Riding Your Bike Instead of Paying for Gas?
Thousands Visited MCBC’s Checkpoints for Road-Sharing Tips
All summer, MCBC saw a steady increase in bicycle riders of all kinds, and now school is back in session. Bicycle riders will continue to increase in response to high gas prices. Are you dusting off your garaged steed to start using it again?
In May and July 2008, approximately 2200 motorists and 600 cyclists were provided with Share the Road materials at four Checkpoints in Sausalito, Novato, and Ross (see photos below). In September, MCBC hosted three more Checkpoints in West Marin, Tiburon, and San Anselmo for back-to-school awareness raising, reaching another 600 motorists and 235 cyclists. Each year, MCBC’s goal is to continue reaching more people. Our slogan for the Checkpoints: Get educated; don’t get ticketed!
The Checkpoints provide educational literature in a friendly atmosphere, sharing the word about the ways everyone can safely and conscientiously share the roads. Uniformed officers and MCBC volunteers provide Share the Road flyers to motorists and cyclists that pass through each Checkpoint. The flyers contain California Vehicle Code information, Codes of Conduct for bicyclists and motorists to foster respect for each other, plus safety and courtesy tips.
Hundreds of cyclists and walkers also picked up free blinky lights at our Sunday morning Share the Road Checkpoint on September 14 at Blackie’s Pasture in Tiburon. As the path was swarming with families and individuals out for a bike ride or walk along the beautiful waterfront path – or heading to a soccer game – MCBC was there giving away safety lights to help cyclists, pedestrians and their pets be more visible at night along roads and paths.
MCBC Executive Director Kim Baenisch said, “MCBC has seen an increase in all kinds of bicycle riders this year. The high cost of gas, along with public awareness of transportation’s role as a primary greenhouse-gas contributor, is fueling this shift. To ensure the public’s safety as more vehicles and bicycles use the roads, we’re providing safety tips through our Checkpoints. It’s a friendly way to communicate life-saving messages.”
Learn more about safe cycling and driving on our Share the Road page.
