Commuters in Austin are starting to have more options when it comes to how they get to work. More people are avoiding daily traffic congestion and cycling to work instead.
Riders generally must take a defensive approach while riding in standard bike lanes. Many motor vehicle drivers are not yet accustomed to watching for bikes. And many cyclists do not feel that standard bike lanes are safe enough.
In a standard lane, bike accidents occur when drivers are not paying attention or looking for bicyclists. A right-hand turn made without looking for a bike could result in a serious injury, if the car hits a cyclist. On streets with parking, car doors become a danger when drivers forget to look to their left before getting out of their cars.
To make riding safer, city planners are using a European concept called “green lanes.”
