As Ohioans break out the bicycles during May's National Bike Month, after a long, cold winter, AAA urges both cyclists and motorists to exercise caution and share the road to prevent crashes.
In Ohio, bicycles are considered vehicles, and have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, including the right to ride in the lane of traffic. It’s actually illegal for bicyclists to ride against traffic or on sidewalks.AAA also requests drivers to abide by Ohio’s 3-foot passing law, which mandates motorists maintain at least 3 feet clearance when passing a bicycle traveling along the road in the same direction.
Bicycle-related traffic fatalities reached 840 in 2016, the highest number on record. That includes 18 Ohio cyclists. Last year, nearly 1,500 bicycle-related crashes happened in Ohio, and Ohio’s bicycle deaths rose to 19, according to Ohio Department of Public Safety crash statistics.