Harmonize the streets of the city so that everyone can circulate in peace and love. That is what the new Road Coexistence Law is looking for, which will come into force next Sunday, after being published in the Official Gazette.
"The idea is to equate the different modes of transportation to leave behind what is currently happening, which is admissible under the law of the fittest," they pointed out from the National Traffic Safety Commission.
What is new? Now the bicycles will not be able to circulate on the sidewalk, only on the bike lanes, and if these roads do not exist, they must roll on the right side of the street, next to the vehicles. The latter must maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from the bikes.
"The importance of the Road Coexistence Law lies in that it places all modes of transport on an equal footing since it seeks to equate the road space to avoid discussions in the streets by those who have more rights than the other when moving around the city", Andrés Santelices, from the NGO Educleta, explained to La Cuarta.
Only people up to 14 years old, disabled and older adults will be able to cycle on the sidewalk; otherwise, those who are caught by the pedestrian route risk fines of between 10 and 24 thousand pesos.
With motor
The norm applies, in addition to bicycles, to skaters, scooters, and all motorized vehicles that do not exceed 25 km / h., Which must carry lights, reflective clothing with reflective fabric, and chairs or retention mechanisms for children.
Also, traffic light areas should be conditioned so that these low-speed vehicles are ahead of the waiting area, that is, between cars and pedestrians.
These figures come mainly to the protection of cyclists, who last year had 3,853 traffic accidents, 95 of them being dead, and 3,236 injured.