Hear Hear! Cincinnati. As an organization which advocates for safer streets for people on bicycles, QCB is alarmed and saddened to hear about such a high concentration of recent crashes. To facilitate our advocacy work, QCB works with the City Of Cincinnati Department of Transportation /Engineering and Cincinnatis own Ohio Bike Lawyer Steve Magus to compile a database of cyclist-motorist incidents and crashes. Statistically many more crashes are recorded during the summer months. Disturbingly, the majority of crashes reported to Queen City Bike share the common theme of motorists not respecting the rights of cyclists on the road either by turning into their paths when they have the right-of-way or running down a cyclist and then leaving the scene. These crashes run counter to the commonly held misconception that most cyclist-motorist crashes involve the cyclist running a red light or not generally following traffic laws. They also signal the continued strong need to educate motorists on cyclist right-of-way as well as the dangers of distracted driving. Finally, these incidents underscore the need for stricter penalties for motorists involved in bicycle crashes. In short, the “I didnt see them” defense should never be considered an excuse but rather an admission of inattention to the road and penalized as such. As advocates working for safer streets, Queen City Bike believes people should be responsible for moving carefully and without harming others, whether they are riding a bicycle. walking or driving a car. As bicycling grows among all demographic segments, motorists should become accustomed to seeing more and more people on bicycles and show them the respect which their place as an authorized road vehicle accords them. Cyclists have as much right to operate on the road as any other vehicle and motorists need to become educated to this fact. Regardless of how we move around our streets, we all must hold ourselves to the highest standard of safety and prioritize vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians for particular caution. If you or anyone you know has been in a bicycle crash involving a motor vehicle, Queen City Bike urges you to both file a report with your local police department AND complete a crash survey found at cagismaps.hamilton-co.org/csrcincinnati/ (click on Bicycle Incidents in the right hand column). This information will allow us to identify high incident locations and advocate for increased enforcement and /or safety improvements in areas identified as especially dangerous. To address the growing number of crashes, Queen City Bike will be taking the following immediate actions: Setting meetings with the Cincinnati Police Department both to convey the concerns of the bike community about the rash of incidents, including hit and runs, and to identify solutions to making our streets safer through enhanced enforcement and more timely and systematic crash reporting. Develop educational materials for motorists which explain a cyclist’s right to the road, which will be distributed at community events, through local businesses and reproduced in community newsletters. Develop and distribute yard signs both as another method of heightening awareness about the increasing number of bicyclists on the roads and as a show of solidarity and support for persons on bikes. Organize and promote a Bike Safety Rally as well as a series of Public Conversations designed both to enhance public understanding of the issue and collectively evolve solutions for improving the safety of our streets. If you are interested in getting involved with any of the actions listed above, please contact Frank at [email protected]. For more information about what to do in a bicycle crash click: queencitybike/what-to-do-in-case-of-a-bike-crash/ “No matter one’s opinion of cyclists or their riding habits, they are practically defenseless against the smallest sedan, never mind an SUV or a truck. Drivers simply have to take the high road — not only around cyclists who abide by the rules of the road, but even around selfish cyclists who don’t. Shaving a few minutes along the way can’t possibly outweigh the risk of maiming or killing a fellow human being.” – Boston Globe Editorial
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 19:21:17 +0000
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