For the Love of Bikes

Life is better on a bike!

Category: share the road (Page 2 of 6)

Dear Santa

December 1, 2012 /
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This fantastic letter/article is by Rachel Ruhlen, from the Hannibal Courier–Post, Hannibal, MO.

“Dear Santa,

I love to teach people how to bicycle with traffic, because I get satisfaction from empowering individuals. But I could have more impact by educating motorists how to drive with bicyclists. What every bicyclist wants for Christmas is better drivers!

A bicyclist has a lot of motivation to learn how to bike with traffic and avoid drivers’ mistakes. Drivers do not have much motivation to learn how to drive with bicyclists. To reach other drivers, we first have to find their motivation to listen to this message. It’s easy to say “Those crazy cyclists run all the red lights” or “The highway is no place for a bicycle” and avoid the responsibility.

The best way to educate a motorist about how to drive around bicycles is to put the motorist on a bicycle. Bicyclists report being more aware of other bicyclists and pedestrians when they are driving, and most drivers, both those who also bicycle (91%) and those who don’t (80%), believe that bicyclists are better drivers, according to a survey by the Institute of Advanced Motoring.

Another effective way motorists learn to drive with bicyclists is by driving with bicyclists. In areas where bicycling is common, drivers know what to expect. This summer, I biked across Kansas with 800 other bicyclists, and by the time motorists met me, they had already passed hundreds of other cyclists. I was no surprise to them.

If you haven’t ridden a bike in a long time, I encourage you to ride around town. That will help you be a better driver and increase the population of bicycles, which trains other drivers to expect bicycles. You can give cyclists everywhere a little Christmas present by paying attention to these three lessons:

The most dangerous driver to bicyclists is the inattentive driver. Don’t text and drive. Pay attention. Watch for cyclists at intersections, especially when turning. When pulling out of a driveway or parking lot, watch for bicyclists on the sidewalk or going the wrong way, because many bicyclists don’t know that they are safest on the road going the direction of traffic.

The scariest driver to bicyclists is the one who passes too closely. Allow 3 feet or more when passing, and slow down.

Another frightful driver is one who harasses bicyclists, throwing objects, yelling, honking, and other intimidating and behavior. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the road, including highways. There is no minimum speed limit except on the interstate. Be patient, and wait for a safe opportunity to pass, just as you would for a tractor. Often, the bicyclist will pull over into a driveway or other safe space and allow you to pass.

My present to you is the parking space close to the store that I’m not using because I biked. However, I understand if you choose to park further away because you know the walk across the parking lot is good for your heart. Happy Holidays!”

Good and Bad Times on the Bike

November 14, 2012 /
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I wish I could talk to every single one of them. I wish I could put them on a bike riding on the same road with drivers behaving toward them as they did toward us. I wish they could really get how easily it could have ended tragically for us because of their impatience and frustration that we were on the road!

Yesterday was an interesting day as a cyclist in Edmond, OK.

We took a bike ride in the perfect fall weather in the afternoon. We rode out east on Sorghum Mill and Coffee Creek roads for about 2 hours. We rode from home although more often we park at a school and ride from there to avoid bad experiences we have had in the past riding on Coltrane between Coffee Creek and Covell.

It was a perfect weather day as I’ve said and we enjoyed our ride immensely. Up until the last 3 miles when we turned onto Coltrane heading south. Suffice it to say that the drivers were aggressive, irresponsible and dangerous towards us and other drivers. They sped past us with oncoming traffic present and one car passed us with less than a foot of clearance. If it had been a truck or van with protruding side mirrors we would have surely been hit.

408915_10151284233763268_2026895766_nIt was the worst experience I have had on the road in the last 5 or so years. We had probably 10 cars blow by us with oncoming traffic (two lane road) on a hill no less! We were riding single file far to the right but not on the “white line of death”. I was riding just to the right of where a car’s right wheel would be so we were riding in a way that should have told the drivers behind us not to attempt to pass until they could change lanes to do so. And would have told them that (as it almost always does) if they had not been asshat drivers!

I saw one of the oncoming cars get far to the right of their lane to avoid getting hit by the car passing us. They may have had to leave the roadway, I couldn’t tell. The worst offender mentioned above was reported to the police when we got home. We caught up to him, and 75% of the other asshat drivers that had narrowly blown by us, at the stop sign at Covell and Coltrane because although they chose to put us at risk they still had to wait at the same stop sign as us. So much for rushing.

Their behavior was completely inexcusable. They could have hit us and would have I believe in one case when thanks to my mirror I could see what they were doing and I was able to move to the right edge of the roadway to avoid them.

Thanks to my mirror I was also able to pick the right time to take the full lane without losing sight of what was happening in front of me. Mark pulled up alongside me and we rode that way until it was safe for cars to pass us and then returned to our previous single file positions.

I have not felt that threatened on the road in forever and I can’t ever remember having so many drivers behave so recklessly at one time. They had either all been at the same bar drinking or coffee shop getting hyped up on coffee.

I wish I could talk to every single one of them. I wish I could put them on a bike riding on the same road with drivers behaving toward them as they did toward us. I wish they could really get how easily it could have ended tragically for us because of their impatience and frustration that we were on the road!

Mark did make a complaint about the worst of the horrible drivers to the police including their tag number. The policeman told Mark they had been instructed by the city attorney not to issue citations unless they had observed the offense. Mark then asked if the police would at least contact the driver and inform them of our complaint and they were required by law to give a person riding a bike at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. The police officer was cordial and said that he would attempt to contact the driver of the vehicle. Mark requested to be notified of the outcome of that contact.

We quickly inhaled a recovery shake and showered  because we had an important city council meeting to get to. There was a large representation of area bicycle riders on hand as the Edmond City Council voted unanimously to accept (adopt) the Bicycle Master Plan!

City-of-Edmond-Bike-Plan-logoThe plan is comprehensive including both short and long term goals which will be prioritized for implementation. I encourage you to visit the website for the Edmond Bicycle Master Plan, view the bicycle plan network map and read the Edmond Bicycle Master Plan.

We now have a framework and some community will to improve bicycling here in Edmond to hopefully reduce the likelihood that any cyclist experiences what we did yesterday afternoon.

Ticketed

May 25, 2012 /
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ticket 2For the first time in nearly 25 years of riding as an adult I got a ticket.

The police officer had his ticket pad out before he ever asked me what happened, plus his tone told me it wasn’t going to go well.

He started writing the citation for “disregard signal light” immediately. No discussion. No attempt to get the facts. Since I am a cyclist he probably thought I had no regard for any red light and ran it. After all we’re all known for that.

Which in my case is laughable. Except it isn’t funny.

Here’s what happened:

Mark and I had made a run to a local grocery, Sunflower Market, which is located on 2nd street – one of Edmond’s busiest streets. We left the market with our stuff and rode out the way we rode in on a much less busy street, Littler. Heading north, we waited at the light (Littler and 2nd) but since no cars were behind us the light didn’t trip. There were cars in the left turn lane by us and they got the green and proceeded. The light for traffic going straight tripped to green for the cars opposite us but being on bikes it didn’t trip for our side.

History: I have waited… and waited… and waited… and waited… (and waited) at this particular light before and unless cars come up behind you it doesn’t turn green. No surprise to cyclists, it happens all the time at traffic lights. You could wait until the proverbial cows come home and the light isn’t tripping.

We were stopped with one foot down while we waited. Knowing the light would never change since there were no cars behind us (and none in sight) I elected to proceed through the intersection and red light when the opposing side got their green light, which is when if I had been in my car my light would have changed. There was no risk, the oncoming traffic was going straight, if there had been any risk I wouldn’t have done it. I don’t have a death wish.

I proceeded through noticing as I did that there was a policeman on a motorcycle stopped on 2nd street at the light. Unfortunately I didn’t see him until I was almost through the intersection. My husband did so he stopped – lucky too because we would have two tickets right now.

I saw his flashing lights in my helmet mirror but waited 10-15 seconds to pull over while I looked for a good spot. Before I was able to stop he yelled “HEY”. As I got off my bike and he got off his motorcycle I told him I had seen him but was just looking for a good spot to pull over.

He said nothing but got his citation book out. I told him I understood why he stopped me but wanted to tell him why I proceeded the way I did. At that point he made a comment that started with “you bike riders”, given his tone I knew I was most likely getting a ticket.

I still wanted him to understand why I did what I did so I told him about how bikes often don’t trip lights (and my history at that light) and even suggested he look at my husband who was still stuck at the light! Mark ended up being stuck there for nearly 10 minutes and 3 times during my conversation with said officer I pointed out “see that’s why I went when it was safe to do so because being on a bike you don’t trip the light!” He never looked over to see that Mark was still waiting.

He told me motorcycles do, I said yes, but they are bigger but the same isn’t true for bikes. I pointed out to him that although I knew he had no reason to believe me he had just stopped possibly the most traffic-law abiding cyclist in Edmond. Going to the grocery store there were numerous 4 way stops, many with no cars present, but guess who stopped at every one of them – yep, me.

I’m hardcore when it comes to abiding by traffic laws; look around here I’ve written about it numerous times. I once chased down two cyclists who blew through a 4-way stop. I believe and practice – same rights/same rules. I believe cyclists should stop at red traffic lights, and I do, and did on this occasion, but until those same lights can account for bicycles we have no choice but to proceed safely through the intersection or be prepared to sleep there.

This particular officer didn’t care. He seemed hell-bent on giving me a ticket. And he did. During this time Mark arrived (he had to push the cross-walk button and use the sidewalk to cross) and I asked him to take pictures for this blog post.

I told the officer I would be going to court to fight the citation because I didn’t deserve the ticket given the circumstances. He suggested I pick a different route or get the laws changed. I pointed out that Boulevard and Broadway would be worse and that Littler is the best option for cyclists. I doubt that he was serious with his suggestion that I get the law changed, I told him I helped get the law changed with the 3 foot ordinance several years ago when we got the Edmond City Council to adopt it. He said he didn’t make the laws, and I replied that no, but he was charged with enforcing them and given the circumstances he could have chosen not to issue me a ticket.ticket 4

After I got my ticket Mark and I proceeded home stopping at each and every stop sign (no other signals) just like we did before, and do whenever/wherever we ride.

An expensive trip to the grocery store – if found guilty it will be a $119 fine.

Stay tuned.

Edmond Ok Bicycle News

March 11, 2012 /
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City-of-Edmond-Bike-Plan-logoOn March 8th Mark and I attended the City of Edmond Bicycle Master Plan open house from 6:00 – 8:00pm in downtown Edmond. The open house was held to generate discussion and input for creating the “grand plan” for bicycling in Edmond, OK. Even though it was cold and rainy there was a large showing of Edmond citizenry interested in promoting safe bicycling in our community.

From 6pm – 7pm was set aside to visit various stations where goals and objectives were explained and for participants to note on maps where they currently ride, would like to ride, and would like to see bicycle facilities (trails, marked lanes, paths, etc.) to facilitate riding. There was a feeling of camaraderie as other’s shared their favorite routes, discussed difficulties with riding in the area and engaged in a little wishful thinking about what the future might hold. Mark and I noted on several of the maps where we ride and would ride if it was safer and easier to do so. To be honest, it was strange and beyond nice to be asked as cyclists how we thought “our” streets and community could better support our needs. As cyclists, we aren’t used to that are we!

The next hour of the open house was spent listening to staff of Kimley-Horn and Toole Design who will be constructing the bicycle master plan explain the process of developing such a plan. Jan Fees with the Edmond Bicycle Committee provided history and all parties took and answered questions from the standing room only audience.

Presently they are in the information gathering stage. There is a survey being conducted to elicit pertinent information and a comment form was distributed to open house participants for input into the bicycle master plan.

Outlined Goals and Objectives for the Edmond Bicycle Master Plan are:

Bicycle Network:

  • Identify a comprehensive on-street/off-street interconnected bikeway system that can be developed in phases.
  • Achieve a transportation system that is affordable and equitable for all types of users.
  • Increase the convenience of bicycling to and within commercial and employment areas.
  • Increase the connectivity of the bicycle network to parks, schools, Arcadia Lake, downtown, Citylink Transfer Center at Festival Market Place, trails, medical facilities and neighboring cities.
  • Improve accessibility for bicyclists around barriers such as intersections, freeways, and a discontinuous street network.
  • Develop a series of short loop rides around the community for the casual rider.
  • Develop a long continuous loop around the City connecting various destinations for the more advanced rider.

Engineering:

  • Design all bicycle facilities utilizing the most current national standards and guidelines and practices.
  • Include City of Edmond bicycle facility recommendations in the Edmond Transportation Plan.
  • Incr3ease the number of arterial streets that have wide shoulders or bike lanes.

Encouragement:

  • Distribute a Bicycle Map and Commuter Guide.
  • Promote bicycling through event and social marketing.
  • Set up community celebrations and/or rides each time the community completes a new bicycling-related project. This is a great way to show off the city’s good efforts and introduces new users to the improvement.
  • Design a way-finding sign program to facilitate and encourage bicycle mobility and access to facilities, services and destination.
  • Promote active lifestyles by promoting bicycle ridership through community-wide health initiatives.

Education:

  • Expand public education campaigns to promote the “share the road” message and the rights and responsibilities of all users.
  • Education city staff involved in planning, design, maintenance, and construction about best practices for addressing bicycle needs.
  • Expand the city’s Safe Routes to School program to include bicycling and encourage all schools to get involved.
  • Initiate a Bicycle Rodeo to education school age children proper bicycle ridership.

Enforcement:

  • Increase enforcement, taking a balanced approach that improves the behaviors of both motorists and bicyclists and reduces crashes.
  • Encourage police officers to use targeted enforcement to encourage motorists and cyclists to share the road. This could be in the form of a brochure or tip card explaining each user’s rights and responsibilities.

Evaluation:

  • Develop a system for identifying and understanding the type and location of bicycle crashes so that safety issues may be addressed.
  • Work to improve data collection methods for bicycle usage.
  • Establish a system of performance measures for plan implementation.

Implementation:

  • Adopt a 5-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for bicycle improvements.
  • Coordinate among city departments during the planning, design and construction phases of roadway projects to ensure that no opportunity to implement the bicycle network is missed.
  • Implement a procedure to ensure that non-motorized transportation opportunities are evaluation during the planning phase for major traffic corridors.
  • Develop short- and long-term goals for implementation.

We were told the website for the Edmond bicycle plan would have the Goals and Objective noted above, the PowerPoint slides presented, the maps with routes and notations made by citizenry, the bike plan timeline and other related information. It sounded to us like that website would be the place to go to check on the status of the project. Presently, there is a link to the survey on the website, I believe the other information I mentioned will be added soon.

Edmond Bicycle Master Plan website

If you are a local rider please click the link above and complete the survey. Even more important, please send any comments/questions about the Edmond Bike Plan to Jan Fees at [email protected]

It is my understanding that the bike plan will be presented to Edmond City officials in October 2012. Last year the City Council allocated funds to create the Bicycle Master Plan, additional funds to implement a pilot project will have to be obtained. Additionally there are plans to complete a paved trail around Lake Arcadia including access to it from Edmond.

I’m an Edmond resident/bike rider who has had good success working with city officials in the past on adopting the Oklahoma 3-foot law as a city ordinance and my experiences with the Edmond Bicycle Committee both of which I wrote about in “Improvements in OK Bike Law”.

I’m very excited about the obvious support and enthusiasm to make Edmond more bicycle friendly aka SAFE. I would venture that between 6-8pm there were around 100 people, all ages, attending the open house. Reportedly there have been over 300 people take the survey to date.

I have not sent in my comments/suggestions for this bike plan to Jan Fees yet, but when I do I will post them here.

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