Are they really safer? Mikael Colville-Andersen gives a TED talk on the subject:

I just have 2 things to say about all this. First, cycling is not an individual act; it is inherently social, simply by the fact that other people are using the trails/roads/sidewalks. I am both a driver and a cyclist. When a cyclist is biking erratically or is not visible in the dark, it affects me as a driver, by increasing my stress level as I am driving and trying to be safe. Further, if I were to hit that cyclist, it’s not just the cyclist who would be affected. I would be emotionally devastated. Our health care system would take another hit. My loved ones as well as the cyclist’s would be impacted. Insurance costs would go up. So, yes, individuals have the freedom to make choices about how they want to bike. But that freedom does not exist in a vacuum.

Second, could we be a little nicer to each other and to those with whom we share the transportation infrastructure? There’s a great post at EcoVelo to this point.

Read the comments too, where you’ll find, among others, this gem from the post’s author:

“The idea that acting courteously as opposed to confrontationally is somehow going to put us on a slippery slope leading to “laws demanding that all cyclists get out of their way” is a fallacy that has been used all too frequently to justify rude, aggressive riding tactics. What’s going to get us kicked off the roads is disregarding traffic laws, riding irresponsibly, and treating other road users as if we bicyclists operate under our own set of rules (see it too often). You are right, the car is “almighty”, but fighting its supremacy with a head-on frontal assault is not the answer in my opinion. I believe we need to build good will with the general public and politicians to gain the political capital necessary to instigate the infrastructure and policy changes that would make our roads (and trails) more attractive to new bicyclists, thus growing bicycling to the extent we’re all hoping for. In my opinion, the “us versus them” mentality is counterproductive to this goal and has gotten us nowhere in the U.S.”

SCHENECTADY — A 62-year-old bicyclist suffered minor injuries after accidentally running into the back of a CDTA bus on State Street this afternoon, city police said. The man was pedaling behind the bus near Clinton Street and rear-ended the vehicle when it pulled over around 1:25 p.m., Sgt. Eric Clifford said.

The crash tied up downtown traffic for about 20 minutes, Clifford said. He said the man was taken to Ellis Hospital for observation.

– Paul Nelson

As I wrote here and here, there was a recent cycling accident in Saratoga Springs, north of Albany, that was featured in the Times Union newspaper. You can read my note to the reporter in the previous post.

Here’s the response I received from the reporter, Dennis Yusko:

Hi Jason: Thank you for writing. You make a valid point about the placement of the helmet reference. I guess it was in this particular story because he suffered a head injury, and because police made a point of it when discussing the case. Anyway, I’ll think about it more next time I write because of your note. In the meantime, feel free to go to our Saratoga Seen blog and post what you feel under the story there. It might generate some discussion.
Dennis.

If you’d like to take Dennis up on his suggestion, visit the Saratoga Seen blog.

This story of course notes that the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet. Which I’m sure is what caused the motorist to fail to yield the right of way.

Vehicle charges likely in bicycle accident
Bicyclist hospitalized after Saratoga Springs accident

By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer
First published: Tuesday, June 9, 2009

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A 30-year-old man was taken to the hospital with head injuries on Sunday after he struck a car while riding his bicycle on Broadway, police say.

The man, who police did not identify, was riding north at 1:22 p.m., when he hit the rear passenger door of a vehicle turning left into the parking lot of Lillian’s restaurant, Lt. Matthew Veitch said.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Veitch said.

The operator of the vehicle, who police would only say is from Vermont, will likely face charges of failing to yield the right of way, police said.

“The investigation is ongoing and charges are anticipated,” Veitch said.

This article is available at the Times Union site.

I sent a follow-up email message to the author of the piece, Dennis Yusko (dyusko@timesunion.com):

Hi Dennis,

As a local cyclist, let me begin by saying thanks for covering any bicycle stories at all, even when they’re accidents.

A quick question: Why is it that the cyclist’s lack of a helmet is mentioned before the motorist’s failure to yield the right of way? (I might go further and ask why the helmet is in the story at all.) Surely the cyclist’s lack of a helmet is not what caused the driver to hit the cyclist. Shouldn’t the charges against the driver come first?

Helmets are great, but every cycling accident story tells the reader whether or not the cyclist had one, as if this had anything to do with the cause of the accident.

Thanks again for your time and for paying attention to cyclists.

All the best,

Jason

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A 30-year-old man was taken to the hospital with head injuries on Sunday after he struck a car while riding his bicycle on Broadway, police say.

The man, whom police did not identify, was riding north at 1:22 p.m., when he hit the rear passenger door of a vehicle turning left into the parking lot of Lillian’s restaurant, Lt. Matthew Veitch said.

Read the rest of the article.

The Times Union just posted a story about a collision between a cyclist and dumptruck:

Cyclist seriously hurt after collision with dump truck in Schenectady

All riders will need to cross Clover St. at-grade during the construction period of approximately six weeks.

The road entrance/exit on the west side of Clover St. is now open and is several yards north of the old entrance.

Please be careful crossing. Auto traffic is often moderate to heavy with speeds normally 40 -50 mph.

I know some of you will hate this.

Thanks to Bookninja for the link.

The Times Union published a story today about a 14-year-old cyclist hit in Albany.

COLONIE – A 14-year-old is in stable condition at Albany Medical Center Hospital after being hit by an SUV Monday as he crossed Central Avenue.

Police said the incident occurred at 5:47 p.m. between Colonie Center and Northway Mall when Carlos Perez of Albany rode into the path of a Honda CRV driven by Colleen Williams of Albany.

Perez was thrown from the bike and landed on the hood of the SUV before rolling to the ground, police said. He suffered a concussion, broken bones and cuts on his head and neck, police said.

No tickets were issued. Witnesses said Perez was not crossing in a designated area and also said Williams had a green light.

Anyone who witnessed the crash can call Sgt. Robert Donnelly at 783-2744.

Free & Open to the Public

Thursday – March 19, 2009 7:00pm

Brighton Town Auditorium
2300 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618

This discussion will provide information on the vehicle and traffic laws of NYS and how they apply to new or experienced bicyclists.

We will cover:
common collision scenarios and how to avoid them.
safe riding techniques to keep bicyclists safe on the streets.
useful information on riding safely and legally in traffic.
preparing new or experienced bicyclists for an understanding of vehicular cycling.

Questions? Please contact:
Jean Triest (585) 753-3016 jtriest@monroecounty.gov |
Frank Regan (585) 224-9075 frankregan@rochesterenvironment.com

This two-wheeled journey begins with a single pedal
By Casey Seiler

If you’re an urban cyclist, you haven’t lived until you’ve been to Portland, Ore. The city’s elaborate bike lanes are broad and logically arranged, its bike racks are plentiful and sturdy, and downtown commuters on two human-powered wheels are accepted as a regular part of the traffic flow, not as potential suicides.

It was with Portland in mind that I arrived at the main branch of the Albany Public Library on Wednesday night for the first public meeting to discuss the city’s Bicycle Master Plan. Almost 200 people turned out — but you would have been able to predict that even before entering the building: Every available sign and stachion on the sidewalk had a bike locked to it.

Read the rest of the article.

This came from the Albany Bicycle Coalition mailing list:

League of American Bicyclist Traffic Skills 101

• March 27,28, 2009 TBD Saratoga Springs NY
• May 1 and 2, 2009 SUNY Albany (May 1 Friday evening 6:00-9:00PM / May 2 Sat. 10:00-4:00PM)
  

League of American Bicyclist LC1 Seminar (I believe for those who have passed the traffic Skills 101)

• May 29, 30 and 31, 2009 (Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday at Draper Hall, SUNY Albany Downtown Campus)

For any of these dates or for more information please contact Claire Nolan or Bert Schou.

And while you’re standing there in the snowbank, pause to pity the poor pedestrian. I keep telling people not to shower sympathy on winter cyclists but on the winter walkers who have to negotiate unshovelled sidewalks and perilous mini-glaciers at many corners. Residents, homeowners and businesses mostly do a lousy job of clearing their walks, and the municipalities do an even lousier job of educating and policing. It should be obvious that many folks become in effect housebound by the conditions. And many others struggle: the other day in my neighborhood, I saw a young woman trying to push a double kid stroller over a mass of crusty snow between her and a crosswalk. Amundsen never had it so bad. And I frequently see people operating wheelchairs in the street because the walks are impassable. I think we bikers need to organize some kind of solidarity with our transportation cousins. I guess we can always call City Hall… and then wait for spring like everybody else.

Jason sez: Welcome to new contributor Bill Corbett. Bill is the president of a small non-profit called Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar, Inc.. They help disadvantaged students in Albany, Troy and Schenectady graduate from high school and go on to college. When they get there, Sponsor-A-Scholar gives them $750.00 stipends for each successful semester they complete. Bill lives in Voorheesville with his wife Diane and son Ryan. His son Billy is a junior at Dartmouth college.

Approaching a complicated intersection

In an effort to help other bike riders (read: commuters) I will attempt to make some suggestions on how to approach and navigate a difficult intersection. In my travels to work on a regular basis, I have to navigate the intersection at 155 and 20 in Guilderland. This is a major intersection from all four directions. I approach from the south (Voorheesville) on 155, with the intention of going straight through to Washington Avenue Extension, where I work. It has both left- and right-hand lane arrows as well as four other lanes in either direction. In my first days of commuting to work, I avoided this intersection and went three extra miles each way to stay safe. Researching the safest route you will take is the first and possibly the most important step you can take in bike commuting.

As road work in the Capital Region progressed, Johnston Road was deemed to get a full makeover. This cut out my alternate route and forced me to confront the 155/20 intersection. It was a pleasant surprise to see that 155 actually had a large shoulder in many places but considerably more traffic, as well. They were also in the process of building a Stewarts halfway to my destination (read: ice cream cones on the way home, chocolate chip cookie dough). So I did my usual good research on the safest route for riding and decided that maybe this would work out after all.

My first approach to the 155/20 intersection went smoothly, as I got the light and no one in a car was making a right hand turn, as I was going straight ahead. This did not work out consistently, causing me to have to figure out where to head and when to take the lane in order to be seen and safe. The right-hand lane was doable until I reached the CVS on the right side of the intersection, but then I found I had to move to the left of the right hand turn lane in order to allow the car traffic to make the turn and not run me over (always a serious consideration on my part). So my plan is to approach with traffic, staying always to the right until traffic starts to back up at the light and I can move into the lane safely. As I proceed to the light with traffic, I move to the left of the right hand turn lane and wait for the light that allows traffic to go straight ahead, which I what I do.

On the return trip, as I said, the Route 155 section between 20 and Washington Avenue Extension where I work has an ample shoulder. I can safely use this all the way from work to Route 20 and then I have to confront yet another six lane choice. In this direction, two right-hand lanes have the right to make a right on the arrow. This is much more complicated and requires more eye contact along with other methods of communication such as hand signals and talking to drivers as they wait at the light to let them know what I am going to do. I choose to take the second right-hand turn lane and keep an eye on the traffic behind me to see if someone seems to want to turn right from the lane I am in. In the event this is the case, I again move over to the left-hand part of the second right-hand turn lane. When the light turns green for the straight ahead option, I proceed across the intersection. (Lots of times I stop for ice cream!)

Remember: always wear a helmet, as it is the single most important safety tool you have!

Next time, how to navigate a round-about.

Howdy. Check out this extensive look at Bicycle Helmets for the 2009 Season. And thanks to Randal Putnam for the link.

The Initiative for Healthy Infrastructure at the University of Albany has completed its feasibility study on the Central Avenue Bikeway. You can download a PDF of the study at the IHI site.

This came into the RocBike mailbox this morning:

Good morning Jason. I just came across your blog and really enjoyed reading it. I am hoping you might take a moment to look at my site www.3feetplease.com to read my story and decide if it is something you think your readers might find valuable.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thank you Jason,
Joe Mizereck

Joe sells jerseys that are anything but subtle. And that seems to be what’s needed these days. Check them out:

Visit Joe’s site at www.3feetplease.com.

I saw a lot of trikes with rear baskets. Bright, fun colors. Most of the bikes I saw were cruiser types. People don’t ride around all kitted up. I saw no spandex, no bike jerseys. I didn’t see many helmets and almost no day glo. At night, the streets are so well lit, and wide, that you don’t have to disguise yourself as a Christmas tree to ride around. I was shocked. I kept thinking “that is NOT safe” and my brain threw red flags all over the place. But then I started to realize that all of the defensive measures are not really necessary in The Big Easy. It didn’t seem to me that anybody was going to be hit by a car there.

I saw a lot of really nice bikes locked up in less than perfect ways, but at least reasonable ways, which meant to me that people know how to lock their bikes and are not worried about having their nice bike stolen. This is a far cry from our little town, where people break into your house to steal your beat up piece of crap bike.

A neat thing was the Canal Streetcar. It goes up and down the center of Canal Street. Reasonable public transportation, for sure, but I saw a lot of bikes riding up and down the streetcar lane. I don’t know if it was “legal” but the cops didn’t mind. I thought it was a really clever use of public transportation space.

(Oh, yeah, yay RocBike is back up!)

This was in The Independent this weekend:

• James Daley: ‘Another cyclist raced up alongside me and started hurling abuse’

IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE INVOLVED.
CALL THE POLICE.
OBTAIN PROMPT MEDICAL TREATMENT.
GATHER AND PRESERVE EVIDENCE.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE YOUR OWN CLAIM.
CONTACT A QUALIFIED-EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY.

Anyone have any suggestions for how to safely teach my son
to bike in traffic in Albany? He’s 8, and when we’re not on residential suburban streets (we live in Delmar) we’ve always had him ride on the sidewalk, which usually means we have to ride on the sidewalk too, which sucks for numerous reasons and certainly slows us down. He’s old enough to balk at riding on a tagalong — he wants to ride his own bike — but riding through Albany safely takes skills and awareness he just doesn’t have yet. (I bike to work into Albany and am comfortable with it, after years of being afraid to try, but I still don’t feel safe having him come with me.) Any ideas?

You can reply in the comments section. Thanks!

This came from the Albany Bicycle Coalition mailing list:

I am concerned about the bike thefts at the Honest Weight Co-Op and lack of good bike parking there for shoppers, memeber workers and paid employees. So why am I writing to ABC? I’m looking for support, ideas and info for how go about solving this problem.

I just returned to member work yeserday, 9/29, after a two week vacation and found no designated area in the back warehouse area for bike parking. People who work back there are asking that we not park bikes there and no one I spoke with had an alternative – Nate H. says he has no power. Rob at the front desk says talk to Cindi….

Claire Nolan suggests we ask that the bike rack be moved to one of the in front of the store parking spaces so I put that in the suggestion box. It’s a good idea but doesn’t address other issues. When I am in the store for an extended period I would be happier knowing my bike was safe and dry no matter what happens outside. I imagine this would be even more important for paid workers.

I plan to write a letter to the board addressing the issues of safety and sustainability and to find out who or what committee can make something happen. I would hope that others would write letters and make phone calls. And if anyone knows the chain of responsibility to make this more efficient and effective, please share.

– Rita Nolan

Dear Cyclists,

NYBC has received a number of calls and inquiries re: the LONG BIKE Back event tomorrow (Saturday, September 27th). Like trusty mail carriers, Pearson & Pete have ridden through heavy rain, fierce winds, blistering sun, and treacherous road conditions (16 flats & counting) since their journey began early this summer to deliver the Share the Road message to communities across the country. Our event is on rain or shine! If the weather is inclement tomorrow afternoon and you opt not to ride, we still encourage you to show your support and attend the Welcome Reception and Talk from 5:30-6:30pm, happening in the warm dry space of the UAG Gallery on Lark St.

For those wishing to ride the last 15 miles in with Pearson, Pete, and Julia, meet at the corner of Dunnesville Rd. & Route 20 (Western Ave), Dunnesville, NY. If you’re looking to ride a shorter distance, two alternate locations that are easily accessible on Western Ave. are the Twenty Mall (intersection of Routes 20 & 155) and in front of the Bank of America (across from Stuyesant Plaza/Fuller Rd.) Claire Nolan, NYBC Board member, will be accompanying our cyclists and will pick up individuals at all 3 of these locations.

5:30pm-6:30pm: “The Long Bike Back” Reception/Preview Screening at the Upstate Artists Guild Gallery, 247 Lark Street Albany NY 12210, co-sponsored by NYBC and the Upstate Artists Guild. Join us for a warm welcoming reception and early preview screening of a segment of “The Long Bike Back,” after which our featured guests will speak briefly about their journey, including Pearson’s recovery, and the need for motorists to be aware of vulnerable road-users. $10 donation ($5 student/low-income); proceeds for the event would benefit NYBC’s Share the Road campaign to increase bicycle safety awareness.

See article published in Thursday’s Times Union: Life-changing crash sparks ride for awareness: Message is that cyclists, drivers must share road

NOTE: bicycle parking is available in front of UAG Gallery and Lark St. BID. For more information about the event, visit NYBC.net or longbikeback.com.

We look forward to having you join us tomorrow,

Jennifer ]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/26/long-bike-back-event/feed/ 2 http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/26/tall-pink-bike-provokes-alleged-low-blow/ http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/26/tall-pink-bike-provokes-alleged-low-blow/#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:38:45 +0000 Jason Crane http://www.rocbike.com/?p=2038 Many Albany-area RocBike readers know Andrew, the cyclist in this story. It really makes my blood boil:

Tall, pink bike provokes alleged low blow

By MARC PARRY, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, September 25, 2008

Andrew Franciosa pedals a giant pink bike all over town, so the UAlbany junior is used to taunts.

But a 260-pound driver punching him in the head?

It may be a new one in the annals of local anti-bike rage.

The alleged assault, first reported in the Albany Student Press, took place on a recent Wednesday, as Franciosa rode his fluorescent bike toward UAlbany on Fuller Road.

Robert Dames drove by and “some words were exchanged,” said Albany police spokesman Detective James Miller.

Words turned to fists: Unprovoked, Miller said, Dames punched Franciosa in the face.

“It looks like a case of the defendant thinking that the victim was taking up too much space on the roadway,” Miller said.

Vertical space, maybe. The student rides a tall bike that he built by welding two frames together.

After the alleged attack, Franciosa told the Albany Student Press that he had a bloody lip and it hurt to brush his teeth. He didn’t know what set off Dames, who was charged with misdemeanor assault.

“I think he was mostly offended by how cool it (the pink bike) was when he was driving a ’92 Buick,” Franciosa told the paper.

The original story is here. It had a photo in the paper, but not in the online version.

]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/26/tall-pink-bike-provokes-alleged-low-blow/feed/ 2 http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/18/state-senator-nearly-hits-bicyclist-in-nyc/ http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/18/state-senator-nearly-hits-bicyclist-in-nyc/#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:26:03 +0000 Jason Crane http://www.rocbike.com/?p=2005 Bruce Wilbur pointed out this post from No Impact Man:

AN OPEN LETTER TO NY STATE SENATOR JEFF KLEIN, WHO YESTERDAY CALLED ME A F—ING ASSH-LE AFTER NEARLY HITTING ME WITH HIS MERCEDES:

You’re never going to believe it folks, but today I had another close call on my bike, but this time the driver was New York State Senator Jeff Klein of the 34th Senate District in the Bronx. What follows is an open letter to the Senator which I will deliver to him today.

I am asking Senator Klein to meet with me and the Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, the New York City organization that advocates for bikers and pedestrians. Since the Senator has now had first hand experience, we’d like to talk to him about policies that would help keep bikes and cars from tangling with each other.

Bloggers and journalists, please feel free to repost the letter in its entirety (being sure, of course, to attribute it to Colin Beavan at NoImpactMan.com).

Readers, please email this post to every New Yorker you know.

New York State citizens, please register your thoughts on the incident I will describe below with Senator Klein and the leader of the New York State Democrats. I will give contact details below. Please also ask Senator Klein to honor my request to meet with him.

The rest of the letter and all the relevant contact information is at Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man site.

If you’re in a hurry, you can reach Senator Klein at:

718-822-2049 or jdklein@senate.state.ny.us

]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/18/state-senator-nearly-hits-bicyclist-in-nyc/feed/ 0 http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/12/one-wrong-move/ http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/12/one-wrong-move/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:46:38 +0000 Julie http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1953 BSNYC’s post from yesterday’s Links of the Day echoed my own feelings this week…sometimes the fact that I am only one wrong move away from a serious accident makes me pause. I remind myself that such a fact is true even when I’m not on a bike, but cycling ramps up the intensity and immediacy of that knowledge.

This week alone I’ve had several incidents that kicked up the adrenaline a bit. Funny thing is, they’re about equal in terms of whether they happened on a bike trail or on the street.

On the street, there’s been the usual…cars driving way too fast and too close, cars running a red light, cars backing out of driveways with no clue that I’m there. Oh, and cyclists on the wrong side of the road forcing me into traffic.

On the bike trail…again, some of the usual…cyclists rounding a curve without being prepared for me on the other side being the most common.

Then there was a very unusual instance: a pedestrian was walking in the middle of the trail (it’s a multi-use trail). I rang my bell a couple of times, and she froze in place…stopped walking, stood in the middle of the trail, and hunched her arms and shoulders as though she were trying to make herself smaller. I yelled, “Move to the right, please!” But she just stayed there. Fortunately, the trail was wide enough for me to go around her, and there were no other cyclists around.

All of this at the same time that my daughter has said that she’s willing to get back on a bike. Long-time readers of RocBike will know that Jason and I have a special and prior-to-RocBike unknown connection…he came to my assistance when my daughter was hit while biking several years back. I’ve written about how hard it was for me to overcome my fear and get back on a bike after that accident.

I am thrilled that she is ready to get back in the saddle. We will start with some easy trail rides and take it from there. I will put my own awareness of how quickly things can go wrong into trying to educate her about safe cycling. And, even though she’s 17, she will probably actually listen to me. She’s like that.

And I’ll try not to worry. Because life is always shorter than we want it to be. We can live in denial and fritter our time away because we think there’ll always be time in the future to do what we really want to be doing. Or we can live in fear and make ourselves crazy with worry and anxiety. Or we can do what I find the hardest and most uncomfortable of all—live in the full knowledge of the fact that my life and the lives of those I love will inevitably be shorter than I want them to be.

Cycling reminds me of that, and today, as I prepare to take my daughter out for a ride this weekend, I am grateful for the reminder.

]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/09/12/one-wrong-move/feed/ 2 http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/23/kids-and-helmets/ http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/23/kids-and-helmets/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:14:31 +0000 Jason Crane http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1834 Several members of Team RocBike are also members of the board or staff of the New York Bicycling Coalition. NYBC got some press this week in the Schenectady Gazette:

Police go easy on kids without helmets — Education seen as higher priority
Friday, August 22, 2008
By Jessica Harding
Gazette Reporter

CAPITAL REGION — After an 8-year-old boy was hit by a car while riding his bike in Amsterdam, his mother was ticketed for his violation of the state’s bicycle helmet safety law.

Amsterdam Police Officer Ariel Santiago said such instances are rare.

“We’re more about education,” he said Thursday.

Santiago said he frequently stops children in the city and tells them to walk their bicycle home and get a helmet or confronts parents about the importance of helmets.

The boy was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital with minor injuries, but many bicycle accident victims are not so lucky.

Statistics from the Brain Injury Association of New York State say that 96 percent of cyclists killed in 1996 were not wearing a helmet and 88 percent of brain injuries from cycling accidents could have been prevented by wearing a helmet. Furthermore, more children between the ages of 5 and 14 go to hospital emergency rooms for biking accidents than any other sport.

Read the rest of the article.

]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/23/kids-and-helmets/feed/ 0 http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/22/bike-thieves-in-the-helderberg-neighborhood/ http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/22/bike-thieves-in-the-helderberg-neighborhood/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:14:20 +0000 Jason Crane http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1817

Bob from Liberty On Bikes passed this along from Ward 9 Common Council rep Jim Sano:

Folks,

Be on the lookout we seem to be experiencing some bicycle thefts. I chased two people away on my block last Friday and we had a bike taken off the porch(locked) on my street last night. I would advise if it’s a valuable bike to lock it up and store it in your garage or back porch and please keep an eye out and report all suspicious activity.

Jim Sano

]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/22/bike-thieves-in-the-helderberg-neighborhood/feed/ 0 http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/21/another-letter-to-news-10-nbc/ http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/21/another-letter-to-news-10-nbc/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:09:57 +0000 Julie http://www.rocbike.com/?p=1799 Here’s my version of what I’d like News 10 NBC to do (yes, I’m on a bit of bike theft rant these days).

Dear News 10 NBC Editors:
On 18 August 2008, News 10 NBC ran a story about Mayor Robert Duffy’s “Zero Tolerance” crime policy. Part of the story featured footage of a Rochester police officer nearly running into a cyclist on a street in the 14621 neighborhood. Reporter Ray Levato cited this as an example of “zero tolerance” for crime.

To use this incident as an example of zero tolerance is destructive to safe and congenial use of the roadways for motorists and cyclists alike.

In this specific scenario, both used poor judgment; the cyclist by not wearing a helmet and not being more aware of the car on his left; the police officer by not signaling or looking back and fulfilling his legal responsibility to exercise “due care.” While both used poor judgment, only the police officer committed a crime; unfortunately, the cyclist could have paid with his life. As a regular bike commuter and occasional driver, I am all too aware that she with the heavier vehicle wins, regardless of who is breaking the law.

As to zero tolerance, I’d like to see the police address the rings of bike thieves roaming our city neighborhoods…three bikes were stolen from my neighborhood this weekend alone, including my own.

Instead of presenting cyclists as criminals, I urge News 10 NBC to explore two related issues: 1) bike theft–who’s committing it, how to prevent it, and information about R Community Bikes (http://www.mpnnow.com/lifestyle/x1542100972), where people in need can get free bicycles rather than buy stolen ones; and 2) safe and courteous procedures for sharing the road between drivers and cyclists.

Sincerely,
Julie White
Rochester, NY
writer for www.rocbike.com

]]> http://www.rocbike.com/2008/08/21/another-letter-to-news-10-nbc/feed/ 5