Roolf, Salt Lake City’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, presented several biker-friendly proposals to the City Council members including:

• Reducing speed limits of Bicycle Boulevards from 30 mph to 20 mph
• Adding a bike lane when any city street gets repaved
• Require that four street lanes to be reduced to three lanes designated to motor vehicle traffic and one to bicyclists
• Adding a Bike Sharing Program, to be administered by the City, UTA and the University of Utah
• Installing a secured bicycle racks at major transit hubs which offer 80 parking spots for bikes

Utah Receives Bronze Medal Ranking

While the City Council boasts of having around 158 miles of lanes that are dedicated to bicycling. However, only 37% of major Salt Lake City streets have either bike lanes or paved shoulders—making road biking unsafe and especially uncomfortable to both cyclists and motorists. Dave Iltis, chairman of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, stated in a Salt Lake Tribune interview, that if the new bike-sharing program is enforced, the Safe Routes to School Program is improved and the funds are allocated for enforcement, education and public riding activities then Salt Lake City may reach Gold status by the end of the fiscal year.

2009 Utah Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to Police Chief Chris Burbank, Salt Lake City had the following number of bicycle verses auto accidents in 2009:

• 136 reported bicycle-verses-auto accidents
• 5 bicyclist fatalities
• Majority of the fault is attributed to the motorist

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Utah bicycle accident and you feel the accident was caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another, you should contact the skilled Utah accident and personal injury attorneys of the Christensen Law Firm. Our attorneys offer a FREE no obligation consultation to discuss your legal options and rights. Call us today at (801) 506-0800 to speak directly to an experienced attorney that can help you through this difficult and confusing time.

Stop-as-Yield Bill Manages to Pull Through

According to a Salt Lake Tribune News Report, House Bill 91 was saved by Senator Kevin Van Tassell, R-Vernal, when he changed his vote. This allowed the Stop-as-Yield Bicycle bill to be debated by the Utah Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee. In the effort to reduce Utah bicycle accidents and fatalities, the bill barely passed the senate.

What are the Changes to Utah Bike Laws after the 2010 Utah Legislative Session?

The Stop-as Yield bike law allows bicyclist to roll through stop signs if there isn’t any competing traffic. This allows cyclists to maintain the speed necessary to make left hand turns and more importantly it allows cyclists to turn or cross intersections. Often times, bicyclists are stuck at intersection because they don’t weigh enough to trigger the sensors that change the lights at traffic intersections. Representative Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, who sponsored the bill, argued, “It should not be against the law for bicyclists to ride safely in Utah.” However, the members within both the cycling and motor vehicle communities are unsure whether this new law will make roads safer or if it may even create greater hostilities among the various commuters on Utah roads.

Talk to an Experienced Utah Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycle verses automobile accident in Utah, do not hesitate to contact the skilled Utah bicycle lawyers at the Christensen Law Firm at (801) 506.0800.  Injuries from Utah bicycle accidents have long lasting emotional, physical and financial affects on victims and their families. In order to protect your rights as a Utah cyclist, we advise to you to take advantage of our FREE no obligation initial consultation with the best rated bicycle accident attorneys in the state of Utah.

In the United States, no federal law exists that mandates bicyclists wear a proper safety helmet.  Many state and local governments, however, have adopted laws that enforce the use of safety helmets for bicyclists.  In the US, only fourteen states do not have laws requiring helmet use.  Utah is one of these states.  While some Utah bicyclists may choose not to wear a helmet --an act that is within their legal rights-- statistics show that helmets help prevent serious injuries and Utah wrongful death.  The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute has compiled a large collection of statistics and research from several different sources which demonstrate the importance of always wearing a helmet.  The following is a summary of the data and information:

Nationwide, there are over 80 million bicycle riders.  In 2007, the latest year in which conclusive data is available, 700 bicyclists died on the road.  90% of these fatalities were the result of bicycle accidents involving a motor vehicle.  The “average” bicycle accident fatality involved a male bicyclist over the age of 16 who was riding in an urban area without a safety helmet.  Furthermore, over 63% of these fatalities resulted from traumatic brain injuries.  In addition to the 700 bicycle fatalities, around 67,000 bicyclists suffered from head injuries, many of which could have been avoided with the use of a helmet.In 2006, 95% of all bicyclists who died in traffic accidents were not wearing helmets.  Even with increased public-safety campaigns to promote helmet use, less than 40% of adult bicyclists wear helmets on a regular basis.  The decision to not wear helmets is incongruous to the simple fact that they prevent injuries and save lives.  In fact, helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by 85%. 

A 10-year study was conducted in Utah examining bicycle injuries, fatalities, and helmet usage.  According to the research, an average of 940 Utah bicyclists are injured in an accident with a motor vehicle every year.  Furthermore, an average of 7 Utah bicyclists are killed in these types of accidents each year.  During the course of the ten years of this study, helmet usage in Utah among all age groups increased.  However, too many Utah bicyclists still do not wear helmets.  In 2003, only 19% of Utahns were consistently wearing helmets while bicycling.

You can purchase a helmet for as little as $10 at your local K-Mart, Wal-Mart or target.  Although Utah law does not require you to wear a helmet, we strongly encourage you to use one whenever you ride your bicycle.  This one simple act could save you from traumatic brain injuries or death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Utah bicycle accident because of the negligence of a motorist, you are entitled to full compensation for your injuries.  The expert bicycle lawyers at the Christensen Law Firm offer superlative representation to Utah bicycle accident victims.  Contact us today for a free consultation at 801.506.0800.  We will diligently work on your case to ensure you receive the settlement you deserve.

Main office: 801-506-0800
Utah County: 801-224-2999
Davis/ Weber County: 801-294-9500

Date: May 19, 2009

Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Type: Utah bicycle accident, Utah bicycle injury

Tuesday morning saw two separate Utah bicycle accidents in Salt Lake City.  According to KSL News, the first accident took place at 400 South and 200 East.  A driver was heading eastbound on a green light and struck a 51-year-old bicyclist who was crossing on a red signal.  Authorities say the bicyclist rode right in front of the car and struck his head on the windshield.  He was rushed to the hospital and is suffering from head trauma.  He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.