Cyclist Safety Matters. Here’s What You Need to Know

David W. Craig | September 12, 2024 | After the Crash

Learning to ride a bicycle is an American rite of passage. A recent study showed that 94% of American adults can ride a bike, and over 70% of kids aged 5 to 14 in the U.S. ride them.

Despite cycling’s popularity, our roads aren’t built for bicycles. The rules around traffic signals, bike lanes and sidewalks, and protective gear aren’t widely known.

More than 1,100 pedalcyclists were killed in crashes in the U.S. in 2022. That’s 129 more deaths than in any of the 15 years prior.

In recent articles, we have examined the ongoing pedestrian safety crisis. Are bicyclists also in crisis?

How many bicyclists die in crashes each year?

In a five-year span, 4,759 pedalcyclists in the U.S. died in crashes. There was a 27% increase from 2018 to 2022. Here is a look at the yearly count:

2018: 871 deaths

2019: 859 deaths

2020: 948 deaths

2021: 976 deaths

2022: 1,105 deaths

Like pedestrian wrecks, the increasing bicyclist fatalities point to a few issues on our roads.

Wrecks between motor vehicles and bicycles are getting deadlier.

Data shows that the number of crashes involving pedalcyclists has not steadily increased over the years, but fatal crashes have. This means that crashes aren’t occurring more frequently — they are just becoming deadlier.

One major reason is that Americans are driving bigger, heavier vehicles. SUVs and trucks are more common now than in previous years. These vehicles weigh more and have more forceful impacts than smaller cars, like sedans. They also have bigger blind spots.

So, these cars are more popular, and their wrecks have the potential to be deadlier. Are they involved in more bicyclist fatalities?

Which vehicles hit the most cyclists?

Light trucks — including pickups, utility trucks, and vans — struck and killed more pedestrians between 2018 and 2022 than other vehicle body types did. Light trucks were involved in nearly half of all bicyclist fatalities each year.

Passenger cars were the second deadliest vehicle, followed by large trucks. In 2022, large trucks (like semi-trucks, flatbed trucks and tractor trailers) were the striking vehicle in 10% of crashes that killed pedalcyclists.

Often, when big trucks strike bicyclists, blind spots are involved. Known as “no zones” these are areas around the vehicle where truck drivers have no visibility. There are blind spots in front of, beside and behind semi-trucks. Cyclists’ small size makes them even harder to see for a driver of a heavy truck.

Individual states mirror this nationwide trend. In Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Iowa, light trucks struck and killed the most bicyclists. If individual states take action, they can work toward decreasing bicyclist deaths. It is important that both vehicle drivers and cyclists understand the laws and regulations in their state.

Rules on riding your bike in Missouri

The League of American Bicyclists ranks Missouri as 45^th out of 50 in its Bicycle-Friendly States Report — meaning it is one of the most dangerous states in the country for cyclists. Let’s look at some Missouri laws regarding bike riders.

There is no law mandating helmet use in Missouri.
Under Missouri law, bicycles are not considered vehicles, and the state’s DUI law does not address bicyclists.
Non-motorized bicycles can be ridden on the sidewalk, except in business districts. They must yield to pedestrians and give audible signals before passing.
Bicycles must have a front white light and a rear red reflector for visibility in the dark.
Bicyclists can, but do not have to, ride in bike lanes or on the shoulder of a roadway.

Laws for bicyclists in Indiana

Indiana falls in the middle for bicycle safety, ranked 22^nd. Here is an overview of laws for Indiana bicyclists.

Helmets are not required by law but are strongly encouraged by the state’s Department of Health.
Riders must not carry any objects that affect their ability to safely use the handlebars.
Bicycles must have a front white light and a rear red reflector for nighttime.
Indiana DUI laws include cyclists, so it is illegal to bike while impaired.
Some cities have ordinances which prohibit riding on sidewalks.

Cyclist laws in Illinois

By The League of American Bicyclists’ metrics, Illinois ranks higher than any of these six states, in 15^th place. So, how do its laws compare to neighboring states?

Illinois does not require that bicyclists wear helmets.
Illinois drivers may face misdemeanor and felony charges if they drive close to, toward, or near a bicyclist, especially if the action results in bodily harm to the bike rider.
The law restricting driving on the shoulder does not apply to bicycle-riders.
Unless local ordinance prohibits it, bicycles are allowed on sidewalks. They must yield to pedestrians and have the same rights and duties as them.
Bike riders in Illinois cannot be charged with DUI, since cycling while impaired is not equivalent to drunk driving under state law.

What rules do cyclists have to follow in Ohio?

Ohio’s bicycle laws resemble those of nearby states. The League of American Bicyclists placed it at 17^th out of 50 states. Here are some of the main rules and requirements you should know.

Like most other states, Ohio does not mandate helmet use by bicyclists.
Under Ohio law, bicycles are considered vehicles. Cyclists can be charged with DUI if they ride while intoxicated.
Two cyclists can ride side-by-side in one lane in Ohio.
Ohio law does not prohibit bicycles on sidewalks, but some of the state’s bigger cities do. No city is allowed to require that bikes be ridden on sidewalks.
Motorists must leave at least 3 feet between their vehicle and the bicycle in order to legally pass them.

Bicyclist regulations in Kentucky

Kentucky lies toward the bottom of the bicycle-safety ranking. In the 37^th spot, its lowest score was in the “Education & Encouragement” section, but its highest came from “Infrastructure & Funding.”

There is no law or rule requiring bicyclists in Kentucky to wear helmets.
If a lane is marked as a bicycle lane, cyclists must use it. There are exceptions for cyclists who are turning, passing, or avoiding hazards.
Bicycles are considered vehicles in Kentucky. The state’s DUI statute applies to cyclists.
Bicycles must be equipped with a front light and a rear red light or reflector that are visible from 500 feet. They must also have a bell or horn.
When riding on sidewalks, bicyclists are considered pedestrians and must follow the same rules.

Iowa pedalcyclist laws

Lastly, Iowa — the smallest of these six states — is ranked 25^th out of 50 in terms of bicycle friendliness. It scored lowest in “Traffic Laws & Practices” and highest in “Education & Encouragement.” Here are some of Iowa’s bicycle laws.

Bicyclists in Iowa are not required to wear helmets.
Drivers who steer too closely toward a pedalcyclist or intentionally throw anything at a cyclist may receive misdemeanor charges.
The state of Iowa has no rule authorizing or prohibiting bicyclists from riding on sidewalks.
Bicycles are not considered vehicles in Iowa and are thus not considered under the DUI law.
Local governments can regulate bicycles, as long as they do not contradict or override state law.

Can bicyclists recover for injuries they suffer when hit by a motor vehicle?

In most states, the bicyclist must prove that the other party was negligent in order to collect financial compensation from them. The bicyclist has the burden of proof. This may mean that the bicycle accident attorney uses evidence like witness testimonies and/or video recordings to establish fault.

Each state is a little different, and an injured bicyclist should contact a lawyer licensed in the state in which they were injured.

What to know about red lights, yielding, and Idaho Stop laws

The “Idaho Stop” and “Dead Red” exceptions are other state-by-state rulings pertinent to bicyclist safety. What are they, and why do they matter?

The term “Idaho stop” originated in Idaho in 1982. It allows bicyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs, which the NHTSA has said increases both driver and cyclist safety. Some states that have adopted the stop-as-yield rule also allow bicyclists to treat red lights as stop signs. Instead of stopping for the duration of the red light, cyclists can stop, ensure the crossing is clear and, when safe, proceed though.

The “dead red” rule is applicable when stoplights malfunction or fail to detect bicycles. Some stoplight sensors do not register bikes, leaving bicyclists stuck at red lights for longer than necessary.

Many states consider this in their legislation. Indiana and Missouri say that bikers can proceed through a dead red light after being stopped for an “unreasonable” amount of time (specified in Indiana law as 120 seconds), if it is safe to do so.

This is legal in most Illinois cities, except Chicago, since its population exceeds 2 million. It is legal in Ohio and Kentucky, as well, so long as the cyclist yields to any oncoming traffic.

Unlike these five states, Iowa has no provision for Idaho stop or dead red situations. Bicyclists are required to stop at stop signs and at red lights, and the state has not established protocol for stoplight detection errors.

Why should cyclists wear helmets?

Sources report that wearing a helmet while bike-riding can reduce the risk of head injury by 60% or more. Head injuries, mild or severe, can permanently alter a person’s life. Traumatic brain injuries can occur in seconds, resulting in seizures, memory loss, and even death. The injuries killed nearly 70,000 people in the U.S. in 2020.

If you ride your bicycle anywhere — even just down the street and back — it can’t hurt to wear a helmet. It’s a quick, easy step. But it is still not a common requirement.

Seat belts in motor vehicles are required by law in 49 out of 50 states, yet bicycle helmets are mandated in only 21. None of these states requires bike helmets for all cyclists. In more than half, anyone under 16 years old must wear a helmet, and the remaining states have laws for children under 12, 14, 15, 17 or 18 years old.

Although 29 states have no state-wide law toward helmet use, over half of them have individual cities with helmet rules. Still, 13 states (including Indiana and Iowa) have no helmet ordinances, locally or state-wide.

Semi-truck and bicycle wreck attorney

Large trucks and other commercial motor vehicles can be disastrous when they cause wrecks. Because semi-trucks have large blind spots, their drivers might not see cyclists beside or behind them.

This is why it is important for bicyclists to wear reflective clothing, use hand signals when turning or changing lanes, and know where they can and cannot ride their bikes. It is equally important for truckers to drive while alert, focused and sober.

Blind spots do not excuse the trucker who strikes a bicyclist. With modern technology, it can be argued that large trucks shouldn’t have blind spots. Even if a truck does have blind spots, this is a known danger, and the trucker must use reasonable care to be sure no one is in it.

When truck drivers break the rules, the consequences may range from property damage to severe personal injury or death.

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, we serve victims suffering from serious injury or wrongful death from car and large-truck accidents in Indianapolis and St. Louis. If you find yourself in this situation, we encourage you to reach out to an experienced attorney who can help you recover financially from your bicycle wreck.

Reach out to us today at (800) 746-0226 or through our online form.

Final Thoughts

Each year, children and adults leave their houses on bicycles. Some of them never return home. Pedalcyclist wrecks are becoming deadlier, claiming the lives of thousands of people annually.

If you are a cyclist, always wear a helmet. Brush up on your state or city’s requirements. If you’re riding at night — or even in cloudy weather — wear bright, reflective clothing. Bicyclist safety must be a top priority, no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been riding.

David W. Craig sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.