Distracted Walking

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With the Coeur d'Alene City Council considering a ban on cell phone use while driving, this article from The Boston Globe couldn't have been timelier.

From The Boston Globe:

"Distracted driving has gained much attention lately because of the inflated crash risk posed by drivers using cellphones to talk and text.

But there is another growing problem caused by lower-stakes multitasking - distracted walking - which combines a pedestrian, an electronic device, and an unseen crack in the sidewalk, the pole of a stop sign, a toy left on the living room floor, or a parked (or sometimes moving) car.

Slightly more than 1,000 pedestrians visited emergency rooms in 2008 because they got distracted and tripped, fell, or ran into something while using a cellphone to talk or text. That was twice the number from 2007, which had nearly doubled from 2006, according to a study conducted by Ohio State University, which says it is the first to estimate such accidents.

Sometimes, pedestrians using their phones do not notice objects or people right in front of them, even a clown riding a unicycle. That was the finding of a recent study at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., by a psychology professor, Ira Hyman, and his students.

One of the students dressed as a clown and unicycled around a central square on campus. About half the people walking in the square by themselves said they had seen the clown, and the number was slightly higher for people walking in pairs. But only 25 percent of people talking on a cellphone said they had, Hyman said."

Be careful out there people, there are more dangerous things than clowns on unicycles!

How long will it be before we get these?

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Copenhagenize reports on these awesome handrail/footrests for cyclists waiting at intersections. I think our mode share for cyclists will need to be a bit higher before these become popular around here.

The message on the footrest translates to "Hi, cyclist! Rest your foot here...and thank you for cycling in the city!"

Safety Tips for Walking at Night

With the unseasonably warm weather, many people are taking the opportunity to enjoy Coeur d'Alene by foot. Because we are still in the dark of winter, here are a few tips for walking safely at night:

Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers

• Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
• Carry a flashlight when walking at night.
• Cross in a well-lit area at night.
• Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.

Be smart and alert: avoid dangerous behaviors

• Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
• Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
• Don't assume vehicles will stop; make eye contact with drivers, don't just look at the vehicle. If a driver is on a cell phone, they may not be paying enough attention to drive safely.
• Don't rely solely on pedestrian signals; look before you cross the road.
• Be alert to engine noise or backup lights on cars when in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces.

Be careful at crossings: look before you step

• Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.
• Obey traffic signals such as WALK/DON'T WALK signs.
• Look left, right, and left again before crossing a street.
• Watch for turning vehicles; make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
• Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Just because one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes can see you and will stop for you.
• Don't wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while crossing.

I like these stickers!

Drive Safe - Ride Safe

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration more than 44,000 cyclists are injured in traffic accidents every year, with more than 700 fatalaties. We at the Pedal Pushers Club would like to make a small effort to help increase safe cycling and safe driving through our "Bicycle Safe Vehicle" Sticker campaign.

The sticker campaign aims to both give drivers a reminder to keep an eye out for cyclists, while also encouraging cyclists to ride safely and legally. To acheive the latter goal 100% of the profits (For each $2 collected $1.50 will be donated with.50 used to cover cost of sticker, envelope, and postage) from the sticker campaign will be donated to the US Open of Cycling foundation which helps educate youth on safe cyling.

Stickers are available from

http://www.pedalpushersclub.com/bikesafe

New technology in battery free lights

Are you bad at remembering to keep the batteries in your lights fresh?

Here's a cool solution for you. These pedal lights are powered by kinetic energy from pedalling.



To see what else they have to offer, see:


http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/01/14/pedalites-light-up-pedals-ankle-straps-and-tail-lights-all-battery-free/

Ped/Bike Committee Meeting

The Coeur d'Alene Ped/Bike Committee is having its monthly meeting tonight in the old council chambers at 5:30 pm. Topics discussed will be:
-Complete Streets
-Trails and Bikeways Master Plan
-Share the Road Campaign
-League of American Cyclists Instructors
-Report-A-Problem
-Ped/Bike Website - Blog/Facebook
-Bike Saftey Campaign
-Vulnerable Users Law
The General Public is invited

Bicycle Insurance Coming to America in 2010?

Where the Cars Roam Free

Bike More

Regular bicycling (for exercise or other purposes) carries many health benefits for people of all ages, including: reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases; lower health care costs; and improved quality of life.

Be inspired to bike
Bike more safely
Find a bike route or map
Find a bike buddy

Why Bicycle?

In communities across the world, there is a growing need and responsibility to provide options that give people the opportunity to bike—to bike more often, to bike to more places, and to feel safe while doing so. The benefits of riding a bicycle-whether for utilitarian or recreational purposes—can be expressed in terms of improved environmental and personal health, reduced traffic congestion, enhanced quality of life, economic rewards, as well as others.