May 4th, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
Today while on a ride with a small group of friends I was reminded about the importance of Cycling Advocacy and Education. However, I was really made aware that education is also needed by a group of people that should already be educated in the specific area I am about to talk about.
I previously wrote a short article about David Zabriskie’s Advocacy foundation “Yield to Life“. I believe that David’s approach is one of the best ideas I have seen as it is about changing the mindset of both Motorists and Cyclists towards each other.
There is one big area which needs addressing that came to light on our ride today. That is that law enforcement personnel (Police Officers) need to be fully educated on the cycling laws in their state. What happened today was totally inexcusable.
We were riding two (2) abreast in the right lane of a six (6) lane road in Grand Prairie, TX. A police officer came up behind us and got on his PA and told us that were were supposed to be riding single file. I knew this to be false and we were, according to Texas law, in the right. I knew this because I wrote an article a while back about State Discriminatory Bicycle Laws quoting an article I read in the American Bicyclist magazine and researched my own state’s (Texas) laws.
I so much wanted to be able to stop the officer and explain his ignorance of the law, however, I am certain that would not have ended well for me. So we single filed up until he passed and went back to riding two abreast.
To quote the Texas Statute as stated in “Transportation Code Chapter 551. Operation of Bicycles, Mopeds, and Play Vehicles“:
(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two
abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride
in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the
normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may
not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a
roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
Before cycling will be truly as safe as it can be in the United States, there is a big need for education for motorists, cyclists and law enforcement. There is also a need for supporting advocacy for good enforceable cycling laws.
I am a cyclist and a motorist. I have seen motorists that have no concern for the safety of cyclists. I have also seen cyclists performing acts that make motorists mad. Both these are counter productive for cyclists and motorists in sharing the road.
We all need to strive to do the right things and to be patient and courteous to each other. We all need to “Share the Road.”
Source: Texas Statutes
April 29th, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
May is National Bike Month, so make sure to get out on your bike to celebrate it. For ideas on how to celebrate, head on over to the official website.
Another way to celebrate National Bike Month is to show your support for the House Congressional Resolution on Bicycling.
The House Congressional Resolution on Bicycling (H.Con.Res. 305), introduced in February, calls on the United States Congress to adopt a national bicycling strategy to fully realize the incredible benefits of getting more people bicycling, more safely, more often. There is a “sense of Congress” that complete streets policies are essential to ensure wise use of considerable Federal investment in transportation infrastructure, and that expanded funding for bicycling and walking programs is desirable and appropriate.
As we celebrate National Bike Month in May, cities and organizations throughout the country will be hosting events promoting bicycling as a healthy, fun, and viable form of transportation. This is also a perfect opportunity to contact your Congressional Representatives to thank those that have signed onto the Resolution and urge those that have not to so.
A good showing for the Resolution is essential as this would serve as the first ever comprehensive bicycling policy statement and would serve as an important policy statement guide for the next transportation reauthorization which begins next year (2009).
As part of National Bike Month please take a moment to Contact your Congressional Member to urge them to support HCONRES305.
Source: League of American Bicyclists
March 29th, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
Have you ever wondered where your bike was actually made, no matter what the bike manufacturer says?
I ride a 2007 Cannondale Synapse SL2 Carbon Road bike and a 2007 Cannondale Rush 3Z XC Mountain Bike. Cannondale is a USA based company that proudly states their bikes are made in the USA. However, this is only partly true as only aluminum Cannondale bikes are manufactured in the USA. All others are manufactured overseas, usually Taiwan or China and are assembled in the USA.
Cannondale is not the only company that follows this type of practice, as almost all carbon fiber bike frames are manufactured by 2-3 companies in Taiwan and China. Trek, for example only manufactures their top line Madone carbon frame in the USA and all others are manufactured overseas.
I do really enjoy riding my Cannondale Synapse even though it is not made in the USA. What you need to remember is that the bikes are still designed and engineered by their respective companies and they hand over the details of manufacturing to other companies, and usually do final assembly in house.
There is a great resource that is constantly updated that you can read and see where your bike was manufactured. It is the article “Where was my bike made?” over at Allanti Bicycles.
Source: Allanti Bicycles
