Safe bicycling and walking measures

Many areas in the Falcon/Peyton/Black Forest areas do not have sidewalks or bicycle lanes to accommodate pedestrians or bicyclists. The Colorado Bicycling Manual is the official rules of the road and trail for walking and bicycling in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Transportationís website.Following are a few tips listed in the manual for safely walking on Coloradoís roadways:

• Walk or run against traffic.
• Avoid using cell phones or other personal devices.
• When crossing the street, cross in a crosswalk.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing to ensure they see you.

Colorado State Patrol Trooper Nate Reid added the following tips for pedestrians:

• Wear something reflective on your shoes so the movement catches the driversí eyes.
• Tell people where youíre going, and know your route.

CSP Sgt. Scott Hophan said, ìWhile jogging, you might have the right-of-way but going against a 3,000 pound car, youíre going to get hurt. Hybrid cars are quiet now so you might not even hear it coming.îFollowing are tips listed in the manual for safe bicycling on Coloradoís roadways:

• Ride with the flow of traffic.
• Obey all traffic laws and act as though you are a vehicle.
• Avoid using cell phones or other personal devices.
• Ride as far to the right side of the road as possible, while still being safe from debris, obstacles and traffic.
• Ride in a straight line.
• Ride single file when possible; you may ride two abreast if youíre not impeding the normal flow of traffic.
• Signal continuously at least 100 feet before you turn.

Reid said, ìRide with your head up so you can see any road deterioration or obstacles in your way to keep from moving into traffic to avoid it.îìYou need to have a red light mounted on the rear of your bike and a white light mounted on the front,î Hophan said.Vehicles can safely accommodate bicyclists and pedestrian by doing the following:

• Allow at least 3 feet between your vehicle and a bicycle when passing to avoid blowing the bicyclist out of control or off the road.
• Wait until it is safe to pass a bicyclist; you may cross the center line to pass when itís safe to do so.
• Look to your right before turning right to avoid cutting off a bicyclist.
• Donít honk to alert a pedestrian or bicyclist that youíre there; you may scare them and cause an accident.
• Slow down and remain diligent.
• Avoid using cell phones and other personal devices.

Reid said, ìThe right-of-way always goes to the person in the front, even if itís a cyclist. The onus is on the vehicle thatís doing the passing to do so safely.î