The goal of a Bicycle Friendly Community is to create a safe network of roads for bikers, motorists and pedestrians. Safety is critical and precedes the network. If people, bikers and walkers, don't feel safe they won't use the network of paths and roads. Motorists too, want safe roadways without potholes, debris or poor visibility that may obscure bikers, walkers or other vehicles. The development of a safe infrastructure includes planning to address the changing needs of the community and plans to maintain the infrastructure to maintain a safe network. Simsbury takes safety on our roads and our shared use paths very seriously and so should we. Safety is a shared responsibility between the town and path/road users. There is a spectrum of topics that fall under the heading of safety. We will address many of them in future blog posts but the initial safety topic, rightfully, centers on personal responsibility. When we get behind the wheel of a car or jump on our bikes the buck stops with the driver or cyclist. We are responsible for the safety of our vehicle, our speed, adherence to laws and courtesy to those with whom we share the road. Often, as children, the first vehicle we operate is a bicycle. Simsbury has adopted a pilot Bicycle Safety Unit at Latimer Lane and Tootin' Hills School for 3rd and 4th graders. This training, part of the Physical Education curriculum, introduces the basics of operating a vehicle responsibly. Children are taught that bikers and motorists must share the road....same roads, same rules, same responsibilities. We are building a bike friendly generation! Part of our responsibility as the driver of any vehicle, bike or auto, is to yield to the most vulnerable user. Bikes don't have bumpers and collisions result in serious or fatal consequences. A pedestrian/bicycle collision can be very serious. Our attitudes toward those we share the road with often dictate our behavior. I hope you will join us in stepping up our civility as we share the road...if you are a cyclist, announce that you are passing a pedestrian. If you are a motorist, give that cyclist 3 feet (it's the law) - slow down take a deep breath and drive past that cyclist like its your son, daughter, wife, sister or dad. The needs of our community are changing. Young people and seniors want to reside in bikable, walkable communities where they feel safe. Help us to send the message of shared responsibility to friends and family and help build a bike friendly Simsbury.
