Palo Alto Is Working Hard To Improve Bicycle Safety And Reduce Bike Accidents

The League of American Bicyclists recently rated Palo Alto a Gold level bicycle friendly community -- putting it in the top 8 for all cities in the United States. Although this city in Santa Clara County continues to struggle with a high number of reported bike accidents each year, there have been major efforts to make its roads a safer place for cyclists.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Palo Alto averaged 70 bike accidents each year from 2000-2006, with four fatal collisions occurring in that time period. For a population of less than 60,000, those numbers are quite shocking. In fact, in 2006, which is the most recent data from the California Highway patrol, Palo Alto had the most bike accidents per capita in Santa Clary County, with 1 collision per 857 residents.

Nonetheless, the city continues to work hard to decrease the number of bike accidents in Palo Alto. The city has focused on education, encouragement, and engineering to improve safety on the roads.

Education -- Palo Alto offers bicycle education programs for youth and adults in the Palo Alto Community Recreation Program, as well as the Palo Alto Adult School. Nearly 90% of the public schools in the district participate in bicycle safety programs and teach kids valuable lessons that can be used anywhere they ride. Each class follows a strict curriculum that is focused on decreasing bike accidents in California.

Encouragement -- The city constantly encourages its residents to ride a bicycle for fun, transportation, and exercise. Palo Alto is continually developing programs to transition automobile transportation to cycling. City projects include the Safe Routes to School Task Force, Education and Enforcement Programs, and numerous capital projects.

Engineering -- Palo Alto has numerous bike trails, a skate park for bmx bikes, and a number of enhanced bicycle facilities for general transportation, including a rail line undercrossing and new bridge path over Embarcadero Road. The Homer Avenue Undercrossing has allowed bicyclists to cross under the Caltrain Commuter Rail line safely without being delayed. Also, the bike station at Caltrain station has also recently been improved to accommodate up to 96 bicycles, allowing cyclists to park or retrieve their bikes at any time -- making it easier to get around Palo Alto by combining cycling with the commuter train.

With the recent improvements, Palo Alto has made it much easier for residents to get around the city safely. However, a bicycle accident can happen when you least expect it. You should always practice safe cycling and wear proper safety gear while riding in Palo Alto.

If you are involved in a bike accident in Palo Alto for any reason and believe you are not at fault, you should contact a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. An experienced attorney specializing in bike accidents can assist you in recovering the full compensation the law and circumstances allow.