Month: November 2010

A legal brief from a higher court in Florida about a cyclists wrongfully charged with impeding traffic. The Summary of Argument starts on page 10.
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bz89fSgmFcbnZTNjYzY4YzEtMTIzOS00N2ViLTk3NDQtZjk2YjhjYzAwZTA5&sort=name&layout=list&num=50
I hope this clarifies what the law says and does not say and as proof MVA is flat out wrong, MVA is in the business of offering guidance not legal opinions, so while guidance encourages us to use space outside the flow of motoring traffic, law also qualifies that space must be safe for us to ride. It seems that some approach this as an analog problem and cyclists need to find an exception for each foot from the edge of the roadway they ride but they law is more quantitative, if there is not enough space engineered for cyclists to be wholly outside the flow of traffic then they have the right to the entire lane. While what constitutes a safe place to ride wholly outside the flow of motoring traffic is a whole discussion in and of itself but my point here is on narrow country roads there is no legal obligation to "ride the stripe" or "to move aside" and let motorists pass. Courtesy in this situation is negotiated, that is as much as motorists would like to see the cyclists move right, cyclists would like to see motorists move left and that is an aspect of the 3′ law we would like to get across… if a cyclists is being courteous by riding far right, motorists now have a legal obligation to move left in order to pass but either way a motorist must move at least partially into an adjacent lane as it is often a physical impossibility to "get out of the way." It is just a shame that MVA totally missed this point and put the onus on cyclists to "get out of the way."
Continue reading “Can cyclists be charged with impeding traffic”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: 2011 Model Year Anthem Giant Bicycles

Units: About 370

Importer: Giant Bicycle Inc., of Newbury Park, Calif.

Manufacturer: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., of Taiwan

Hazard: The frame can crack at the junction of the seat post and top tube, posing a fall hazard to riders.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves 2011 model year Giant Anthem X 29er 1, 2 and 3 model bicycles. The bicycles were sold in small, medium and large. “Giant” and the model name are printed on the bicycle.

Sold by: Authorized Giant Bicycle dealers nationwide during August 2010 for between $2,200 and $3,500.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop riding the recalled bicycles and contact any authorized Giant Bicycle dealer for a free inspection and repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Giant Bicycle toll-free at (866) 458-2555 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.giant-bicycles.com

…
Continue reading “Giant Recalls Anthem X 29er Bicycles Due to Fall Hazarda”

The twists and turns to the bike advocacy drama up in Seattle just keep on coming. After Cascade Bicycle Club — a non-profit bike event and advocacy group with 13,000 members — abruptly fired its longtime leader Chuck Ayers back in October, it set off of a messy feud between the Board of Directors and the group’s membership base.
The firing, said the Board, was a result of Cascade wanting to take a different, less aggressive and confrontational tone in its advocacy work. Much of that tone was set by Ayers’ right hand man, advocacy director David Hiller. Hiller is a confident advocate who understands the trench warfare it takes to make change against the status quo. His style is self-assured and sometimes rough around the edges; but it’s effective.
Members claim that the Board fired Ayers because he refused to fire Hiller. After the firing and a few tense days, Ayers got his job back on an interim basis. Ayers and Hiller are now back at work but there’s a new twist in the story.
A group of members have organized in the "Bike Club Rescue Squad." Their goal is to collect the 690 signatures from Cascade members required to recall the entire board. An article published today on Publicola by one of the Rescue Squad’s leaders states lays out the reason for their concerns:
– "If this board stays in power… Seattle cyclists will lose a strong and successful advocate at the time they need one most.
– No lobbyist can function when his own organization is undermining him in the press and has little stomach for the rough and tumble world of politics. No organization should expect its lobbyist to serve the same functions as its public relations director.
– The only way to rescue Cascade is to recall the entire board, rewrite the bylaws, and elect new board members who want Cascade to succeed."
Continue reading “Members hope to ‘rescue’ Seattle’s Cascade Bicycle Club”

The council this week asked its attorneys to draw up an ordinance that would make it a civil violation to harass or assault bicyclists. The proposed law, which the council could consider in two months, would make it easier for  cyclists to sue those who allegedly harass them and recover a cash settlement. [Updated: In response to readers who asked for more information on the proposal, here are city documents on the issue.]

The bike rights campaign has been galvanized by the case of an L.A. doctor convicted a few weeks ago of purposely hitting bikers in Brentwood.

More people are turning to two wheels for commuting and recreation. Cyclists are asserting their rights as never before. In Los Angeles, advocates are pushing for more bike lanes and other road improvements, a cyclists’ bill of rights and more protection from police.

Continue reading “L.A. plans crackdown on harassment of bicyclists. Are new laws necessary? [Updated]”

I thought this was kinda cool (note the steering linkage to the broom.)

Continue reading “Nimbike 2000”