Share the Road License Plates being distributed

After years of hard work by the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation, the first batch of 1000+ Share the Road License Plates are in the process of being distributed throughout the state. (Photograph courtesy of Jim Mead.) Some people have already received letters from their counties informing them about picking up their plate orders. A lucky few have already received their plates by now.

Reaching this point is quite a milestone in terms of cycling advocacy throughout the state. What are future milestones that we can aspire to? In the near future anyone will be able to get such a plate for his/her car (this initial batch of 1000 was by pre-registration only.)

Tennessee Trafic Safety Website

TDOT has a new website devoted to promoting traffic safety.  Motorcycles have their own section. Getting bicycles and pedestrians a spot looks like yet another opportunity for Bike Walk Tennessee.
http://tntrafficsafety.com/

Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program - Ride Smart Class

The Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program has a free 1-hr class on safely riding one's bicycle on city streets. The class consists of a 5 min talk followed by a slow ride around town. An upcoming session is on Thursday September 27, at 6:30 PM starting at Market Square downtown. A bike and helmet are required. Signups are at the following link.

For beginning riders, taking a class such as this one can go quite a ways toward building riding confidence, as well as avoiding common beginner mistakes. The League of American Bicyclists has their own training courses. What other similar courses exist around the state?

Heat wave with 100+ degree temperatures

The Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting near record-high temperatures Friday across the state. The all-time record temperature was broken in Nashville at 109 (was 107). Chattanooga hit 106, tying its all-time record. Same with the Tri-Cities at 102. Knoxville tied its June record at 102 as well. Oak Ridge broke the June record at 104. The Tour de Rocky Top, taking place today (Saturday June 30) had its century ride (100 miles) cancelled this year due to the heat for safety reasons.

Roundabouts - pedestrian and cyclist safety

Roundabouts are becoming more common across the state, as their traffic handling capabilities and improved safety become wider known. A single-lane roundabout can handle a traffic flow of around 25,000 vehicles/day with minimal delays, and sometimes can be a cheaper alternative to widening roads. Unlike a traffic light, traffic does not necessarily have to stop; traffic continuously flows more or less. Deadly T-bone crashes are basically eliminated.

Riding in the dark

With the start of autumn almost upon us, the daylight hours are getting fewer. Unfortunately, with increased hours of darkness, crashes like the one that killed David Perkey are more likely when cyclists are out in the dark. He was apparently hit by a hit-and-run driver, and subsequently killed. While hit-and-run is never acceptable, the report states that he was riding without lights or reflectors. It's possible to ride safely in the dark, provided that proper equipment is used. More important than what lights to have, is to have working front and rear lights to begin with. Reflectors and other reflective gear is good, but they by themselves are not enough. They only are visible when light is directly shining on them, whereas an actual light shines regardless. Headlights are typically mounted on handlebars or atop one's bike helmet. Some cyclists prefer to have both. They range from cheap "be-seen" sorts of lights, all the way to extremely powerful (comparable to car headlight) systems used for mountain biking. Taillights typically mount on the seat post or rear rack, although there are also bar end taillights available. The latter may provide a sense of width to traffic. Numerous flash patterns are available, although I personally feel that the vast majority of flash patterns are "cute" but don't really add to safety. Since one cannot readily tell if a rear light has failed, it's preferable to have at least two rear lights for a degree of redundancy. So, what lights do you use and recommend? I use a converted 2AA cell Maglite (with a 140 lumen LED mod from terralux) mounted with a twofish lockblock for my front light, and a planet bike superflash for the rear. Being somewhat interested in electronics myself, if people would like to learn about additional details about bicycle lighting, I would be glad to provide a primer. But ultimately, having working lights for all (street lights, reflective clothing, and reflectors are never enough) is way more important than what specific lights to have.

Elizabethton

. . Y'all have done a great job at getting national attention for Ms Tryon, but it is important this incident become a positive for everyone and we don't overdue our concern and turn it into a negative.
. . This matter now has the attention of Andy Clark at the League of American Bicyclists who has assigned several people to work with the police chief and the National Safe Routes to School Partnership.
. . Jeff Miller at the Alliance for Biking and Walking has been following closely. And, the National Director for Safe Routes to School is researching further action.  It is an important issue to all and I am sure Ms Tryon will get good support from these people.
. . Plus the Directors of Bike Walk Tennessee are helping.
. . I believe everything will work out fine as long as we remember our primary interest is the well being of the 5'th grade girl who wants to ride her bike to school.  Both the mother and the policeman acted with sincere concern for the girl.  We don't want to push people into hard positions that make them forget the best interests of the young girl are everyone's priority.

Universal Bike Lanes: A Way to Mass Cycling?

This study clearly shows that a multi-faceted approach to bicycle and pedestrian improvements is the Complete way to go in changing a county's auto center culture.

"Despite the fact that some parts of the country are still cycling deserts, the good news in recent years is that cycle use in Britain overall has at last started going up – albeit from a very low base compared to many of our continental neighbours. London has led the way, with its hire-bikes, super-highways, cycle maps and excellent marketing initiatives, which have more than doubled cycle use in less than 10 years. But places like Portsmouth and Leicester have also achieved a great deal with a lot less cash. They have been investing in 20mph speed limits and closing off city centre streets to all but cyclists and pedestrians. They have been running 'smarter choices' programmes like cycle training or carefully targeted social marketing programmes to promote cycling for women, children, employees, health patients and so on. All these measures are proving very effective at boosting cycle use, thereby gradually building up the political will to do the things that will really transform our car-dominated congested roads into cycle-friendly, neighbourhood-friendly streets for people and the surrounding communities." Read the Sustrans article HERE.

Bicycling Terminology - The Right Hook

The right hook refers to a type of car/bicycle conflict that takes place at intersections. As illustrated in the figure above, a right-turning car can turn in front of a bicycle traveling straight. If the cyclist cannot avoid running into the turning vehicle on time, a crash results.

Earth Day at Vanderbilt

This was by far the most receptive group with which I have dealt.  Sharing a ride with Tom assured we got there and set up 30 min before the official start. Even so, I didn't have a chance to survey the other exhibits before people began approaching  us.  The message was easy, statewide group advocating for better infrastructure, laws and culture to advance walking and cycling as legitimate forms of transportation and if you like that, join us. We have had enough recent issues to make specific pitches to each person's interests.  Bike Walk Tennessee is an easier sell than the 3-feet license plate. About the only people expressing any interest for the license plate had already ordered.

One message repeatedly came back to us.  Cyclists are behaving badly in downtown Nashville. Even among folks who considered themselves regular cyclists, there is a concern for how we are a bunch of scofflaws.  Some were knowledgeable enough to give us a pass on the homeless, etc. but will hold our feet to the fire when it's the guys in full kit blowing though red lights and swerving in and out of lines of stalled traffic.   I'll admit to doing all that before becoming a role model.  We must spread the word that we are all role models.  As Tom has mentioned in an email, this is  perfect example of education for the 501(c)3.

Even if none of the folks sign up, it was a good experience. I encourage all the directors to take advantage of similar opportunities.  Group bike rides seem a good place to sell Bike Walk Tennessee but it is much better to meet people in venues such as the Vanderbilt Clean Air Fair.
Bruce

Time to ACT - This bill's for YOU!

Update - - BILL PASSES - THANK YOU
This bill is now moving through the General Assembly. HB 1007 passed the House Transportation Sub-committee today and will be heard in the full House Transportation Committee next week.  Please contact  your state representative and ask them to support the bill especially if they are on the House Transportation Committee. Ask them to become co-sponsors of the bill.

Traffic Safety Coalition

The Traffic Safety Coalition (TSC), is a grassroots organization comprised of public safety professionals, law enforcement officials, victims’ advocates, health care professionals, and academics who have all come together to support a media/communications campaign to educate the public about the detrimental effects of red-light running in communities across the United States.  Our campaign is looking to demonstrate how the use of traffic safety cameras has proven to be a critical tool for local law enforcement agencies efforts to reduce violations and crashes while keeping pedestrians and bicyclists safe.

Sorry I Didn't See You?

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. _ Look closely at this picture. This is what the motorist failed to see when he hit Ernie Wu at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29. Wu, CEO and president of ERC Inc., was riding to work in the pre-dawn darkness when the motorist struck him on a stretch of Drake Avenue with a quarter mile of visibility, no rain, no fog, street lights and no other traffic on the road. (reprinted by permission of Morgan)

Proper bicycle lighting

In view of the recently reported nighttime (motorized) bicycle crash, here is a review of how to be safely lit when riding at night. Statistically, nighttime riding has a much higher crash rate than daytime riding, although the studies do not distinguish between those riders who were properly lit and those who were not.

The basic principle of being properly lit at night is to have at least one white/yellow light pointing forward, and one red light pointing back. Reflectors are not enough. Riding on lit streets is not enough. Beyond that, everything is details. Sadly, large numbers of riders are not aware of these principles.

BWT Introduces Bill to Improve Traffic Safety.

As introduced, HB1007/SB1171 broadens requirement that drivers exercise due care to apply to bicyclists; enhances penalty for certain traffic violations that cause serious bodily injury or death. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 8.

Both sponsors are on the Transportation Committee and are two of the smartest and most well spoken legislators who will do a good job with the legislation. That said we need to get some co-sponsors especially if they’re on the Transportation Committee or Republican or both.  The bill will probably be sent for comment to the Department of Safety and the Department of Correction. 

Although we don't need to start some massive grassroots campaign just yet but we should consider how to get people involved especially through bicycle clubs. Don’t take anything for granted! If you can help contact Mark Hicks or Carey Rogers at Bike WalkTN@gmail.com.

Right Turn without stopping

Two bills are now in the TN General Assembly that would allow motorists to turn right at intersections without stopping as the current law requires.  At first thought, passage of these bills would increase the danger to bicyclists and pedestrians for being injured at these intersections.  More bicyclists are injured due to the infamous "right hook" than any other cause.  It appears to me that these bills only make matters worse.  What do you think?

Click here to view the Senate Bill and here to view the House version.

Courtesy on the Roads - by Kelley Segars

Here is an email that I received a while back from Kelley Segars, our excellent transportation planner at the Knoxville Regional TPO on sharing the road with cars and trucks. The email is reproduced with permission, and what she spells out should be applicable throughout the state.

Bicycle facility signs

This may be old news to most of you but it is new to me.  The 2009 Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices has bicycle facility signs nicely grouped.  Of especial joy to me was the R4 11, Bikes may use full lane sign.  I'd like to see about a thousand of these posted around Tennessee.
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part9/fig9b_02_longdesc.htm
Bruce

Illinois Bicyclists Get Anti-harassment Law

Click here to read the details as provided by the Alliance for Biking and Walking.  Is it time for Tennessee to pass a similar law?

Volunteers Needed

This is a camp for folks with special needs - they learn how to ride a bicycle!  Click here for details!

Where:   McCallie School for boys.  Chattanooga, TN

When:    June 28^th-July 2^nd.  

               (Meet the parents June 27 PM to get the rundown for the next day beginning sessions)

How Long: Either an AM or PM session daily.  (9:00 to 11:45)  or 1:00 to 5:15)

Requirements: 15 years old;   Name, phone, email address, T-Shirt size. 

Lunch provided.