Avoid Bicycle Accidents by Planning a Safer Route
Every cyclist knows it can be dangerous to commute to work on your bike in Springfield, or ride around the outlying areas due to the lack of official bike paths and general awareness from Springfield drivers. Now, Google can help you plan those rides to be a bit more enjoyable (and hopefully accident free) with their new Google Maps tool that gives bike directions! Found at http://maps.google.com/bikiing, enter your starting point and destination as you would for driving directions, but be sure the drop down shows BICYCLING rather than "by Car."
Here is an example of how to ride from Springfield to Rogersville.
In general, the tool tries to avoid busy intersections and where available, use bike trials. Per Google, the "time estimate for the route is based on a complex set of variables accounting for the type of road, terrain and turns over the course of the ride." Sounds like that certainly will vary by rider. Read more from Google about how how getting bicycle directions works.
The tool certainly can't ensure a safe trip, but as a bicycle accident attorney who has seen first hand how a poor route choice can contribute to an accident, I know I'll use it when searching for a new loop or when exploring unfamiliar areas. There are already enough threats that cause bicycling accidents, don't put yourself in extra danger by traveling on the busiest roads in rush hour. It seems the new Google Maps tool can perhaps help you avoid some dangers. Check it out.
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Bicycle accident where a bicyclist hits or is hit by a vehicle traveling in the same direction as the bicyclist, approaching from behind, and turns right,crossing the path of the bike. An especially frustrating and seemingly avoidable kind of accident as surely the car sees the cyclist if it just passed the bike.
