Home › Posts tagged cyclists on the road

cyclists on the road

What is Vision Zero?

Posted on by

Vision Zero: A Commitment to Safe Streets and includes images of people walking, biking, scooting and using a wheelchair on roads.

You’ve probably heard a lot about Vision Zero and you’re wondering what is it? Municipalities across New Jersey and the United States are committing to Vision Zero through resolutions, ordinances aimed at increasing road safety, and street redesigns that accommodate all people, regardless of how they get around.

What is Vision Zero? A Bold Strategy for Road Safety

In the world of transportation and road safety, Vision Zero has emerged as a groundbreaking approach aimed at eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. While the idea might seem idealistic at first, it’s grounded in the belief that no loss of life or serious injury on the roads is acceptable. By shifting the focus to proactive safety measures, Vision Zero aims to create a road system that protects all users, including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

Origins of Vision Zero

Vision Zero was first introduced in Sweden in 1997. The country, known for its strong commitment to social welfare and public safety, set out with the goal of creating a transportation system where nobody would be killed or seriously injured in road accidents. Since its inception, Sweden has seen significant success, with traffic fatalities dropping by over half in the years that followed the implementation of Vision Zero.

Seeing these positive results, the idea began to spread globally. Today, cities and countries around the world have adopted Vision Zero as part of their road safety strategies, including major urban centers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond. But Vision Zero isn’t just a set of guidelines—it’s a call to action and a comprehensive approach to how we think about traffic safety.

Key Principles of Vision Zero

  • Human-Centered Design: One of the core tenets of Vision Zero is the recognition that humans make mistakes. Road design should accommodate human error, making it difficult for accidents to result in serious injuries or deaths. For example, roundabouts or protected bike lanes can reduce the likelihood of fatal collisions.
  • Systemic Safety: Vision Zero doesn’t just focus on individual behavior but emphasizes improving the entire transportation system. This includes engineering safer roadways, introducing more robust vehicle safety standards, and enhancing traffic laws. The goal is to redesign roads and infrastructure to prevent severe accidents from occurring, regardless of human error.
  • Shared Responsibility: Unlike traditional road safety approaches, which often place the blame for accidents on drivers, Vision Zero emphasizes that responsibility is shared by everyone involved—drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, policymakers, and engineers. It’s not about blaming individuals but creating a safer system for all.
  • Data-Driven Solutions: Effective policies and infrastructure changes must be informed by solid data. Vision Zero calls for detailed data collection on traffic accidents, injury patterns, and the behavior of road users to determine where improvements are needed. This allows for targeted solutions and better resource allocation.

Vision Zero in Practice

While Vision Zero might sound like an ambitious ideal, there are numerous real-world examples showing its effectiveness. Cities around the world have already begun to implement Vision Zero strategies with significant success.

  • Hoboken, NJ: Since committing to Vision Zero in 2018, Hoboken has not seen a traffic fatality in seven years, thanks to safety improvements that include daylighting intersections – the process of increasing visibility at crosswalks, incorporating bike lanes, and reducing speed limits throughout the city.
  • Jersey City, NJ: Jersey City became the first city in New Jersey to commit to Vision Zero through initiatives like pop-up pedestrian plazas, installing roundabouts, reducing speed limits, and daylighting intersections.
  • New York City: In 2014, NYC adopted Vision Zero as part of its official traffic safety strategy. The city implemented measures like lower speed limits, the expansion of bike lanes, and increased enforcement of traffic laws.

As more cities adopt Vision Zero principles, it’s becoming clear that road safety is not just about enforcement but about rethinking the very nature of how we design and interact with our road systems. The initiative has the potential to transform cities into safer, more inclusive environments where everyone—from children to the elderly—can move around confidently without the constant threat of road crashes.

Vision Zero is A Shared Goal

Achieving zero traffic deaths and serious injuries requires continued collaboration among government agencies, engineers, public health professionals, and the public. Everyone must play a role in ensuring that Vision Zero is more than just a lofty goal but a tangible, life-saving reality.

Vision Zero is more than just a traffic safety program; it is a philosophy that redefines how we view road safety. It challenges the notion that traffic deaths are inevitable and calls for systemic changes to create a safer world for all road users. The journey toward zero is long, but it’s a step toward a future where no one has to fear for their life on the road.

Learn more about Vision Zero, download a sample resolution, and take the Vision Zero Pledge HERE.

Riding in the Road: 8 Tips for Safe Cycling

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Andrew_Peter_May07-001As a bike rider, it can be challenging to feel comfortable riding in the road with motor vehicles, but roads are often the best way to get from A to B whether for shopping, commuting or enjoying a ride. Learning to ride defensively can increase your comfort and safety, and expand the number of roads where you can ride. Here are some tips for defensive bicycling.

  • Choose your route 
    • Before your ride, select a route with the lightest or slowest traffic or the widest shoulder that gets you where you want to go. Select a route where you’re comfortable riding.
  • Ride predictably
    • Ride in a straight line, in the direction of traffic on the right side of the road. However, don’t hug the curb. Leave room to safely navigate issues such as pot holes, debris, sewer grates and other obstacles.
    • Obey traffic signs and signals, they’re for both bicyclists and motor vehicles.
    • Use extra caution around turning vehicles and at intersections. Avoid passing stopped vehicles on the right.
    • Use extra caution around large vehicle like trucks and buses, which have a larger blind spot and make wider turns.
    • When there is a short gap between parked cars, ride in a straight line rather than weaving in and out. This way, drivers see where you want to go and you can avoid merging back into the travel lane when you have to pass the next parked car.
    • Don’t swerve at the last second to avoid potholes or debris. Instead, move over early when you notice an obstacle up ahead.
  •  Be visible
    • When a travel lane is too narrow for both a bike and motor vehicle to share, move towards the center of the lane to make yourself more visible to motorists.
    • Use a front white light and red rear light in low-light conditions and at night. It’s New Jersey law.
    • Wear bright, highly visible clothing, preferably with reflective tape or patches.
  • Avoid distractions and hazards
    • Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings.
    • Ride four feet from parked cars to stay out of the “door zone,” where you could collide with an opening car door.
    • Avoid drinking, eating, using your phone, or anything that requires your hands while bicycling.
    • At large, complicated or busy intersections, consider getting off your bike and walking across.
  • Communicate
    • Look behind you and scan for oncoming vehicles before making all turns.
    • Signal your turns, especially in mixed traffic and around other cyclists.
    • Make eye contact with drivers and pedestrians.
  • On the trail or sidewalk
    • When riding near pedestrians, let them know you’re there using a bell or your voice.
    • Reduce speed when passing pedestrians and other cyclists.
    • Slow down and use extra care at intersections and blind corners.
  • Have the right equipment
    • Wear a helmet every time you ride.
    • Ride a bike that’s the right size for you.
    • Keep your bike in good working order. Check tire pressure, brakes, and chain regularly.
  • Ride more and learn more!
    • When driving look carefully for bicyclists before turning left or right, merging into bicycle lanes and opening doors next to moving traffic. Respect the right of way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with you.
    • Consider taking a Smart Cycling class from the League of American Bicyclists.

Share the Road

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

share_the_roadOur roads are intended to be shared by cyclists, motorist and pedestrians too!  And yet, we may not be aware of “the rules” of sharing the road.  KMM has put together a helpful list of the most important tips we should all review before we get behind handlebars or a wheel.

Communicate your intentions

Cyclists, use hand signals consistently.  Motorists, use turn signals in advance of turning to let everyone know your intentions.

Everybody Follows the Same Rules

Cyclists are safer when riding in the same direction as motorists and follow all the same rules as motorists.  Motorists come to a full stop when at a stop sign and do not speed through a yellow light to avoid the wait at a red light.

The Road Looks Different

Cyclists, scan the road ahead to have enough time to signal if you need to move out of the way.  Motorists, sewer grates, broken glass, gravel and puddles are all hazards to cyclists.  Always leave a three-foot buffer in the event a cyclist needs to move out of their lane.

Everybody Wins With Courtesy

Cyclists, the more courtesy you are with motorists, the more courtesy drivers will be.  Motorists, giving cyclists extra respect and consideration creates a safer environment for everyone.

Horns

Cyclists, NJ law requires all bikes be equipped with a horn or bell so that your presence is greatly increased.  Motorists, although the horn is used as a safety tool, it can be dangerous if used in extreme proximity to a cyclist.  A light tap on the horn is sufficient.

Managing Electronic Devices

Both cyclists and motorist, leave the cell phones, iPods and blackberry in your bags and not in your hands as you are driving or riding.  By doing so, you are keeping everyone safe.

And don’t forget, pedestrians have rights too!  Both cyclists and motorists are required by law to yield for pedestrians in crosswalks.  While pedestrians have the responsibility to be visible and predictable when using a crosswalk, cyclists and motorists can observe each others actions when approaching a crosswalk to anticipate a pedestrian using a crosswalk.

For more information, visit www.kmm.org for all your transportation needs.

 

Photo credit: www.thinkbicycles.org