Walking and Biking Safety

Walking and biking are among the easiest and most healthy ways to get to your destination, whether that's to school, work or the local market.. Pedestrians and cyclists can make sure they have a safe and pleasant trip by following basic safety guidelines. Here we have compiled easy-to-follow resources designed to teach you what you need to know about safety before your next walking or bicycling trip. The resources in this section include:

  • CA rules of the road for bicyclists, pedestrians & motorists
  • CA Helmet laws
  • Links to bicycling skills training courses
  • Tool Kits for youth and school classrooms

In other areas of the HTN site we focus on how communities can be designed to be safer from the start or how older infrastructure can be retro-fitted to incorporate safety. However, we all need to know the rules of the road (and the sidewalk) before we take that next trip across town, or to the corner store.

These resources will help you get there safely.

Success Stories

  • Walnut Creek Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Case Study
    The City of Walnut Creek historically has had a bicycle crash rate that averaged higher than crash rates of other, comparable jurisdictions within the state. This study describes how the City successfully implemented a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program to reduce bicycle and pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

Recommended Links

  • A Handbook for Advocates: How to Improve Pedestrian Safety in San Francisco
    This booklet will help you with community organizing, educational campaigns, and media advocacy. Provided by SFDPH Community Health Education Section.

  • AAA Teams Up with San José, CA "Street Smarts" Program to Calm Traffic
    This website describes a public education campaign designed to change driver, pedestrian and bicylist behavior. This campaign addresses speeding, red light violocations, stop sign violations, school zone compliance, and crosswalk safety & compliance.

  • Activities and Materials for Kids
    Keep your kids biking AND safe.

  • Benefits from biking and walking
    This is an article on a 20-year long Nurses Health study that shows a significant decrease in breast cancer, type II diabetes, and heart disease when one walks seven hours per week.

  • Bicycle Helmets
    The California Helmet Law requires that a person under 18 years of age wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet while operating a bicycle or riding upon a bicycle as a passenger upon the streets or any other public bicycle path, as well as while operating a nonmotorized scooter or skateboard, while wearing in-line or roller skates, or while riding upon a nonmotorized scooter or skateboard as a passenger.

  • Bike Law 101, Get the facts about riding in the city
    This site gives a complete listing of bicycle rights and regulations when riding in traffic, and information on what to do if ticketed while riding.

  • How Walking Buffs Your Brain
    This article explores how walking everyday increases your ability to make decisions, solve problems, focus, and relieve stress.

  • Law Enforcement and Bicycle Safety
    This website contains information about (and links to additional information about) the role of law enforcement and bicycle safety, including common beliefs/challenges facing law enforcement officers, and a list of officer training courses and instructors.

  • Stepping Out Mature Adults: Be Healthy, Walk Safely
    Learn how to maintain your safety while walking - whether you are walking for exercise or to run errands.

  • Tools for Adults and Families - Biking
    Use our select list of links to key biking safety educational resources.

Technical Information