Transition Towns

The Juan De Fuca Cycling Coalition is looking at working closer with the Sooke Transition Town Initiative. We have very similar goals with overlap in many places and this creates the opportunity to share resources and like-minded membership! I think this is an exciting opportunity for all of us to broaden our sphere of influence.

Pedal Points; Riding the Sidewalk

Even though it is illegal in most municipalities, many people ride their bicycles on the sidewalk, either for convenience or fear of traffic on the road. However, by riding on the sidewalk, cyclists can make themselves more vulnerable to an accident than might be readily apparent. Many collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles occur at intersections of sidewalks and parking lots, driveways and cross streets.

Often people ride the sidewalk going opposite direction to the normal traffic flow, which presents a problem for vehicles pulling out of driveways or coming up to intersections. As car drivers, what direction do we first look when approaching a cross road? Usually to the left. That is where we expect vehicles to be coming from. We don’t expect a cyclist to be approaching from our right side, so we might not see them until it is too late, particularly if they are moving with any speed. Even with same direction traffic, a cyclist on the sidewalk is out of a motorist’s normal field of view and vulnerable to collision when the car turns onto a cross street and the cyclist enters that street. (no matter which direction they are riding) See diagrams

There have been studies done showing that it can be twice as dangerous riding on the sidewalk than riding on the road.

The other reason for not riding on a sidewalk is for pedestrian safety and comfort. Don’t underestimate the potential to harm a pedestrian with a bicycle. Even if you have complete control of your bicycle and don’t hit anyone, it makes some pedestrians (particularly the elderly) nervous having to share a sidewalk with a bike.

One of the challenges that many communities have  is that the roads are not safe for cyclists due to a lack of bike lanes or wide shoulders, debris, poor pavement and high speed motor traffic, so people elect to use the sidewalk.

Some municipalities have bylaws that allow cyclists with wheel diameters of 24” or less to use the sidewalk (i.e.; children’s bikes).  Even with good bike lanes or shoulders it might not be a good idea to let your child ride on the road due to traffic volume, speed etc.

There are also times when a cyclist wants to ride a very short distance down the road, but in order to follow traffic flow they would have cross the line of traffic, only to cross back again a very short distance later. This puts them in much more danger than simply staying on the sidewalk to go against the traffic flow and getting to their destination in a much more direct line. (I certainly do this at times) After all, it is a bicycle and should have some more flexibility and advantage over driving a car!
So, here we see some reasons that people riding bikes might want to use the sidewalk. In this case there are a few things we can do to make it as safe as possible, for everyone. First, and often the best option is to get off and walk your bike, particularly if there are pedestrians using the sidewalk! (Did you know it is also illegal to ride your bike across a pedestrian crosswalk?) If you feel the need to stay on your bike, move slowly and under control with due regard to intersections, driveways and other sidewalk users. Remember that pedestrians often stop or turn suddenly and can turn right into a cyclist. If somebody gets hurt you can count on the cyclists being the one held responsible in this case.

I have seen many instances where pedestrians and cyclists can use the same piece of pavement safely and efficiently, but that involves using common sense and courtesy. Nowadays we often see mobility scooters using the sidewalks, and in my mind they are vulnerable to the same dangers as a cyclist on the sidewalk, so these same procedures should apply to them. We also have to remember that even though we are riding in a safe and courteous manner we might upset some pedestrians by our presence on the sidewalk with a bicycle, because legally, we shouldn’t be there. Unfortunately there are also some people who believe people on bicycles shouldn’t be travelling on the road either! This is not true. A bicycle has the right to be on all roads except some highways posted as such.

To sum it all up; It is usually much safer to ride on the road than on the sidewalk, but don’t do anything your instincts tell you is not safe. Take a course on safe cycling, to help give you confidence riding on the road if you are uncomfortable with it.

If you feel you must ride on the sidewalk, use common sense, courtesy and beware of the traps that this can lead you into, and be prepared to defend your actions to law enforcement officials if need be.

Remember to;

·      Think ahead

·      Use common sense

·      Be aware of your surroundings

·      Make yourself visible and act like you are invisible

·      Make your intentions known, be predictable and make eye contact with drivers

·      Be courteous, smile and have fun!

Where have the Bike Boxes gone?

Some of you might have noticed that the bike storage lockers at the Sooke Park N' Ride have disappeared. They are now at the Edward Milne Community Schools's Art department. A group of students are going to be painting the boxes, thanks to support from the Sooke Program for the Arts. Watch for the brightly painted boxes coming back in the next couple of months!

New signs on Sooke River Bridge/ HWY 14; SHARE THE ROAD

Part of the work we are doing with MOTI is trying to get some signage on the highway. This is one of the first steps at the Sooke River Bridge and Ayum Creek Bridge. I believe this will help with awareness and hopefully help legitimize the presence of bicycles on the highway. (Some people still think that they aren't allowed or shouldn't be there)

And here is a photo that helps remind us why we need to be vigilant...and sometimes downright scared riding on the shoulder of highways!

Yikes! Glad I wasn't riding there!

An Excellent Article on Cyclist Responsibility

This article by Tony Webster presents a well balanced view on some very important cycling safety tips. The article was originally published in the s Cycle Therapy Fall 2010 edition. published by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition
Well worth reading, particularly for anyone riding in the urban environment!
Here is a link to the article.

Anyone interested in the Book "The Art of Cycling" by Robert Hurst, that Tony mentions, here is a link to some excerpts. Also for local people, I have a spare copy to lend out! Email or call me.
Stephen

Sooke Bike Box Survey Results

Bike Box Survey Results

Administered by Juan De Fuca Cycling Coalition

Total of 19 people responded to survey that was advertised in Sooke News Mirror, JDF Cycle Coalition Blog and email list.
Link to report here.

Urban Planning...by Kids

It might be worth listening to our children about how to design our towns....and maybe not just kids, but the seniors as well! Check out this article

Pedal Points; Helmets; Using your Head

The use of helmets for cycling can become the subject of heated debate, partly because of the desire of some people to not have a decision legislated upon them, and for some people the overall benefits are not clear. The argument often used is that in countries where cycling is much more accepted and commonplace, most people do not wear helmets and the injury rate seems to be lower than places where helmets are law and less people ride. Part of the reason for this is that the more people cycle, the safer it becomes for the road users (cyclists and motorists alike). Also in countries like Danemark and Holland, cycling is part of the culture. Here in North America, we are slowly getting there, though we still have a long way to go. Google the subject and you will find lots of information.

Here in BC it is the law to wear a helmet, and I think it is a good idea to wear a helmet. Even if it was not legally required, I would be wearing my helmet. I am amazed at the number of people I see biking with a helmet hanging from the handlebars. What is that all about? It wont protect your head, or prevent you from getting a ticket. (A $29 fine by the way) Face it, all it takes is a simple little fall, even at low speed, with your noggin hitting the concrete or a rock....with potentially devastating results. That is why it is so important for young children learning to ride to wear a proper cycling helmet

Having said that, don't expect that a helmet will make you invincible, particularly in a high speed crash with another object. Wear one, but ride like you are not wearing one!

Proper helmet fitting and care is crucial. Did you know that most modern helmets are only good for one impact. That even means dropping it from a few feet off the ground! This is a good reason why you shouldn't buy a used helmet, particularly if it is showing any sign of wear and tear. The foam also breaks down after several years of exposure to the elements. The best thing is to go to your local bike shop to get help in fitting your helmet properly and to see if you need to replace it. (There are good illustrations on the internet as well for helmet fitting)

Look out for, and research some of the new technologies coming out soon for helmet design. One design coming out this year is a helmet with it's own synthetic scalp that helps prevent rotational injuries. This type of injury often results in a much more serious harm than a straight concussion. You want to have a helmet with a smooth surface that will slide instead of getting caught on the ground and thus twisting your neck.

Statistically, those countries with no helmet laws have a higher ridership and thus safer roads, but are you willing to take a personal risk just to prove a point? New helmets are lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and here in BC, it is the law for everyone on a road to wear a helmet, for both children and adults.

Remember the days when hardly anyone wore a seat belt in a car? Now most of us don't even give it a second thought. So put your lid on, get out there, and have fun!

Bells & Whistles

Some people are very “gear oriented” and have to have the latest bells and whistles for whatever they do. Cyclists are no exception, though one does not have to get all the latest gear to cycle safely. The most important thing is to have a well maintained bike of good quality. Next to that a helmet, which is required by law. (I will devote another article to this crucial though sometimes controversial piece of equipment)

Also required is a bell or some other sort of signalling device such as a horn. Great for letting pedestrians know that you are sneaking up behind them so they don't get startled as you pass them!

For night riding a front white light and rear red light visible for at least 150 meters and red reflector are required.

Though not required by law, I find one of the best pieces of safety equipment is a mirror. This really helps to keep an eye on traffic approaching from the rear and give better situational awareness. Even if you have a mirror, it is crucial to still do a shoulder check before changing lanes or turning!

The other gear that is a good idea is bright or reflective clothing. As mentioned in previous articles, visibility is a key factor in safe cycling. Wear clothing that is comfortable and that will help regulate body temperature as well as keep you dry in wet weather. Modern synthetics can do an amazing job of this. Don't forget to tuck in or strap up loose pant legs on the chain side of the bike so you don't' get it caught in the chain or covered in grease.

Make sure you do regular maintenance yourself or bring the bike into your local shop for a check and tune-up. A trained bike mechanic can catch potential problems before they develop.  I have seen a kid's bike brought into the local bike shop that had a loose wheel nut, and if weren't for the kind offer of a quick safety check from the bike mechanic, it would have gone un-noticed until the wheel fell off with possibly very serious results.

Before getting on your bike, do a quick ABC check. A= Air (tires at an appropriate pressure) B= Brakes (Functioning properly to be able to stop the bike fully loaded. You should be able to skid the tires if you hit the brakes hard enough) C=Chain (lubricated and running smoothly with gear changes)

I would also add a D (ABCD) D= DoNut ( Do make sure da Nuts are tight!That is the wheel nuts on the front and rear wheels)

Changing Driving Habits and Informed Decisions; The Auto Industry

I am pro cycling, but that doesn't mean that I am anti-automobile. After all I do drive a car. In fact I drive a car many more miles than I ride my bike. In trying to promote cycling I do not want to be anti automobile, but rather focus on the advantages of cycling. However, today I have a beef against the automobile industry.

I have been researching devices that can help you monitor fuel consumption costs and help improve your driving habits. (See my previous blog) These devices are available for just about every car manufactured after 1996, using the cars' on board computer. There is all kinds of information that is tracked with these computers. It seems to me that the North American auto industry feels they should keep this information away from the average car driver. (Some of the European Auto manufacturers like VW have been making basic fuel  consumption info available for years)

Imagine if all cars showed you how efficient you were driving in terms of fuel efficiency and what each trip cost you. Maybe people would improve their driving habits, use less fuel and even drive less altogether!? The auto and oil industry wouldn't like that! Anytime the "Check Engine" light comes on you need to take the car to a mechanic, and they plug in one of their computers to tell you what is wrong.  (usually charging you significantly just to do that) These devices like the Scanguage can give you that same information. Don't tell me that it would be too expensive to include all this type of information in the standard gauges at the time of manufacture.

Why do the auto manufacturers feel they cannot trust a car owner with this information? Seems like another example of keeping information away from the consumer, and not letting people make informed decisions.

I would like to suggest to our politicians that they enact new legislation that requires all new automobiles to have these gauges incorporated into the standard instrumentation of all vehicles. I have already spoken to the Green Party about this and it has been received very positively. What about our other political parties? I will be interested to see which one is willing to take on the auto giants!


I will be ordering a Scangauge for myself and will be happy to lend it to people to see how it works.

If you read the reviews of the aftermarket devices available now (Like Scangauge and Econodriver) you will see that people find it changes their driving habits for the better. It's part of the solution!

Sharrows

Here are a couple of articles from Mia Birk's Blog regarding Sharrows. Timely as we hope to see what the District of Sooke will be doing regarding Sharrows and Bike lanes. The plans for a bike lane on Rhodonite were nixed by residents, and council was supposed to be looking into trying sharrows.
Here are  the two articles; Seattle's Sharrows; Love Em or Hate Em? and
Four Solid Uses for Sharrows

A $ way of encouraging people to ride a bike

There is technology out there that will help people see what each trip they take in their car costs. Check out the Scangauge and EconoDriver. Scanguage is available in Canada here
Can you imagine how it might change people's habits if they had a cab meter in their car and they could see their money spent on gas vaporizing each trip they make?! It could be a great tool to compare cost of public transit to a private vehicle. After all we can't convince everyone to ride a bike because it is fun and healthy for you. Some people will react better to the dollars and "sense" approach.