Safety Tips for Bikers and Pedestrians in Woodland Heights / by Alana Redmond

Being outside is a great way to stay active and explore your community, especially here in Woodland Heights. Whether you’re biking or walking around, with its lovely neighborhood and numerous parks, a lot of people and children love to be outside. However, with a rise in pedestrian fatalities due to cars, always stay cautious as it could be dangerous if you’re not careful. 

Houston Crash Statistics

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, pedestrian fatalities increased 15.24% in 2021 compared to the previous year. This equaled to 824 pedestrians killed in a motor vehicle accident. 

Furthermore, the Kinder Institute Urban Research reported that pedestrian deaths have more than doubled, spiking 125% in the past ten years. Their study shows that these accidents aren’t random occurrences but have shown to be more common in the night time. Within Harris County, 18% or 1,342 pedestrians account for the 7,319 pedestrian deaths in Texas. 

As Woodland Heights is a community for both children and adults to spend time at, it is important to remember to keep yours and your child’s safety in mind. Here are seven safety tips  to remember when playing outside. 

Be visible

It is important that drivers are able to see you, so wear clothing that could make you easily seen by them. This includes wearing bright or reflective clothing, especially at night. Additionally, when planning to cross the street, don’t stand near bushes and trees that would conceal you from view for a driver. The easier it is for them to see you, the easier it is for both of you to be aware of each other.

Cross the street in well-lit light

Along with making yourself visible with your clothes, make sure to always cross the street in well-lit places. It could only help you be more visible for drivers as it is hard for drivers to spot people when crossing the road in the dark. 

Ride defensively

Don’t assume vehicles will stop. Look at the driver and make sure they’re also paying attention. Always assume that drivers don’t see you so when you are crossing, you are prepared to protect yourself and take evasive maneuvers, if needed. 

Follow the rules of the road

If you are a cyclist, remember that you have the same responsibilities as drivers do. So follow traffic laws and use your hand signals. 

Put your phone away

Avoid distractions when crossing the road. With phones being a huge part of our daily lives nowadays, a lot of people tend to cross roads while looking at their phone. This could be especially dangerous if you’re also wearing earphones as you won’t be able to hear oncoming traffic. If you are using your phone, at least put it down for the few seconds you will be crossing the road.

Understand stopping distances

Cars, motorcycles, and trucks all have different stopping distances and each takes different amounts of time and space needed to be able to stop. If you see that a truck is coming by, don’t cross the road when they are closer as it would be hard for them to stop. 

Look left and right

Surely, everyone has heard this phrase before. This tip is to emphasize the importance of looking both left, right, and left again. Due to a lot of reasons, looking left and right when crossing the road has become less common. One reason could be that they are too distracted by their phones or other technology and another is they’re too focused on their activities. People believe that in residential areas, drivers would be slower, but that is not true. Continue to always look left and right when crossing the road. 


Pedestrian and cyclist safety is important all over the country but extremely important to the community of Woodland Heights. As it is a neighborhood with low traffic, it is a popular spot for cyclists and people who like to walk around the neighborhood. It is essential to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines to keep you, your friends, or your family safe. By practicing these safety tips, cyclists and motorists can share the road safely in the Woodland Heights neighborhood. 

Author Bio

Alana Redmond is a safety writer with Ramsey Law Group, a Houston car accident and injury firm dedicated to educating our community on the importance of bike and pedestrian safety.