Good ideas, Matt, but many of these things are dangerous/illegal whether a bicyclist
is present or not. You don't need a ped/cyclist there to see, for example, someone
waiting to turn, looking _only_ in the direction of the car traffic while talking on a
cell-phone and creeping over the crosswalk, to know that s/he is acting unsafely.
Framing these things only in the context of the presence of a bicycle or pedestrian
might send the message that motorists should be watchful of these things only in the
presence of a bike/ped. But safe driving should be the order of the day at all times,
if for no other reason than the obvious one that our presence may not always be
obvious. Safe driving should be enforced not just _in_ our presence, but in
_anticipation_ of our presence.
I'm esp. concerned about "context-based" enforcement in that it could be seen as
"seasonal". One statement made by the guy who T-boned me with his Crown Vic (two years
ago tomorrow, happy anniversary I suppose...) was that he wasn't expecting a bicyclist
to be out in the rain on a cold dark March night. Drivers (as if I need to tell this
group!) MUST expect us 24/7/365, and everywhere except the freeways. It's like those
AAA "School's Out; Drive Safely" bumper stickers. Does that imply "When school's not
out, drive like a maniac"?
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Matt Logan [EMAIL PROTECTED]
One of the key ingredients in any "problem area" for bicyclists is
the presence of a bicyclist. A lot of unsafe behavior only occurs when
there is a bicyclist using the road. For this reason, I would suggest
to the Dane Country Law enforcement officials that "If you have to ask
where the problem areas are, you need to go ride a bike more often!"
I would strongly suggest that instead of (I am assuming this is
true) having one officer sitting in a car looking for problems - that
two officers be on the scene - one on a bike (plainclothes) , and one in
the car ready to pull over offenders.
----
The officer on the bike would ride through some problem areas like:
Along the road next to shopping malls - hoping to catch a motorist that
misjudges the bicyclist's speed - looking for a motorist that tries to
pass but ends up cutting the bicyclist off as they make a right turn
into the mall.
Construction areas: Look for intersections where there is construction
on one side of the road (near the intersection). Have the bike officer
ride on the construction side of the road through the intersection -
here you are looking to find motorists turning left who are not looking
out for bicyclists, but instead are gawking at the construction activities.
Along busy two lane (two way, one lane each way) roads - signaling for a
left turn while riding where you are supposed to (on the right side).
Here you are looking for motorists who will illegally pass a vehicle on
the left that is signaling for a left turn in the same lane.
Along areas with a high number of parked cars, and lots of parking space
turnover. Here, you are looking to find motorists who fail to make sure
there are no bicycles about to pass before they open their car doors.
On relatively busy streets with a high number of surface hazards. Here,
you are looking to make sure motorists properly yield to the bicyclist
as they avoid hazards in the road.
Where legal, riding on a sidewalk (or bike path) against the traffic in
the nearest road lane. Here, you are looking for motorists who are not
"expecting" to see a bicycle in these situations - making turns without
checking in both directions, and motorists who fail to undergo a
"complete cessation of motion prior to crossing a pedestiran way" as
required by law. [experienced cyclists know better than to ride in this
situation, right?]
----
Also, I would suggest that the officer on the bike ride in two different
fashions.
1) Like a typical inexperienced bicyclist - sticking to the far right of
the road, or on a sidewalk at all times, yielding to motorists in almost
every instance, whether or not it is required by law.
2) Like a more experienced cyclist - taking over the lane when it is
safe and legal to do so, being more aggressive when making left turns, etc.
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