Bike Safety and Advocacy
People are talking, drinking, and laughing. It appears to be a celebration, not the fund raiser for an injured cyclist that it is.
On September 11, Gabby O’Shea, a local cyclist, yoga practitioner,and climber, was riding west on State Route 299 in the Town of New Paltz, near Butterville Road, when she was struck from behind by a driver heading in the same direction.
O’Shea sustained serious injuries to her head, broken ankles, elbows, vertebrae, two ribs, and pelvis. She was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center where she remained in a medially induced coma for over two weeks.
The local community reaction was -huge. Friends from high school, yoga friends, climbers, and cyclists a like expressed shock and dismay.
One of the results of this life altering moment has been a push for greater bicycle safety.
The Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and the Orange County Executive Marcus Molinaro, in the past few years, have both accepted the challenge to make their county the healthiest in New York State. For both counties the railtrail system and accompanying outdoor recreation and tourism is a large component of that healthy goal.
There is that and there are the reality of the issues faced by road cyclists, runners, and pedestrians.
The NYSDMV has been collecting bike/vehicle crash statistics since 2009, thus far only three years stats have been published. This is what they showed- In 2009 police reported 5,444 accidents and in 2010, 6,025.
In the most recent year reported, 2011, there were 5,819 bike and motor-vehicle crashes and of that 57 cyclists were killed.
The report on the state DMV website breaks those numbers down into 607 serious accidents in 2011, 1,760 moderate, 3,057 minor, and 314 of unknown severity. Road biking is a risky business.
There is also the anecdotal evidence of the hazards in riding on the road. Every cyclist has a story of being buzzed by cars and trucks, being run off the road, honked at aggressively, or just plain harassed.
One rider tells a story about being hit by the rear bumper of a car carrier on Rt. 299 and thrown to the ground. Until recently there was no shoulder to ride on and a two to three inch drop off from the road the grass or dirt.
I have had more than one conversation with non-cyclists who feel that bicycles don’t belong on the roads.
At one time similar beliefs were held about horseless carriages-
One law in the 1860s, known as the red flag laws, required that a person walk ahead of the horseless carriage at all times waving a red flag.
On September 11, Gabby O’Shea, a local cyclist, yoga practitioner,and climber, was riding west on State Route 299 in the Town of New Paltz, near Butterville Road, when she was struck from behind by a driver heading in the same direction.
O’Shea sustained serious injuries to her head, broken ankles, elbows, vertebrae, two ribs, and pelvis. She was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center where she remained in a medially induced coma for over two weeks.
The local community reaction was -huge. Friends from high school, yoga friends, climbers, and cyclists a like expressed shock and dismay.
One of the results of this life altering moment has been a push for greater bicycle safety.
The Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and the Orange County Executive Marcus Molinaro, in the past few years, have both accepted the challenge to make their county the healthiest in New York State. For both counties the railtrail system and accompanying outdoor recreation and tourism is a large component of that healthy goal.
There is that and there are the reality of the issues faced by road cyclists, runners, and pedestrians.
The NYSDMV has been collecting bike/vehicle crash statistics since 2009, thus far only three years stats have been published. This is what they showed- In 2009 police reported 5,444 accidents and in 2010, 6,025.
In the most recent year reported, 2011, there were 5,819 bike and motor-vehicle crashes and of that 57 cyclists were killed.
The report on the state DMV website breaks those numbers down into 607 serious accidents in 2011, 1,760 moderate, 3,057 minor, and 314 of unknown severity. Road biking is a risky business.
There is also the anecdotal evidence of the hazards in riding on the road. Every cyclist has a story of being buzzed by cars and trucks, being run off the road, honked at aggressively, or just plain harassed.
One rider tells a story about being hit by the rear bumper of a car carrier on Rt. 299 and thrown to the ground. Until recently there was no shoulder to ride on and a two to three inch drop off from the road the grass or dirt.
I have had more than one conversation with non-cyclists who feel that bicycles don’t belong on the roads.
At one time similar beliefs were held about horseless carriages-
One law in the 1860s, known as the red flag laws, required that a person walk ahead of the horseless carriage at all times waving a red flag.
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"Secondly, one of such Persons, while any Locomotive is in Motion, shall precede such Locomotive on Foot by not less than Sixty Yards, and shall carry a Red Flag constantly displayed, and shall warn the Riders and Drivers of Horses of the Approach of such Locomotives, and shall signal the Driver thereof when it shall be necessary to stop, and shall assist Horses, and Carriages drawn by Horses, passing the same."
This attitude now seems narrow minded and silly. The hope from the community all over the world is that soon the grudge against pedestrians, runners and cyclists will be just as arcane. In order to bridge the gap a public education campaign is needed. The NYS Drivers Permit Manual includes this- |
Bicyclists and in-line skaters have the right to share the road and travel in the same direction as motor vehicles. They are often hard to see in traffic and have no protection from a traffic crash. Check your "blind spots" before you make a turn, parallel park, open a door or leave a curb. Do not depend only on your mirrors - turn your head to look for bicyclists and skaters and scooter operators that may be next to them or approaching. Give bicyclists and in-line skaters room when you drive. Reduce speed as you pass them. Air pressure from a vehicle that passes them quickly can send them off balance. Be aware that the bicyclist or in-line skater near or in front of you can react to road hazards like a motorcyclist would with sudden changes of speed, direction or lane position. The rules of the road and right-of-way apply to and protect these and other highway users. You must yield the right-of-way to them just as you would to another vehicle. And they must obey the rules of the road just as motor vehicle drivers do. |
But after passing their driver test most motorist don’t refresh their knowledge of traffic laws.
Here are some sections of the NYS Department of Transportation Laws in regard to bicyclists-
But just as important are motorists' attitude about cyclists, and pedestrians.
Writing this to the Peak audience is like preaching to the choir. However, we all have friends and family members, or casual Facebook acquaintances, who might gain a different perspective with the benefit of a personal stories as to why wider roads and dedicated bike lanes, and awareness of cycle and ped road rights are important. Please take some time and write about your personal experiences riding or running on the road and thoughts about why equal access to roads is important and Peak will compile and share them.
Email-
[email protected]
The groundswell of community support has been a tribute both O’Shea and our community, but really this should never have happened. Let’s all do what we can both to educate and be safe riders ourselves.
Kellie
O’Shea is no longer on the ventilator and breathing on her own as of this writing on October 3. She is scheduled to leave the hospital for the therapy facility in the next week or so. The fund raiser at Bacchus raised $6,000 to help with medical costs. In addition, a GoFundMe campaign and local events at Vitality Yoga and The Last Bite have raised more.
The State DOT had been working on adding shoulder to State Route 299 prior to O’Shea’s accident. Their work seems to be moving much faster in the wake of this heartbreaking event.
Here are some sections of the NYS Department of Transportation Laws in regard to bicyclists-
- If there is no bicycle lane or it is unusable due to parked cars or other hazards, the bicyclists may drive either on the right shoulder or near the right edge or curb of the roadway. Bicyclists may move further left to avoid hazards such as parked cars or debris, but the bicyclists must avoid undue interference with other traffic (Sec. 1234(a)) NYSDOT.
- The motorist must always remember that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of a motor vehicle and motorists are required to exercise "due care" to avoid colliding with bicyclists (Sec. 1146) NYSDOT.
- Bicyclists must obey all traffic lights and signs and must signal for turns whether riding on a roadway, a bike lane or shared-use pathway with pedestrians. Often localities prohibit cycling on sidewalks https://www.dot.ny.gov.
But just as important are motorists' attitude about cyclists, and pedestrians.
Writing this to the Peak audience is like preaching to the choir. However, we all have friends and family members, or casual Facebook acquaintances, who might gain a different perspective with the benefit of a personal stories as to why wider roads and dedicated bike lanes, and awareness of cycle and ped road rights are important. Please take some time and write about your personal experiences riding or running on the road and thoughts about why equal access to roads is important and Peak will compile and share them.
Email-
[email protected]
The groundswell of community support has been a tribute both O’Shea and our community, but really this should never have happened. Let’s all do what we can both to educate and be safe riders ourselves.
Kellie
O’Shea is no longer on the ventilator and breathing on her own as of this writing on October 3. She is scheduled to leave the hospital for the therapy facility in the next week or so. The fund raiser at Bacchus raised $6,000 to help with medical costs. In addition, a GoFundMe campaign and local events at Vitality Yoga and The Last Bite have raised more.
The State DOT had been working on adding shoulder to State Route 299 prior to O’Shea’s accident. Their work seems to be moving much faster in the wake of this heartbreaking event.
