On Thursday, a cyclist got hit by a car and unfortunately died.
Every year we see an increase in cyclists on the roadways as the weather gets warmer, but both drivers and cyclists need to stay aware of one another in order to stay safe on the roadways.
Following bike lanes for cyclists is important, along with wearing the proper safety gear, which should always be top of mind. Those who wear helmets are more likely to survive and have less serious injuries if they're in a crash.
"Cyclists and vehicles need to pay attention to one another because you can't see bicyclists easy, and bicyclists don't always pay attention to the cars because they think they are seen," explains Daniel Bond, the Captain of the Reno Police Department. "So, making that eye contact and making sure they're aware that both sides are aware of one another so there's not an accident."
If there isn't a dedicated bike lane, car drivers need to treat cyclists like other cars on the road.
Captain Bond reminds drivers not to pass a bike if it's not safe to do so and to make sure to give them plenty of room, which he says is typically three feet of distance.
Captain Bond also says cyclists need to do the same thing and stay aware on the roadways, knowing that not everyone is going to see you.
"We ask that people pay attention. We have a lot of pedestrian vehicle and micromobility vehicle traffic downtown and we notice a lot more accidents involved in that," said Captain Bond. "As you get outside of downtown a lot of bicyclists take over the road and don't pay attention to the rules of the road and that's why we're having some of our accidents."
Captain Bond also mentions the efforts being put into the City to make our roads safer with micromobility improvements, but he says that does require people following the rules in order to make the improvements work for everyone.
"We've made improvements downtown and to the entire city to make sure we delineate bike lanes for people to use other means of transportation instead of being so vehicle born. So we have other means and other routes to get people to and from," said Bond.
"It's imperative that everyone follows the rules of the road, we pay attention to one another, and stay safe."
