{"id":13510,"date":"2019-03-06T15:10:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T15:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdemo.icu\/site\/andywins\/?p=13510"},"modified":"2019-03-06T15:10:20","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T15:10:20","slug":"understanding-alabamas-bicycle-safety-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webdemo.icu\/site\/andywins\/blog\/understanding-alabamas-bicycle-safety-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Alabama\u2019s Bicycle Safety Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the weather warms up, more people will take advantage of the nice weather by bicycling. It\u2019s a great way to commute, exercise, and have fun, but it comes with certain risks. Whether you prefer two wheels or four, it\u2019s critical to understand Alabama bike law before hitting the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn bike law essentials in Alabama and what to do if you\u2019re the victim of a bike-car accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the State of Alabama, Bikes Are Considered Vehicles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bicycles are vehicles under Alabama law. As such, cyclists are required to ride on the road and not the sidewalk. Like cars, they must also obey all traffic signals and laws. It\u2019s tempting to weave through lanes, cross a double yellow line, or ignore a stop sign when you\u2019re on a bike, but disregarding laws you wouldn\u2019t break in a car is illegal and can be dangerous to you and to drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bikes on the road deserve the same respect drivers give to each other. To keep bikers safe, cars should maintain at least three feet of space when passing a cyclist. They are also required to check before opening their car door into oncoming bicycle traffic and not leave doors open longer than necessary, as they can impede bike lanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect Yourself Against Possible Bike-Car Accidents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s impossible to safeguard yourself from accidents completely, there are precautions cyclists can take. Wearing bright, reflective clothing,  and using bright white light headlights and red reflector taillights helps bicyclists be more visible to drivers. Also, in order to maintain the flow of traffic, cyclists are required to ride as far to the right of the road as is safe and reasonable. Additionally, bicyclists should always wear helmets, especially when they ride on the road. Further, Alabama law states that bikers under 16 must wear a helmet. And finally, as with cars, it is illegal for cyclists to ride their bikes while intoxicated, and those who do can be charged with a DUI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Causes of Bike-Car Accidents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are dozens of ways in which bicyclists and motorists can become involved in dangerous collisions and accidents. Here are a few of the most common we see at Citrin Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n