1. We want to better understand the community of cyclists interested in the PBC and our activities
2. We want to get some input on where we should focus our energy

Please take a moment and fill out our survey. Thanks to the generosity of The Hub and Providence Cycle, we are able to reward those of you who fill out the entire survey!

Our neighbors to the North have once again surpassed us.  They are holding a bicycle and pedestrian conference in mid-October:

Moving Together 2008. Bicycling and walking are becoming increasingly visible and important across the country as well as across the Commonwealth. Our invited keynote speaker, Gabe Rousseau, Ph.D, National Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager for the Federal Highway Administration, will provide his timely perspective on current initiatives and trends. Based in Washington DC, Rousseau draws upon his extensive experience with the Federal government as well as work with the States. Moving Together’s workshops and exhibits feature up-to-date information that help you to improve bicycling and walking conditions locally, regionally and statewide.

The $40 conference registration fee includes a continental breakfast, refreshments, lunch, and conference materials. For registration information contact: Baystate Roads Program, tel: (413) 545-2604, or register on-line. Please note that registration is limited, so register early to secure your place.

Sue Barker suggests we might want to consider joining together for a group ride to the event, any takers?

A Westerly woman who struck and killed a University of Rhode Island student in Narragansett this past April has been cited for speeding and failing to stay in her travel lane, but she will not face criminal charges, investigators said today.

Gayle Cherenzia, of 1 Bayview Drive, Westerly, was traveling more than 50 mph in a zone posted for 30 just moments before she struck Mary Ellen Claire Offer, a 19-year-old art major from Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Cherenzia, 53, had also veered into the breakdown lane where Offer and her 20-year-old URI roommate, Holly Maganzini, were walking.

But the infractions do not rise to the standard needed for criminal charges — “reckless disregard” or “heedless indifference” for the safety of others, and that means there will be no charges, said Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.

So what does it take to warrant criminal charges?  Is anyone reading this a lawyer who can point to a vehicular homicide that was actually prosecuted in RI?  As with Frank’s death, there is no talk of a license suspension.  However, you can rest better at night knowing that:

Offer and Maganzini had parked at the Overlook Professional Plaza on Boston Neck Road and were walking back to their car from a party when the accident occurred. Little said the town is looking at possible charges against the host or hosts of the party, which held was at 763 Boston Neck Road, according to Healey and Det. Lt. William McGovern.

What????  They don’t bring charges against the motorist who killed someone, yet they are looking to bring charges against the host of the party?  There is no mention of underage drinking on the part of the URI students, so why in the World would they bring charges against the party hosts?  From what they said, the URI students were walking along the road in a responsible manner.  Even if, and it’s a big if, they consumed some alcohol, it seemed to have no affect on their judgment and behavior.

Perhaps it’s time to go back to school and get a law degree.  Obviously, the DA’s office in RI could use some more help so they can actually prosecute some of these cases.

I figured nothing would come of this call, so I sat down with the family to enjoy dinner.  Part way through the meal, I was shocked when I saw out the window that a police cruiser was actually driving down the street; I really didn’t figure they would even bother.  I was even more shocked when the officer just drove by and did nothing!  I saw at least a half dozen people need to detour off the sidewalk because of this car, a few of them opting to take the blind leap onto the road and potential oncoming traffic.

Just another sign that the car does truly rule in America.

Hi, I’m interested in trying to commute from home (in Warwick) to my job in the Jewelry District. I can take the Warwick bike path all the way till it ends at the Lowes plaza on Garfield St
in Cranston. I’m looking at Cranston St to Westminster St as a potential route… However, I drove it today in my car, and the stretch of Cranston St seemed high traffic, and a lot of young guys
loitering around on the sidewalk… a little sketchy. Is there any nice route from the end of the bike path to downtown? Should I pack a gun?

Anyone out there with route advice?

The Reason Foundation study measures the performance of state-owned roads and highways from 1984 to 2005 in 12 different categories, including traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance and administrative costs, to determine each state’s ranking and cost-effectiveness.

Overall, they rank Rhode Island as 47 out of 50.  There are only 3 states that are less effective than Rhode Island, including: New York, Alaska, and New Jersey.  You can read the full report, but here are some of the Rhode Island highlights:

In 2005, Rhode Island reported 1,102 miles of highway under the state-owned highway system. The state ranked 47th in the performance rankings in 2005 as compared to 36th in 2000. The state’s best ratings were for rural interstate condition (1st), urban interstate condition (1st) and fatality rate (7th). The state scored lowest on deficient bridges (50th), rural primary pavement condition (49th), maintenance disbursements per mile of responsibility (48th), total disbursements per mile of responsibility (45th), capital/bridge disbursements per mile of responsibility (45th), receipts per mile of responsibility (44th), administrative disbursements per mile of responsibility (44th) and urban interstate congestion (43rd). Rhode Island has relatively high costs compared to system condition.

Unfortunately, the report has no data on non-state roads.

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council would like you to join them on the Greenway for their Bike Rodeo!

DATE: Saturday, August 23rd

TIME: 2:00-5:00

LOCATION: Riverside Park in Providence, Aleppo Street, (adjacent to Atlantic Mills)

The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council River Rangers are rounding up used bikes for children and adults (in working condition) to pass on for free to those in need of a bike. Mechanics will be on hand at Riverside Park along side the paved off-road portion of the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway to make minor repairs to donated bikes. Come enjoy a free bike raffle and helmet giveaway, bike safety games, food, drink, music and obstacle course. River Rangers will offer guided bike tours of the greenway and mechanics will tune bikes up for free.

If you are interested in donating a working bike please come to the Rodeo between 1:00pm-5:00pm to drop off your bike. If you can’t join us on August 23rd, but have a bike to drop off, please contact Lisa Aurecchia at 861-9046 to set up a convenient time.

CHILDREN’S BIKES NEEDED!

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
27 Sims Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02909
401-861-9046

Here’s a message from the Friends of India Point Park (FIPP).

For those of you who live in Providence or know the importance to cyclists of this central travel connection, this is an important meeting. Even if you don’t choose to comment, large numbers of bike and pedestrian folks at these meetings sends an important message to the decision makers and elected officials who hold these meeting.

FIPP is planning a meeting at which RIDOT officials will discuss the India Point Park pedestrian bridge and related topics with the community. The date is September 24, Wednesday, at 7PM, at the Sheldon Street Church in Providence. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

On July 4th, two cyclists were injured when they collided with the back of a car, driven by a Dr. Christopher T. Thompson.  They cyclists claim that Dr. Thompson purposefully slammed on the brakes of his car, thus causing the accident.  However,

Speaking on behalf of Dr. Thompson afterwards, his attorney emphatically denied “that there was any road rage incident. It was a very unfortunate accident.” Unfortunately for Dr. Thompson, the “accidental” nature of the alleged assault was quickly called into question when it was revealed that he had been involved in a strikingly similar incident a few short months before, in March of 2008.

Cyclist Patrick Watson, one of two cyclists involved in the March incident with Dr. Thompson, recalled that, as on the July 4th incident, the driver had braked suddenly and hard, sending a cyclist to the ground; the driver “then ran me off the road and as I jumped back onto the pavement he slammed on his brakes right in front of us.”

According to Watson, the driver then drove straight at the fallen cyclist, then again “drove straight at me.” The quick-thinking Watson entered the driver’s license number into his cell phone and reported the incident. Although the Los Angeles Police Department promptly investigated the March incident, the Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley declined to file charges against Dr. Thompson, saying the case wasn’t “a winner.”

If this coddling left Dr. Thompson feeling enabled to continue assaulting cyclists, the feeling didn’t last long. His luck with prosecutors ran out after the second assault in Mandeville canyon; in connection with the July 4th incident, he has been charged with two felony counts of reckless driving causing injury, and two felony counts of battery with serious bodily injury. Although no charges have yet been filed in the March assault, Patrick Watson’s quick-thinking and subsequent complaint to the LAPD present a serious obstacle to any defense claims that Thompson’s actions on July 4th were just “a very unfortunate accident.”

Bottom line, whether you think the police will take your complaint seriously, it’s important to file a police report.  At the time, I suspect Mr. Watson was frustrated that charges were not brought against Dr. Thompson.  However, it could turn out to be extremely fortunate for the cyclists in this recent case that Mr. Watson followed through and filed a police report in March as it might help to establish a prior history of such behavior.