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.

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.

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.

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.