Experts remind cyclists, drivers to use extra caution

Zak Field, 29, is always around bikes.

"It's funny; I get asked that a lot by customers that ask, ‘don't you ever get sick about talking about bikes?’ And, quite honestly, no," said Field.

The sales manager at Syracuse Bicycle spends his day helping customers who love to ride just like him. You see when Zak gets out of work, you’ll likely find him spending his free time cycling along various roads and bike trails in Upstate New York.

"Anybody that decides to get into mountain biking right now has really no shortage of really, really nice trails to ride," said Field.

From the Empire State Trail that runs 750 miles across the state to smaller trails in wooded areas and around water, both state and private developers put a lot of work into trails in the last few years. Most will tell you trails are typically safer than roads for cycling.

The latest statistics from AAA show cycling fatalities nationwide are on the rise. The numbers show that 938 cyclists were killed in 2020 while nearly 39,000 cyclists were injured in traffic crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projects that bicyclist fatalities increased by 5% in 2021.

From a driving standpoint, experts said we can all do a better job of driving more attentively, slowing down and yielding to bicyclists.

"First of all, drivers should put the phones down. Make sure they’re driving distraction free. Always scan your mirrors looking for cyclists, and yield to them when turning. And also, never honk at a cyclist. It can startle them and make the situation even worse," said AAA Public Relations Director Elizabeth Carey.

Of course, cyclists also need to do their part to protect themselves.

"It's always a good idea to wear a helmet, no matter what kind of bike you have, where you’re riding or how far you’re riding," said Field.

Wear a helmet that can save your life, along with visible or good reflective clothing so that you can be seen. Ride with the flow of traffic and obey street signs and signals. Additional lights on the bike can also help.

"If you get a light for the rear of your bike, facing traffic where you can't see, that at least alerts the person in the car to give you a little bit of extra room. And it can at least help. It certainly can't hurt," said Field.

Field said stay alert and ride defensively by trying to anticipate what others on the road may do at all times. Field said if you do commonly ride your bike in the road, you'll want to remember to stay on the shoulder as you ride with traffic.

According to AAA, the majority of the 938 cycling deaths in 2020 occurred as a result of crashes at night. Those crashes occurred between 6-9 p.m. and tended to be in urban areas. Cyclists and drivers are advised to use even more caution when in cities and take advantage of bike paths.