Last SSDD was in 2010

Please visit www.SDCC.info, the Shore Drive Community Coalition website.

SSDD2010 July 17th

Thanks to everyone who participated.

With your help, we've made sharing Shore Drive a little safer.

+ blog starts below +

9.30.2009

Texting while driving video Part 2 of 2



Part 1 of 2 posted here.

Talk to your Delegate to get law changed to help cyclists

Thanks to Bill DeSteph's work on pushing for changes in Commonwealth Law to improve cycling safety.

Open the PDF from VBGov.com to read Virginia Beach's 2010 Adopted Legislative Agenda. [52 page PDF]

It includes:
FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY

Council Member Bill DeSteph

Background Information:

State law currently provides that a driver shall not follow a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of both vehicles and the traffic and highway conditions. The law does not, however, prohibit following too closely behind a bicycle.

Request:
Add bicycles to the list of vehicles for which it is illegal to follow too closely. See Appendix
Item 1 (page 35) for text of the requested legislative change.
And:
PASSING BICYCLES

Council Member Bill DeSteph

Background Information:

State law currently provides that a driver overtaking a bicycle shall pass at least two feet to the left of the overtaken bicycle and not proceed to the right side of the highway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. A nationwide movement on behalf of bicyclists has sought to broaden the clearing distance to three feet, and such changes have been enacted in several other states. This change would better protect the safety of both bicyclists and motorists.

Request:
Change the passing distance from two feet to three feet. See Appendix Item 2 (page 36) for text of the requested legislative change.
Try using Congress.org to find out who your Legislator is so you can contact them.
Virginia General Assembly Official Page.

Distracted Driving Summit in DC today & tomorrow

UPDATE: They are taking questions & answering LIVE at The Official Page.
[Lower right corner on that page.]

According to the Seattle Times:
Opening a government meeting on auto safety, the Obama administration reported Wednesday that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction, a striking indication of the dangers of using mobile devices behind the wheel.
The Official Page at DOT.gov.

We added their Twitter feed in the right column >

9.23.2009

The City has received a complaint about Mr. Hersh's ghost bike

The headline should read instead, "The City has received a request to take down Mr. Hersh's ghost bike". There is new information. [Posted 9.24.09 @ 9:42am]



From an email it was stated:
Normally, when we receive calls on these things, we try to contact whoever put it there to talk with them about removing it since it is technically not legal in the right-of-way rather than just removing it ourselves.
Please, share your comments below.

Today is World Carfree Day

From their site:
Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society.
If it's impossible for you not to drive today, please take extra special care to share.

A teenage texter who killed talks on video, Part 1 of 2

Texting is deadlier than drinking and driving - Utah toughens their law

From NPR.org:
"In terms of accident risk, you're more likely to be hit by someone who's text messaging than someone who's drunk," Strayer says. "And that's a pretty alarming statistic."
Head to NPR.org to listen to the audio and more importantly, to watch the entire video.

More about the Reggie Shaw case & video, and Utah's tougher law at saferoads.org:
The new law, which took effect in May, penalizes a texting driver who causes a fatality as harshly as a drunken driver who kills someone. In effect, a crash caused by such a multitasking motorist is no longer considered an “accident” like one caused by a driver who, say, runs into another car because he nodded off at the wheel. Instead, such a crash would now be considered inherently reckless.

9.22.2009

The Hampton Roads Cyclist feed added here

We welcome & applaud Mr. Bruce Drees for sharing his RSS feed here.
[It's over there > in the right column.]

More about Bruce:

My name is Bruce and I’ve lived in Virginia Beach since 1978. I cycle a pretty wide swath of Virginia every year, from the oceans to the highlands. I own three bikes: a 2005 Cannondale R3000 road bike and a 2006 Cannondale T2000, which I use for loaded touring and commuting, and a 2008 CoMotion Speedster (tandem).

As with many cyclists, the author is a composite form – part roadie, long haul trucker, and trail rider. I make it a point to cycle as many different parts of our area as I can and in recent years have logged between 5-7K miles annually. I started this site in order to capture and share what I and many other local cyclists know about our area.

His advocacy work for safe cycling has been consistent & influential beyond his modest claims. Take advantage of Bruce's dedication & contact him to learn how to ride safer! He is one of Hampton Road's only certified League Cycling Instructors!

Thanks for sharing Bruce.

Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Program Priorities Survey

From Bruce...
The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) has developed this survey to gather public opinion and thoughts on the importance of certain transportation project criteria for the Project Prioritization and Selection Process methodology currently being developed. This survey will be available from September 17 - 30, 2009. Results will be tabulated and available to the public. The survey should take approximately 15 minutes:
Click to start the survey
Learn more about Hampton Road Transportation Planning Organization.

9.16.2009

More comments about children riding bikes

From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
I received the following responses from other residents. The first one is really scary.
#1. I have to respond as I also saw these children riding to the playground 3 weeks ago, and one was nearly struck by a car. I ran out in front of the oncoming car while yelling loudly, to stop the car so it would not hit the child, who looked to be about 3 years old, and was with 3 other kids aged 4-7. If I see these children again I will try to find out who their parents are, as it was a very near miss (and not the car's fault, in my opinion, though cars need to be cautious), and children this young should not be unsupervised.
#2. Where are the parents?....the child does have the right of way but the child staring and
daring is not an accepted part of the formula, child or not.....get out of car, ask them
where they live and tell the parent.....simple solution, or call social services.....that always work
#3. The parents of these children need to accept responsibility for the safety of their children.
I prefer not to publish any additional comments regarding the safety of these children. Hopefully some of these children's parents will see these emails and react accordingly. No one wants to have a child in danger.

Artwork by Anna Miranda

From VBF's post "Bring on the Love: Cyclist & Pedestrian Awareness Week":

Teach kids about bike safety, please!

From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
"Dear Neighborhood Watch,
I understand that our children really need a place to play and ride their bikes. However I am very worried that we may have a repeat bike accident as we had on Beech about a year ago. I need for everyone to know that there are some very young children about ages 4-7 riding their bikes in an unsafe way without supervision on Beech St. On Saturday one of these children about age 4 or 5 years old steered their bike in front of my moving car. I had to slam on the brakes. Then he stayed there daring me to move forward. I am really very worried that someone else may not see them or stop. So parents would you please watch your very young children when they are out on the street and give them instruction on bike riding safety? I am sure we can work together to make this a safer neighborhood for everyone.
Thanks, A concerned resident."

David Byrne on cycling

An article today at WSJ:
As someone who has used a bicycle to get around New York for about 30 years I've watched the city—mainly Manhattan, where I live—change for better and for worse.
And his designs for bike racks:



An article in NY Times in May:
Full disclosure: I’ve ridden a bike around New York as my principal means of transport for 30 years, so I’m inclined to sympathize with the idea that a cycling revolution is upon us, and that it’s a good thing.
His book, Bicycle Diaries, is out soon:
...and the radical new ways that some cities, like his home town, are becoming more bike-friendly — all conveyed with a highly personal mix of humor, curiosity, and humanity.

9.15.2009

Hampton Roads area now has three new League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors

Congratulations to the new certified instructors!
After considerable effort including passing a rigorous course in bike-ed hosted by Greensboro, NC’s planning district commission, the Hampton Roads area now has three new League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors (LCI for short):

Tommy White- Norfolk
Bruce Drees- Virginia Beach
Stephanie Smith- Williamsburg

Here is a brief description of the L.A.B. education curriculum.

In addition to starting up some courses to help bring about safer and better cycling, one of our first goals is getting more instructors certified to teach in our area. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact me!
Leave a comment if you want to help with a clinic on Shore Drive whether it's help sponsoring one, or volunteering.

9.14.2009

Article about cyclist who went off Pungo Ferry Bridge inspires many comments

Read & comment at Pilotonline.com:
The 18-year-old cyclist took a tumble off the concrete span Sunday morning, falling what rescuers estimate was 35 to 50 feet to the marsh below. He came out of it with a fractured shoulder blade - and not much more.
As of 11:03am it is the most read and most commented article at Pilotonline.com.
That should help raise more awareness for Cycling & Pedestrian Awareness Week!

9.11.2009

Report on Biking and Walking Resources in Virginia

From BikeWalk Virginia:
BikeWalk Virginia just completed research to provide the first ever comprehensive picture of the current state of biking and walking planning, resources, accommodations, and safety in the State of Virginia.
And:
In all, study findings supports that more work needs to take place to include biking and walking into the transportation picture. Injury and fatality data shows that more can be done to improve the safety of Virginia roadways for non-motorized users. Not only is inclusion of biking and walking an important part of the transportation needs of Virginia, it is also beneficial for the health of both residents and the environment.
Be sure to follow the link that includes info about the study, Pedestrian & Bicycle Legislation in the General Assembly, Potential Funding for Pedestrian & Bicycle Projects in the Federal Economic Recovery Bill, recommended actions you can take, and more.