Like many scenic, easily accessible routes, the road leading up Mount Diablo, in the Bay Area of California, is incredibly popular among bicyclists. In recent years, however, a series of bicycle-vehicle collisions reinvigorated a push for better infrastructure to promote the safety of cyclists. A group of local riders turned advocates successfully lobbied legislators using traffic records to secure 17 turnouts using California State Parks funding. In July, the state announced an additional $1.5 million in funding to enable some 50 additional turnouts along the 11-mile mountain path.
The win underscores an important lesson for advocates working in the active transportation space: When it comes to promoting the safety of bicyclists, it’s important to also include automobile drivers in the conversation and position safety as the responsibility of all parties, bikers included. Advance the idea that we can have peace on the road when everyone has a piece of the road, and don’t be defensive when it comes to safety. We’ll all be safer with better infrastructure and once all parties are educated on how to share the road.
Questions? We have answers.