Risks of Bicycle Accidents in Broward County Increased with Bike-Sharing Program?

If you haven’t already heard, Fort Lauderdale recent launched a new bike-sharing program. Bike riding is a popular trend, an excellent way to get some exercise and an eco-friendly way to get around. According to the Green Fort Lauderdale, Broward Commissioners recently approved a contract with B-cycle to launch these bikes and their kiosks here in the city. You can visit Broward B-cycle for location information. The next step for many is figuring out how to keep all of these cyclists safe and how to avoid potentially fatal bicycle accidents in Fort Lauderdale.
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Here’s how it works: Residents and visitors in the city are able to access a public bike by swiping a credit card or swiping their membership card. That’s all you have to do to get a bike. You can ride it around and drop it off to any of the company’s kiosks around town. They’re located throughout Broward County. As of now, there are about 200 blue bikes available for users. Within the first five years of the program, officials expect that to expand to 500 bikes. They can be rented by the day or by the week.

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers understand that the move to bicycles as a top form of transportation is an excellent way to stay healthy and to reduce the traffic congestion in the area. With the bike-sharing program active on our streets, it’s important for travelers to take note. Motorists are asked to be cautious around areas that are heavily populated with our two-wheeled travelers. Safe roadways start with your defensive driving habits.

“B-cycles are magic bikes that are there when you want one and gone when you don’t. Just swipe your card, grab a bike, and get to where you’re going,” says the company’s website.

The bikes are all cruiser-style bikes that were created by Trek Bicycle Corp. They accommodate riders of all shapes and sizes. Each bike comes with carbon offsets, a device to track calories burned and a device to calculate miles traveled. Talk about handy!

With all of this gear for riders, we need to take the time to equip motorists with the tools to help them to avoid accidents involving these vulnerable travelers. Drivers are asked to keep an eye out for cyclists. Look for them in your mirrors and in your blind spots before moving in traffic. Don’t pass a cyclist before making a right turn! Bicycles move faster than you think. Be extra careful when traveling on driveways and in parking lots. Never open your car door without looking for passing traffic. Make sure that when you pass a cyclist, you have no less than 3 feet of clearance. It’s the law. All of these tips will help motorists and bicyclists to travel in safe unison with one another.

If you or someone in your family has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident in Broward County or in any of the surrounding areas, contact Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 for a free initial consultation. Call anytime!

More Blog Entries:

Road Design Causing Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Broward and Miami-Dade, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, February 26, 2012

Florida Residents at High Risks for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Broward County and Elsewhere, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, January 15, 2012

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