Every Body Walk!

The Double Standard

A Streetsblog commenter sums up the cyclists/motorist double standard with this:

Yesterday I saw a bicyclist do [insert dangerous, stupid, inconsiderate, boneheaded move here] and it nearly inconvenienced me. This means all bikers better watch out because the responsible, productive, law-abiding members of this community aren’t going to tolerate this kind of of anti-social behavior from you riffraff much longer.

Yesterday I saw a car driver do [insert dangerous, stupid, inconsiderate, boneheaded move here] and kill someone! A tragedy, but it was an accident, no one’s fault really, just one of those bad parts of living in the modern age that we all have to put up with. After all, anyone can make a mistake. It would be a shame to even suspend the driver’s license over it because they really might need it to get to work. It certainly is no reflection on me or how most people drive.

9 minutes that could change your life...

This is impressive!

Boulder Bike Story from Bikes Belong on Vimeo.

Pedestrian Peek-a-Boo

Bike-car disputes covered by laws

Here is a great "My Turn" column from today's CdA Press from Kathleen Kelly. Thanks Kathleen for taking the time to educate the public!

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I've been hearing quite a few stories lately about how bicyclists are being assaulted both verbally and physically. This is quite unfortunate, yet I believe it to be because the public doesn't realize there are laws pertaining to the rules of the road and bicyclists. These rules are different when it comes to cars and bikes which is something I didn't know until I started riding and researched the law myself. For instance: I've been yelled at while riding my bike on the edge of the road to and from Higgens Point. You see, if I'm traveling 16 mph or over, I'm not allowed on the Centennial Trail. Much like the road speed limit, the trail also has a speed limit and it's in place to keep all users safe.


Someone will usually yell for me to "get on the sidewalk" when I ride downtown. Most Cd'A downtown sidewalks are posted with signs telling me the opposite. Also, if I'm not hugging the white line at the moment, it usually means there are rocks and/or debris that I am avoiding. Give me a minute and I will gladly move back over because I know I'm on the losing end of a collision between us. Additional info ... A bicyclist legally does not have to stop at a stop sign. Idaho State Code 49-720(1) states "A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping. "Now at a "steady red traffic control light shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has yielded, he may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping and yielding to other traffic." Code 49-720(2) Once again, this is Idaho Code.

Unfortunately, I have seen bicyclists roll through stoplights when they shouldn't. It's those that give the rest of us a bad name as well as increasing the confusion the non-bicyclist may feel. There are a few that push the envelope, but don't hold that against (what I hope) is the majority that tries to adhere to the law. Coming from the other perspective, if you have no interest in road bikes, it must be hard to understand why you should have to put up with delays because you can't get around a cyclist in a timely manner. Realizing that we too have a right to be out there is key. There is actually a national campaign running called "Share the Road." It is designed to educate everyone on the "rules of the road" and how we can safely co-exist. It addresses a multitude of questions regarding safe cycling in a community.

This is especially timely and informative since the majority of our roads do not have special bike lanes yet. We hope that one day we do have a separate lane to ride in, which would lessen conflict and confusion. Until that day ... you should know that for some people, riding a bike is a hobby or a passion or a ride to school. For others, it's their transportation to work to feed their families; the same families that rely on them to make it home safely after work. Looking ahead ... as gas prices keep rising, YOU TOO might find yourself riding on two wheels instead of four. The wave of alternative transportation is coming, it's just a matter of time. Let's not be the last to jump on board.

Lastly, although the numbers on the road decrease dramatically during the colder months, there are still those that venture out with fat tires on their bikes for their commute to work or a good workout. It's more dangerous for us all this time of year as our ability to stop quickly dramatically decreases, increasing our risk for more car vs. car and/or car vs. bike/pedestrian incidents. So let's work hard to peacefully and safely co-exist and remember the ' rules of the road. I hope this helps us all.

Why I'm thankful for walking...

From Where the Sidewalk Starts:

1. Even my most expensive pair of shoes is cheaper than new tires.


2. There are no one-way sidewalks.

3. Unlike at the gym, if the person next to you grunts or wears too much perfume, you can walk away.

4. It's better at reducing healthcare costs than Congress.

5. No one celebrates International Drive to School Day.

6. A lot of people in the street = block party. A lot of cars in the street = roadblock.

7. You can't get a ticket for walking too fast.

8. Building a sidewalk next to your community doesn't increase asthma rates.

9. Bumping into someone you know while driving isn't a pleasant surprise.

10. You don't burn off Thanksgiving dinner by going for an after-meal drive.

How the Dutch got their cycle paths

Paralysed cyclist is 'cured' by bike crash

Monique van der Vorst was partially paralysed at 13 after ankle operation created nerve damage. Years later she was hit by a car, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. But after yet another crash, she now can walk, is riding a standard bicycle, and dreams of riding in the 2016 Olympics.

Read the complete inspiring story at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2065790/Paralysed-cyclist-cured-bike-crash-Olympic-hope.html

Couldn't We Ride?

Winter Riding

Here is some good information on riding in the winter:

http://www.commutebybike.com/2011/11/18/sucking-it-up-in-winter/

I would add studded tires to her list. They are worth the extra money.

There is also more good information here: http://bikewinter.org/
and here: http://www.icebike.org/

I look forward to riding this time of the year. With the right equipment it is a fun way to
stay in shape and beat the winter blues.

How Blind People Cross the Street Alone

Benefits of a Bicycle

Traffic School

This should be mandatory in the U.S.


Self-Reliance Grows in the Utrecht Traffic Garden from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Life

Woman Steal Bike Back From Theif

Here's a great story about a woman in Boulder, Colorado who steals her bike back from a theif.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/29712338/detail.html

Study Reports that Biking Saves Lives and Dollars

University of Wisconsin researchers found that bicycling could answer many of their environmental and health problems. According to the report published in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives, if Mid-westerners replaced half of their short trips with bicycle trips during the warmest six months of the year, they would save about $3.8 billion per year from avoided mortality and reduced health care costs for conditions like obesity and heart disease. The report calculated that these measures would save an estimated $7 billion, including 1,100 lives each year from improved air quality and increased physical fitness.The length of trips in the study were 2.5 miles one way and less than 25-minutes by bike.

Streetless in Seattle

The mayor imposes a diet on cars.

Mike McGinn, the mayor of Seattle, won office in 2009 after making transportation policy a centerpiece of his campaign. He catapulted himself over his establishment-friendly opponents, including the incumbent, by vigorously opposing the construction of a multibillion-dollar highway tunnel beneath the city’s waterfront. McGinn also gained fame for bicycling to and from campaign events. And he promised to put Seattle on a “road diet” in which car lanes on many busy multilane roads would be converted into bike lanes. The city’s paper of record, the Seattle Times, has called McGinn “philosophically anti-car.” A former Washington State Sierra Club chairman, McGinn likens autos to in-laws: “You want to have good relations with them, but you don’t want them to run your lives.”

Click here for the entire article

A Bike That Shifts With Your Mind

Toyota has come up with a bicycle that will shift just by thinking. Hard to believe?

Read about it here: http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech/2011/1101/The-Prius-of-bicycles-switches-gears-by-reading-your-mind

Post Falls Wants Your Input

The City of Post Falls Engineering Division is seeking public comment on priorities established for pedestrian & bicycle facilities within the community. Comments will be accepted through Jan. 3, 2012. The survey, supporting maps and ranking tables are available on the City’s website http://www.postfallsidaho.org/.

The current pedestrian and bicycle facilities within the community were reviewed by City staff, who developed a list of priority improvements for those facilities. One of the focus efforts was to provide for improved access to the City Center area. The public comment survey, maps and decision ranking table are the result of a series of workshops with City staff to develop the plan. Facilities improvements that are currently funded were not placed on the list. At present, no funding sources have been identified or provided for any of the listed projects. It will involve staff’s efforts over the coming years to pursue dollars where available, to address these areas.

At this stage in the process, the City is seeking public comment on the priorities as established. It is important to receive feedback from the community; as to how they view the plan that was developed, so those comments can be included in the implementation of the plan.