The Seattle area has relatively robust cycling infrastructure. There are many miles of traditional bike lanes on major thoroughfares. There are also some streets that have protected bike lanes. Protected bike lanes require major revisions to the existing infrastructure but can significantly reduce the likelihood of a cyclist getting hurt in traffic.
Many new construction projects and road expansions now include protected bike lanes if there is adequate space for their installation. How do protected bike lanes theoretically reduce the number of crashes that occur between cyclists and drivers?
There is a buffer between the vehicles
Traditional bike lanes are a little more than new paint on an existing road. The marks help allocate a portion of the street near the right shoulder for bicycle traffic. In theory, bike lanes help protect cyclists by assigning a portion of the road to them instead of forcing them to share a single lane with motor vehicle traffic.
In reality, drivers often do not respect bike lanes. They may drive in them in some cases and may fail to monitor them for the presence of cyclists. While bike lanes do help save lives and prevent crashes, they aren’t always successful at doing so.
Protected bike lanes have a greater impact on cyclist safety because they have a physical barrier present. A protected bike lane has a raised section of concrete similar to a curb separating the lane of traffic designated for motor vehicles and the protected bike lane. There is only one protected bike lane on the road that accommodates cycling traffic traveling in both directions.
For a driver to swerve into the bike lane, they typically have to go up and over the barrier separating the two lanes first. The barriers also serve as a physical means of preventing a cyclist from accidentally sliding out in front of a car if they lose control while biking.
Those barriers typically end before intersections, but their presence on busy roads can potentially save a cyclist life. Cyclists who prioritize routes where they can travel in protected bike lanes as much as possible may reduce the risk of a crash significantly.
After cycling crashes occur, the injured parties may need help navigating me car insurance claim or exploring a personal injury lawsuit. The risk of severe injury or death often makes litigation necessary after a cycling crash because of the costs that could easily exceed any insurance coverage available.
