October 28, 2007Leave a Comment
October 27, 20072 Comments on Blogging bicycle lawyer
A recent comment from CycleDog directed me to the blog of bicycle lawyer Erik Ryberg in Tuscon, Arizona. According to his Blogger profile, “Erik Ryberg is a lawyer whose caseload includes many bicycle accidents, injuries, and assaults on bicyclists in Tucson and elsewhere in Arizona. I also represent Arizona bicyclists in criminal cases and traffic infractions, usually at a very reduced rate or, if your case particularly interests me and involves bicycle advocacy, even free. If you are a cyclist and are the victim of assault or if you have been injured in an accident or arrested or cited for a violation involving a bicycle, please do not hesitate to call us. Consultations are always free!”
Check out the bicycle lawyer’s blog at Tuscon Bike Lawyer. I’ve added him to my blogroll.
October 27, 2007Leave a Comment
Carlton posted the Cycle Hero video contest winners the other day. I missed the original Cycle Hero promotional video, however. This is a one minute video shown in British movie theaters to promote cycling during CTC’s CycleHero week last summer in the UK. The CTC is the national cycling organization in the United Kingdom. Here’s the two minute extended version.
The film aims to raise awareness of the impact of transport choice in helping combat climate change. This is done in a positive fashion by highlighting the simple fact that cycling is good for you, good fun and good for the environment.
Props to Warren at Commute By Bike.
October 26, 20074 Comments on Bicycling the Next Big Thing
Update: The video story here is on the amazingly popular Velib bike rental program in Paris, France. One puzzling thing is reporter Keith Miller’s statement that the only big American city with no interest in the project is San Francisco. In fact, San Francisco is considering a bike share program modeled after the Velib program in Paris.
Word is that NBC Nightly News will report tonight (Friday, October 26) that bicycling will be a major mode of transportation in the near future. Tape at, well, whatever time they show the Nightly News. The NBC is already reporting record high crude oil futures that were reached today. They note that OPEC is “set to boost production by 500,000 barrels a day beginning Nov. 1,” but some oil industry experts are skeptical if OPEC can meet that production level.
Props to James for the heads up.
October 26, 20074 Comments on Alta Bikes
I don’t know why, but “Alta Bikes” has been in my top ten searches for the past week. People looking for this Norwegian bike company — which offers a single model of a fixed gear bike — are finding this article on Alta Bikes. Alta Bikes is perhaps most famous for their underwear model ads.
October 26, 20074 Comments on No charges were filed
“No charges were filed.” That’s the postscript of every single one of the cycling deaths that Bob Mionske reports in his latest issue of Legally Speaking. James also makes note of the extremely low rate of prosecutions against dangerously careless drivers in his state of South Carolina, where only 5% of “accidental” traffic deaths results in any charges being filed. Of 101 cyclists killed between 2001 and 2004 on South Carolina roads, only 18 citations were written.
Cycling is safer than many our perceptions lead us to think, but it can be made safer with little effort. The United Kingdom until recently had a cyclist fatality rate similar to the U.S. With a recent emphasis on traffic law enforcement, however, the cyclist and pedestrian fatality rate dropped significantly.
From my own participation in the political process and bicycling advocacy, I know cities and police departments are often reluctant to increase enforcement of unpopular traffic laws. Even after a tragedy occurs, the response from officials is often “blame the victim” for being in the “wrong” place. Bob and James both promise more on traffic safety and enforcement in the United States; I’m looking forward to what they have to write.