Safe Cycling in North Texas
I came across this information on BicycleStuff.com today. I think we should support this effort by Bike DFW Petition Effort: 7 cyclists in the past 7 days have been hit by cars in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. 2 were killed, 1 is in critical condition in the ICU at last report. It's all just too much. Recently a city council person said "Well there are not many people in my district who want to ride bikes anyway" Let's prove him and a whole host of others like him wrong. This isn't just for the roadies or the mountain bikers - although we want you to sign it! It is for your neighbors whose kids ride to school, it is for the older couple on the corner who ride around the block. It is for anyone who in any way at all wants to see bikes on the streets without fear in North Texas. It is for those who would rather ride off the street, is is for those who will ride anywhere - and mostly - for those who won't ride at all given current conditions. Please forward this to everyone and anyone - it will not be used for commercial purposes, it will be used to answer comments such as the one above with "Well sir, actually there are 1217 people in your district who WANT to cycle!" and be able to prove it. Sign the petition - - http://www.bikepetition.eventbrite.com We don't want to spam you or share your information with commercial entities. We really don't. We just want to be able to show up! Sincerely - BikeDFW

This article was on the front page of the Morning News on Saturday, June 21st. ___________________________________________ The crashes came about in a rare rapid succession. From June 8 to June 14, seven cyclists were injured or killed. Two were killed while pedaling near Grand Prairie. Another remains in intensive care after being hit on Mockingbird Lane. Three others were struck and injured in Carrollton while riding in a larger group. And an 8-year-old was hit while walking her bike across a Dallas street. Now an area cyclist advocacy group is seeking more protection for riders. Bike DFW launched its petition Sunday to raise awareness of the two-wheel riders – and to encourage local governments to find ways to increase safety, such as bike lanes on some roads. More than 3,600 people had signed the petition as of Thursday night, but the group hopes to rack up 100,000 signatures. "Cyclists are like an invisible population," said Chris Phelan, one of the petition's authors and founder of the annual Ride of Silence, which honors cyclists killed while riding. "They're just not seen by motorists or city government." In a recent issue of Bicycling magazine, Dallas was rated one of the worst cities in the country for cyclists, based on factors such as traffic congestion and lack of traffic laws to protect cyclists. For example, a proposal to require motorists to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing didn't make it through the state House in 2007. Changes to protect riders need quick attention, advocates say, because the cycling community is growing quickly. At Richardson Bike Mart, the largest bike retailer in the area, with three stores, owner Jim Hoyt said he's selling as many as 500 bikes a week, which he said is unprecedented. With gasoline prices soaring, more and more people are hopping on a bike rather than getting behind the wheel – whether to go to the corner store or to work – Mr. Phelan said. No car-stopping paint Dallas has 90 miles of biking trails. But it's the increasing number of cyclists on the city's 800 miles of roads marked for bikes that makes it necessary for local governments to be more safety-conscious, said Michelle Holcomb, another architect of the petition and the secretary and treasurer for Bike DFW. P.M. Summer, transportation alternatives coordinator for Dallas, said the city is examining areas that could be good candidates for bike lanes. "We always look at what we can do better," he said. But in general, bike lanes are "not a physically viable operation" in a city such as Dallas, where the street grid is less consistent and people don't yet embrace cycling as much as in other cities, Mr. Summer said. And a strip of paint on the road doesn't mean cyclists will be safe, he said. "The streets are serious business. We still haven't found that paint that stops cars from crossing the line." Progress seen While Dallas hasn't found a way for cyclists and motorists to get around in complete harmony, Bud Melton , chairman of the Texas Bicycle Coalition, sees progress. He disagrees with the description of Dallas as unwelcoming to cyclists. Some measures are already in place to ensure cyclists and motorists don't get in each other's way, Mr. Melton said. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, for instance, allows bicycles on buses and trains at all hours. And the agency will begin installing bike racks on its bus fleet and at bus stops this summer. The North Texas Council of Governments is working on a "veloweb," a planned 644-mile hike-and-bike route that would lace Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties via off-street trails. As of October 2007, 112 miles had been completed; the initiative began in 1994. "It's making pretty good progress," Mr. Melton said. Any progress – whether through infrastructure or education – is a victory for those who have signed the petition. "If awareness is the next step, it's past due," said Randy Silvagni, a cyclist for 25 years who has seen friends injured or killed in crashes. "There has to be a little more cooperation with people we share the road with," Mr. Silvagni said. "There has to be something better than the way it is right now." KEY POINTS: Texas bicycle law •Ride near the curb, unless passing, and go in the same direction as other traffic. •Use hand and arm signals. •May ride two abreast as long as they don't impede traffic. •Carry only one rider per seat. •Keep at least one hand on the handlebars. •Have brakes capable of making the braked wheel skid. •Shouldn't carry any more people than the bikes are designed for. •Cannot attach a bike to a streetcar or vehicle on a roadway. •Must have a white light on the front and a red reflector or red light on the rear when riding at night. •Have the same rights as motor vehicles to use roads and highways as long as they follow the standard traffic laws.

More people biking to work. Star Telegram Sunday Paper http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/714529.html

Yet another article on cycling in the Dallas Morning News today. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/062408dncolfloyd.329ec0a9.html

Scottie The leaders of the greater Dallas / Ft Worth area do not seem to take cyclist very seriously. They have a cure for this problem. It is called Critical Mass. It works in san Francisco, Budapest, Vancover, Toronto, Chicago, London, San Dieago and I am sure other large cities. The third Thursday of the month every one who owns a bike rides into the city and meets at a central location for a massive group ride, for bicycle awareness. It appears to work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDfLUVz2VDM Ted

As far as i have heard critical mass, while a cool idea, does as much to incite anger towards cyclists as it does to make motorists aware of them. There are other versions of this idea where cyclists don't intentionally cause mayhem but rather are very polite and travel as a group but according to all traffic laws. I think the latter is a better approach, we all know that in a battle between pissed off motorist and cyclist, the motorist has the obvious advantage. I don't want to be the rider those pissed off motorists see alone on the road the morning after a critical mass event.

Many of the critical mass rides turn into illegal parades, with all manner of traffic laws broken, cyclists riding nude, etc. Very bad for the reputation of serious cyclists...

I promise, I will not ride nude. I am still trying to get over the road rash from the last time.