1 in 5 Syracuse Bicycle Injuries Happen in Bike Lanes
Syracuse has 16.5 miles of on-road bike lanes designated for bicyclists. These lanes were designed to make it safer and easier for bicyclists to use Syracuse roads to get where they are going, but accidents do happen and they can happen in the bike lanes. Despite the efforts of the city of Syracuse to improve safety on the roads for bicyclists, there are still accidents.
Construction
When Syracuse spends time fixing up its roads or adding new roads, the bike lanes can be affected. Bicyclists get re-routed onto the roads because construction has taken over the bike lanes and this can put bicyclists directly into the path of motor traffic. No matter how hard bicyclists and motorists try, these conditions can sometimes lead to accidents.
Weather
Some people who use Syracuse on-road bike lanes use them all year round to get to work and other important places. When snow piles up on roads, it can be plowed into the bike lanes. The growing amount of snow and ice in bike lanes can make it difficult for bicyclists to safely use the lanes and that is how some bike accidents happen in the bad weather.
Irresponsible Drivers
Some motorists can look at bike lanes as an extra passing lane and dart into bike lanes to get around traffic. Irresponsible drivers cause a lot of bike accidents in Syracuse and sometimes those bike accidents can be fatal.
Improper Biking Attire
Bicyclists should strive to wear bright clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night to make it easier for motorists to see them. Bicyclists should also wear protective gear such as helmets and knee pads to minimize the risk of injury in case of an accident. If bicyclists are not doing what they need to do to make themselves seen on the on-road bike lanes, this can increase the risk of a tragic accident.
If you have been involved in a bicycling accident on the Syracuse roads, give our firm a call. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer will review your case for you and give you the legal advice you need to pursue maximum compensation.