City of Hood River

Providing Public Safety, Utilities, and Community Development

    ::    Share the Road – Bike Safety for Drivers and Cyclists

Share the Road – Bike Safety for Drivers and Cyclists

The bike path on 17th Street will be completed this summer.

As we head into the summer months, the City of Hood River’s streets, trails, and neighborhoods will become increasingly busy with both residents and visitors enjoying the outdoors. With more bicycles, vehicles, and pedestrians sharing the roadways, it is especially important for everyone to safely share the road.  

Here are some quick tips: 

Drivers: 

  • Always watch out for bicyclists and pedestrians, and give riders plenty of space when passing. 
  • Check mirrors carefully before turning. Many accidents happen during turns.
  • Check for cyclists before opening your car door to exit your vehicle.
  • Read The Driver’s Field Guide to Sharing Oregon’s Roads for more safety tips: oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Documents/DriversGuideToBikes.pdf 

Cyclists: 

  • Wear a helmet. Helmets are mandatory for youth under the age of 16 and recommended for everyone. Wearing a properly fitted helmet is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent serious injury in the event of a crash or fall.
  • Use appropriate safety equipment including lights, reflectors, and properly maintained bicycles. Lights are required in low visibility, including at night (ORS 815.280). oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_815.280
  • Use hand signals to let others know when you plan to turn or change lanes. 
  • E-bikes: Oregon State Law recently lowered the legal riding age for Class 1 (pedal assist, no throttle) e-bikes to 14. Riders must be 16 or older to operate a Class 2 or 3 (throttle assist) e-bikes. Sidewalk riding is prohibited, and passengers are only allowed if the bike is designed for more than one rider.
  • Security: Please take caution to properly lock your bike to a secure rack or an object. The City is experiencing an uptick in bike theft. 

Everyone—drivers and cyclists—must yield to pedestrians. 

Thank you for sharing the road! 

A student on a bicycle uses the sidewalk on 17th Street. Vehicles are parked for pick-up where the bike lane will be installed this summer. 

New Safe Routes to School Upgrades at the Middle School

This summer, the City of Hood River will be completing Safe Routes to School projects at Hood River Middle School. 

The City will finish installing the bike lane on the east side of 17th Street from May to Sherman Avenue. Please remember that parking is not allowed in bike lanes. Additionally, the City will be making upgrades to the drop/off and pick/up zone on May Street to improve student safety, traffic flow and provide parking during after-school hours. As always, please be sure to use extra caution when driving in school zones and obey all speed limits and traffic signals. 

Click here for more information on Safe Routes to School in Hood River.

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