Washington bicyclists have some of the most amazing scenery to witness and routes to ride when they are traveling along the roads of the state. They also, however, face many perils from vehicle drivers when those individuals fail to recognize bikes near them and put them in danger. In some locations, bicyclists may be able to seek refuge in bike lanes or may even see buffer zones. This post will briefly discuss these road features and how they may help to keep bike riders’ safe.
Bike lanes are marked paths on existing roads where bicyclists should be able to ride without the encroachment of motor vehicles. This means that drivers should not operate their cars, trucks, and vans in bike lanes, nor should they cross the lines that divide riders from vehicles unless such action is legal and appropriate to do.
In some urban locations, bicyclists may see bike buffer zones, which are additional markings that create more space between where bikes and cars should operate. Bike lanes and bike buffer zones are intended to give vehicles and bikes their own spaces so that they can co-exist on roads without putting each other in danger.
However, as many riders know, the negligent and sometimes reckless acts of motor vehicle drivers put bicyclists in the paths of danger, even when they are permissibly riding in their lanes. For bicyclists who have been harmed in roadway accidents with motor vehicles, help is available. Personal injury claims may offer them options for seeking the recovery of their damages. Their bicycle accident attorneys can offer them helpful guidance on how they may secure the full compensation of their losses.