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Obama doubles spending on bicycling, walking projects


WASHINGTON - The Obama administration more than doubled transportation spending on bicycling and walking last year, seeking to coax Americans out of their cars, a Federal Highway Administration report said Wednesday.

Spending on biking and walking projects rose from $600 million in 2008 to $1.2 billion in 2009. Twenty years ago, the government was spending only $6 million a year on such projects.

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'Zero-tolerance' policy to be evaluated


Police will evaluate the weekend's "zero-tolerance" trial policy on speed before deciding to extend it or apply it again.

All drivers caught travelling more than 4km/h over the posted permanent speed limit were to be ticketed over Queen's Birthday weekend, which saw only one death on the roads - the lowest road toll for a holiday weekend in over 50 years.
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"One death on the road is one death too many but it's a hell of a lot better than 10 so that's a good thing."
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Ms Rose said drivers took up the challenge and self-policed their own speed, which was the aim of the blitz.

"We don't want to catch people, we want people to choose to do the right thing. On this weekend we have had a lot of people making some really good choices."
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GO Transit offers bike coaches for seasonal Niagara Falls weekend train


[B' Spokes: What do you think, well Maryland ever see train service that accommodates bikes, at least on the weekends to service the C&O?]


Media are invited to preview the newly designated bike coaches designed specifically for the Niagara Falls seasonal service train, as well as see a demonstration on how to use the bike racks installed on board.

Starting Friday, May 21, and just in time for the Victoria Day weekend visitors to Niagara Falls will be able to take the GO Train to get there.

With approximately 50,000 passengers enjoying the inaugural service last summer, it was an easy decision for GO to run this weekend excursion service again. GO listened to its passengers and has converted a few passenger cars into bike coaches so customers can bring their bikes with them on their weekend getaways.

Each of the Saturday and Sunday Niagara Falls trains will have two bike coaches included in its train set. Each designated bike coach will be able to accommodate 18 bikes. All other passenger coaches have space to carry the standard 2-4 bikes.

The designated bike coaches will have bike decals on the windows, making them easy to identify. The Customer Service Ambassador will also be stationed inside one of the bike coaches on each train trip to help answer passenger questions about how to use the bike racks. Bike racks will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

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Alexandria's Spring 2010 Street Smart Results


[B' Spokes again something I have never seen reported here in Maryland. Is our Street Smart Campaign working? Does anyone care? Did you even know we had a Street Smart Campaign?]


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Alexandria announced it's spring Street Smart Campaign results. Either they weren't targeting cyclists, or we were a well-behaved lot.

During the Street Smart campaign, 1,412 citations were issued.  Of these citations, 1,250 were issued for motorist violations.  This includes 656 Speeding citations, 84 Reckless Driving citations, two Passing Loading/Unloading School Bus citations, one Failure to Stop for Pedestrians at a Crosswalk citation and 507 other violations.  One hundred and thirty-nine motorist arrests were made for violations including Driving While Intoxicated and Driving with a Suspended/Restricted License.

In addition, eleven pedestrian citations were issued for Walking Against the Don’t Walk signal or Red Light.  One bicyclist citation was issued for No Front White Light at Night/No Rear Reflector.

The numbers don't add up (1250+11+1 <> 1412), but I don't know what I'm missing.

Officers issued citations to drivers along the Mount Vernon Trail corridor in Old Town to encourage safe bicycling.

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Welcome to Traffic Skills 101


[B' Spokes: If someone takes this course could you please leave a comment and let us know what you think of it.]
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The City of Houston is proud to be a partner with the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) in the development of this online course to represent the classroom portion of the League's Traffic Skills 101 course. The BikeEd program is designed to develop the craft and science of bicycling, the ability to use a bicycle with confidence and competence for pleasure, utility and sport under various roadway, climate and traffic conditions.

With this convenient on-line course, we hope that you will find valuable tools to provide you with knowledge and confidence to ride safely and in a commendable manner. By completing the online portion of Traffic Skills 101, you are on your way towards becoming a bicycle ambassador. Your example will demonstrate to your co-workers and to our residents your bicycling initiative. We hope that your positive example and endeavor motivates Houstonians to recognize the value of bicycling and they consider riding themselves.

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Driver issued summons after accident with cyclist


[B' Spokes: Note this is filed in the &quot;News you will not see in Maryland&quot; section.]

Associated Press

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. — The State Patrol says a pickup truck driver accused in an accident that seriously injured a cyclist near Gateway has been issued a summons alleging careless driving causing bodily injury.

Troopers say 29-year-old Jenny Daubendiek of Boulder was riding north on Colorado 141 on Sunday when the pickup tried to pass her.

Troopers say 73-year-old pickup driver Vernon F. Brock of Grand Junction encountered oncoming traffic and steered back into the northbound lane, striking the back of the bicycle. Daubendiek was thrown about 50 feet.


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GPD tracks percent of cars yielding to pedestrians


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Photo credit: Doug Finger/The Gainesville Sun

Gainesville's campaign to get drivers to yield for pedestrians is apparently showing results. Signs placed in several locations around town show that more than half of the drivers in the city now yield to pedestrians.
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Yielding on Yield
from How We Drive, the Blog of Tom Vanderbilt's Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt

In New Jersey, you now have to come to a complete stop, rather than simply “yield,” when pedestrians are in the crosswalk.

Why?

New Jersey has one of the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities in the country, with 27 [FARS says 22.9 for NJ] percent of auto fatalities in 2008 involving pedestrians, almost twice the national rate [MD is "only" 19.6% :( I will note our rate per capita is 2.06 vs NJ @ 1.55], according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Must be all those jaywalking pedestrians, no? Not quite. Rather drivers, and this will surprise no readers of this blog, seemed to show a shocking disregard — or complete lack of knowledge — of the actual law.

Last year, Cherry Hill police set up crosswalk stings, in which officers, in some cases pushing baby strollers, would step out into a crosswalk as cars approached. Over six days, officers handed out 249 tickets and arrested one man who became irate when cited by police, Rann said.

“People would just drive right around the carriage,” he said. “It’s a matter of handing out more tickets. It gets the word out, and people start to comply.”

Another dispatch notes:

A potentially controversial part of the law says that if a driver hits a pedestrian in a crosswalk, the presumption of fault lies with the driver for not taking “due care” for the safety of the pedestrian.

What’s controversial to my mind in this case is presuming fault on anyone but the driver.

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N.J. law now requires drivers stop for pedestrians in crosswalks


A new New Jersey state law goes into effect Thursday that mandates that motorists must stop — and remain stopped — for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

In the past, motorists were required only to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

State Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer are traveling the state Thursday to remind New Jerseyans of the change.

&quot;For years, too many pedestrians have been dying in traffic accidents in New Jersey,&quot; Dow said. &quot;With these changes to our law, motorists and pedestrians will no longer have to play a game of chicken when it comes to maneuvering on our roadways. The law brings new clarity that drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians at intersections and crosswalks, and pedestrians, in turn, must use due care and not jaywalk or step into traffic outside of those crossing points.&quot;

Motorists who violate the law face a $200 fine, plus court costs, and 2 points on their license. They can also be subject to 15 days of community service and insurance surcharges.
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[B' Spokes: There is also an added assumption that if a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk the driver is at fault.]

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The Mayor of London urges tougher driving test after death of 7th London cyclist this year


The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has written to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to urge the government to alter driving tests to ensure that drivers are compelled to take more notice of cyclists.

According to the Evening Standard, Mr Johnson wrote his letter after a 31-year-old woman on Monday became the seventh cyclist to be killed on London’s roads this year.

The victim, Zoe Sheldrake, from Borehamwood, was killed after being struck by a black Audi on the A41 Edgware Way, near junction 4 of the M1, at 7.30am on Monday morning.

The newspaper reported that the car’s driver, a 49-year-old male, had been arrested and taken to a police station in North London, where he was bailed to return on 28 June while the police make further enquiries.

In his letter, Mr Johnson told Lord Adonis: “We feel that there is merit in examining whether the standard driving test for car drivers should be tightened further to ensure the needs of vulnerable road users are fully understood by new drivers.”
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