The Club Leadership Training in Boca Raton, FL this past weekend was a big success! Bike club leaders from across the country met in 80 degree weather – a nice change for many of us – to share best practices, hear words of wisdom from great speakers, and enjoy a scenic ride along the coast.
The conference enjoyed a wide range in club locales; attendees hailed from Arizona, Colorado, Texas, South Carolina, D.C., Minnesota, Florida and so on. Most agreed that the highlight of the conference was simply networking and discussing how various issues were handled by each club – whether it was budgeting, attaining 501c 3 status, organizing rides, membership, or local advocacy.
One of the most popular presentations was the ever-complex issue of club insurance, offered by the League through American Specialty Insurance. Marla Peters, Sr. Vice President at American Specialty, explained the various kinds of coverage offered, the costs and benefits, and where and how to purchase. For the 2010 League Insurance Program information, go here.
Other popular sessions, Leader Transitions and Organizing Rides & Volunteers, were led by Mary Derks, past president of the Twin Cities Bicycling Club. Derk’s wealth of knowledge was evident: she gave great tips for succession plans, how to manage and maintain committees of key volunteers, and the importance of long-range planning. Check the League’s Club Leadership page next week to view these presentations.
NRP has a story from the Associated Press that the federal government has banned texting while driving interstate commercial vehicles:
The prohibition, which applies to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds, is effective immediately, the department said in a statement. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750, the department said.
This is welcome news. The League’s upcoming report on distracted driving highlights the research on texting that shows that texting while driving a car can increase the risk of crashing by eight times, the risk increases 23 times when driving a heavy truck:
Distractions lead to crashes and deaths. During a study by NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI,) driver inattention led to 78 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of all near-crashes. Distractions are deadly too. According to the federal database that tracks traffic deaths, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS,) in 2008, Driver distraction was involved in at least 16% of all fatal crashes — up from 12% in 2007. Driver distraction led to at least 5,870 fatalities. The problem is particularly acute among younger drivers – 39% of the distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes were under 30 years old (Magladry, Office of Highway Safety, Summit slide). These numbers rely on police reports, which means they underestimate the frequency that distracted driving leads to crashes.
A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute that found Professional truck drivers who sent text messages while driving are 23 times at greater risk of crashing or nearly crashing than when not texting. A study using a driving simulator at the University of Utah found that drivers who text are eight times more likely to crash. The risks, however, are not limited to text messaging. Studies show that the likelihood of a crash quadruples while talking on a phone – with little to no improvement while using hands-free devices. In 2006, the researchers at the University of Utah confirmed an earlier finding and concluded “the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk” at a 0.08% blood alcohol level. For dozens of studies on the risks, visit the National Safety Council Website: http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/KeyResearch.aspx.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
The good news is that the share of all trips made by bicycle is up 25 percent since 2001, to one percent. The bad news is that even short trips are still dominated by privately owned vehicles, a category of vehicle that does not include bikes. Half of all trips are three miles or less, but fewer than 2 percent of those trips are made by bicycle, while 72 percent of them are driven. Private vehicles like cars, pick-up trucks, and SUVs, account for 60 percent of trips of a mile or less. Think about that next time you hear people wondering why we have such big problems with the environment, health and childhood obesity, and traffic congestion.
Eighty-five percent of bicycling trips are three miles or less, but nearly 58 percent of transit trips are longer than that. This fact — that most transit trips are longer than most bike trips — reinforces the compatible nature of the two. In regions with transit service, biking and transit together will get you pretty much wherever you want to go. Transit agencies should do more to promote bike-transit connections.
There are many worthy tables and graphs to be made with this data. For now, here is a simple one that illustrates the 30-40-50 trip distance concept. That is, nearly 30 percent of trips are a mile or shorter, 40 percent are two miles or shorter and 50 percent are three miles or shorter. It gives you a sense of how much of our daily travel involves distances that can be easily walked and biked.
Our thanks to the FHWA Office of Policy for help accessing these data.
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
How do you know when an issue has become mainstream? It’s not when the New York Times dedicates extensive coverage to it. And it’s not when the government makes it a sustained priority. An issue has only truly arrived when Oprah uses it to pull America’s heartstrings. That’s why Monday was a big day for the movement to curb Distracted Driving.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
A Miami cyclist was killed this morning by musician Carlos Bertonatti along the Rickenbacker Causeway. Bertonatti, who was driving under the influence, sped away, dragging the cyclist’s bike underneath his car. It took 22 minutes before an ambulance arrived, and by then it was too late. Bertonatti is now being charged with vehicular homicide. (photo from the Miami Bike Scene Blog)
As a Miami native, I have found that the Rickenbacker Causeway is really the only place to ride (aside from the Everglades). Miami is a car dominated city, providing little in the way of walkable or bikeable streets. In fact, according to the Dangerous by Design report, Miami is the 3rd most dangerous city in the US for pedestrians. The roads are equally as unsafe for cyclists, with eight cyclist fatalities recorded in Miami-Dade in 2006.
And so it is especially disturbing that this man was killed while riding in a bike lane on one of the only stretches of road that is remotely safe for cyclists. Perhaps if speed limits were more diligently enforced, Bertonatti would have been stopped before the fatal crash. The Miami cycling community pulls together as they grieve the loss of a fellow cyclist.
The crowds came out at the Transportation Review Board’s annual meeting for a session with the words “livability” and “walking and bicycling” in the title. The full title was “Livability Initiatives: Building Upon Walking and Bicycling Successes.” Maybe it was the star power of New York’s Janette Sadik Khan, who was replaced at the last minute by Linda Bailey, New York City’s Federal Programs Adviser. Maybe livability is now the magic word. In any event, I imagine the organizers will book a larger room for bicycling and walking issues next year.
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Bicycling’s share of all trips in the US hit an even 1 percent in 2009. That’s up 25 percent since 2001. Bicycling’s journey to work and school numbers both top out at 0.7 percent.
More NHTS Numbers (change from 2001 to 2009)
* Bicycling and walking are up to 12 percent of all trips- an increase of 25 percent.
* Bicycling is an even 1.0 percent of all trips, up from 0.8 – a 25 percent increase.
* Walking is up to 10.9 percent of all trips from 9.6 – also a 25 percent increase.
* Transit + bike/walk is at 16 percent.
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
As mentioned in the previous post, it is important to stand up against calls for harassment and violence against cyclists. Even seemingly innocuous Facebook groups help spread the incorrect notion that cyclists don’t belong on and/or have no rights to the road. Even if meant to be tongue-in-cheek, some motorists take this message to heart.
Most of you probably read or heard about one the most egregious cases of cyclist harassment in recent memory- when Dr. Christopher Thompson used his car to assault two cyclists along Mandeville Canyon Road in Brentwood, Calif. The Los Angeles Times just reported the Thompson was sentence to 5 years in prison for mayhem, assault with deadly weapon, battery with serious injury and reckless driving causing injury.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Scott T. Millington called the case a “wake-up call” to motorists and cyclists and urged local government to provide riders with more bike lanes. He said he believed that Thompson had shown a lack of remorse during the case and that the victims were particularly vulnerable while riding their bicycles. (LA Times)
The League recognizes the courage of the L.A. County Police, District Attorney Mary Stone and Judge Scott T. Millington for doing the right thing and seeing that justice prevailed. We echo the judges sentiment in hoping this serves as a wake-up call to cyclists, motorists and law enforcement alike that this behavior is unacceptable. While we hope the notoriety of this case and its outcome helps prevent futures incidents, should they occur the precedent has been set in how police and the courts should respond.
While the police and the court got this case right, the same can not be said in all circumstances. We responded to USA Today Drive On blog after it was suggested that cyclist Curtis Andrew Leymeister was to blame when a motorist struck and killed him in while riding in St. Mary’s County, Md.
After the collision, the driver made a statement to Maryland State Police that she had just left home and had cleared a portion of the left windshield of morning dew but left the fogged up right side to be cleared by the car’s heater. The windshield had not yet cleared and she was busy searching for a cigarette lighter in her purse (the car’s lighter didn’t work) when she ran into the cyclist. “I just didn’t see him.”
The judge found her guilty of negligent driving. When the driver asked for a reduction in the amount of the fine because of lack of personal funds, the judge rolled his eyes and said, “Your negligence has caused the death of a human being. I’m going to require the maximum fine plus costs.”
While the judge’s findings were correct, and he handed down the maximum penalty, the charges brought forth by the state police and county prosecutor were woefully inadequate. Too often police don’t bring forth the most appropriate charge because they don’t understand the law as they relate to cyclists, don’t think they’ll get a conviction for a more serious charge, or there isn’t an appropriate charge for death or serious injury caused by “mere” negligence (not gross negligence). The League has long been proponents of tougher penalties for motorists who severely injure or kill cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
Maryland advocates are looking to change that. One Less Car will be re-introducing their Manslaughter by Motorvehicle (was HB 97) bill this year. They’ll also be working on legislation to overturn the mandatory shoulder law that was misinterpreted in the Leymeister case and limit cyclists rights to the roads. If you live or bike in Maryland contact One Less Car to find out how to help this effort.
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Outcry against the Facebook Fan Page “There’s a perfectly good path right next to the road you stupid cyclist!” (which frighteningly has more than 30,000 fans) is gaining momentum. Just yesterday, efforts to end the group culminated in the response group, “Help Remove this Hate Group Against Cyclists!”. The Australian based anti-cyclists page is filled with violent comments about hitting cyclists, who the page refers to as “road hogging rats.” The profile picture is even of a car dooring a cyclist. The page claims that bicycles only belong on bike paths and should not be allowed on roads. The about me box states, “No matter how far to the left you are, you’re taking up my road. My car is hard, and i am not slowing down!”
The Facebook page is anger-fueled and misinformed. Cyclists have the legal right to be on the road in Australia and are considered vehicles, as are cyclists in all 50 US states. Endorsing violence should not be tolerated, and the ignorance endorsed on this Facebook page simply begets more ignorance towards cyclists. The page’s crass content, “The road belongs to engine driven cars,” and photos are legally incorrect – and offensive.
Read the League’s Trash Talk entry to get more information on the real facts, the issue and how to take action/report the page for being offensive.
Tensions, clearly displayed on the Facebook page, between drivers and cyclists need to be diffused and hate groups only help to add fuel to a fire that is already
out of control. Christopher Thompson the enraged LA doctor who injured two cyclists with his vehicle last summer (picture right – courtesy of VeloNews), is scheduled to be sentenced this morning, Friday, January 8th. Guilty of six felonies, prosecutes are asking for eight years in prison (VeloNews)
Also during the summer of 2009, Charles Alexander, a retired Asheville firefighter shot at a cyclist, narrowly missing his head by less than an inch. He was sentenced to a measly 120 days in prison for attempted murder (Streetsblog)
We must diffuse the mounting tension of “us and them” before another cyclist is injured or killed by an irate driver and ending the Facebook hate group is a good place to start.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The New York Times continues its excellent reporting on distracted driving with an article today on the growing trend of car makers installing internet-connected computers in front of drivers: Despite Risks, Internet Creeps Onto Car Dashboards. The caption and photograph with the story tell you just how concerned automakers are with keeping drivers’ eyes on the road. The caption reads “Audi says it tested its system to reduce the amount of time that drivers spend looking at screens,” meanwhile the photograph shows an image of a dashboard-mounted touch screen displaying album cover art for Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA. As anyone with a newish I-pod knows, this is not the best strategy for reducing the amount of time spent looking at the screen. And a few extra seconds can make a big difference. In a 100-car, yearlong study by NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI,) drivers took their eyes off the road within 3 seconds of 78 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of all near-crashes.
When the Audi system is turned on it provides this laughably unhelpful message: “Please only use the online services when traffic conditions allow you to do so safely.” The only traffic condition that would make it safe to look up a Wikipedia entry, which the internet-ready Audi system allows you to do, is when you’re parked — and they should say so.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has been doing its part to curb distracted driving. It recently launched www.Distraction.gov and a PSA on distracted driving.
Interested in learning more? Here is a list of distracted driving resources from an upcoming Advocacy Advance report by the League and the Alliance for Bicycling and Walking:
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
As part of the continuing partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Bicycling & Walking, the Advocacy Advance Team has created a series of reports to help advocates access Federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Many advocates already know about Transportation Enhancements and STP; however, bicycle and pedestrian projects are also eligible for funding from these three sources. Section 402 Highway Safety Grants Program The State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program (commonly known as Section 402 Funds) funds education, enforcement and research programs designed to reduce traffic crashes, deaths, injuries, and property damage. In 2009, 29 states and the District of Columbia used Section 402 to fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, overall only 2.5 percent of all section 402 funds went to bike/ped projects in 2009, despite the fact that pedestrians and bicyclists account for more than 13 percent of traffic fatalities and countless crashes. To improve the chances of getting your program funded, be prepared with crash and fatality data to illustrate the need. Some hints to strengthen the impact of the data: use a large geographic area, provide injury data from hospitals, and calculate the rate of crashes based on miles ridden or the number of riders. Read the whole report.
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds infrastructure projects aimed at reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries. Bicycle and pedestrian projects are eligible for funding, but HSIP has been largely overlooked for these projects. In 2008, 18 states spent less than half of their HSIP funds so there is lots of money that can be utilized! Read the report for a complete table of HSIP spending, bike/ped project examples, and tips for accessing HSIP funds.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Plan (CMAQ) CMAQ funds transportation projects that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in areas that do not meet air quality standards. In 2009, 24 states did not spend their CMAQ funds on bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, states that funded bike/ped spent an average of 12 percent of their CMAQ funds on them. Read the whole CMAQ report. If you have stories of successful efforts to reform the CMAQ funding criteria in a state or MPO to make it more bike and pedestrian friendly, please email Darren Flusche at darren (at) bikeleague.org.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
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