Press Release

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

PRESS RELEASE: Share the Road and Look Out for One Another During Bicycle Safety Month

Turlock, California — May is National Bicycle Safety Month and the Turlock Police Department is encouraging more people to get active and safely take bike rides.

“Bicycling is a great means of transportation and recreation, and everyone deserves to ride to their destination safely,” Officer Mike Simbalenko said. “Let’s look out for one another and share the road and the responsibility.”

To help keep people biking or walking safe, the Turlock Police Department will be conducting a traffic safety operation throughout the month to focus on driver behaviors that put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk. This includes speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield to right-of-way, and stop sign/red light running.

The Turlock Police Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:

Drivers

Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.
Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.
Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist and give them space when passing. California law requires drivers to change a lane, when possible, to pass bicyclists.
Never drive distracted or impaired.
Bike Riders
Use lights at night.
Although not required for riders 18 and older, always wear a properly secured helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of a head injury in the event of a collision.
Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
Yield to pedestrians, just as a driver would. Pedestrians have the right-of-way within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program. Citizens can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward.

To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the Turlock Police Department via e-mail or text message, register for "Nixle" alerts at www.Nixle.com or more directly at https://local.nixle.com/register/.

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