As warmer weather brings more cyclists and motorcyclists onto local roadways, the Concord Police Department is launching two traffic safety awareness campaigns throughout May aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities on city streets.
May is recognized nationally as both Bicycle Safety Month and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and Concord police say the increase in riders this time of year makes it especially important for drivers to stay alert and share the road safely.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,166 bicyclists and 6,335 motorcyclists were killed in crashes nationwide in 2023. California accounted for 145 bicyclist deaths and 583 motorcyclist deaths during the same year.
Concord Police Chief Mark Bustillos said bicyclists are especially vulnerable because they lack the protections afforded to drivers and passengers inside vehicles. Police officials emphasized that bicyclists and motorcyclists have the same rights to the road as other travelers and urged everyone to remain patient and cautious.
Throughout May, Concord police officers will conduct enforcement operations targeting dangerous driving behaviors that place riders at risk, including speeding, illegal turns, failure to yield, distracted driving, and stop sign or red-light violations. Officers will also focus on violations commonly linked to motorcycle crashes.
Police are encouraging drivers to check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes, allow extra space when passing bicyclists or motorcycles, and avoid following riders too closely. California law requires motorists to change lanes when possible and leave at least three feet of clearance when passing bicyclists.
Riders are also being reminded to wear helmets and protective gear, use lights and reflective equipment, obey traffic laws, and ride defensively. Officials stressed that both drivers and riders should never travel impaired or distracted.
The safety campaigns are funded through grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
let’s start with E-bikes and E-motorcycles. Then we can get to discuss regular Bicycles and motorcycles. I will just go ahead and leave this here……………………………………..
I will pick it up from here! It is beyond ridiculous how these idiots are racing in and out of traffic and on the sidewalks. There needs to be laws regarding the driving behavior of e-bike and e-motorcycle riders. Now back to the distracted drivers that can’t put their precious dumbphones down. There are others on the road that want to get home safely, no message or call is worth anyone else’s life! There I will leave it there…………………………
If this campaign doesn’t address ebikes / emotorcycles ridden by kids they’ve missed the point entirely
Automobile drivers pose the greatest danger to cyclists and motorcyclists.
Train them to obey the laws.
Fines and jail time should be mandatory.
Juvenile e-bike riders’ parents should be held responsible for their children.
Fines and jail time, along with remedial parenting, should be mandatory.
What’s needed is a traffic safety division of the CPD. Officers whose first job function is to ticket or arrest any driver of any motor vehicle who breaks the law. That division would pay for itself in the first month.
The safety campaigns are funded through grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. LOL, so if I create a foundation: ‘TheSoftLightsFoundation’ and donate enough $$$, can I get the police to crack down on all of those Blinding Bright LED headlights…….They are also very dangerous to other drivers.
Despite this effort, stop signs and stop lights will remain optional for bicyclists. At least in their minds.