Keeping It Safe

WAITSBURG - After recent bicyclist-vehicle collisions that resulted in death and injuries in 2011, local authorities are urging vehicles to be on the lookout for bicyclists and they're telling bicyclists to take precautions to stay safe.

The Touchet Valley is becoming more and more a popular destination for cyclists and vehicles and cyclists need to learn to share the roads, said Walla Walla County Undersheriff Edward Freyer and Operations Captain Barry Blackman.

"Everybody has a legal right to the use of the roadways," Blackman said. "And you have to go beyond that in realizing there's a partnership to use the road."

Since January, there have been two cyclists injured and one killed by a vehicle on our roads. Two College Place men were hit by a vehicle on Aug. 26 on Frog Hollow Road and had to be treated at the hospital for abrasions. In May, a woman from Seattle was hit and killed by a vehicle on Middle Waitsburg Road.

Blackman and Freyer said the collision rate is unusually high this year, but it's too early to indicate a trend.

Awareness for road safety started in the area in 2004 when local teacher Ann Weatherill was hit and killed by a vehicle that was trying to pass on a two-lane road. That incident made the whole state stand up and take notice, resulting in the creation of the Ann Law in 2005 that makes it illegal for a vehicle to pass another when an oncoming bicyclist is approaching.

At Waitsburg High School, physical education teacher Jeff Bartlow has been doing his part to make sure his students know how to maintain their bikes and ride safely on the roadways. He taught his bicycle unit in 2000 for the first time and added it back into his curriculum last year. It started out as a program more about exercise than safety, Bartlow said, but now the unit is more about safety and procedure.

Bartlow and elementary fitness teacher Rebecca Wilson took a bike safety class recently that completely altered how he teaches his course, Bartlow said. Now, he can better teach his students "how to drive your bike and be streetwise," he said.

He teaches his kids to ride with traffic on the street, what to do at intersections, how to maintain the bike, how to use hand signals and general common sense techniques.

"I show them how to use the bike as a vehicle," he said.

The district was recently awarded a grant for 30 bicycles and 30 helmets so the district can continue to educate its students on bike safety and so that Bartlow can teach larger classes.

Bartlow said teachers and parents are the biggest role model for kids to make sure they wear helmets each time they ride and to make sure they are following the rules of the road.

A few of his students have been injured while riding their bikes around town, not on school time. One student was injured after the front tire of his bike flew off because it was not properly maintained, Bartlow said. Kids need to check the air, brakes and the crank set, which includes the bottom bracket, crank arms and chain rings.

"It's like checking your plane before you take off," Bartlow said about the importance of the safety check.

During his bike unit, he takes his class on 8 to 10 mile rides around town, including up the hill by the cemetery. He makes sure they use hand signals and are driving legally as well as getting exercise.

"At first, they think it's silly and nerdy to make signals when there's no cars around," Bartlow said.

But, he makes sure they do the signals and wear helmets. Bartlow said he sees a lot of kids in Waitsburg riding on sidewalks without helmets and parents need to be more strict about helmets and laws to keep kids safe. He suggests taking kids to the store to pick out a helmet they like.

"Lay down the law that they need to wear it," he said.

Kate Reeve of Waitsburg recently submitted a Letter to the Editor in the Union-Bulletin, calling for the county to ban bicyclists from Middle Waitsburg and Lower Waitsburg roads because they seem to be dangerous for cyclists. She argues that there are many bike routes in parks and cities that would be better for them.

However, as long as bicycles are treated as vehicles, bicyclists and drivers need to share all roads.

Blackman and Freyer said vehicles need to practice common courtesy when cyclists are on the road. Yellow signs with bicycle diagrams are on popular bicycling roads and drivers need to become very aware and prepare to slow down and give cyclists plenty of room.

" They should have a heightened level of awareness," Freyer said.

If a driver sees a cyclist on the right, slow down and give them plenty of room when passing. Make sure cyclists know vehicles are coming up from behind. Blackman and Freyer suggested gently honking at cyclists to let them know a vehicle is approaching if the cyclists don't start moving to the right, they said.

Cyclists are responsible for knowing what is coming up behind them and for communicating when riding in packs. The person at the back of the pack should pass a message to the front when each car comes.

Also, cyclists need to use their senses and add mirrors to find out when cars are coming from behind. Blackman and Freyer recommend cyclists attach mirrors to handlebars and helmets, use flashing lights in the daytime and nighttime, and always wear bright clothing so drivers can see them.

It all comes back to common courtesy, they said. If a cyclist doesn't move over to the right so you can pass, don't hit them, keep everyone safe, Blackman and Freyer said. Share the road to prevent collisions.

"It really comes from both parties," Freyer said.