I was inspired to look into this topic after a terrifying run-in with a bike as a pedestrian on a sidewalk. I was shocked, since bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalk. At that moment I realized that not everyone had a parent who taught them the rules regarding the operation of a bicycle. I was taught to share the road with cars, and that while you are on the road you are to act like a car. In this project I would like to learn what the real rules are, and look into ways to educate the public on what rules they are required to follow. I have also been speculating as to why there is a lack of education on the topic. Drivers Education about cars is completed in high schools around the country, but why the lack of information about bikes? It may have to do with differences in roads in rural vs urban locations. I would love to be able to address some of these questions.

There has been bad publicity in Pittsburgh recently with bike safety after the death of a University of Pittsburgh staff member who was riding a bicycle on Forbes Ave at Bellefield Ave. This cast a sour shadow over the newly lined bike lanes that have been constructed throughout Pittsburgh, and especially in Oakland. While she was not at fault in regards to proper operation of the bicycle, that is the most significant recent news regarding the topic.

My interest in this topic is redoubled due to a course I am taking about transportation where we are learning about the rules that regulate the design of intersections and roads including how bike lanes can be incorporated. I’m interested to see how these two different classes can have an overlapping theme.