As snow leaves, kids on bicycles coming out

A reader called in yesterday to say she almost hit two children on bicycles with her car. She mentioned that now that the snow is melting and spring is evident, children are hitting the streets on their bikes and we need to be aware of them.

That’s a common refrain in every community nearly everywhere, but in the Valley — and many places in Alaska — children on bikes don’t have elm tree-lined sidewalks and quiet neighborhoods to roam until Mom calls out it’s dinner time.

Most subdivisions in this area have gravel roads and winding turns. And people around here aren’t noted for their patience behind the wheel, so accidents can happen. When two vehicles collide at reasonable speeds, the damage is mostly to cars and pickups. When a car hits a child on a bicycle the damage can be fatal and leave a lifetime of emotional scars for those left behind.

So let’s all be aware of children who often aren’t thinking about safety as much as they are racing a friend or just wandering around the block looking for some fun.

This is also time, though, for adults on bicycles to wise up.

Folks who pedal to work or just for exercise are bound by traffic laws just as the 2,000-pound vehicles they are traveling with on the roads and streets.

It is all too common to see bicyclists ignore stop signs and signal lights if they think they can dart across safely. Bicyclists also have to signal turns and yield to pedestrians. Wearing a helmet and bright colors would also help their survival rate. They should use bike paths for an enjoyable and safe ride.

Finally, in the two-wheel category, motorcyclists are also going to start making their rounds for fun and business, so keep an eye out for them. They are hard to see in traffic that’s going the speed limit or more. They also are subject to their bikes getting out from under them when rocks or other debris are on the road, so give them ample space if they are in front of you.

Of course, bikers can do themselves a favor by obeying traffic laws as well. It’s a good time for all of us on the road to be more cognizant of each other so we can go from place to place safely.