Waba Promotes Safe Cyclist Behavior with "Resolve to Ride Responsibly" Campaign, Including Online Pledge and Bike Ride

Washington, DC, December 22, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is launching an effort to further promote safe cycling in the New Year by asking cyclists to resolve to ride responsibly in 2011. The campaign and renewed focus on cyclist behavior comes, in part, in response to the tragic death of Quan Chu, a pedestrian who was struck by a cyclist in November and subsequently died of his injuries.

“WABA is always working in the community and in the area schools to provide safety education for cyclists and pedestrians,” says WABA Executive Director Shane Farthing, “but we felt that rather than avoiding the difficult issues raised by the death of a pedestrian due to a cyclist’s failure to yield appropriately, we should address the issue of riding responsibly head-on as an opportunity to better educate our members, cyclists, and the community as a whole.”

The Resolution to Ride Responsibly, written as a New Year’s Resolution to be taken by individual cyclists over the next few weeks, encourages cyclists to ride more responsibly, respect the rights of other road users, make a good faith effort to follow the law, yield to pedestrians, and help make bicycling safer and easier for all.

All who sign the pledge are also invited to participate in a Ride for Responsibility on January 8, 2011 at 10:30am. The ride, led by the DC Bike Ambassador, will start in Adams Morgan, at the corner of 18th St. NW and Columbia Rd. NW, in front of the Capital Bikeshare station, and will provide ample opportunities for riders to practice their responsible riding skills.

Area cyclists are encouraged to sign the pledge at www.waba.org/resolution, and to join WABA for the Ride for Responsibility to help usher in a safe, bike-friendly 2011.

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