Comments on: Take Action: National Goal to Reduce Bicyclist and Pedestrian Deaths

By: Al Horila

Al Horila — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:29:48 +0000

I have been cycling for the last 21 years and over those years, I have seen an explosive growth in cycling over this time period. Unfortunately, with this increase, Safety rules and laws have not caught up growth in this activity.

By: Sega

Sega — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:31:35 +0000

I see bicycles as no different than cars in regards to funding for transportation infrastructure. They should be seen, as studies have shown, as an economic boost to communities. We should fund for safety and use to increase. There is no doubt that funding for cars resulted in their use increasing. It is time to do the same for bicycles. It is time to do the same for children riding to school and seniors riding stores, movies, etc.
We will have more people of retirement age in the coming decade, and I would prefer them to hit me with their bicycle than hit me with their car.

By: grace voss

grace voss — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:56:15 +0000

we all need to promote bicycle safety to save lives!

By: Andrew J Besold LCI#2682

Andrew J Besold LCI#2682 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:06:12 +0000

Yes! This is exactly what needs to be done. We also need to change the attitudes of drivers. I had a driver threaten to kill me yesterday after he passed me dangerously close on an otherwise empty rural road. After voicing my displeasure with his reckless pass he said, “We own the roads and I will put you in the gutter with my car an damn time I please!” I very much wish I had a handlebar camera running as I would have used the video to fill charges against him. Dangerous maneuvers and threats like this by drivers are all too common.

By: Bennet Wolper

Bennet Wolper — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:29:35 +0000

Safely riding a bike or walking safely down the street should not need Congress to take special action to ensure. Yet it is clear that it without specific standards and uniform guidelines, more and more cyclists and pedestrians will be injured or prevented from exercising what to many is an inherent right.

I urge Congress and the Administration to act so as to prevent the occurrence of another preventable accident or worse fatality.

By: margo haley

margo haley — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:13:49 +0000

With so many people overweight in this country we need safe ways for them to exercise. Not everyone can afford a gym membership, but walking or cycling are cheaper alternatives. Let’s help people be safe and healthy.

By: gerald rooney

gerald rooney — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:26:02 +0000

If we’re going to set goals, why not a 100% reduction in cyclist/pedestrian deaths??

By: James

James — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:27:50 +0000

“These HSIP funds specifically can be used to fix more than just high crash locations (which are naturally dominated by cars); they also can be used to reduce crash potential and to address systemic design issues that cause common crash types.”

Andy, thank you very much for this article. You have really touched on a critical issue.

We are hopeful that USDOT will issue guidance (soon) on the new language in MAP-21 that says that “representatives of major modes of transportation” shall sit on state HSIP committees.

We see ‘people’ (NGO advocates sitting at the table when safety program projects are prioritized) as perhaps an even more important strategy than ‘policy’ (a fatality reduction performance measure). But in the best of all possible worlds, they would reinforce each other.

Has the League made an effort to get good guidance from USDOT on the meaning of “representatives of major modes of transportation”?

By: Paul Welch

Paul Welch — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:07:58 +0000

As a father of two energetic cyclists, i cannot stress enough the importance of safety as a civil consideration. The amount of good that additional protective measures will do is very meaningful and should be considered.

By: Andy Clarke

Andy Clarke — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:10:59 +0000

Kevin – you are exactly right; our goal is to increase safety AND use and we see the two goals going hand in hand. We do not want to discourage anyone from getting on a bike; we know many more people would ride more often if they felt safer.