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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Fostering Safety<br />
and Harmony on<br />
<strong>Marin</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Roads and Paths<br />
(cont.)<br />
features articles on this <strong>to</strong>pic from a variety of sources,<br />
including MCBC members and supporters. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore,<br />
in addition <strong>to</strong> speaking with local press outlets<br />
on this subject and giving testimony in public forums,<br />
MCBC has reached out <strong>to</strong> neighboring San Francisco<br />
Bay Area <strong>Bicycle</strong> Coalitions, asking <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> help spread<br />
<strong>the</strong> word <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir members who ride in <strong>Marin</strong>.<br />
MCBC also offers classes and programs intended<br />
<strong>to</strong> improve <strong>the</strong> <strong>safe</strong>ty of cyclists and o<strong>the</strong>r facility users<br />
by providing guidance and information on sharing <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>road</strong> and better developing basic <strong>safe</strong>ty street skills.<br />
Through our Share <strong>the</strong> Road program, we educate<br />
bicyclists and mo<strong>to</strong>rists on how <strong>to</strong> share <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong><br />
courteously and <strong>safe</strong>ly. This is accomplished through<br />
educational classes and workshops, informative print<br />
and online materials, bicycle check-points, and target<br />
audience presentations. Our Basic Street Skills-<strong>Bicycle</strong><br />
Safety Class is for cyclists wishing <strong>to</strong> learn more about<br />
riding <strong>safe</strong>ly on <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>. Cyclists are one of <strong>the</strong> most<br />
vulnerable users of public <strong>road</strong>s; this class will teach<br />
you how <strong>to</strong> ride and drive defensively and how <strong>to</strong> avoid<br />
conflict on <strong>the</strong> <strong>road</strong>. If you have received a bicycle citation<br />
recently, you can get your citation fee reduced by<br />
attending this class. We also offer Women on Wheels<br />
classes, bicycle education classes just for women,<br />
taught by women. We offer Riding with Youth classes<br />
as well. Currently, we are offering free Family Biking<br />
Workshops that can be taken as a series or individually.<br />
These two-hour workshops will teach your family how<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>safe</strong>ly navigate streets with <strong>the</strong> proper equipment<br />
and behaviors.<br />
As you can see, fostering harmony on <strong>Marin</strong>’s<br />
<strong>road</strong>s and paths requires a variety of approaches<br />
and constant diligence. So, <strong>the</strong> next time that you’re<br />
out riding around <strong>to</strong>wn, please remember that a little<br />
courtesy and respect goes a very long way in helping<br />
<strong>to</strong> create greater awareness, appreciation and sense<br />
of community amongst all <strong>road</strong>way and path users, as<br />
well as helping <strong>to</strong> ensure <strong>the</strong> effectiveness of MCBC<br />
advocacy. We greatly appreciate your support and<br />
participation in this effort!<br />
East-West Corridor Becomes More Bike Friendly<br />
If you’ve cycled through <strong>the</strong> East-West Corridor<br />
(Route 24) lately, you’ve likely noticed some very cool<br />
improvements <strong>to</strong> Greenfield Avenue in San Anselmo.<br />
The entire western end, between Spring Grove and <strong>the</strong><br />
Hub, formerly in terrible condition, now has a beautifully<br />
repaved surface. In addition, traffic lanes along<br />
this section were narrowed, <strong>to</strong> facilitate traffic calming.<br />
Also, it’s impossible <strong>to</strong> miss <strong>the</strong> impressive new<br />
white sharrows backed by vibrant green rectangles.<br />
These pre-formed, <strong>the</strong>rmoplastic pavement markings<br />
are not only very visible, retroreflective and skid<br />
resistant, <strong>the</strong>y are also extremely durable. According<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> manufacturer, <strong>the</strong>y have a lifespan six <strong>to</strong> eight<br />
times longer than paint.<br />
Did you also happen <strong>to</strong> notice <strong>the</strong> new reverse<br />
diagonal parking on Greenfield, between Lincoln Park<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Hub? Reverse diagonal parking is considered<br />
a <strong>safe</strong>r type of angle parking. Instead of going forward<br />
in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> parking spots, cars back in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. This allows<br />
drivers <strong>to</strong> make eye contact with oncoming <strong>road</strong> users<br />
when exiting <strong>the</strong> parking space.<br />
Overall, back-in angle parking improves <strong>the</strong> <strong>safe</strong>ty<br />
of cyclists and drivers by increasing visibility and making<br />
access <strong>to</strong> your car easier and <strong>safe</strong>r. The many<br />
benefits of reverse diagonal parking include: improved<br />
visibility and increased field vision; decreased number<br />
of collisions, improving <strong>safe</strong>ty for cyclists and pedestrians;<br />
increased <strong>safe</strong>ty for children exiting cars (when<br />
car doors open <strong>the</strong>y direct children <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> rear of <strong>the</strong><br />
vehicle, away from <strong>the</strong> street); improved handicap<br />
parking; improved loading and unloading; and traffic<br />
calming. The parking itself is simple; it is easier than<br />
parallel parking, and easier than blindly backing in<strong>to</strong><br />
an active traffic lane.<br />
So, all of this sounds great, but is it really <strong>safe</strong>r?<br />
Yes, according <strong>to</strong> a growing number of studies in pilot<br />
communities. Tucson, Arizona reported an average<br />
of three <strong>to</strong> four bike/car crashes per month along<br />
two blocks near <strong>the</strong> University of Arizona before <strong>the</strong>y<br />
implemented back-in angled parking <strong>the</strong>re—and none<br />
in <strong>the</strong> five years following <strong>the</strong> implementation of this<br />
type of parking. We are extremely thankful <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Town of San Anselmo’s Department of Public Works<br />
Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Sean Condry, for his creativity and ability<br />
<strong>to</strong> “think outside of <strong>the</strong> box” when necessary <strong>to</strong> help<br />
ensure <strong>the</strong> <strong>safe</strong>ty of all facility users.<br />
MCBC continues <strong>to</strong> have a productive dialogue with<br />
San Anselmo’s Department of Public Works about<br />
<strong>the</strong> multi-modal possibilities and potential funding<br />
opportunities for <strong>the</strong> eastern segment of this significant<br />
east-west bicycle corridor and active commercial<br />
area. Mr. Condry has noted that in considering any<br />
modifications <strong>to</strong> Greenfield Avenue, staff is taking<br />
in<strong>to</strong> careful consideration <strong>the</strong> needs and <strong>safe</strong>ty of all<br />
stakeholders. Any future designs for this section are<br />
pending until fur<strong>the</strong>r evaluation can be pursued. Given<br />
<strong>the</strong> impressive work completed on western Greenfield<br />
so far, we’re very eager <strong>to</strong> see what transpires on its<br />
eastern end.<br />
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