Tour de VB Sunday July 26th starts at Kokoamos & heads down Shore Drive

Councilman Bill DeSteph has set up:

Tour de VB this coming Sunday, July 26th.

Start at Kokoamos, head to Shore Drive passing First Landing State Park to Laskin Road... check details below:


TourdeVB

Some of you from July 11th Long Ride.


Join us this Sunday July 26th at Kokoamos.

One weekaversary of SSDD 1

Sharing Shore Drive on July 11th was fun. Above all, it was safe. Thanks to all who have tragically inspired it, helped make it happen, participated & got the word out about it. I apologize in advance for undoubtedly missing some folks:

Virginia Beach Police Department
Bill Hart
Virginia Bicycling Federation
Tidewater Bicycling Association
Aimee at Kokoamos
Jim at Final Kick Sports
Fred at First Landing State Park
Whatstherename at Little Creek NAB
Stacey at VB Resort Hotel
Luis at Starbucks
Bill DeSteph
Joe Bouchard
Steve
Bruce
Wes Cheney
Matt
Dave
Chris Groffman
Greg
Area Bike Shops
Kathy Adams
Shawn Day
WTKR
Virginian-Pilot
Taste Unlimited
Starbucks
WAVY camera crew
John Streit
Mr. Daniel Hersh & others who've been tragically killed & injured on Shore Drive. We're determined to make Shore Drive the safest road in the city.

The Purpose of SSDD 1:

The purpose of this ride is to call attention to the need to cycle safely, to have all users of Shore Drive share it safely, to emphasize the need for bicycle lanes on the roadway, and to advocate for more equitable treatment for bicyclists in bicycle-motor vehicle crashes. Read more.

Help us on future events, please use Contact Us links in right column or Comment below.

Mark your calendar for Columbus Day Weekend.

Join us in Photobucket Share Shore Drive Group

What you get if you subscribe by email

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Here's a partial screen shot of what you'll see in your email:

Shore Drive Safety Initiative 2009 seeking feedback

SDSI 2009, a link about it at SDCC.info, is looking into making it safer to share Shore Drive in Cape Story & Cape Henry Shores Area.

Use comment area below, even anonymously, to provide feedback, ask questions, & discuss the best ways to share this area.

More about this initiative:

This safety effort started with some local residents, gained area support and traveled up through the offices of Vice Mayor Jones, Councilman Wood, and Councilman DeSteph who have collectively brought it into the light of city government and into the view of Mayor Sessoms. It is just such a great feeling to know that local government still works and responds with some efforts and some organization. We, the people, will get there safely.

Read entire article by Mr. David Williams.

Thanks to VBF for coverage of the First Share Shore Drive Day

Check out the Virginia Bicycling Federation.
View their feeds in the right column >

Donate/Join VBF.

We work to change public policy and community attitudes, to improve the safety, convenience, and acceptance of bicycling.

Sharing the Road in Virginia

From Sharing the Road in Virginia:

By walking or riding a bicycle instead of driving a motor vehicle, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s citizens reduce traffic congestion, road wear and tear, and the need for more roads and parking. When motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians know the rules and respect others’ rights and responsibilities, everyone can share the road safely.

It's an excellent resource with info including Know the Law, See & Be Seen, Links & much more.

Consulting this web site is a good place to start learning the rules and the most common safety practices for sharing Virginia’s roadways with all types of travelers.

Added to our list of links in right column under Elsewhere.

Some stills from Chris Groffman

Several stills pulled from video taken on July 11th by Chris Groffman. Please note, these were pulled unedited from video taken in our chase car & at Kokoamos.

Wait til you see the flick!







Have photos, video or anything you want to share?
Shoot us an email, in Flickr join the Share Shore Drive Group, or tag your photos/vid shareshoredrive & use #shareshoredrive in Twitter.

Much more coming soon.
Wanna help? Use email links in right column or comment below.

Please share so this doesn't happen again:

Shore Drive Safety Initiative 2009 Meeting

The 2nd meeting of City officials & concerned neighbors looking for ways to make it easier for everyone to share Shore Drive.

A recent hit & run involving a cyclist

Forwarded to us in email. Please, share your story.

Great seeing you at the bike[Share Shore Drive Day]. What a great surprise and for a great cause. I spoke with Officer Lawson tonight - the officer who responded and came to my house after the incident. First off, he has been absolutely professional. Second, my understanding is he was going to go tomorrow morning and consult with the Commonwealth Attorney to determine if they would pursue an assault charge for this guy (a felony); if not, then he would only be charged with a misdemeanor. [Again, my info may not be 100% correct interpretation but is the best as I caught it].

According to the biking community, my understanding is this should probably be, "aggravated malicious wounding." Some in the biking community were pretty livid by the idea of a 'simple assault charge.'

Yesterday, 16 June 2009, at about 6:30pm, while biking home from work, I was
the "recipient" of a hit-and-run on E Shore Drive between Pleasure House and
the Bridge Tunnel / Northampton entrance. I was fortunate to escape with only a broken hand - but was astounded because it was intentional and maliciousness.

Short version: A guy side-swiped me as he passed me, pulled in front of me and laid on his brakes, causing me to collide into the rear of his car, breaking my hand, and topple over in the middle of the street. Once I caught up with him, he drove over my bike, hitting me again, before backing up and roaring off.

Long version: As I was biking home from work, as described above, a vehicle passed uncomfortably close--close enough I mentally recorded the vehicle and wondered out loud if the driver had been drinking. At the next intersection, I passed that vehicle and a whole line of cars that had been waiting as the light turned from red to green. As the cars accelerated and passed me, I made a point to look over my left shoulder, but only in time to be side-swiped by the right front quarter panel of that same vehicle. I was knocked off balance and brought my hand down (several times) on the hood (it felt like the middle of the hood) before my backpack was clipped by the side-view mirror.

When the vehicle had passed, the driver swerved almost on to the shoulder in front of me; and laid on his brakes. I was not able to stop, slammed into the back of his car. The driver gunned the car and drove off.

Though shaken and realizing I probably sustained some injuries (since my hand was already starting to swell from the impact with the back of his car) and damage to my bike, I was able to unclip from my pedals, get back up and on the bike and began peddling after him. At the next red light I pulled in front of the vehicle, got off my bike and went to the driver's side window in an attempt to prompt him to roll down his window. I (felt like I) remained reasonably calm--I didn't knock on his window or shout any expletives.

Failing to get him to communicate, I walked back in front of the car and stood over my bike as I got my phone out and tried to turn it on to call the police (turns out my phone had a dead battery). As I looked down to note his license place the driver, to my astonishment, drove forward over my bike and actually hit me with the car (again). As I reached down and pulled my bike out from under his bumper he backed up and drove off at a high rate of speed on E Shore Drive, leaving me standing in the street with my bike.

As I turned around, I noticed a car stopped in the road in front of me. The driver explained he had seen the whole thing, had also noted his license plate and would call it in since my phone was not working.

The police informed me there were at least three other callers and at least one vehicle attempted to follow this guy for a little while. For the record, the two police officers that responded confirmed what I have been told by others about VBPD: They were extremely professional, extremely thorough and--as a result of the calls they received from other witnesses before I made it home--had already been patrolling Shore Drive looking for the vehicle.

I understand (but obviously do not agree) some drivers are frustrated by bikers and, "believe that roads are for automobiles" (PedNet Education Coordinator Robert Johnson) but the roads are a deadly place for drivers to take that frustration out. I read, and was greatly disconcerted.

Note: I have the license plate, vehicle make and color as well as a good description of the individual. However, given my perception of how high emotions are running in light of recent other tragic accidents (including Dan and another friend of mine who will most likely be paraplegic after a tour bus overtook him from behind), as well as potential legal issues I cannot even conceive--thankfully, I am not a lawyer--it is probably best to leave those details out, for now.

Note: The author is an active-duty Navy LCDR... a highly credible source.