baltimorespokes

[B’ Spokes: At first glance it sounds like NHTSA is reacting to the article from Streetsblog. NHTSA already working to fulfill new Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act

Because safety is our top priority, NHTSA has already been studying this problem in advance of the new law.

Finally they are going to try to make cars safer for pedestrains…

Congress has asked that electric and hybrid vehicles emit a sound at low speeds so pedestrians recognize when a vehicle is approaching.

Oh great, and what’s going to be the next innovation? Cars that automatically detect pedestrains and the car announces “Idiot get out of my way before I run you over!”? Don’t get me wrong quiet cars are a problem but there is a much, much bigger problem out there which Streetsblog touches on:]
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from Streetsblog.net by Angie Schmitt

We’ve written before about how perverse “safety standards” imperil pedestrians when it comes to street design. It’s disappointing to discover some of the same flawed logic is at work in the safety regulations for automobiles themselves.

Network blog Systemic Failure is highlighting how safety rules for American motor vehicles are not only preventing car companies from achieving higher fuel efficiency, but turning a blind eye to the fate of pedestrians in a collision:

SUV and small truck sales are booming again, and Detroit automakers have returned to their bad old ways. But when prices surpass the $4/gallon mark again, what plan do they have for the next gas crisis? One simple answer: re-brand fuel-efficient cars they already sell in Europe. Believe it or not, both Ford and GM do quite well selling gas-sipping cars in Europe, where the price per gallon can easily double US prices.

But alas, it is not so simple. Under Federal “safety” regulations, it is illegal to sell European automobiles in the US market. There are dozens of minor differences in safety regulations. And those differences don’t necessary make vehicles any safer for the American consumer.

The blog cites a 2008 Associated Press article, which finds fault with U.S. safety standards.

Another major shortcoming in the American regulatory framework is in the design of bumpers. American bumpers only have to protect the car; whereas Europe bumper tests simulate crashes against pedestrians.

Continue reading “U.S. Auto Safety Standards: Undermining Efficiency, Ignoring Pedestrians”

"A study of eight industrialized countries, including the United States, shows that seemingly inexorable trends — ever more people, more cars and more driving — came to a halt in the early years of the 21st century, well before the recent escalation in fuel prices. It could be a sign, researchers said, that the demand for travel and the demand for car ownership in those countries has reached a saturation point. ‘With talk of "peak oil," why not the possibility of "peak travel" when a clear plateau has been reached?’ asked co-author Lee Schipper … Most of the eight countries in the study have experienced declines in miles traveled by car per capita in recent years. The US appears to have peaked at an annual 8,100 miles by car per capita, and Japan is holding steady at 2,500 miles."
Continue reading “Has the Industrialized World Reached Peak Travel?”

[B’ Spokes: If any of this sounds interesting hit the link at the end of the article.]
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from TheWashCycle by washcycle
More links for a busy blogger
* Pay-by-mile car insurance. It’s already being rolled out.
* WABA sends a letter to the judge who will sentence Quizny Fraser in the Stan Miller homicide. "We ask not only that Mr. Fraser be held accountable for his reprehensible disregard for the consequences of his actions, but also that a message be sent to all drivers who will choose whether to drive while impaired or distracted." You can send your own statement to ethel.burnett@montgomerycountymd.gov
* NYC bike lane debate. "one survey shows three-quarters of Brooklynites support that bike lane."
* Interviews with cyclists about how they stay warm in the winter.
* Mutuality in collisions
* A teen cyclist recovers from injuries after being struck by a car.
* David Alpert would like to see at-large candidates asked about bicycling.
Continue reading “Coincidence of Interest”

from Streetsblog.net by Charleston Moves
What’s biking worth? A January (2010) study tried to give it a dollar value for the state of Wisconsin.
They found that, between the money spent on bikes and related services, the tourism generated by the state’s biking trails, and the positive health and environmental effects, the benefits of biking totaled $1,927,943,157.
The study was conducted by the a team from the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s environmental studies school.
…
Continue reading “Quantifying the Value of Biking”

[B’ Spokes: Under the theory that cars do/should pay their own way, this is a great idea, In Maryland there’s around 100,000 crashes a year, that averages to one every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It takes a lot of personnel to handle this kind of demand.]
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December 30, 2010|By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
Reporting from Sacramento — One more good reason to drive safely in California: If you cause an accident, you may be on the hook to pay the police and firefighters who show up to help.
At least 50 cities in the state have adopted so-called crash-tax laws allowing local governments to seek reimbursement from insurance companies for the costs of sending public emergency crews to accident scenes. The fees can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. If insurers don’t pay, cities can hire collection agents to seek payment from the motorists involved
Continue reading “‘Crash taxes’ are growing in popularity among cash-strapped California cities”

We use Goggle Analytics to track site performance and this is some of the years highlights by that report. Overall most people come here looking for bike paths and trail maps. Next up is the topics on the left and I’ll run down the most popular topics after the fold.

Top Stories of 2010

1 Downtown Circulator
This May of 2009 story is still getting hits coming from search engines.

2 Upgrade to Robert E. Lee Park
Another 2009 story still getting hits, highlighting the interest and importance of this park and our parks in general.

3 Cyclist Killed on Butler Road, Baltimore County
This certainly is our tragedy of the year, many cyclists enjoy riding Maryland’s country roads and this happened way too close to home for comfort.

4 Update – Silldorff bike accident on Bike Virginia
Another 2009 story still being looked at. Carol’s story and recovery is really impressive. Carol continues her story here along with an appeal to support Bike Maryland.

5 The Stupid Stuff I See During My Commute to/from Work
This 2008 forum post by iodaniell continues to be a favorite read. I would love to see more people adding their stories to this thread.

6 10 Rules For Urban Commuting
The original author took down this story and the net picked up that I have a copy and linked to that. My speculation is that the story has the “dial” set closer to anarchist then pragmatist and that … well just is not politically correct. But seriously look at most cyclists safety advice: don’t ride on the sidewalk because it will increase your chances of being hit by cars (I mention this because a lot of motorists think this is where we should ride), don’t ride close to the curb because it will increase your chances of being hit by cars, don’t ride in the door zone of parked cars because it will increase your chances of being hit by cars. So there is a valid element of: because the lawlessness of motorists cyclists must become lawless themselves (at least in the eyes of motorists.)

So while I would not phrase things exactly as this author did, I strongly feel he has valid points and maybe the time has come things should be overly stated for cyclists safety. We already have “cyclists should ride two feet from the curb” even though most of us will ride a inch or two from the edge from time to time to facilitate a passing car but we don’t (have) to state that cyclists should do the latter when riding by the two foot rule. But when talking about “taking the lane” which is just as valid legally as well as for safety as the two foot rule we feel the need to be apologetic and to encourage cyclists to do something contrary to safety and what the law allows. There is something wrong here.

Should all road users be courteous and cooperative? Heck ya! But don’t put the sole burden on cyclists. Which I think has been the traditional point in the past and that needs to change. Simply put; I ride right for motorists who I feel are courteous and cooperative and I ride assertively in aggressive traffic. Just because I am reacting to aggressive behavior does not make me aggressive. Anyway I think the author here does a good job in encouraging people to think outside of the box and in all things don’t be overly dogmatic, there is a time and place to be assertive and a time and place you can just be part of the road-scape.

7 Natasha Pettigrew, Maryland Green Party candidate for the U.S. Senate
Another cycling tragedy. A driver who hits and kills a cyclists drives three miles with the bike lodged under the car and did not call the police till an hour later and the police state “The driver complied with the law.” Seriously, to avoid hit-an-run charges all you need to do is say “I thought I hit an animal”?

8 Ride on Annapolis / Larry Bensky Memorial Ride
The fact that so many took an interest in this event is truly the most heart warming item in our top ten list. Photes of the event.

9 This one runs on money and makes you fat. This one runs on fat and saves you money
The best way ever to mark bike lanes and car lanes.

10 FREE BUS SERVICE COMING IN 2009
This 2008 story is still generate hits. It seems there is a lot more interest in free bus service then cycling but I hope that will change someday. To put it succinctly, our bus service stinks, bicycling is better, it easily covers the same distance as most of our bus routes, it’s generally just as fast without the wait for the bus to arrive. We need to get more people on bikes and we need our bus service … well to be generally better then bicycling.
Continue reading “Our Top Ten Stories of 2010”