Bicycle safety starts with you
By KVAL Web Staff
EUGENE, Ore. - A Eugene man died June 2 when his bike collided with a car in the intersection of 13th Avenue and Willamette Street, one of the busiest intersections in downtown Eugene. Business owners near the intersection sa id they've seen numerous close calls. Lee Shoemaker, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator with the Eugene Public Works Department, said one of the most important tips to safety is protecting your head for starters. "Ride the same direction of the cars, wear bright clothing and stay in the bike lanes when they have them," he added. "People drive on their cell phones," she said. "They don't use their vision. I think people here, because they're not used to driving fast along the freeways, I'm convinced they drive like they're dreaming." Cyclists have issues getting around downtown, especially with very little space between them and the cars driving by and parked cars. But the city is looking into some changes in one spot. "On 29th, the bike lanes end just before the intersection and that is something we're looking at," Shoemaker said. Eugene public works just launched a new campaign designed to teach drivers, pedestrians and cyclists about sharing the road. "The main key is really respect, mutual respect on the road," said Cindy Clarke, transportation options coordinator for the city. "We want everybody to recognize that bicycles are a vehicle under the law and cyclist need to obey those laws just as motorist need to."
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