Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan - sacog

A.8 Bicyclist Education
Bicyclist education should focus on preventing crashes and injuries. Programs should outline
important safety techniques when bicycling for example, riding with traffic, equipping bicycles with
lights and reflectors, and wearing bright reflective clothing for increased visibility at night.
Instruction in the California Vehicle Code is also important, emphasizing that bicyclists have the
same duties and responsibilities, and must follow the same rules as drivers of cars. Likewise the
programs should highlight the California law regarding youth bicycle helmet requirements.
A.9 Motorist Education
Programs developed for drivers should address subjects like bicyclist and pedestrian right of way,
awareness of children walking to schools and playgrounds, and safe driving speeds in
neighborhoods. These issues can be addressed in curriculum included in drivers’ education
programs and the Department of Motor Vehicles Traffic Violators’ School. These programs could
be developed in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, Caltrans, California Highway
Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety, and other private organizations.
A.10 Professional Education
Professional engineers, planners, and developers often influence how land is used. Therefore it is
important that these professionals are well trained, and understand the important role bicycle and
pedestrian facilities play in efficient transportation systems. Integrating bicycle and pedestrian issues
into mainstream engineering, landscape architecture, and planning education programs can improve
awareness of the significance of bicycling and walking. Curricula for transportation and land use
must present walking and bicycling as normal, expected, efficient, and desirable modes. Professional
organizations, such as the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), can also
encourage practitioners to improve their technical skills by encouraging continuing education for
professionals in related fields. Likewise licensing boards for transportation and trails professionals
should review training and education needs and make appropriate recommendations.
A.11 Measures to Improve Conditions for Cycling and Walking
A.11.1 Increased Access
Communities must be designed to enable safe and efficient travel for non-motorists. People are less
likely to bicycle or walk if they are required to take an indirect route, travel long distances out of
their way, or feel unsafe. Therefore, to reduce distances and travel times and improve safety, it is
important to provide bicycle and pedestrian access in areas where vehicle use is restricted or
blocked, such as street closures and cul-de-sacs. Local agencies need to coordinate with developers
to maximize opportunities to provide bicycle and pedestrian friendly development patterns and
infrastructure.
Improve connections to transit. Work with transit operators to improve bicycle parking and onboard
bicycle storage. Identify station access issues and develop a “safe-routes-to-transit” program.
A.11.2 Improve Bicycle Parking 43
Bicycles are extremely vulnerable to theft. Bicycle theft is endemic where there is widespread bicycle
use. Therefore, the availability of secure bicycle parking is often the key factor in deciding to travel
via bicycle. Secure bicycle parking should be included in the earliest phases of project planning to
43 California Blueprint for Bicycling and Walking, May 2002
Regional Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan Amended June, 2011 A-17