Biking & Walking

Cross streets safely. Cross at corners using cross walks and traffic signals. Make eye contact and wave at drivers and do not assume that the driver can see you. If you are not in a crosswalk wait until there is no traffic to cross.

Look left and look right. And keep looking as you cross the road. Do not run.

Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic to the far left as possible, this increases the drivers’ chances of seeing you.

Watch for cars. Be especially aware of cars backing up or turning.

If using a phone, stop walking. Phones can distract you from being aware of your surroundings.

Remove headphones when crossing the street. You want to be aware of all possible dangers such as approaching vehicles. Many times cars will use horns or yell if you are in danger. Keep an ear open just in case.

Don’t assume others will follow all the rules. Just because drivers are supposed to be observing traffic laws doesn’t mean they will. You can greatly increase your safety by following these tips and staying vigilant.

Be predictable. Stay off freeways and other restricted zones. Use sidewalks when possible. Keep a straight path.

Ride in a way that is predictable for those around you. Ride in a straight line, obey traffic signs and signals, and do not weave in and out of traffic. Riding predictably diminishes your chances of being involved in a crash with another vehicle.

Look, signal then look again. When making lane changes make sure you look to see whom you’re signaling to, signal and then make sure to see they’ve noticed or no new vehicles have appeared. Make eye contact with the driver and make sure drivers see you before executing the turn. Try waiving to confirm eye contact.

Watch out for car doors and pedestrians. Be alert that car doors may open or pedestrians may step out from between cars, around corners or other blind spots. Put at least three feet between yourself and cars in order to avoid unexpected hazards.

Stay visible. Wear brightly colored clothing and use reflective materials at night.

Use a bell. A bell alerts drivers, pedestrians and other bicyclists of your presence so they can avoid swerving into your path.

Don’t wear earphones/headphones. Keeping your ears clear is a good idea considering motorists may warn you with their horn, bicyclists may communicate with you by using their bell and pedestrians may yell. Whatever the method of communication is, being able to hear it is important.

Ride with traffic in the same direction. Riding with traffic not only allows you to make right turns, but it protects you. Drivers aren’t expecting oncoming traffic to be going the wrong way, so when they make a turn they won’t be expecting you.

Ultimately, bicyclists are NOT pedestrians, so they should follow similar traffic patterns as motorists. Stay out of crosswalks, pedestrian walkways and off of sidewalks, unless you are walking your bike.

Be alert especially in residential areas and school zones. Pedestrians can be found even in places we would not expect. It's always safer to be vigilant.

Keep a look out and slow down if you can’t see clearly. Pedestrians can be very hard to see, especially in bad weather or at night.

Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Stop well behind the crosswalk so cars in other lanes have time to see the pedestrian and also stop.

Stop for pedestrians already crossing the street, even if there is no crosswalk. Although pedestrians must yield to traffic if they’re not in a crosswalk, sometimes they do not – if they’re in the midst of crossing, stop for them. Drivers must make every possible effort to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

Do not automatically pass cars stopped in the middle of the street. If a car is stopped in the middle of the street, it could be to let a pedestrian cross. Make sure there are no pedestrians before you pass.

Don’t assume pedestrians see you or that they will act predictably. People may have a wealth of things happening in the background you are unaware of that may be affecting or inhibiting their decision making. 

When making a turn wait to see if a pedestrian has crossed into your path. Many times drivers must wait for a gap in traffic in order to turn, make sure no pedestrians have wandered into your path before turning.

(Note: Though moped/scooters require steps unique to them to ensure safety, one must also observe all safety regulations for motorists.)

Ride with the flow of traffic. This allows you to make turns with the traffic and decreases the risk of crossing paths with another vehicle.

Obey the speed limits and never travel faster than your skill level allows. If your skill level does not allow you to travel at a certain speed, refrain from traveling on roads where the flow of traffic moves at that speed.

Do not operate your scooter at night. Normal scooters are not equipped with the proper lighting to be used at night and are not easily visible to motorists or pedestrians. Unless you have proper reflective equipment, stick to daytime riding.

Obey all traffic laws and use hand signals. A scooter/moped is a motorized vehicle, thus you are subject to all the same laws as cars. In Tacoma, Razor E-Scooters may be ridden in bike lanes, on sidewalks, or on roads with a speed limit of less than or equal to 25 MPH.

Use your headlight, even during the day.

Drive defensively. Realize that other drivers are used to looking for larger vehicles and you may be “invisible” to them, so try to anticipate the actions of others on the roadway and assume they do not see you.

(Note: Though skateboarders have a set of safety tips unique to them, they should also observe all safety tips related to pedestrians.)

Obey city laws. Skateboards are valid on walkways, ramps, plazas, university streets, sidewalks and other pedestrian areas as a means of transportation. Skateboarding anywhere else not only puts you in physical danger but also puts you at risk for legal trouble. Recreational, athletic, or other exhibitional usage unrelated to transportation is prohibited.

Never ride in the street. Unlike a bike, you’re still considered a pedestrian while on a skateboard. Use the sidewalks.

Be aware of your surroundings. Collisions may not only harm you but other pedestrians. Even worse, collisions may cause you to fall into traffic where you can be injured further.

Be aware of your abilities. Progress at your own speed, don’t try to ride too fast or do a maneuver you may not be comfortable with. Falling may hurt, but it can also cause harm to others around you.

Get off your skateboard when crossing the street. Don’t skateboard across intersections, falling in the road may put you in harm's way.