Bicycling to Work
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Employee Guide BICYCLING TO WORK in the Washington Metropolitan Region in the Washington Metropolitan Region Metropolitan Washington the in BICYCLING TO WORK TO BICYCLING Employer Guide Employer COMMUTERCONNECTIONS.ORG About This Guide This guide is designed to ease the transition to bicycle commuting for Washington metropolitan area employees and to help employers encourage this ‘smarter way to work.’ This section (with pages labeled Employee-1, Employee-2), etc. is geared toward employees, the flip side is focused on employers. Why bicycle to work? n Riding to work costs less than driving or taking “When I initially started transit, especially if you already own a bike. biking to work I was intimidated with distances n Cycling allows you to stay in shape while you but after starting I found commute. that it is never too far.” n People who bike to work arrive invigorated and —Sterling Stone, Gearin’ Up Bicycles work off the day’s stress on the way home. n Biking to work means less traffic congestion and pollution for the region. How to get started Here are some suggestions to help you ease into Table of Contents bicycle commuting: Riding in Traffic— n Try a practice run on a weekend to find a good Safely ..............Employee-2-3 route and see how long it takes. Bike Rules.......... Employee-4 n Find a co-worker or friend who bikes and commute with them. Bike Basics .........Employee-5 n Start by trying just one day a week. Outfitting Your Bike ............Employee-6 n Drive part of the way and bike the rest. Outfitting n If you don’t own a bike, use Capital Bikeshare, Yourself ...........Employee-7-8 www.capitalbikeshare.com. Bike Security ......Employee-9 n Bike to the nearest transit location, and secure your bike for the day, or take it with you on bus or rail (see Bikes and pages 9-11 for more details about bikes on transit) Transit ...........Employee-9-11 n The Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s Resources ..........Middle page commuter mentor program can put you in touch with other people in your neighborhood who bike to work and help you find the most comfortable route. 202/518-0524.www.waba.org Employee-1 s Riding in Traffic - Safely Riding in traffic is not as hard as it looks if you follow the suggestions below. In Effective Cycling, John Forester writes, “Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” Be predictable Choose the best way to Ride so drivers can see you and predict turn left your movements There are two ways to make a left turn: Obey all regulatory (1) Like an auto. Look signs and traffic lights behind, signal, move Bicyclists must follow the LEFT RIGHT into the left lane and same rules of the road as turn left. (2) Like drivers of other vehicles. a pedestrian. Ride LEFT RIGHT Never ride against traffic straight to the far-side crosswalk. Walk your Motorists aren’t looking bike across. for bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road or Avoid or go slow on ONLY on the sidewalk. Ride with sidewalks traffic. LEFT RIGHT Pedestrians have the right Use hand signals of way on walkways. Hand signals tell motorists Bicyclists should always give pedestrians audible LEFT RIGHT what you intend to do. Signal as a matter of law, warnings when passing. courtesy and self protection. In some cases local ordinances do not permit Ride in a straight line bicyclists on sidewalks. Whenever possible, ride in (see page Employee-4) ONLY ONLY a straight line at least a car door width away from parked Bicycling with buses Avoid blind spots and ONLY cars. LEFT RIGHT remain visible to the bus Don’t weave between operator. Keep in mind parked cars that buses operate in a Don’t ride out to the curb unique manner compared between parked cars unless to other vehicles. Buses they are far apart. Motorists make frequent stops may not see you when you and pull in and out of try to move back into traffic. traffic from the right lane. Cyclists should not Take the lane in pass a bus on the right slow traffic as passengers board and Ride in the middle of the de-board from the curb. lane whenever you are moving at the same speed as Be Lawful traffic. Obey traffic laws whether in a car, on a bike, or on foot. Employee-2 s ONLY Be alert Bicycle Safety Video Ride defensively, watch the traffic, and “Competence and Confidence”, call Maryland be prepared to react. DOT at (410) 865-1237 Watch for cars pulling out Trail Etiquette Make eye contact with drivers. Assume they don’t see n Stay to the right except when you until you are sure they do. passing. n Scan the road behind you Travel at a reasonable speed in a consistent and predictable Learn to look back over your manner. shoulder without losing your balance or swerving left. n Always look ahead and behind Some riders use rear-view before passing. mirrors. n Pass slower traffic on the left; Avoid road hazards yield to oncoming traffic when passing. Watch out for parallel- slatted sewer grates, n Give a clear warning signal slippery manhole covers, oily before passing (ring bell and pavement, gravel, pot holes, say “passing on the left”). and ice. Cross railroad tracks n Move off the trail when stopped carefully at right angles. For to allow others room to pass. better control as you move n ONLY across bumps and other Yield to others when entering hazards, stand up on your and crossing the trail. LEFT RIGHT pedals. n Use a light and reflectors after dusk and before dawn; most Keep both hands ready to trails are not lit. brake n ONLY You may not stop in time if Stop for traffic where the trail crosses a road. you brake one-handed. Allow LEFT RIGHT extra distance for stopping in the rain, since brakes are Bicyclist Education less efficient when wet. One of the best ways to learn how to be safe and confident while cycling in traffic Be equipped is to take a Bicyclist Education Course, Wear a helmet administered by the League of American Bicyclists. They offer a three-hour class Always wear a helmet designed specifically for bicycle commuting. whenever you ride a bicycle. Call WABA, (202) 518-0524, or the League Helmets dramatically reduce of American Bicyclists, (202) 822-1333, for the risk of head injury in a more information on bicyclist education bicycle accident. courses in the Washington area. Use lights at night Always use a strong head light and tail light at night © Safety icons courtesy of Metro Regional and when visibility is poor. Services, Portland, Oregon. s Employee-3 ONLY LEFT RIGHT Select Bicycle Laws in the Washington Area District of Columbia Maryland Virginia Bicycle Position No specific provision for bicyclist When slower than other traffic, When slower than other traffic, position, except that slower bicycle as close to the right as bike as close to the right as moving traffic should drive to the safely practicable, except when safely practicable, except when right. turning left, passing, avoiding turning left, passing, avoiding pedestrians or road hazards, hazards or traffic in mandatory when the right turn lane is right turn lane, or traveling on a one- turn only, or on a one-way street. way street. Does not apply in Does not apply in lanes too lanes too narrow to share with narrow to share with a motor motor vehicle. vehicle. Passing By Cars Bicyclists may pass other Pass on left; not required Bicyclists may pass another vehicles on the left or right to pass on left on one-way vehicle on the right or left, and side, staying in the same street or when passing vehicle they may stay in the same lane, lane as the overtaken turning left. change lanes, or ride off the vehicle, or changing to a road if necessary for safe passing. different lane, or riding off the roadway, as necessary to pass with safety. Bicycling Two Abreast Permitted when it does not Permitted when it does not Permitted when it does not endanger bicyclists or endanger bicyclists or impede traffic. impede traffic. impede traffic. Turning Left From two-way to two-way From two-way to two-way A cyclist may turn like a streets; enter and leave streets; enter and leave motorist, or use the intersection near center line intersection near center line crosswalk like a pedestrian. of roadway. One-way to one- of roadway. One-way to one- way; keep as close as way; keep as close as practicable to left curb. practicable to the left curb. Turning Right Stay as close as practicable to Stay as close as practicable to right-hand curb. right-hand curb. Restricted Roads Prohibited from expressways. Prohibited from expressways, Prohibited from interstate and Bicyclists also allowed in bus toll bridges. Toll tunnels, and where signed on controlled lanes. other marked roads. access highways. Cycling on Sidewalks Allowed except in the central Banned except where allowed Allowed except where prohibited business district, which is by local ordinance. Allowed in by local jurisdictions, such as bounded by 23rd St. NW, Montgomery County except the Alexandria. Required to ride on Massachusetts Ave., 2nd St. City of Gaithersburg. Allowed in side paths in Manassas. NE-SE, D Street SE to 14th the City of Frederick outside the Ave NW, and Constitution Ave historic district. NW to 23rd St. Mandatory Use of Bike Paths Not required. Use of bike lanes required Not required.