More and more homeowners and their children are buying electric bikes as well as using regular road and mountain bikes. It is great to see everyone out biking and exercising. However, bike riders and parents together need to follow city and state rules and regulations to ensure everyone is safe including pedestrians out walking.
The City of Encinitas asks that cyclists ride safely, carefully and obey all the rules of the road. Ride with the flow of traffic, obey stop signs and lights and pass carefully. If you must ride on a sidewalk, please observe the following NHTSA guidelines:
- Obey signs and ride where legal (in some business districts in Encinitas, such as the downtown, cycling is not allowed on sidewalks).
- Pass pedestrians with care and signal “on your left” or use a bell.
- Ride in the same direction as traffic. This way, if the sidewalk ends, you are already riding with the flow.
- Slow and look for traffic when crossing a street from a sidewalk; be prepared to stop and follow the pedestrian signals.
- Watch for cars backing out of driveways or turning.
Be courteous and careful when sharing the trail on your bike!
Paths and trails are often shared by users of all ages and abilities, including bicyclists, hikers, dog walkers, joggers, parents pushing strollers, and people on horseback. The great variety of users and their varying speeds and mobility can make such riding more unpredictable than riding in the roadway. Here are some important guidelines to follow when using our trails in Encinitas.
- Make sure the trail allows your mode of transportation – some trails may or may not allow bikes, horses or pets
- Keep your speed down and slow way down when passing others while on a bike, and always give a friendly heads-up like “on your left” or use a bike bell
- Stay to the right, and if you have to stop, move completely off the trail
- If using headphones or ear buds, keep one ear open so you can be aware of your surroundings
- Be careful around children or animals; always yield to them. If passing a horse, use your voice so the horse associates the bicycle with a human
- Use proper lights if riding before daylight or after dusk
Parents – it’s great that bikes give our kids fun and freedom. Make sure they’re riding safely, respectfully and responsibly when in the public. Ensure that their bikes are well maintained, and legal (e-bikes) for roadway use and that they wear a helmet. It is a law in California that children 18 years old and younger must wear a helmet.
The San Diego Bike Coalition is a terrific resource that provides classes and workshops to the public, many of which are completely free. Find their “Smart Cycling” zoom workshop and many others at https://sdbikecoalition.org/our-work/education/