Injury Prevention Center of Rhode Island Hospital is seeking volunteers for 3 bicycling safety rodeos during Bike Month.
Advocacy
Removing Roads and Traffic Lights
I just happened upon an interesting article published in Scientific America. A mathematician in the 1960’s, Dietrich Braess, discovered a paradox: in a network in which all the moving entities rationally seek the most efficient route, adding extra capacity can actually reduce the network’s overall efficiency A real life test of this paradox played out… read more
Is it time to let go of “Share the Road” and move towards “Take the Lane?”
Here is a thought-provoking, real-life article that – I think – points to the necessity of cyclists being “courteously assertive” when it comes to claiming our space on the roads. Never – think I – should a cyclist be flattened because they were doing their best to share the road. Simply put, if the lane… read more
A Study in Contrast
This video is an excellent example of how the population in the Netherlands reacts to an automobile striking cyclist: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeJ-d86pKsw Do you think the same could ever happen in the United States?
Breathing Slightly Easier
Word on the street from Washington, D.C. is that for the time being, biking and walking have been spared from the congressional chopping block: Of the nearly 600 amendments to the 2011 House budget bill (HR1), biking and walking, Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School were not singled out to be cut. It’s an… read more
Plowing the Bike Paths
Will Fairbrother, a commuter and member over at Bike to Brown, posted on Governor Chafee’s forum suggesting that the state make Providence and RI more bike friendly by plowing the EBBP. If you support the idea, you can add your voice to the cause. I’ve approached RIDOT and RIDEM about this very issue in the… read more
New Pavement Marking
Pop quiz: Does anyone know what the marking to the left is? Starting last Fall, I began seeing these pop up all over the East Side of Providence. The motorists clearly don’t know what they mean, do you?
Sharrows – Need Careful Implementation
The next version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is due out really soon now. The MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide. The next release will include sharrows, which we’ve talked about both online and in our monthly meetings. They appear to be an attractive marking for older cities… read more
What Does “Share the Road” Mean?
I’m putting on my flack jacket in preparation for the inevitable onslaught of comments this post will encourage… Eden from Team Estrogen posted the following creeds: As a cyclist… I will ride predictably and follow the rules of the road. I won’t block your way without reason. I will ride to the right when it… read more
Cycling Sucks
Is it just me, or does this video remind you of the good old days when you just got into your car? httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sFQM9zXztM The next time you have second thoughts about not riding your bike somewhere, even when it’s cold, just remember all the joys of the common alternative 😉
New Three Foot Ammendment
Representative Joseph M. McNamara has introduced H5096, which is intended to amend section 31-18-8. Due care by drivers to include: In addition, the driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other human-powered vehicle must pass the bicycle or other human-powered vehicle at a safe distance of not less than three feet (3’) between the… read more
RAB is on the move
We received a call for help from our friends at Recycle-A-Bike (RAB) “As you may have heard, Recycle-A-Bike will be moving off their current site at the Steel Yard on March 31st. There’s a lot to be done before the move and we need your help!” In particular, there are a couple of ways in… read more