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Bicycling is steadily gaining in popularity as a way to get around in San Francisco. In addition to be being affordable, practical and fun, travelling by bike is a very civic mode because it is so green and clean. But in addition to having fun, saving time and money, and helping make San Francisco a better place to live, it is important to be both safe and civil while riding.

Unlike other safety equipment such as a helmet, bells can help keep you safe by alerting those around you of potential conflicts, helping avoid collisions. Bicycle bells also offer an unthreatening way to alert other bicyclists when passing or when just saying “hi!”. The SFMTA’s Bicycle Bell Safety Campaign aims to increase the number of courteous and positive exchanges on the street in San Francisco. These pleasant exchanges can occur between bicyclists and pedestrians, motorists or other bicyclists. Bicycle bells will improve communication between all of us using San Francisco streets. Stay tuned for a schedule of upcoming events where the SFMTA will be giving away bicycle bells!

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Be Heard when...
Be Courteous when...
We Want to Hear from You!
Free Bike Bells!

Be Heard when…

  • Passing transit vehicles
  • Passing other people bicycling
  • Supporting the cause
passing transit vehicle Passing other people bicycling Bicyclists supporting the bicycling cause
  • Passing people walking on shared paths
  • Alerting motorists
  • Saying hi!
Bicyclists passing others on paths Bicyclists alerting motorists Bicyclists saying hi!

Be Courteous when...

  • Pedestrians are waiting to cross the street
  • Pedestrians are in your path of travel and there is no room to pass
Pedstrians waiting to cross the street Pedestrians are in your path of travel and there is no room to pass

We Want to Hear from You!

Please share your positive experiences riding your bicycle or while interacting with someone else riding a bicycle and how effective communication helped make a situation more safe or pleasant. Tell us what you think bicycling civility means by telling your story. When was the last time you were courteous to someone on the road or someone was courteous to you? Please share your story!

Tell us your story on Facebook! Facebook link

Free Bike Bells!

To promote safety and clear, effective communication between people on bicycles and other roadway users, the SFMTA will be distributing bicycle bells at outreach events such as Sunday Streets, Bike to Work Day, and Bike to School Day. While not required by law in California, bicycle bells are required safety equipment under the vehicle code of numerous other states. The ringing tone of a bicycle bell is a universally understood audible signal indicating a person’s intent to pass another person on a bicycle or a person walking along a shared use facility. This audible warning signal improves communication between road users and improves safety by alerting all parties to upcoming traffic maneuvers and by making the traffic maneuver more predictable.

SFMTA Bike Bell

Facebook link

 

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telephone311 Free language assistance / 免費語言協助 / Ayuda gratuita con el idioma / Бесплатная помощь переводчиков / Trợ giúp Thông dịch Miễn phí / Assistance linguistique gratuite / 無料の言語支援 / 무료 언어 지원 / Libreng tulong para sa wikang Tagalog / คว“มช่วยเหลือท“งภ“ษ“โดยไม่เส’ยค่าใช้จ่าย

           

Bicycle services are provided by the Sustainable Streets Division of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Copyright © 2000-2013 SFMTA. All rights reserved. Updated January 4, 2013