What would you give up for safer roads

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Road rage incident that could be the tipping point for action

From NPR.org's story about the ER Doctor who was convicted of using his car as a weapon against two cyclists.

The impact severed Peterson's nose and separated Stoehr's shoulder. Christopher Thomas Thompson, the driver of the car and a former emergency room doctor, was arrested and put on trial. The jury found him guilty of six felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon: his car. Thompson now faces 10 years in prison.

Follow NPR's series On The Road to Safety.

How a city became bike friendly

"In 2008 Boulder devoted 46% of its transportation budget to Bikes, Transit + Pedestrians.

Flood mitigation money helped turn drainages into a Bicycling Network."

Boulder Bike Story from Bikes Belong on Vimeo.

Hat tip to Virginia Bicycling Federation.

Cell phone tools can block use while vehicle is moving

Including controls for texting and calling, from NYTimes.com:
[free subscription required to read entire article]

A number of fledgling companies like ZoomSafer, Aegis Mobility and obdEdge employ systems that place restrictions on phones based on the phone’s GPS signal, data from the car itself or from nearby cellphone towers. Any incoming calls are then routed to voice mail or a message explaining that the phone’s owner is driving. Exceptions can be made for certain numbers.

Passengers in cars can override such systems, but in many cases doing so automatically sends an e-mail message to the account administrator — say, a parent or employer — alerting them that the cellphone is in use.

Links to companies mentioned in article:

ZoomSafer.com
Aegis Mobility
obdEdge at CellControl.com

Cycling accident while riding east bound on Shore Drive

Last week there was another serious cycling accident.

What can be shared now, a car cut off a cyclist with a "right hook". Cyclist has suffered a Class 3 Concussion, several broken ribs and an eye injury. He was also hospitalized for a period of time.

He uses his bike to commute and was hit west of Independence Blvd.

Pedestrian Mr. Arnold Lee Jones died from his injuries

He was hit attempting to cross Shore Drive. Tragic. That was the 5th death in the Croakers - Don Julios - Salty Dog block since 1996.

From Pilotonline.com.

In depth vid about texting while driving

If you have new drivers in the house, or you've texted while driving even only once, maybe you've known you've spent too much time looking at your cell phone - please, save a life, watch this video.

Watch it at VBF.org.
Watch it at KCET.org.

Refine & Refresh Your Cycling Skills

Become Confident | Safe | Legal

October 23, 5-8pm – Classroom training
October 24, 9am-2pm – On-the-bike skills training
(helmets required)
9547 Shore Drive, Norfolk, VA

Nationally-certified Trainers:
Bruce Drees, Stephanie Smith, & Tommy White
Cost: $30, includes materials. Space is limited!

For more information: Tommy White @ (757) 971-0951 or thmswht09@gmail.com

Traffic Skills 101*

Learn to be visible and predictable. Learn to avoid crashes and falls, ride in traffic &
in groups...and more. Ride confidently and safely for transportation, fitness & recreation.

Texting while driving a federal vehicle is banned

One of the outcomes of the Distracted Driving Summit, from NPR.org:

As a first step, LaHood said President Barack Obama signed an executive order late Wednesday banning all federal workers from texting while driving on government business, driving government vehicles or using government equipment.