safe routes to schools respecting the road - Marin County Bicycle ...
safe routes to schools respecting the road - Marin County Bicycle ...
safe routes to schools respecting the road - Marin County Bicycle ...
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Respecting <strong>the</strong> Road<br />
and Reflecting on a Tragedy<br />
By Scott Warner<br />
Originally Published September 29, 2012 at Patch.com; updated for Pedal Press.<br />
The Bay Area endured three high-profile events this weekend involving bicycling—and<br />
emotions. They included <strong>the</strong> 20th anniversary of Critical Mass in San Francisco<br />
and <strong>the</strong> return of <strong>the</strong> Levi Leipheimer Gran Fondo in Sonoma <strong>County</strong>. In those first two<br />
events, a <strong>to</strong>tal of nearly 20,000 cyclists <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> streets.<br />
But <strong>the</strong> most important cycling incident and <strong>the</strong> one stirring everyone’s emotions<br />
occurred in Nova<strong>to</strong> on Thursday afternoon, September 27, when an innocent 12-yearold<br />
girl’s life was taken with <strong>the</strong> collision of her bicycle and a several-<strong>to</strong>n, fast-moving<br />
vehicle on a well-known Nova<strong>to</strong> <strong>road</strong>way near <strong>schools</strong> and homes.<br />
The two formal cycling events and <strong>the</strong> tragic accident in Nova<strong>to</strong> came at a time when<br />
Gov. Jerry Brown was considering authorizing Senate Bill 1464—<strong>the</strong> 3-foot Separation<br />
Law—<strong>to</strong> formally designate a <strong>safe</strong>ty space between cars and bikes on California’s<br />
<strong>road</strong>ways.<br />
My original rationale for writing this short piece was not <strong>to</strong> get in<strong>to</strong> an argument<br />
one way or <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r for <strong>the</strong> proposed legislation (although many local residents had<br />
been very vocal on both sides and I, in fact, supported <strong>the</strong> proposal) nor was it <strong>to</strong> blame<br />
drivers or cyclists for accidents. Instead, I wrote <strong>the</strong> piece <strong>to</strong> plead <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> citizens of<br />
<strong>Marin</strong> <strong>County</strong> and o<strong>the</strong>rs reading this <strong>to</strong> recognize that not one user—vehicle driver,<br />
cyclist, pedestrian—solely “owns” <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>ways.<br />
I am here, however, <strong>to</strong> plead <strong>to</strong> each of us who drive: we must be patient, we must<br />
slow down, we must be aware of our surroundings and WE MUST NOT USE THE<br />
PHONE while driving.<br />
I also am here <strong>to</strong> plead <strong>to</strong> cyclists—young and old—<strong>to</strong> be more patient, follow <strong>the</strong><br />
laws of <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong> including traffic signs and lights, ride with traffic and not against it,<br />
and be courteous <strong>to</strong> drivers, pedestrians and o<strong>the</strong>r cyclists. Too many times, while I am<br />
cycling and while I am driving, I see cyclists (assumed <strong>to</strong> be experienced), disregarding<br />
s<strong>to</strong>p signs, disregarding s<strong>to</strong>p lights, and riding in a way that threatens <strong>the</strong> <strong>safe</strong>ty of o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
cyclists, as well as drivers and pedestrians.<br />
The fact is, we have seen nearly a doubling in numbers of cyclists in <strong>the</strong> past decade<br />
or so. We also have seen increases in <strong>the</strong> number of drivers. Even with <strong>the</strong> much better<br />
cycling infrastructure in <strong>Marin</strong> <strong>County</strong> (including more and better marked bicycle<br />
lanes, separate bicycle pathways, and continued education by groups such as MCBC),<br />
my personal experience is that <strong>the</strong> frustrations and confrontations between driver and<br />
cyclist also are increasing. I do not have an explanation for <strong>the</strong> increase, but I fear it has<br />
<strong>to</strong> do with our faster-paced lives and general in<strong>to</strong>lerance <strong>to</strong>ward patience.<br />
Why does a driver need <strong>to</strong> pass me as I’m cycling down a narrow downhill <strong>road</strong> near<br />
Black Point in Nova<strong>to</strong> while I am coasting downhill at 20 <strong>to</strong> 25 mph, still below but close<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> legal speed limit? It only takes me 30 seconds <strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> bot<strong>to</strong>m of <strong>the</strong> hill<br />
where <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>way opens up and <strong>the</strong> car can pass <strong>safe</strong>ly.<br />
Why does <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>-warrior cyclist feel like he has <strong>to</strong> go through s<strong>to</strong>p signs and s<strong>to</strong>p<br />
lights, endangering not only himself but <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r riders and vehicles and pedestrians<br />
around him?<br />
These situations make no sense <strong>to</strong> me.<br />
But what makes <strong>the</strong> least sense of all, is why does a 12-year-old girl have <strong>to</strong> die while<br />
riding her bike home from school? I, like many of you, have children whom we wish <strong>to</strong><br />
encourage <strong>to</strong> be independent, <strong>to</strong> ride more <strong>to</strong> school and <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> market as we did when<br />
we were kids decades ago. Cyclists are good for <strong>the</strong> environment, and are good for<br />
drivers because <strong>the</strong>y take cars off <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>. And drivers, you have <strong>to</strong> understand that<br />
physics dictates <strong>the</strong> result of a confrontation between<br />
a fast-moving several-<strong>to</strong>n vehicle and a lightweight<br />
bicycle. The bicyclist will not win.<br />
I love cycling. In September I rode 330 miles from<br />
Eureka <strong>to</strong> San Francisco <strong>to</strong> raise more awareness for<br />
bicycling and environmental causes. But <strong>the</strong> high of<br />
that ride is dashed by <strong>the</strong> tragic taking of a young life.<br />
I encourage—no, I plead—for all of us <strong>to</strong> be more<br />
empa<strong>the</strong>tic <strong>to</strong>ward each o<strong>the</strong>r. I plead for us <strong>to</strong> not just<br />
share <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong> but respect <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong> and <strong>the</strong> users of<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>. And <strong>to</strong> do all we can, in our power, <strong>to</strong> prevent<br />
more instances of <strong>the</strong> tragedy that unfolded in <strong>to</strong>wn<br />
just a few short hours before this writing.<br />
Share <strong>the</strong> Road Legislation<br />
Now a follow-up <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> failed authorization of SB<br />
1464. Governor Jerry Brown likely had no idea of<br />
<strong>the</strong> tragic accident in Nova<strong>to</strong> that occurred just hours<br />
before he ve<strong>to</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> proposed 3-foot-separation law.<br />
He may not have recognized <strong>the</strong> ironic timing of his<br />
ve<strong>to</strong>, sandwiched between <strong>the</strong> tragic accident and<br />
<strong>the</strong> two highly publicized events promoting cycling<br />
as a way of life and as a way <strong>to</strong> provide value <strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
in society. He likely is very fond of cyclists and<br />
understands <strong>the</strong> benefits of a <strong>safe</strong>r environment for<br />
cyclists, and all users of <strong>the</strong> public <strong>road</strong>ways. And<br />
truth be <strong>to</strong>ld, I actually believe that Governor Brown<br />
was very close <strong>to</strong> authorizing <strong>the</strong> proposed bill, even<br />
though <strong>the</strong> au<strong>to</strong>mobile lobby, as led by <strong>the</strong> American<br />
Au<strong>to</strong>mobile Association (AAA) was highly vocal in its<br />
opposition <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> bill’s language <strong>the</strong> first time around.<br />
Instead, <strong>the</strong> Governor indicated concern about <strong>the</strong><br />
potential liability issues regarding a provision in <strong>the</strong><br />
proposed legislation that allowed mo<strong>to</strong>rists <strong>to</strong> cross a<br />
double-yellow line while passing a cyclist. No doubt a<br />
wording modification could have been worked out, but<br />
unfortunately, no such modification was entered in<strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> bill before it was sent <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Governor’s desk. On<br />
<strong>the</strong> positive side, Governor Brown did sign Assembly<br />
Bill 819 , which requires <strong>the</strong> California Department<br />
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