It's my road too

Give Me 3ft

Legal Brief - Get Better Coverage

Legal Brief - Get Better Coverage
Momentummag.com
Josh Zisson
2014-01-23
Link: http://momentummag.com/features/legal-brief-get-better-coverage/

"Most riders won’t spend much time thinking about insurance. After all, what good could a car insurance policy do for you when you’ve been doored? And who cares about renter’s insurance when your bike was stolen off of the street?

Every rider should care and it’s important to be thinking about what your auto and homeowner’s insurance policies can do for you. As it turns out, these policies can mean the difference between getting slammed with medical bills or the cost of a new bike, and having those expenses paid in full.

If a driver crashes into you, their insurance policy should cover your expenses. But sometimes, the offending driver’s policy won’t cover everything. This is where your existing auto insurance policy comes into play. Your policy doesn’t just cover you when you’re driving, it can also apply when riding your bike. And that means any bike – including e-bikes and bike share systems."

Click to continue reading...

What to do if you've been involved in a crash
Cyclingtips.com.au
By Matt de Neef
2013-08-06
Link: http://cyclingtips.com.au/2013/08/what-to-do-if-youve-been-involved-in-a-crash/

"No cyclist ever wants to be involved in a crash but regardless of how cautious or skilled you are on the bike, there’s every chance you’ll be involved in a crash with a motorist at some point (if you haven’t already). We spoke to some people in the know to find out what you should do if you find yourself in such a situation."

Manage the shock
Get off the road
Assess yourself for injuries
Exchange contact details
Look for witnesses
Take photos and notes
Tell your side of thestory to the police
Head to hospital or doctor
Get a quote for any damage to your bike

Click to continue reading ...

 

Encounter with LA Sheriff who thinks I'm impeding traffic...

Niall Huffman
2013-07-24
Link: http://kneel28.tumblr.com/post/56359217278/wrong-on-so-many-levels



"This video, shot by Wes High on his commute along Fountain Avenue through West Hollywood, has been making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter. The Sheriff’s deputy here is 100% wrong on the law regarding where people on bikes can ride in the street. Here’s why:"

Click Here For Complete Article

Van Bramer, DOT Serve Up New Delivery Bike Rules

Van Bramer, DOT Serve Up New Delivery Bike Rules
www.qgazette.com
By Liz Goff
2013-05-22
Link: http://www.qgazette.com/news/2013-05-22/Front_Page/Van_Bramer_DOT_Serve_Up_New_Delivery_Bike_Rules.html


City transportation officials last week served up a lesson to restaurant owners and food delivery bicyclists on how to comply with a new city law designed to make city streets – and sidewalks safe for pedestrians.

The City Council passed a menu of regulations last November, designed to crack down on rogue cyclists who are notorious for running stop signs and red lights, mowing down pedestrians and peddling the wrong way along busy streets.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law the package of bills that requires commercial cyclists and their employers to follow the new safety regulations or face a series of stiff fines and penalties. Continue Reading ...

Five Bicycle Touring Questions for the Newcomer

Five Bicycle Touring Questions for the Newcomer
Yahoo Sports
By: Gerald Kennedy
2012-05-09
Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/five-bicycle-touring-questions-newcomer-000200072--spt.html

This is going to be a real departure for me because I know absolutely nothing about bicycle touring. I've traveled much of the country by car, hiked long distances and regularly paddle very long distances in small boats. Every year I paddle in a 100 mile marathon race down the Colorado River in Texas. I love to travel routes that most people never see. Exploring lakes and rivers while high powered bass boats rocket by show me that speeding boaters fail to see and experience life between point to point. Sedate side trips by car reveal that many people miss great scenery and wildlife right under their nose because they speed by to get some where else. I love motorcycles and have had one most of my life, will again, but the motorcycle experience is basically the same as a two wheeled car. So, the question is: are bicycles legitimate and practical touring, travel and exploration vehicles? I have questions but no answers.

Is it safe to bicycle tour?

This is a big question. I've started back to riding bicycles several times over the years. Each time I was yelled at, thrown at, and had cars whiz rather close by. This does concern me. I'll research and see what happens. Bicycles ridden by adults along the highway or back roads are more accepted and common now, but there are a lot of crazies out there. A reverse situation is those riders who insist they have the same rights as a car on the road. Legal or not, a bicycle will never win a confrontation with a car.

What kind of equipment is available?

As a kid I modified and switch components on a variety of bicycles to build sleek fenderless hot rods. Schwinn forks were the hot item because they could stand up to the abuse of ramping. I guess you could call these old hybrid bicycles the fore runners of the modern day mountain bike. My friends and I stuck up our nose at the relatively new 3-speed skinny tired English Racer. I know so little about modern bicycles that this is going to be big learning experience. I think it will be enjoyable. An interesting side note is that I use bicycle brake cables for rudder control systems on kayaks.

What are the physical considerations?

I suppose this has to be decided by every individual. Most of us are not in really good shape. The riding regime would need to start slowly and build up to determine touring capabilities.

Can an older person tour?

I have a friend, an older guy, who regularly competes in mountain bike competitions and 100 mile bicycle races. I'm 10 years older than he is! Arthritis is a concern, but I'm in pretty good shape and regularly paddle very long distances. I'm not going to race and have no problem with resting when necessary. I guess the question will be answered in practice. Bicycle riding is a low impact sport much like kayak paddling. This should work great for older bodies.

Are there popular touring routes?

Well, son of a gun! A quick search reveals that more than 40 states are working on U.S. Bicycle Routes. The same search reveals many popular routes. I know of many roads and routes in central Texas and other states that should be good for bicycles. I think this may work out!

I haven't told my wife about this. There is absolutely no possibility she will join me in any type of touring--except to visit a quilt store. For the most part she calls me a crazy old fool for my numerous adventures. I don't disagree with her, but I'm not going through the pearly gates without exploring the route along the way. Maybe a bicycle will help--maybe not. Experienced bicycle riders and tourers are very welcome to give advice and express their opinions in the comment section below. I need to know! Join me in this journey.

4 Bike Laws to Gear Up for Bike to Work Day

4 Bike Laws to Gear Up for Bike to Work Day

Reuters

By: Andrew Chow, JD

2012-05-08

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/09/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-lawandlife-idUS76285780120120509

May is National Bike Month, and thousands of amateur cyclists are set to hit the streets on Bike to Work Day — which actually falls on different days, depending on where you live — and, for the first time this year, Bike to School Day.

But before you strap on that helmet (you are wearing a helmet, right?) and head out the door, you may want a quick refresher in bike laws that you may not know about.
Here are four types of bike laws, and how they generally apply nationwide:

1. Bicyclists must stop at red lights. After you've stopped, however, some states allow bicyclists to run a red light if there's no cross-traffic -- but not all, according to the website Active.com. Also, if a traffic-light sensor fails to detect your bike, laws generally allow you to proceed after you sit through one complete light cycle. But check the bike laws in your state first.

2. Ride with traffic. State laws generally require bicyclists to ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic. Riding against traffic may seem "safer" because you can see the cars coming -- but it's actually a leading cause of bike accidents, according to the website BicycleSafe.com.

3. Bicycling while intoxicated. Some states treat drunken biking infractions the same as drunken driving. The key is whether a bicycle fits under a state's definition of "vehicle"; some laws only punish intoxication while operating motor vehicles. A local DUI attorney can help figure out the nuances and help defend you in court.

4. Distracted biking. You've probably seen a few cyclists who bike while sending text messages or talking on a hand-held cell phone. Some local jurisdictions have enacted laws to prohibit distracted biking: Chicago, for example, passed a citywide ban on cell phone use while biking last fall, WMAQ-TV reports. Lawmakers in California are also considering a statewide bike law to ban cell phone use by cyclists, according to KCBS-TV.
So now, get out there and ride.

Related Resources:

• Bicycle Accidents: Cyclists Must Obey Traffic Laws (FindLaw's Injured)
• Bicyclist's Hit-and-Run Video Leads to Arrest (FindLaw's Injured)
• Tips and Techniques - Rules of the Road (League of American Bicyclists)
• Bicycle Laws (FindLaw)

Share the Road (Again)

Cycling Side-by-Side
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Chad Mullins
2012-04-27

Link: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53995663-82/lane-riding-canyon-roadway.html.csp

I found this article to be very interesting because, as an avid cyclist, I ride many mountain and canyon roads. These roads are narrow and certain sections become one lane.

When I first started riding mountain roads, I would always try to stay as close to the right as possible.  I felt this was the safest area of the road, safe from vehicle traffic behind me as well as on-coming. Unfortunately, I may be safe from vehicle traffic, but I am still exposing myself to another hazard, road debris. 

All too often I would be riding along, in the "zone", and bump into some road debris.  I've hit large rocks, small rocks, fallen branches, road kill, sweaters, water bottles, broken glass, beer cans, you name it, I've hit it. 

On few occasions, sharp rocks and broken glass have pierced my tires.  Once, while riding with Annette from Glendoramtnroad.com, I was lucky enough to get two simultaneous flats.

This article discusses bicyclists side by side riding of each other, sharing the road and how far to the right should a bicyclist ride. I find riding closer to the middle of your lane to be much safer than to the far right.  Riding closer to the middle of your lane keeps you visible and vehicles are more likely to notice you from a distance as the mountain road twists and turns to the contours of the mountain.

So here is the first few paragraphs of this article.  I hope you find it informative and helpful.

"Frustration rises as motorists and people riding bicycles vie for road space in the canyons, where roadway shoulders are often too narrow to ride safely, and the travel lanes are not wide enough for riders and motorists to share.

Symptoms are being mistaken as the cause when Emigration Canyon residents ask Salt Lake County to pass an ordinance requiring bicyclists to ride single file in the canyon.

Riding single file is the courteous thing to do when bicyclists impede traffic, and conforms to Utah law ("Ride no more than two abreast [on the roadway] and then only if you would not impede traffic (41-6a-1105)). As with all slower traffic, people riding bikes should move to the side of the road when safe to do so, allowing motorists to pass. Continue Reading ..."

SB 1475: Bicycling and Texting Don't Mix

Note to the video above. Although it's not a bicyclist, this crazy dude is laid back and texting while on a motorcycle. I love the driver and passenger's commentary. They sound like Raj in the Big Bang Theory.

New Califronia Law Would Ban Texting While Biking; What's Next
CBS Los Angeles
By Unknown
2012-04-27
Link: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/04/27/new-calif-law-would-ban-texting-while-biking-whats-next-eating/

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — It could soon be illegal to ride a bicycle and text if a California lawmaker gets his way.

Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who authored the 2008 California law mandating the use of hands-free technology while driving, has proposed extending that law to bicyclists.

Senate Bill 1475 would ban bicyclists from texting or talking without a headset.

Bicyclists would be fined $20 for their first offense and $50 thereafter with no additional fees.

The new bill was originally part of the 2008 driving ordinance, however the bicycle portion was omitted from the final law.

It is supported by the California Bicycle Coalition.

The bill is currently working its way through the state senate. Sen. Simitian hopes to make it law by the end of 2012

Defensive Cycling is all Important Too

Bicycle Injuries: Is The Right of Way Fight Getting Ugly?
WIBW.com
Posted by Jovarie Downing
2012-04-20
Link: http://www.wibw.com/nationalnews/headlines/Bicycle_injuries_Is_the_right of-way_fight_getting_ugly_148348115.html

New York (CNN) -- Michelle Matson has a nagging reminder of the cycling crash that could have killed her. A year and a half later, flecks of asphalt remain lodged in her skin.

There's also the metal pole extending from her kneecap down to her ankle, along with countless screws, keeping her left leg intact.

"My body was destroyed," said Matson, an artist living in Brooklyn. "My whole life was put on hold for months, and no one seemed to care."

New York City artist Michelle Matson was hospitalized in 2010 after being hit by a speeding car as she rode a bicycle in Brooklyn.It happened in October, 2010, on what Matson and her boyfriend, James Paz, thought was an innocuous bike ride home from a concert.

"I was riding in front of Michelle, about 10 feet in front of her," Paz said. "I heard a loud scraping, scratching noise, there was a second of blackness, and then I was flying through the air."

What had lofted Paz into the air was a speeding driver who, according to witnesses, fled the scene. Paz hobbled to his feet, noted the mangled remains of his bike and scanned the area for Matson.

When he did not see her, he panicked.

"I was screaming her name," Paz said. "Then I saw her lying in the middle of the right-hand lane of the road ... at that time I didn't know if she was alive."

No charges have been filed in the case.

Matson's story is a reminder of a growing problem in many of the nation's busy, sprawling urban landscapes: More people are using bikes for transportation amid a culture and infrastructure designed for automobiles.

Although New York police and the city's Department of Transportation report increasing bicyclists, the number of bike deaths has remained steady. In fact, overall traffic deaths have dropped by 39% since 2001, according to the NYPD.

But that statistic offers little comfort to Matson.

It's not just the facts of the incident -- or even the tiny particles of debris from the New York City street still in Matson's body -- that have left her upset. It's what Matson describes as investigative inertia by the New York City Police Department when it came to her case.

"There were no legal repercussions for the driver whatsoever, because the NYPD chose not to investigate the hit-and-run," Matson said. "It blows my mind that this is even possible ... people get in worse trouble for double-parking."

In 2010, in more than 6,000 New York City traffic accidents involving cyclists, 36 people died, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Transportation Nation reported that no criminal charges were filed against the drivers involved.

One woman -- the mother of an artist named Mathieu Lefevre, who was killed on a bike -- is on a crusade to learn more about his death and to make roads safer for cyclists. There is a growing sense among the city's cycling community that to many authorities, bicyclists don't matter.

"Cyclists and pedestrians are being killed and seriously injured all over our city, once every 35 hours in fact," New York City Councilman and Public Safety Committee Chairman Peter Vallone said at a hearing this year. "And the drivers are literally getting away with it."

CNN repeatedly contacted the NYPD for comment about Matson's hit-and-run and the department's policy about cycling accident investigations, but did not receive a response.

Cyclists who think police are biased against them are fueled by another statistic: In 2011, the NYPD issued 10,415 criminal court summonses to truck operators. During the same year, 34,813 summonses were issued to bicyclists.

"While there may be some lawbreaking among the cycling population, very few if any of those transgressions of the law are resulting in death or serious injury," said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, a bicycling advocacy group. "But when a trucker runs the red light or speeds, the consequences very often are deadly."

There are also problems, in the eyes of lawmakers and advocates alike, with how crashes are investigated.

According to statements made by the NYPD, only traffic accidents involving imminent or actual death are investigated. Those cases are handled by one of 19 members of a special unit called the Accident Investigation Squad, or AIS.

"Their role is to utilize their special training to conduct a more comprehensive investigation, employing a variety of techniques in order to establish speed, analyze skid marks and other physical characteristics of the accident scene," said John Cassidy, executive officer of the Transportation Bureau of the NYPD, at a City Council hearing in February. "In essence, reconstruct the accident so that a more definitive cause, possibly resulting in criminal charges, may be determined."

But with only 19 detectives, AIS resources are stretched, so members of the unit are not always deployed, even when death is imminent, according to activists.

"Staffing for these crashes is not what it should be," said Steve Vaccaro, an attorney with Rankin and Taylor, a law firm specializing in cases involving bicycling accidents. "This resource is not what it should be if we're going to have these investigations."

The issue has hit the blogosphere. Advocates are pushing for a law that would force police to investigate all serious bike accidents.

For Matson and Paz, virtually no investigation of their case occurred, they say. That leaves Matson, who still struggles with debilitating injuries to her spine and skull, with little legal recourse after her accident.

"If you lose your limbs in a [bike] crash, you don't get an investigation," said White, the bicycling advocate. "Without that investigation, it's virtually impossible to hold reckless drivers accountable when they do break traffic laws and they seriously injure pedestrians or cyclists."

Perhaps not surprisingly, a year and a half after her hit-and-run, Matson has refused to ride a bike.

Bicycle Accidents Happen Too, Ride Safe

I just love these videos of some dude riding reckless through the streets of [insert city name here]. It's people like this that give cyclists REALLY bad reputations. At this years Marathon Crash race I saw many cyclist weave in an out of vehicle traffic. Oh so dangerous.

Bicycle Accidents Can Be Deadly, And Costly
Reuters
By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq
2012-04-12
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/11/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-injured-idUS342583576520120411

You wouldn't expect a bicycle accident to be deadly. But they can be. Just consider San Francisco, where two people have been killed by a bicyclist in the last year.

In the latest of these incidents, the bicyclist, Chris Bucchere, went careening down a steep hill and crashed into a crowded crosswalk. He hit 71-year-old Sutchi Hui, who died four days later.

Even if prosecutors decide not to charge Bucchere with vehicular manslaughter, he'll likely be saddled with a bicycle accident lawsuit.

These sorts of suits are based in negligence law and often rely on the rules of the road. Though they might think otherwise, bicyclists must follow the law. This means traffic signals and signs. It also means respecting the right-of-way of others.

Traffic laws are often said to define the minimum standard of care a motorist or bicyclist must exercise while on the road. When broken, there is a legal presumption that the individual acted negligently.

If a traffic violation were to lead to a bicycle accident lawsuit, that presumption would be difficult to overcome. A bicyclist would need to prove that, under the circumstances, he had no choice but to break the law. He'll also need to prove that his own actions did not put him in such a dire position.

These arguments probably won't be very easy for Chris Bucchere to make. Evidence suggests that he did not try to stop once the light turned red, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Instead, he just tried to plow through the least crowded area. Bicycle accident lawsuit waiting to happen? This blogger thinks so.

Hey There, Share the Road!

Five Things Drivers Need to Understand About Sharing the Road with Cyclists
Yahoo Contributor Network
By Jennifer Ciapala
2012-04-11
Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/five-things-drivers-understand-sharing-road-cyclists-150700380--spt.html

During the ten-year period from 2000 to 2009, more than 7,000 cyclists were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes (an average of 600-800 per year); hundreds of thousands more were injured (51,000 in 2009 alone, for example). I frequently see and hear stories of automobile/bicycle accidents, but the numbers are still staggering. These statistics lead to fear in some and to anger in others. Both, I believe, are legitimate responses. But what can be done?

As a cyclist, I often see stupidity on the streets first-hand. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that cyclists do dumb things sometimes. But more often than not, what I see is ignorance on the part of motorists. So here are five things I really wish drivers understood about cyclists. Hopefully, a little education will go a long way toward keeping everyone safe out there this year.

We belong on the roads as much as you do

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "bicycles on the roadway are, by law, vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as motorized vehicles." I can't tell you how many times I've heard drivers shout "Get on the sidewalk!" or "Use the bike trail!" as they've sped past me on the road. But did you know that it's actually illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in most parts of the country? And even when it's not explicitly outlawed, it's still extremely dangerous.

"Share the road" signs can now be seen along many streets, but even when you don't see one of those signs, we're still allowed to be there. In fact, while we appreciate the effort to make drivers more aware of our rights, many cyclists I know take issue with the "share the road" sentiment. The way it's worded makes it sound like motorists "own" the roads and are doing cyclists a favor by "lending" us a few inches of "their" roadway. We're not asking that you kindly share something that belongs to you, however; we have just as much a right to be on the roads as you do.

We're really not trying to get in your way

Not all roads have bike lanes or shoulders for us to use, and even when they are available, they're not always the safest place for us to be. Parked cars, potholes, storm drains and debris can all spell disaster for cyclists. Loose gravel or swerving to avoid roadside debris can quickly land us on the ground with a severe case of road rash. If we hit a pothole or tree branch, we could be thrown off our bikes and end up in the hospital. We also need to avoid potholes and broken glass to prevent flat tires. Flats are a lot more common on bikes since we keep our tires at about 120 psi (as compared to maybe 36 or 38 psi for a car).

Ohio's bike laws state that we are to ride "as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable," and I assume the law is similar in most other areas as well. From your car, truck, or SUV, you probably can't see the same dangers that we see as cyclists. Please know that we are not trying to get in your way; we just want to ride as safely as possible.

Not all cyclists know and follow the rules

Cyclists are required to follow the same laws as you: we cannot operate our vehicles while intoxicated; we must stop at stop signs and red lights; we must signal our turns; we must use head and tail lights after dark. Unfortunately, just like drivers, cyclists don't always obey the law. I know this can be frustrating for motorists and probably contributes to your irritation with us. But please don't take your aggression out on the cyclists you encounter on the road. Most of us do try to obey the law, and we get just as irritated as you do with riders who ignore the rules and give us all a bad name.

We're probably going faster than you think

It's not uncommon for cyclists to cruise along a flat stretch of road at 20 or 25 mph, and on downhill sections, we can easily hit 30 mph, 40 mph, or more. Please keep this in mind when you're considering pulling out or crossing in front of us, or when you plan to pass with oncoming traffic. On the other hand, we do slow down considerably going up hills, often to only 5 or 10 mph, depending on how long or steep the incline is. Please be patient with us and pass only when it's safe to do so.

"I didn't see you!" is NEVER a good excuse

Generally, we know you're not actually trying to hurt us (though some drivers might occasionally want to give us a good scare). Still, you are often distracted while you operate your two-ton vehicle at 30, 40 or 50 mph. This scares us more than anything else! Please put away your cell phone. Stop looking in your purse. Don't try to read your mail while you drive. Get your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Drivers often use the "I didn't see you!" excuse after hitting a cyclist. But should that really make us feel better? If everyone just paid a little more attention on the road, many a fatal accident could be avoided.

More on Pennsylvania's 4 Feet Law

Driver cited under new bicycle law after striking cyclist on Fahy Bridge
The Morning Call
Tracy Jordon
2012-04-04
Link: http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-04/news/mc-bethlehem-bicyclist-struck-fahy-bridge-20120404_1_fahy-bridge-bethlehem-driver-teen-driver

One of the Lehigh Valley's leading bicycling safety advocates became the region's first victim under a new law meant to protect cyclists from passing vehicles when a car hit him from behind Monday on the Fahy Bridge in Bethlehem.

The law allows motorists to drive over double yellow lines when passing cyclists, but it requires drivers to give four-feet clearance. The law went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday. About 15 hours later, a car operated by a 17-year-old Bethlehem driver drove into Frank Pavlick as he was pedaling north on the Fahy Bridge on S. New Street.

PA says give Bicyclists 4 Feet!

NHTSA's Bicycle Safety PSA

Utah Says, "Give Cyclists 3 Feet"

4 Feet Please!

Pennsylvania's New Bike Safety Law to Take Effect April 2, 2012

The Sacramento Bee

By PA Department of Transportation

2012-03-28

Link: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/28/4372681/pennsylvanias-new-bike-safety.html

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 28, 2012 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A law that sets new rules for Pennsylvania motorists to follow when encountering a bicyclist will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 2. The law, designed to improve safety and traffic flow, was signed by Governor Tom Corbett on Feb. 2.

The new law requires motorists to leave a 4-foot "cushion of safety" when passing a bicyclist. To achieve this cushion, drivers may cross a roadway's center line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows.

Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders traveling in the opposite direction.

"The differential in speed is the biggest safety challenge with motor vehicles and bicycles sharing our state's roadways," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "I urge all drivers and cyclists to learn the rules of the road to better share our highways and make travel safer for all."

The new law also calls for bicycle riders to use all reasonable efforts to avoid impeding the normal flow of traffic. When there is only one travel lane, bicyclists may use any portion of the lane to avoid hazards on the roadway, including maintaining a safe distance from stopped and parked cars.

As always, bicyclists and motorists should obey all traffic signs and signals. PennDOT also recommends bicyclists always ride predictably and signal their intentions before proceeding so that motorists have a chance to react.

For more information on bicycling safety, visit www.DriveSafePA.org.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/28/4372681/pennsylvanias-new-bike-safety.html#storylink=cpy

Complete Streets, Equal Access for Bicycles

Complete Streets: It's About More Than Just Bike Lanes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.



Eco Man - Taking Action on Law Requiring Equal Access for Bicycle, Pedestrians
The News of New Canaan, Connecticut
By Richard Stowe
2012-03-22
Link: http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/ncadvertiser/columns-letters-to-editor/117802-eco-man--taking action-on-law-requiring-equal-access-for-bicycles-pedestrians.html

No matter where the destination is in New Canaan, or Fairfield County — a gym, 5K race, grocery store, work, art exhibit, restaurant, country club, movie theater, Fourth of July fireworks, or school sporting event — the trip will most likely be made by motor vehicle.

Fifty-two percent of trips one-half mile or less in the United States are by motor vehicle. Almost 70% of Americans' car trips are two miles or less and 90% of Americans' trips two miles, or less are by car. Social conditioning is the driving force behind the transportation choices we make, and that is reinforced by institutional bias — driver's education, but no bike education; state DOT policies that prohibit bike access on key bridges and highways and designs and streets designed for vehicles not people.

Complete streets is an inclusive transportation planning paradigm that allows for "safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation" within the entire right-of-way of roads and streets. The goal of complete streets policies is to create a level playing field for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation users. Advocates suggest complete streets make it easy to bicycle, or walk to downtown shops, work, or train stations.

Complete streets are not constrained by a single design prescription. Complete streets respond to community context. Complete streets may result in, but are not limited to, narrower travel lanes, wider paved shoulders, bike lanes, sidewalks, roundabouts, median islands, or curb extensions.

David Goldberg of Smart Growth America coined "complete streets." In 2003, Barbara McCann asked the America Bikes board to substitute the term "routine accommodation" with "complete streets." America Bikes set up a Complete Streets Task Force composed of the American Society of Landscape Architects, American Planning Association, American Public Transportation Association, AARP and the American Heart Association.

Today America Bike's Complete Streets Task Force is the National Complete Streets Coalition Steering Committee. In 2005, the task force member groups provided funding to establish the National Complete Streets Coalition to foster the adoption of complete streets policies at municipal, state and federal levels. Substituting the wonky term "routine accommodation" with "complete streets" has paid off in spades. As of March 2012, complete streets policies have been endorsed and adopted by 26 states and 343 jurisdictions in the United States.

Connecticut is one of those states. In 2009, then Gov. Jodi M. Rell signed "An Act Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Access" into law. The law established the Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, which has met monthly since its inception in December 2009.

One group that played a role in the passage of the legislation was Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance. The alliance was the brainchild of Sandy Fry, principal transportation planner at Capitol Region Council of Governments. Fry formed the alliance "to provided a vehicle to carry forward the bike to work program" — which she had initiated, "and to provide a central Connecticut bicycle advocacy group."

The alliance reinvented itself as Bike Walk Connecticut and held two Bike Walk Summits in November of 2010 and 2011.

In 2010, Tim Blumental, president of Bikes Belong, was the keynote speaker. Then-Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (now U.S. Senator) argued that bicycle infrastructure is cost effective. Other speakers suggested low-cost means to achieve complete streets, such as re-striping roads with 10 to 11 foot travel lanes (a benefit to bicyclists), raised crosswalks, curb extensions, refuge islands and roundabouts. The causality between high rates of bicycling and walking and lower rates of disease and high rates of obesity and auto-dependency was noted, as was the medical complications and costs of obesity. Fry stressed the importance of teaching bike education principles, such as proper positioning, bike control and hazard avoidance.

In 2011, Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, gave the keynote address. Clarke pointed out that there is safety in numbers. He cited the growth from 2,850 to 14,563 in daily ridership during a 16-year period on four main bicycle bridges in Portland, Ore., while the bicycle crash rate (the ratio of reported crashes to bicycle commuters) declined from 544 to 128.

He pointed out that bicycle commuter rates are three to four times higher in the league's designated "Bicycle Friendly Communities" than the national average. In bicycle friendly communities, 48% of arterials have bike lanes; in other communities the rate is 5%. (New Canaan has no bike lanes.)

Article Found Here, "Athens Banner-Herald"

In The Spotlight: Spring is time for Cyclists, Motorists to be Patient
Athens Banner-Herald
By Judd Smith
2012-03-08
Link: http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2012-03-08/spotlight-spring-time-cyclists-motorists-be-patient

Things are starting to bloom, warm weather is on its way, and Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner. So, other than allergies, what does spring bring out? Cyclists!

Less than a year ago, the Georgia General Assembly passed a law clarifying and expanding rules related to cyclists on public roads. The law now requires that motorists move over at least three feet when passing a bike. Quite frankly, that’s not much when a car is traveling 30, 40 or 50 mph. Keep in mind that every time you buzz past a cyclist within a few feet at 50 mph, and they are following the law, you’re only an arm’s length from facing a homicide by vehicle charge.

I realize that every time an incident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle occurs, it seems to bring out the venom in both camps, but I think everyone should sit back and take a deep breath before passing judgment.

I’ll admit I might be a little biased in one direction, because I am a cyclist — as are quite of few of my friends and coworkers. Regardless, let’s take an objective look at the conflict between drivers and riders.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from motorists about cyclists is that they are blocking the road and slowing them down. Does this happen? You bet. But keep in mind that the law does allows bikers to ride two wide. Most of the riders I know are courteous enough to ride single file, unless they’re on a road where passing is not a problem.

The fact is that both cyclists and drivers need to be more courteous. A good rule of thumb is to imagine that everyone you pass on the road, whether in a car or on a bike, is a family member.

My guess is that if you actually timed how long you are inconvenienced by someone riding a bicycle, you’ll find the delay is something like 15 to 30 seconds. If you can’t afford to be held up for 60 seconds to get where you are going, you probably should have left a little earlier.

And if you can’t manage to pass a biker without yelling or making some gesture, you should probably reconsider whether you should be piloting a multi-ton metal box at 60 mph down our public roads. You should know that gestures made from behind the wheel can lead to an aggressive driving charge, which can be costly.

Remember, it’s your legal obligation to pass a bicycle with care, just as if you were passing another car.

The second most common complaint I hear is that bicyclists should be taxed to keep up the roads. Frankly, I don’t know of a single biker who doesn’t own a car and buy at least some gas. Yes, most cyclists — at least in the more rural areas — are recreational riders. But you should be careful what you wish for. Perhaps the public roads should be used primarily for non-recreational transportation related to business and commerce, and drivers should pay an additional tax on miles driven recreationally. Talking about taxation can be a slippery slope.

Thankfully, the vast majority of cyclists and drivers are basically good people with good intentions. I’ve been riding for years and have only had a couple of bad encounters with motorists. The bottom line is that — with the exception of interstate highways — cars, bikes and pedestrians are all legal on our roads. A very wise man once told me that in this life you can do anything you want — as long as you are prepared to handle the consequences. So let’s all try to be a little more careful out there.