Bicyclists and motorcyclists have more in common than just their desire to tool around on two wheels. Along with pedestrians, both types of bikers are extremely vulnerable to mistakes motorists make.
When only cars or trucks are involved, a moment of inattention when making a left turn or pulling out of a driveway usually results in only a crumpled fender. Add a biker to the mix — with or without a motor — and it can be lethal.
Traffic justice
The American Motorcycle Association has taken a leading role in pushing for traffic justice through state capitols across the nation. When the League of American Bicyclists meets in Washington DC for its annual National Bike Summit March 13-16, representatives from the motorcycle association will be on hand to discuss their efforts.
The motorcycle group's Justice for All campaign focuses on inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill others on the road. They seek three changes in state laws:
1. Increase penalties, including jail time, for those who commit manslaughter with a motor vehicle;
2. Impose fines and driver's license suspensions on drivers who commit traffic offenses that injure or kill others;
3. Get motorcycle-awareness instructions included in each state's driver-education program.
LAB to join in?
In December, after another light sentence in a bike fatality was handed down, I emailed League of American Bicyclists executive director Andy Clarke to get his thoughts about what the motorcycle group (AMA) was doing.
“We've heard the same kind of stories and although we have yet to connect directly with the AMA it's about time we did. We've got a lot in common with them even though our numbers (of killed) are smaller. We support this kind of legislation – although haven't officially endorsed one yet.”
Maybe the first step will be made at the March conference. In a session entitled “We don't get no respect: An agenda for traffic justice,” panelists will include Ed Barsotti of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, Charlie Komanoff of the Traffic Justice Institute, and a rep from the American Motorcycle Association.
A blurb about the panel says “more than 5,000 bicyclists and pedestrians were killed in crashes on roads in 2005, as were 4,500 motorcyclists. Panelists will present ways in which they are seeking greater traffic justice — and how terrible tragedy can be a catalyst for change.”
Some successes
The AMA's Justice for All website says that elements of their campaign have been written into state law in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington. ABATE, a motorcyclist lobbying group in California, successfully pushed legislation that imposes extra fines for right-of-way violations that result in bodily injury.
The California law wasn't as strong as what ABATE was after, but the group noted at its website: “Although this bill is not what we had originally hoped for, it is still an important bill as it builds our momentum for future bill sponsorships.”
In describing its aims, AMA says, “The idea is to recognize that driving (and riding) is a serious responsibility. The consequences of mistakes can be high for victims, and they should be high for offenders, too.”
Check out the other panels and activities at this March's National Bike Summit in Washington DC.
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