Bicyclist Research Paper

Even though 3.6 percent of New Orleanians commute by bike, a ranking with 52 large cities “Found New Orleans had the fifth-highest rate of biker deaths per capita, at 5.54 deaths per million residents, from 2009 through 2011” (Lane). Because the bicyclist has very little riding space on the lane, they are at risk from getting hit. Bicyclists should not feel unsafe riding their bike around the city. One may assume that irresponsible drivers or drivers with no license usually are the ones who hit the bicyclist; well that is not that case. Around 11pm on a Sunday night, an off-duty cop hit and killed a 70-year-old bicyclist, “An off-duty police officer headed home after a shift Sunday night struck and killed a 70-year-old bicyclist, according to the New Orleans Police Department” (Associated Press). No doubt there are irresponsible drivers, by irresponsible, I mean drunk drivers. There are also …show more content…
While driving home from Delgado, I witness cars, aggressively, honking at bicyclists to get out their way, sometimes nearly hitting them. Fearing their safety, they quickly start peddling out the way. Whenever I drive, the amount of space the bicyclist takes up in the right lane annoys me, it leads me and other drivers to speed past them. By law, bicyclists cannot ride their bikes on the sidewalks so, they have no other choice. Even though there are many laws that protect bicyclists, they do not usually save their lives. LaRose stated “Necessary Bike Equipment’s” in her article “Bikes in use “between sunrise and sunset” or when persons and vehicles aren’t clearly visible ahead “shall be equipped” with the following items: A lamp mounted on the front of the bicycle needs to emit a light visible… a rear-mounted lamp… a red reflector mounted on the rear and reflectors on both sides of the bicycle… no person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device that can give a signal… all bikes need to have