from the Tidewater Bicycle Association, prepared by Bruce Drees
The following essay is in regard to an article titled “Chesapeake Bicycle Corridor Becomes a Path to Frustration” appearing in the Virginian-Pilot on Sep. 1st. The genesis for the article, and this response, was a Chesapeake City Council workshop held on Aug. 19 with state and federal officials about the Dominion Blvd project. Tidewater Bicycle Association, which has members residing in the City of Chesapeake, adopted this document as its position in support of maintaining bike and pedestrian access in the project design.
Not long ago a friend was bicycling on a rural road in Chesapeake, not far from where a planned major expansion of Dominion Blvd is under consideration. Someone in a truck going in the opposite direction tossed a beer bottle, striking him in the face. The impact caused him to crash and a loss of consciousness. Fortunately, a passing motorist took notice and summoned help.
Watching a video of the Aug. 19th Chesapeake City Council meeting evoked images of my friend’s ordeal. Except this time it wasn’t a beer aficionado tossing bottles but smiling elected officials wearing suits. And this time the target wasn’t a single cyclist, but anyone who wants to get somewhere by bike or on foot in the City of Chesapeake. [click to continue...]
As most Virginians (should) know, our beloved Chesapeake Bay is in trouble, suffering from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, oxygen depletion, and toxic contamination. So the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has launched its Cyclist for the Bay campaign, whereby cyclists can be part of the solution. Those who take the Cyclist for the Bay pledge will receive free water bottles and stickers, a pledge card with useful Bay information, membership in a Cyclist Network for Chesapeake Bay cycling information, and discounts on merchandise from the Foundation’s online store.
Fess Green was a friend of mine, so this is difficult to write about. He died April 29 from injuries received in an accident April 23, when 20 year old Ryan Sherman failed to yield to oncoming traffic and made a left turn across Fess’s path.
Ryan Sherman had a history of recklessness behind the wheel — driving too fast for road conditions, and driving “outside restrictions on his license.” (In other words, he probably drove anyway while his license was suspended.) But despite this history, after killing a man, Ryan Sherman received only another temporary suspension of his license, and had to pay only $1500 of a $2500 fine. I am speechless.
Let’s be clear: at VBF we’re non-partisan in the Republican vs. Democrat sense. Both are well-represented on our Board. The only “party” we belong to is the pro-bicycling one!
Many of you may be asking, “Which candidate best represents our interests as cyclists? Is Obama the bike candidate?”
Three Northern Virginia adult education programs are separately sponsoring five cycling skills and bicycle maintenance courses taught by Allen Muchnick, a nationally certified League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Cycling Instructor. All classes meet on weekday evenings from 6:30-9:30 PM.
The five courses are (see longer descriptions, fees, dates, and locations below):
Bicycling 101, a 3-hour discussion of bicycling basics for new and intermediate riders.
Cycling with Confidence (LAB Road-1), the essential, comprehensive, and very practical 9-hour cycling skills course for *all* bicyclists;
Proficient Cycling (LAB Road-2), 9 hours of advanced cycling and mechanical skills for Road-1 graduates;
Bicycle Maintenance & Repair, a 3-hour lecture and demonstration; and
Bicycle Mechanics Workshop, a 3-hour hands-on sequel to any course listed above.
To register, contact the local course sponsor at least one week in advance: [click to continue...]
“Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” –John Forrester
This video by Brian D’Souza and Dan Gutierrez shows how, and why:
The discussion following this video on YouTube is well worth reading too, as it covers both California and Virginia law about lane position.
Update: if you’d like to learn to ride confidently and safely in traffic, like the cyclists in this video, and you live in northern Virginia or the District, consider Allen Muchnick’s summer 2008 bike safety classes.
On Monday, March 3, 2008, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced Senate bill S. 2686, The Complete Streets Act of 2008. The Complete Streets Act of 2008 was introduced to ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users as well as children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on streets and highways. The bill would require that state DOTs and MPOs develop complete streets policies for the use of federal funds.
Co-sponsors and supporters of S. 2686 are essential - please call or write to your Senator today to gain their support. [click to continue...]
After many years where it was common knowledge through the halls of the State Legislature that “any bill restricting dogs that comes down here will soon be dead on arrival“, the highly publicized tragic death of the Fredericksburg woman and her pet dog after being mauled by a neighbor’s pit bull a couple of years ago has changed all that.That incident, more than anything, led to the passage of the bill, effective on July 1, 2006 which established a “Dangerous Dog Registry” and actually went quite a bit further. Rather than publish the bill in its entirety here, I urge all of you to go to the www.vdacs.virginia.gov website and print a copy of the three page bill for yourself, while I will briefly summarize it and give a few suggestions here. [click to continue...]
