Providence Bicycle Coalition (PBC)
The Illinois Department of Transporation recently funded a video PSA starring Robbie Ventura. I think it does a good job covering many important topics, both for motorists and cyclists. I think it’s well worth ~ 7 minutes of my time, what do you think?
The Projo and WPRI are reporting that East Providence
Police are investigating after a man was seriously injured when his bicycle collided with a car in East Providence. It happened at Waterman Avenue and Commercial Way Friday morning.
According to police, the 55-year-old man was not wearing a helmet, and suffered serious head injuries.
I certainly hope this cyclist recovers and send my thoughts are with everyone involved.
UPDATE: News sources are now reporting that, according to witnesses, the cyclist suddenly veered left, into the car and struck the right, rear panel of the car, forcefully enough to break the window. There was a four month old baby in the back seat, who was hit with flying glass. Fortunately, the baby appears to be fine and it appears the cyclists will survive as well.
This just goes to show you that cyclists are at fault in some cases. However, I still feel my comments below are accurate. From now on, carefully read news coverage of bicycle and automobile collisions.
Why is it that the media always reports it as a “bicycle collided with a car?”. This approach instantly makes it sound like the cyclist was at fault. In the case of an automobile accident, they don’t report that a “blue car collided with a red car”, which reads as though it assigns fault to the blue car. The media should not be making judgements, they should just report the facts!
For that matter, why do they also feel it’s necessary to report that he wasn’t wearing a helmet? Last time I checked, it’s not legally required for a 55 year old to wear one on a bicycle. Personally, I feel all cyclists should wear one, but it’s not the law. This is like the media reporting a motorist was in an accident and their car didn’t have airbags.\
I’ll will try to comment this post if I read about any further details in this case. If you notice something first, please feel free to post an update as well.
I received a notification from RIDOT that
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is alerting motorists that the new striping pattern of three lanes (one lane in each direction with a center turn lane) on Route 44 in Smithfield, from Austin Avenue to West Greenville Road, will continue.
“Due to the success we have had thus far with this new traffic configuration, we have decided to continue it as we move forward with the construction project,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis. “It appears that the new traffic patterns have actually reduced speeds, acting as a traffic calming device, and helping to improve safety in the area.”
I have to admit, my initial thought was oh no… RIDOT has gone and done it again, they’ve added a turn lane by removing the breakdown lane on either side. So I followed up and was plesantly surprised to learn that:
nothing was taken away to make the center turning lane. This part of Rte. 44 is very narrow with 4 lanes and shoulders of 6 inches or less. The new configuration will have 2-foot shoulders – not as wide as most bike lanes, but an improvement over what’s there.
It’s great to see RIDOT doing the right thing for once. Naturally, I would have liked to see even more provided to the cyclists. However, I do have to give them credit for taking a road that was originally four lanes and dropping it down to three.
The Tauton Daily Gazette recently posted an article describing a recent hit-and-run incident
A local mother involved in a hit-and-run while riding her bicycle with her young son is looking for answers.
Rebeckah Picard and her 20-month-old son Jessie were enjoying a bike ride, one of their favorite activities, when they were struck by a vehicle and thrown underneath a nearby parked car.
What kind of moral standard can the driver of this vehicle have? We’ve been talking a lot recently on this blog about responsibility, both on the part of motorists and cyclists. This driver doesn’t have the required maturity to be behind the wheel of a car! Apparently,
The vehicle slowed down after hitting Picard and her son, then immediately took off.
so it can’t even by claimed that the driver was unaware that they struck something.
I hate to say it, but motorists do have some valid complaints when it comes to some cyclists.
I was in my car over the weekend, waiting to turn right at a red light. As a gap opened up and I was just starting to roll, a cyclists came flying by me on the right. He didn’t slow at all for the red light, proceeded through the turn at full speed, and in the process of the turn moved out into the travel lane. Had I not noticed movement in my peripheral vision, this cyclists could have been seriously hurt.
As far as I’m concerned, this cyclists should have waited his turn to make a right. Instead, he needlessly placed himself at risk of being hit. I believe cyclists should have the right to move through traffic jams, but only when it is safe to do so. As a cyclist, it’s our responsibility to ensure that motorists are aware of our presence and not needlessly delay motorists when they reach an intersection first. If we can’t safely do so, then we must wait just like other vehicles on the roadway.
I’m all for cyclists rights and even legally advancing the mode of transportation in ways that naturally benefit the cyclists’ ability to move around effectively. However, I’m also a firm believer that cyclists must show other roadway users respect and this cyclist clearly didn’t do so. This was a very clear example of how one cyclist can sour one or more motorists to our healthy, efficient mode of transportation. Had I not been as observent, I could have easily collided with this careless cyclist.
| August 17, 2009 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Our next advocacy meeting will be on August 17th @ 6pm at the offices of the US Open Cycling Foundation (269 South Main Street, Providence). We are moving it back by a week to accomodate many people who have vacations on our regularly scheduled meeting date.
I received an email copy of the following letter the editor, recently submitted to the Projo, by Keith Moore:
To the editor:
I was biking to work this morning in Providence, sticking as close to the curb as possible, when my life flashed in front of my eyes: a driver in a beige Saturn drove as close to me as she could – so close that I almost hit the curb trying to avoid her. She then accelerated, changed lanes without signaling, cutting another driver off in the process.
This whole maneuver did her little good: she ended up stopped at the next light. Her window was open so as I pulled up next to her, I said “You should learn how to drive.” I should have just kept my mouth shut but I was still shaking after the close call.
Her response just about made me fall off my bike: “I pay taxes. You pay nothing.”
About ten months ago, I had an opportunity to read over the DMV manual and what it had to say about bicycles. At the time I was shocked to learn how little information they included and of the information they did include, a rather large percentage of it was focused on how cyclists should act. As a result of this discovery, I posted some comments on our blog and a lively discussion ensued on the advocacy list.
Fortunately, Sue Barker volunteered to approach the DMV about this issue and arranged for a meeting between representatives from the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen (NBW), Providence Bicycle Coaltion (PBC), US Open Cycling Foundation, the Greenways Alliance of Rhode Island (GARI), and the Sierra Club. At this meeting, we presented some recommendations. The DMV was impressed and asked us to develop them into something which could be included in the next printing of their DMV manual.
What resulted is a brochure. There are currently copies of this brochure at the DMV branch offices and select AAA offices. Copies will also be included as suplimental material for all driver’s education classes offered starting this summer and the next and future printing of the official DMV manual. If you are aware of another location where these brochures would have an impact, please contact us and we can get you some brochures.
Many thanks go to Sue Barker for spearheading this 10 month project!
As you may be aware, the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC) recently announced a $500K Aquidneck Island traffic study.
“The study is a results-oriented project, with measurable outcomes, that will have both fast-track up-front solutions and long-term recommendations,” said Tina Dolen, AIPC executive director. “I cannot overemphasize how vital public participation will be, and our workshops and Web site will continually seek feedback from those who use Aquidneck Island by driving, walking, bicycling, riding the bus, the train or ferries.”
I was glad to see that bicycles were included in the study. Hopefully, we cyclists will rise to the occasion and provide them with plenty of input. They claim that
“The public will ensure the study is grounded in real-life experience on the roadways.” Four public workshops will be held during the study process, with the first scheduled in September on a date to be announced.
We will post updates as we find out more details. In the mean time, I encourage everyone to visit the VHB website mentioned above.
Do you ride Amtrak with your bike already? Are you thinking of taking a trip with your bike? Considering a family vacation that would be easier if you could just ride the train with your bike? Then I encourage you to take the Amtrack Bicycle Survey. Now is the time to show Amtrak there is demand for better accomodations for bicycles on trains!
UPDATE: After reading this more closely, the survey appears to be focused solely on the Amtrak Capitol Limited route. Still, a good response on this route may well encourage them to put out surveys for other routes.