A civil grand jury in San Fancisco hopes to reduce bicycle/motorist confrontations by releasing a report that outlines what the city can do to increase bicycle safety. The report titled, Sharing the Roadway: From Confrontation to Conversation, targets the atmosphere of hostility and mistrust that exists between San Francisco’s bicyclists and motorists.

Over the past couple of years, there have been many bike accidents involving aggressive motorists. In one high profile accident earlier this year, a Los Angeles doctor was found guilty in a 2008 accident provoked by hostility where two bicyclists were seriously injured in the accident.

San Francisco has been one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in California. Unfortunately, an increasing number of bicyclists combined with aggressive motorist has contributed to a situation where bicyclists feel threatened and afraid, while motorists feel frustrated and hostile.

The San Fancisco jury hopes to increase awareness between both bicyclists and motorists. The report recommends that educational materials related to safe biking be made available not just to bikers, but also to the general population. With multiple languages, partnerships with other agencies, training programs for city employees and fleet operators, and safety education in the schools, the campaign hopes to reach as many people as possible, making the streets of San Francisco safer for everyone.