Town Hall Meeting on Our Bicycle Safety Crisis
Submitted by maiki on June 9, 2008 - 7:13pm
Here are the facts: Over the past 10 years, nearly 200 Bay Area bicyclists have been killed and more than 25,000 injured, according to the California Highway Patrol. During that same time, Santa Clara County had the highest number of fatalities and injuries per capita compared to the nine other Bay Area counties! Those numbers are rising at an alarming rate, both locally and nationally. What can we do to make the roads safe for everyone?
Bicycling advocates say that one solution is to raise motorists’ awareness that bicyclists have the right to use the roadways and to firmly enforce existing laws against drivers involved in collisions with bicyclists. Several states have passed laws requiring drivers to give bicyclists a minimum three-foot berth as they pass. However, an attempt last year by Assemblyman Pedro Nava to pass a similar law in California was unsuccessful. What are the alternatives?
Join this urgent town hall meeting to discuss the ways to reduce the number of bicycle injuries and fatalities in our communities.
This meeting will feature:
Congressmember James Oberstar, Chair (unable to attend)
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Will Kempton, Director of Caltrans
Carl Guardino (moderator), President & CEO
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Follow-up discussion panel starting at 2 p.m. with:
Lee Taubeneck, District Four Deputy Director for Planning
California Department of Transportation
Ian McAvoy, Chief of Development
CalTrain
Therese McMillan, Deputy Executive Director for Policy
San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Corinne Winter, Executive Director
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Chris Augenstein, Deputy Director of Planning
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
This free program is open to anyone. Co-sponsored by California Department of Transportation, CalTrain, City of San Jose, Friends of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, Mineta Transportation Institute, San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
Saturday, June 28, 2008 1:00 PM
San Jose City Council Chambers
200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA
See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest
Submitted by fankong on July 19, 2008 - 9:03pm.
Hi,
As last reported, the Moffet gap was supposed to be closed this year around August. But there doesn't seem to be any forward movement on this project. It is such a pity as it has been long awaited by many people. Any updates on this?
Thank you!
Submitted by toastia on June 24, 2008 - 7:16am.
As an avid bicyclist _and_ a driver, I too often find it difficult to see and avoid bicyclists. Two strategies used in European countries might help here: more sections of separated paths for bicyclists, particularly in low-visibility/high auto traffic areas; and more training for bicyclists in how to ride as if we are invisible to drivers.
The Bryant St bicycle corridor in Palo Alto sends bicyclists downtown, where they must ride behind the rears of rows of parked cars which may back out without looking for bikes.
Bicycle areas demarcated on Foothill, Page Mill and elsewhere have no physical barriers to keep cars from crossing the line, or to keep bicyclists from falling into the path of high-speed traffic. Our Dutch relatives are too frightened to ride here.
In seeking more skills training/testing for myself, I noticed that most programs are targeted at children (which is good but incomplete), that none appear to be mandatory before children are allowed to ride to school, and that training and testing in handling skills are sorely lacking for adults and children.
In the UK where I went to elementary school, I had to pass a proficiency exam held by the police at my school, before I was allowed to bicycle to school. Until roadways and bikeways are separated (as in Holland), more defensive training programs are needed.
As fuel costs rise and more novice riders take to the streets, accidents will increase in frequency and severity until there is more training available, and more separation from cars.
Submitted by Bob Sutterfield on June 25, 2008 - 10:46am.
Rather than ride as if you are invisible, try riding in ways that make you more visible. When you ride too close to the roadway edge you're harder to see for all the other roadway users whose paths might cross yours - pullouts, left hooks, and right crosses. Move farther from the roadway edge to improve your visibility. Participate in the flow of traffic, following the same rules as everyone else.
If your route takes you behind rows of parked cars, ride farther from those parked cars so you'll have time and space to react if they start to move.
Barrier-separated bicycle facilities have several problems. First, they're full of debris, and the pavement maintenance always suffers. Second, those barriers address only cyclists' exaggerated fear of overtaking same-direction traffic, which represents only a tiny fraction of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions. Collisions happen predominantly at intersections where lines of travel cross. Barriers must end at intersections (to allow turning and crossing traffic) and thus confound the crossing confusion. California's method of requiring motorists to merge right - through a bike lane - before turning is much safer for cyclists.
I strongly agree with your encouragement for more training for riders, both youth and adult. Please consider participating in the "Road 1" class next time it's available near you.
--
Bob Sutterfield
LCI #1668
Saratoga