Category: Biking Elsewhere

[B’ Spokes: It seems to be an area problem.. blame the victim.]
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By Rich Hoffman
Bicyclist fatalities in Pennsylvania doubled last year over 2008, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Chester County had none last year and only one since 2001.
According to PennDOT, 16 bicyclists were killed in the state last year. Chester Country’s last reported bike-related fatality was in 2008, but others have needed emergency treatment after bike crashes.
"We don’t have any proven reasons for the increase in bicycle fatalities," PennDOT spokeswoman Alison Wenger said, though a rise in gasoline prices prompting more commuters to take their bicycles to work is one possible explanation.
PennDOT has issued instructions on how bicyclists can be safer. The tips include basic rules to follow when riding a bicycle, such as being visible to motorists and following all traffic laws. All of the department’s safety information can be found online at www.drivesafepa.org. The department also encourages riding bicycles for exercise.
PennDOT also encourages parents to teach children safe riding at a young age. Of the 18 bike-related fatalities in the state last year, four were riders under age 18.
Locally, the Chester County Cycling Coalition also encourages bicycling safety. But Ellen Zadoff, a coalition co-chairwoman, said the safety of bicyclists is also the responsibility of motorists.
"We were a little upset with what PennDOT released," Zadoff said. "It is true that there are cyclists who disobey the rules, but a motorist won’t be hurt by that. Cyclists have the same rights as motorists on the road, and it is the responsibility of the motorist to pass them safely."
An important point, he said, is for motorists and bicyclists to share the roads and have consideration for each other.
"Most important is the need to live harmoniously," agreed Viktor Ohnjec, vice president of the West Chester Cycling Club. Ohnjec said cyclists’ exposure to injury by accident is always greater than for a motorist.
The coalition also says the answer to better safety is to have more cyclists on the road rather than shying away from motor vehicles.
"More cyclists on the road make it safer because drivers will expect to see people on the road," Zadoff said.
Continue reading “Coalition urges safety measures after bicycle fatalities increas”

[I’ll note that I used to live in NYC where it was very covenant to pick up a few things on my way home form the subway. So basically every 2 days I would go shopping, no extra time leaving, no extra time coming home, just small amount of time that still let me enjoy the evening. Coming here my family got into these weekend shopping marathons that almost guaranteed one day shot with nothing accomplished but shopping. Sorry, but making everything convenient by car and nothing else does not give you more time to enjoy life.]
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The Sydney City Council voted on Wednesday to ban trolleys (shopping carts) at a local market, citing shoppers’ propensity to load up carts with far more food than they can carry, and then rely on a car to get home.
The City Council is promoting “drop-in-as-you-walk” supermarkets, starting with the new market on Erskineville Road in the west of the city. Customers are encouraged to shop with small hand-held baskets or reusable bags from home. The plan intends to discourage large purchases, which will help ensure that people walk or bike home.
Banning shopping carts is one way to prevent traffic congestion around new shopping locales.
Continue reading “Stores Ditch Shopping Carts to Discourage Vehicle Use”

By DENISE DICK
Twenty-eight college students bike 4,000 miles over 63 days to raise funds, foster hope and spread awareness about cancer.
The cyclists in the 4K for Cancer, mostly students at Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, started their journey Sunday from Baltimore.
They stopped Thursday afternoon at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Boardman to eat snacks and dinner provided by church members and to spend the night.
They’ll wrap up their trek July 31 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Continue reading “4K for Cancer makes pit stop in Valley on cross-country trek”

[B’ Spokes: Note this could happen here if the Red Line goes in.]
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As the tracks of the South Lake Union Transit have been laid, numerous reports of bicycle accidents have turned up in these areas, particularly at the Fairview-Valley intersection, where left-turning bicyclists are hard-pressed to approach the tracks at a 90-degree angle.
In addition to the streetcars themselves, cyclists must take care to avoid the streetcar tracks, which can easily ensnare the average city bike tire.
Joe Pomerleau, a bicycle commuter, learned about this new safety hazard the hard way.
“I was biking to work downtown heading towards Mercer Street,” Pomerleau wrote in an e-mail. “I crossed over the rail line and my back tire got caught and threw me off my bike, shattering my left elbow. I probably will not have full functionality of my left arm again because of this.”
Unfortunately, Pomerleau is not alone.
On Dec. 6, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported another streetcar related accident along Westlake. Additionally, many online blogs and message boards, run by groups such as Seattle Likes Bikes, turn up many instances of accidents and injuries related to the new tracks.
“We like the idea of the streetcar and support expanding the network,” said David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, which has received at least nine reports of severe injuries from cyclists.
A 2005 technical report prepared for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) by Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. alludes to the potential hazards at intersections such as Fairview-Valley and the need for alternate routes along some of the main stretches of track.
“Unfortunately, the Seattle Department of Transportation ignored the safety concerns and decided it was better to get the streetcar built quickly, rather than correctly,” Hiller said.
Continue reading “Cyclists sue Seattle over new streetcar track hazards”

Continue reading “Carton of the day”

They’ve invented a car that runs on water!
Current models only support water from the Gulf of Mexico.
Continue reading “Joke of the day”

I love the car looking object in a parking space that is really a bike locker.

Copenhagen is getting ready from Velo-city Global 2010 on Vimeo.

Continue reading “Velo-City Global is coming”

On August 1, 2009, the "Pedouins" mounted a "quint" bicycle and started a 7,000 miles journey to Alaska. Yes, you read that right, five people on a bike, riding to Alaska. Oh yeah, the children, all girls, are ages 3, 5, and 7. Also, the Pedouins aren’t simply taking the shortest route from Kentucky to Alaska, no they rode from from Kentucky to southern Florida, across the southern U.S., to California and then up to Oregon and Washington. From there, they’ll ride into B.C. and take ferry or two up the Alaska Marine Highway, to Whittier and then ride to Fairbanks. All told 7,000 miles. Along the route, they camp, they stay at hotels, they blog, they have a weekly radio show, they even have a credo. Oh and did I mention, they ride a five-person bicycle.
I’m pretty blown away by this family. Pretty inspiring. Check out their journey at https://www.pedouins.org
Continue reading “The Pedaling Peduins – Hero Dads Beware”

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Roughly 38 million licensed drivers — nearly one in five — would not pass a written drivers exam if taken today, according to a survey released Thursday morning.
The survey, the National Drivers Test, conducted by GMAC Insurance, polled 5,202 licensed drivers from 50 states and the District of Columbia. Driving knowledge was based on 20 questions taken from exams given by state departments of motor vehicles. Questions addressing distracting driving behavior were also included in the report.
The overall findings indicate that many licensed drivers lack knowledge of basic rules and “may be unfit for roads.” Eighty-five percent of participants could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light, and many remained confused by safe following distances
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Continue reading “Nearly 20 Percent of Drivers May Be ‘Unfit for Roads,’ Says Survey”