May is Bicycle Safety Month.  May 14-19 has been declared Bike to Work Week in Logan and
throughout the country.  With the warm, dry weather, cyclists are again becoming a more
common part of our local traffic mix.

I would like to note the good work of our legislators for the safety of bicycling.  A year ago,
Logan  Representative Loraine Pace and Cache Senator Lyle Hillyard gave guidance to get the
process going for cyclists.  Senator Hillyard put the topic of bicycle safety law changes into the
hopper for the Interim Transportation Committee. Cache/Boxelder Senator Peter Knudson and
Farmington Rep. Marla Dillree guided the changes through committee and Rep. Dillree 
successfully sponsored House Bill 15 during the 2001 Session.

The result is a variety of improvements for cyclists in Utah.  The "mandatory sidepath rule" was
revoked.  That rule, rejected in the Uniform Vehicle Code since 1976, required cyclists to use
any available roadside path instead of the right side of the roadway.  Most non-cyclists and many
bike riders do not appreciate the fact that sidepaths are more hazardous than legal riding on the
right side of the roadway.

Utah cyclists are now allowed to use a right-handed right turn signal rather than being required
to use the left-arm-out-the-car-window right turn signal.  It makes perfect sense for a cyclist to
point in the intended direction.  Many of our cyclists who learned their skill in other states
already do this.  The left-handed version is still legal and it's a good thing.  I'm having a hard
time breaking that old habit as I ride around town.

In addition to the more sensible turn signal, cyclists must now conform to the same three second
requirement for signaling rather than a separate requirement to signal during the last 100 feet
before turning.  While signals do not gain the right-of-way for the signaler, they do help to create
a more predictable traffic flow for all.

The flickering LED taillight is now recognized as legal equipment on a bike.  Previously, they
may have been in technical violation of restrictions on flashing lights.  The LED taillight is
already becoming easily recognized as a warning of a bike ahead in the dark.  Their durability
and long battery life make them a reliable safety feature.  The law now requires reflectors or
lights on the back of a bike and still requires a good headlight on the front during nighttime
riding.

Even though riding on the right side of the street is generally safer than riding on a sidepath or
sidewalk, a technical prohibition of any sidewalk bicycling was removed from state law. 
Cyclists are still required to use sidewalks with caution for pedestrians and for vehicular traffic
at driveways and crosswalks.  Local governments are still free to prohibit sidewalk riding as
Logan has already done for the downtown business district.

Remember what the Boy Scout Cycling merit badge book says: "Cyclists fare best when they act
and are treated as drivers of vehicles."  

Utah law now does a better job of treating cyclists as drivers of vehicles.  It's in every cyclist's
safety interest to act like a driver of a vehicle and follow the vehicular rules.  

Those rules include:
     1.   Ride on the right side of the road, never on the left.
     2.   Yield to crossing traffic on "bigger" roads; stop if signs, signals or traffic require.
     3.   Yield before changing lanes; "yield" means look and wait for a clear space.
     4.   Between intersections, slower traffic keeps to the right; faster traffic passes on the left.
     5.   Approach intersections in the proper position for your destination; left turn from near the
     center line (after obeying rule #3), right turn near the curb. 

Enjoy the healthful economy and efficiency of riding your bike this summer for commuting,
errands, visits, exercise and just plain fun.  If you need encouragement or guidance, find an
experienced riding companion or join a cycling club.