"Cars are all right on occasion, but they are not moments of grace, as bicycles are."
--Colman McCarthy, Founder of the Center for Teaching Peace in Washington, DC  

RESOURCES

Bicycle and Pedestrian Hazard Reporting

Potholes in the bike lane? Sidewalk damaged by tree roots? Traffic light not triggering? Report these and other bike and pedestrian hazards online at www.sccrtc.org/hazard and your report will be forwarded to the proper jurisdiction. Other bike services and resources from RTC’s website, including the latest Santa Cruz County Bikeways Map, bicycle licensing information, and ordinances in Santa Cruz County regarding bicycling on sidewalks can be found at http://sccrtc.org/services/bike/.

Educational Materials and Outreach

The CTSC distributes a wide variety of educational materials, such as pamphlets, flyers, and booklets, related to safe cycling, driving and walking. Please contact us if you are looking for materials to use for education purposes or if you’d like us to conduct an interactive educational booth at your community event.

Mission: Pedestrian

Are you concerned about drivers speeding in your neighborhood? Do you find it difficult to cross busy Santa Cruz streets? Mission: Pedestrian is a member of CaliforniaWalks, a statewide organization dedicated to creating healthy, safe, and walkable communities. Mission: Pedestrian has gathered a variety of resources and information to help make walking safer and easier in Santa Cruz. www.missionped.org

Bike Santa Cruz County

Bike Santa Cruz County promotes bicycling through advocacy, education and community building. Their goal is for people of all ages and abilities to feel comfortable using their bikes for daily trips. If you want to find out how to support the latest bicycle projects or you need valet bike parking for your next event, check out their new website at www.bikesantacruzcounty.org. They also provide a great page of bicycling resources from local to around the world!

Cruz511 Traveler Information

Cruz511 is a new online service of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) that lets you find out what traffic conditions are like on key streets and roads before you start your trip. At Cruz511, you can also find out the safest way to lock up your bike to ensure it’s there when you return, the closest station for charging your electric vehicle and places you can meet up with your carpool and leave your car parked during the workday. http://cruz511.org/

Child Passenger Safety

As children grow, how they sit safely in a car, truck, van or SUV changes. For current information on the child passenger safety laws in California and programs in Santa Cruz County, including car seat inspection and installation sites, please click Child Passenger Safety Seat Education.

Construction Safety Guidelines

CTSC and the RTC developed a two-page document of basic guidelines for construction zones to better and more safely accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. The Construction Safety Guidelines are based on the 2012 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and can be used by local public works jurisdictions, contracted construction companies, and the general public. To view the guidelines click here.

SAFETY INFO

Bicycle Safety Tips

ALWAYS:

Mission Street Safety

Two cyclists were killed in 2007 along Mission Street/Highway 1, a primary east/west route through Santa Cruz. The cyclists were ages 25 and 29, and both collisions involved commercial trucks. A Mission St. Safety Task Force was convened by Assemblyman Laird to develop solutions and increase safety along this corridor. The CTSC and member organizations participated in the safety task force, developing flyers for commercial drivers and cyclists as well as public service announcements (PSAs). Click below to download flyers directed to both cyclists and commercial drivers on safely Sharing the Road.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

ALWAYS:

  • Pay attention
  • Obey traffic signals
  • Cross at corners
  • Stand back from the curb
  • Look left, right, and left again
  • Listen and look for cars as you approach each traffic lane

Motorist Safety Tips

ALWAYS:

  • Stop for pedestrians trying to cross
  • Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Obey the speed limit
  • Check for bicyclists before turning or changing lanes
  • Watch for bicyclists when opening your door
  • Slow down and allow at least three feet of space when passing a bicyclist

Child Passenger Safety

As children grow, how they sit safely in a car, truck, van or SUV changes. For current information on the child passenger safety laws in California and programs in Santa Cruz County, including car seat inspection and installation sites, please click here.