Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring

Transportation bill torpedoes bicycle and pedestrian funding

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:51:50 -0800

The money for a lot of those bicycle lanes and paths we've come to enjoy over the years could become extinct in a new bill introduced on Tuesday in Congress.

The American Energy Infrastructure Jobs Act is the new multi-year Transportation funding bill, but unlike its predecessors, it doesn't include a penny to pay for bicycle or pedestrian projects.

Bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups are calling on members to contact their congressmen to put bicycling and pedestrian funding back in the transportation bill.

It seems like we're continually being contacted about threats to bike funding, but that's the nature of Capitol Hill these days. People who bike and walk don't have teams of lobbyists to look after their interests; they have to speak for themselves ...

Pennsylvania passes safe passing bill to protect bicyclists

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:26:49 -0800

A bill sits on the Pennsylvania governor's desk that would make the state the 20th to require that motorists give bicycle riders 3 or more feet when passing.

In Pennsylvania's case, it would be the first to require a 4-foot margin. It also makes it a crime to turn into the path of a bicyclist.

John Boyle, research director for Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia: "We're really happy that the bill has been passed, and we hope that there is an education campaign at some point in the future to help motorists understand exactly what the bill means ...

Where bicycling boosts local economies -- two more cases

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:36:33 -0800

Two studies released this week -- one in Iowa and the other in bike-friendly Boulder -- once again prove that bicycling is good for local economies.

The new studies support similar reports from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and elsewhere that bicyclists are capable of opening their wallets and spreading around some cash, sometimes at a jaw-dropping rate.

The Iowa report finds that recreational bicycling creates nearly $365 million in direct or indirect economic benefit to the state; $1 million a day. Bicycle commuting adds another $54 million a year.

In Boulder ...

Nitto aluminum "riser" handlebars recalled in US and Canada

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:16:04 -0800

Several importers are recalling 2,000 faulty aluminum riser handlebars made in Japan by the Nitto Co.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging owners to stop riding bicycles equipped with the handlebars and contact the dealer where they were purchased or Euro Asia Imports for free replacements.

The handlebars can break, causing the cyclist to lose control of the bike and fall. There are two reports ...

Comparing states and big cities for bicycle commuting and safety

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:47:56 -0800

Oregon has the highest rate of bicycle commuting in the 50 states, but South Dakota is the safest state for cycling.

Those are just a couple of findings in the extensive Benchmarking Report for 2012 issued this week by the appropriately named Alliance for Biking and Walking.

The report ranks the state and big cities on levels of bicycling and walking, the comparative risks of those pursuits, and funding for non-motor vehicle transportation.

In most categories, Seattle and Washington state ranks in the top 10 or 15, and the region's Cascade Bicycle Club is singled out for its efforts to encourage bicycling....

20 states require motorists give 3 feet or more when passing cyclists

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:48:49 -0800

Updated Jan. 30, 2012 -- Pennsylvania legislature approves "Safe Passing Bill" that requires a 4-foot margin when passing bicyclists. Awaits Gov. Tom Corbett's signature.

Updated Jan. 20, 2012 -- Bicycle advocates in Pennsylvania are pushing for a bill that would require drivers give cyclists 4 feet of clearance when they pass.

The legislation, HB 170, passed the Pennsylvania House last May, but got pigeon-holed ...

Noncompliance with safety standards sparks helmet recall

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:50:52 -0800

I doubt if any of this blog's readers use these Little Tricky helmets, but their children might.

The US Consumer Protection Safety Commission recommends that kids stop using them immediately because product testing demonstrated that they do not meet CPSC standards for impact resistance.

No injuries have been reported, but Triple Eight Distribution is recalling the 30,400 youth helmets because ...

Another attempt at 3-foot passing law in California

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:19:16 -0800

When learning to ride a bicycle, my pappy told me to get right back on the bike after I'd fallen off.

In a way, that's what the California Bicycle Coalition is doing to keep alive the fight for the 3-foot passing law. But instead of falling off the bike, supporters of the bicycle safety measure keep getting pushed off.

After lawmakers rejected the proposal for several years, they finally passed the law -- Senate Bill 910 -- last fall, only to have Gov. Jerry Brown veto it.

Now, the bike coalition is going back.

In a recent newsletter, the CalBike said they'll reintroduce the measure ...

Bicycle ban issue going to Colorado Supreme Court

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 -0800

Three bicyclists who were ticketed for riding their bicycles in Black Hawk, Colorado, are fighting those tickets all the way to the Supreme Court.

The highest court in Colorado has agreed to hear the case that dates back to the summer of 2010 when the small gambling town in Colorado started enforcing its bicycle ban.

The justices will hear arguments and rule on three issues:

"Whether municipalities may ban bicycling on local streets ...

Police and court records speak volumes on two Kirkland bicycle fatalities; suspect charged in Thursday's fatality

Gene Bisbee — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:18:56 -0800

Related update -- The suspect in death of bicyclist Brad Nakatani on Thursday was charged on Monday afternoon with vehicular homicide and reckless driving. If convicted, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office told the Seattle Times that the standard sentencing range is 3 to 4 years in prison.

Two sets of police and court documents -- one a series of arrest records and the other an investigative report -- made public by two websites shed light on two bicycle fatalities in Kirkland (WA) this year.

In the latest, the blogger at Nerds in Seattle searched the arrest records of Nathan Godwin, the Kirkland man booked on suspicion of vehicular homicide in Thursday's death of bicyclist Brad Nakatani. He found that Godwin received at least one traffic ticket a year -- some quite serious -- since 2004.

Meanwhile, the Cascade Bicycle Club made available on its website the complete investigative report from the bicycle fatality on Juanita Drive in July. The driver in that case was fined $42 for improper lane change. ...