Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bike lawyers on media and police bias
In the aftermath of the Cupertino bicycle fatalities, in which law abiding cyclists were struck and killed by an apparently dozing driver, the San Francisco Chronicle published this article about law breaking scofflaw cyclists. Besides the whole disconnect from the media (law abiding cyclists die, so lets talk about those law breaking cyclists we always see), I commented briefly on one of the main "facts" of the article, which claimed the cyclists are at fault in most bike-car collisions. Can we trust the facts that are reported.
Cycling lawyer Bob Mionske addressed this article in his latest Legally Speaking column at VeloNews. He writes about the negative media bias and law enforcement bias when it comes to discussing cycling and safety.
Media bias
Erik Ryberg, the Tuscon Bike Lawyer, has also written about "carhead". Initial reporting from the Murky News about the Cupertino crash described Stevens Canyon Road and the practice of cyclist riding two-abreast on narrow, winding roads as "extremely dangerous," which had nothing at all to do with the crash. Erik notes another incident of cyclist Mark Schulz who was put in the hospital by a text messaging driver.
Police bias
Erik is also fired up about recent incident of assaults against cyclists in Tuscon. He saw some news articles from Pennsylvania, where a hit-and-run driver killed a kid pushing a bike alongside the road. The cops had their man within a day and got a confession out of them. Erik's experience in Tuscon, on the other hand, is a police force that complains that going after criminals is a waste of time.
In his VeloNews column, Bob also brings up police bias against cyclists.
With a shout out to Michael Graff, for whom I still need to provide a comments feed.
Cycling lawyer Bob Mionske addressed this article in his latest Legally Speaking column at VeloNews. He writes about the negative media bias and law enforcement bias when it comes to discussing cycling and safety.
Media bias
The first paragraph makes it sound perfectly natural to be text-messaging while driving, and, if anything, the cyclist snuck up on the driver. The second paragraph makes her sound like she was heroic in her attempts not to hit him, but had to take her licks anyway from the police officer, who had no choice but to cite her. The third paragraph minimizes her actions considerably, admonishing drivers to "be more alert" and "get better at sharing the road." I just think it's all kind of weird, given the circumstances.I mentioned recently the death of cyclist Christopher Rock this week in Santa Cruz. The cyclist was passed by a quarry truck on a narrow street and clipped by the truck, causing him to fall and get crushed under the wheels of the trailer holding four tons of sand. So what does the initial news report say about this cyclist? "He was not wearing a helmet." Holy moly.
Police bias
Erik is also fired up about recent incident of assaults against cyclists in Tuscon. He saw some news articles from Pennsylvania, where a hit-and-run driver killed a kid pushing a bike alongside the road. The cops had their man within a day and got a confession out of them. Erik's experience in Tuscon, on the other hand, is a police force that complains that going after criminals is a waste of time.
Sgt. Tim Beam, representing the police department, insisted that if a victim cannot identify his or her assailant, there is nothing the police can do. So, if the victim is killed or if they did not get a positive look at their assailant, the police therefore do nothing.
Sgt. Beam made this statement to explain why his department does not follow up when bicyclists are assaulted, even if there are witnesses and a license plate is obtained. He repeatedly stated that such follow-up is pointless and a waste of time because no conviction could ever be obtained.
it appears the Chronicle's conclusions are largely drawn from its analysis of police accident reports. The problem with reaching that conclusion, however, is that the underlying data — the police accident reports — are notoriously unreliable, because of the biases inherent in them: Law enforcement failure to interview the cyclist involved, and law enforcement interpretation of safe and legal riding practices as unsafe and/or illegal.Bob gives some examples of cyclists who are cited for "unsafe speed" in their collisions with cars.
We know that in the case of Lloyd Clarke, “unsafe speed” meant that as Lloyd was proceeding straight through an intersection in Incline Village, a 17 year old driver made a left turn, directly into his path, violating his right of way and killing him instantly. The police didn’t seem at all concerned about that illegal left turn, however. Instead, they reported that Lloyd had been riding “at a high rate of speed.”Like Bob, I'm certainly aware of cyclists who ride illegally and unsafely, but is it an honest discussion when we're talking about motorists who break the law, and the media portrayal and police reports continue to paint victims as scofflaws in spite of their lawful riding?
With a shout out to Michael Graff, for whom I still need to provide a comments feed.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Now read this
Zakkalicious posts about Fear Mongering among some American cyclists. I think it was Bike Lane Hottie who wrote that cycling advocates continually gripe about how dangerous cycling is, and then wonder why nobody wants to ride a bike. Cycle Dog and I occasionally discuss this topic of ineffective advocacy over email.
Enjoy the ride and quick worrying so much about the traffic. They're not gonna hit you, and if they do it only hurts a little.
Enjoy the ride and quick worrying so much about the traffic. They're not gonna hit you, and if they do it only hurts a little.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Another cyclist fatality at Mission and Bay in Santa Cruz
A cyclist was killed Tuesday morning after he was passed and struck by a cement truck in Santa Cruz. According to this news report, the truck driver overtook the cyclist where there isn't room to pass, and the truck driver never apparently didn't know he hit somebody until authorities found the truck several blocks away. According to witnesses, the truck driver clipped the cyclist, who fell under the wheels of the cement truck.
The intersection of Mission Street and Bay Street in Santa Cruz is one of the busier intersections in town. Bay Street provides access to the University of California in Santa Cruz, and Mission Street is California State Route 1 and a major arterial through town. Mission Street is too narrow to share and People Power, the cycling advocacy group in Santa Cruz County, has been pushing Caltrans to install "cyclists may use entire lane" signs on Mission, as this is the second fatality at Mission and Bay in nine months. If the truck driver passed the cyclist, he is fully culpable in this "accident."
People Power worked with the Santa Cruz City Council to put up signs on Mission that advise cyclists and drivers that cyclists are encouraged to use the full right lane. This is perfectly legal according to California Vehicle Code (which states that bicyclists can use the full right-hand lane when a lane is too narrow for "a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane") and was approved by the City Council.
Caltrans has refused to put up the signs, stating that they don't think it is safe for cyclists to ride in the lane, even after the Santa Cruz Police, the Traffic Safety Coalition, and others have pointed out that it is not safe to ride to the right of cars and trucks. The only safe way to do so is in the middle of the right lane. Caltrans refuses to put these signs up. In the meantime, cyclists, take the lane at this location for your own safety.
The intersection of Mission Street and Bay Street in Santa Cruz is one of the busier intersections in town. Bay Street provides access to the University of California in Santa Cruz, and Mission Street is California State Route 1 and a major arterial through town. Mission Street is too narrow to share and People Power, the cycling advocacy group in Santa Cruz County, has been pushing Caltrans to install "cyclists may use entire lane" signs on Mission, as this is the second fatality at Mission and Bay in nine months. If the truck driver passed the cyclist, he is fully culpable in this "accident."
People Power worked with the Santa Cruz City Council to put up signs on Mission that advise cyclists and drivers that cyclists are encouraged to use the full right lane. This is perfectly legal according to California Vehicle Code (which states that bicyclists can use the full right-hand lane when a lane is too narrow for "a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane") and was approved by the City Council.
Caltrans has refused to put up the signs, stating that they don't think it is safe for cyclists to ride in the lane, even after the Santa Cruz Police, the Traffic Safety Coalition, and others have pointed out that it is not safe to ride to the right of cars and trucks. The only safe way to do so is in the middle of the right lane. Caltrans refuses to put these signs up. In the meantime, cyclists, take the lane at this location for your own safety.
$4.01 per gallon
That's the price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline at this Shell gas station in Palo Alto this evening.
It shot up a nickel from this morning when it was priced at $3.969. At other stations in Palo Alto a more typical price is around $3.88 per gallon. What's gasoline running for in your area?
It shot up a nickel from this morning when it was priced at $3.969. At other stations in Palo Alto a more typical price is around $3.88 per gallon. What's gasoline running for in your area?
Bicycle banality
It's time to clear out my backlog of old bicycle news and study up on my GRE vocabulary.
This photo depicts a Mad Cat rider at the 8 hour Boggs Mountain Bike event. Photo by Ken Conley, who's posted 300+ photos from the event to his website, including some fun Crimes Against Photography. What pulchritudinously prolific facial hair.
Some of you might remember the anomalous case of Michael de Broin in Toronto. As he and his friends drove his human-powered Buick down the street, he was pulled over and ticketed by the local constabulary. Rather than complaisantly paying the fine, the intractable de Broin had his day in Court a few days ago. As the prosecution vacuously described the danger of the vehicle's antedeluvian candlelight illumination, the courtroom "erupted in giggles". Local Justice of the Peace demonstrated his sagacity by dismissing the case. The placated defendants celebrated by taking their Buick for a spin. Via.
Bike to School Month is April 28 to May 23 in the Cleveland area.
The Sierra Club descries the bicycle as a two wheeled wonder.
The city of Fort Collins, Colorado enervates the inchoate American bike share movement with the laudable opening of a new bicycle lending library. Read more here and here. The new library has 50 bikes to lend to the public, free of charge, with bikes available from two locations. Lenders can borrow a bike for up to a week.
A new Major Taylor Memorial opens May 21, 2008 in Worcester, Mass. Details here.
This photo depicts a Mad Cat rider at the 8 hour Boggs Mountain Bike event. Photo by Ken Conley, who's posted 300+ photos from the event to his website, including some fun Crimes Against Photography. What pulchritudinously prolific facial hair.
Some of you might remember the anomalous case of Michael de Broin in Toronto. As he and his friends drove his human-powered Buick down the street, he was pulled over and ticketed by the local constabulary. Rather than complaisantly paying the fine, the intractable de Broin had his day in Court a few days ago. As the prosecution vacuously described the danger of the vehicle's antedeluvian candlelight illumination, the courtroom "erupted in giggles". Local Justice of the Peace demonstrated his sagacity by dismissing the case. The placated defendants celebrated by taking their Buick for a spin. Via.
Bike to School Month is April 28 to May 23 in the Cleveland area.
The Sierra Club descries the bicycle as a two wheeled wonder.
The city of Fort Collins, Colorado enervates the inchoate American bike share movement with the laudable opening of a new bicycle lending library. Read more here and here. The new library has 50 bikes to lend to the public, free of charge, with bikes available from two locations. Lenders can borrow a bike for up to a week.
A new Major Taylor Memorial opens May 21, 2008 in Worcester, Mass. Details here.
Trek sues LeMond
At an employee meeting this morning, Trek president John Burke announced that Trek filed a lawsuit to sever the company's ongoing relationship with three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond. This suit comes on a heels of commentary from LeMond, in which LeMond recently disclosed that Trek pressured him to issue a public apology to Lance Armstrong at Armstrong's behest.
Trek began its business relationship with Greg LeMond in 1995. By 1999, the LeMond line was one of the fastest growing road bike brands and one of the top five largest road bike brands in the United States, with the LeMond brand growing to a $15 million business.
In 2001, LeMond criticized Lance Armstrong for his association with Italian trainer and physician Michele Ferrari, who advocates for the use of performance enhancing drugs. "When I heard he was working with Michele Ferrari I was devastated," said LeMond of Armstrong's Tour de France wins in 2001. "In the light of Lance's relationship with Ferrari, I just don't want to comment on this year's Tour. This is not sour grapes. I'm disappointed in Lance, that's all it is."
A month later, LeMond issued a tearful public apology to Armstrong.In July 2004, however, LeMond again questioned Armstrong's achievements, saying, "If Armstrong's clean, it's the greatest comeback. And if he's not, then it's the greatest fraud." LeMond also said that Armstrong threatened to defame LeMond and that he was told to keep quiet to protect his business interests. Last September, LeMond said in an interview that his 2001 apology came after Trek came under pressure from Armstrong and threatened to end their relationship.
Last March, LeMond filed suit against Trek. In his 41 page complaint against Trek, LeMond claims that Trek tried to silence LeMond several times regarding his allegations of drug use by Armstrong. LeMond claims that Trek is failing to "exert best efforts regarding LeMond's brand" in violation of their license agreement and that Trek may be "winding down" it's promotion of LeMond bicycles to retaliate against LeMond's commentary about doping in cycling. While Trek claims that that LeMond's actions are hurting the Trek and LeMond brands, LeMond claims that he has seen no evidence of this. According to LeMond, Trek intentionally snubs LeMond by making no mention of his brand at dealer events and in promotional material.
Trek told retailers in a letter this morning that they will offer LeMond retailers a sales rebate promotion to help drive the sales of 2008 LeMond inventory.
Trek began its business relationship with Greg LeMond in 1995. By 1999, the LeMond line was one of the fastest growing road bike brands and one of the top five largest road bike brands in the United States, with the LeMond brand growing to a $15 million business.
In 2001, LeMond criticized Lance Armstrong for his association with Italian trainer and physician Michele Ferrari, who advocates for the use of performance enhancing drugs. "When I heard he was working with Michele Ferrari I was devastated," said LeMond of Armstrong's Tour de France wins in 2001. "In the light of Lance's relationship with Ferrari, I just don't want to comment on this year's Tour. This is not sour grapes. I'm disappointed in Lance, that's all it is."
A month later, LeMond issued a tearful public apology to Armstrong.In July 2004, however, LeMond again questioned Armstrong's achievements, saying, "If Armstrong's clean, it's the greatest comeback. And if he's not, then it's the greatest fraud." LeMond also said that Armstrong threatened to defame LeMond and that he was told to keep quiet to protect his business interests. Last September, LeMond said in an interview that his 2001 apology came after Trek came under pressure from Armstrong and threatened to end their relationship.
Last March, LeMond filed suit against Trek. In his 41 page complaint against Trek, LeMond claims that Trek tried to silence LeMond several times regarding his allegations of drug use by Armstrong. LeMond claims that Trek is failing to "exert best efforts regarding LeMond's brand" in violation of their license agreement and that Trek may be "winding down" it's promotion of LeMond bicycles to retaliate against LeMond's commentary about doping in cycling. While Trek claims that that LeMond's actions are hurting the Trek and LeMond brands, LeMond claims that he has seen no evidence of this. According to LeMond, Trek intentionally snubs LeMond by making no mention of his brand at dealer events and in promotional material.
Trek told retailers in a letter this morning that they will offer LeMond retailers a sales rebate promotion to help drive the sales of 2008 LeMond inventory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
