Life is better on a bike!

Tag: Advocacy (Page 1 of 4)

My Day in Court

After getting the ticket for “disregard of a red signal light” back on May 25th, I commented to my husband Mark that I would give up the $119 fine, but I wanted something good to come from it.

Something good did – meet the new ordinance for affirmative defense for cyclists passed by the Edmond City Council Monday, September 10, 2012:

Affirmative Defense Ordinance Page 1

I can’t begin to convey how pleased I am that this was accomplished. It is a big help for cyclists and I’m thankful that my experience helped to bring it about.

Today I finally had my day in court. I found the Judge to be both fair and empathetic; finding me guilty of the offense, but waiving the fine and court costs. Most meaningful to me was that she stated several times that she admired my riding and that she wished our community could be accessed better on foot or by bike. She genuinely seemed sorry that she had to find me guilty because she understood the dilemma I was faced with.

The Affirmative Defense ordinance for bicyclists will go into effect next month. Although I got the ball rolling we would not have this ordinance if not for the efforts of the Edmond Bicycle Committee, particularly Jan Fees, Steve Murdoch (City Attorney), and of course the City Council.

This ordinance is an accommodation for cyclists which recognizes that not all traffic signals detect cyclists and gives us an affirmative defense should we receive a ticket – if all conditions are met. 

I would like to state here for the record that my incident met all of the criteria specified in this ordinance – in other words I did not roll through a red light. Mark and I waited through two cycles before proceeding safely through the intersection.

There seems to be some belief out there that this ordinance gives cyclists the license to roll through stop signs or red lights. It does not and it is imperative that every cyclist obey traffic laws. If you’ve spent much time here on my blog you know one of my pet peeves is cyclists who blow through stop signs or red traffic signals.

The fact is I recognized the red light and stopped and waited; unfortunately the red light didn’t recognize me and change. As every cyclist knows, the infrastructure is geared towards motorists not bicyclists, and presents us with a myriad of challenges where we must do our best to act safely and responsibly.

Edmond is moving forward on becoming a bicycle friendly community, this is just one step toward that. The Bicycle Master Plan is a huge step as is the proposed Arcadia Lake Trail. For local cyclists, please support and acknowledge Edmond’s attempts to better accommodate and encourage people to ride bikes.

Keep riding and stay safe.

Court Date

My day in court to contest my ticket (for proceeding through a traffic light that failed to detect me on my bike) is almost here – finally.

Originally scheduled for July 12, 2012, it was canceled and rescheduled for August 9th which didn’t work for me (out of town) so rescheduled again for September 13th.

In the meantime I’ve been busy working with the City of Edmond’s Bike committee, the City Attorney and fellow cyclists to get an ordinance passed similar to the Affirmative Defense statute in Missouri. It isn’t a city ordinance yet, but we’re close.

Once again I have found the Edmond Bike Committee and city officials (in this case the city attorney) to be responsive and willing to take necessary action to correct problems.

All that I wanted when I posted the $119 bond to have “my day in court” was to have something good come from it for those of us that ride bikes.

I hope to have the fine waived because given the circumstances I feel a ticket was not warranted, but if not, having an affirmative defense ordinance in place as a result of my ticket will be a positive outcome for me and every other cyclist navigating through traffic lights here locally. 

With any luck and some justice I’ll get my $119 back and the ordinance!

Interview with Endomondo

The interview with Endomondo’s, Angela Purcaro in case you missed it~

Ten Questions With:

Susan of LoveOfBikes.com

Love Of Bikes

Here at Endomondo, we love our users and Susan happens to be one of them. She runs the blog LoveOfBikes.com and was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.

  1. Can you tell us a little about Love of Bikes? For the Love of Bikes is my Love Of Bikeswebsite and blog that grew from a longtime love of cycling and bikes. I started blogging about 3 years ago, initially under a different blog name.I write about my bike tours, local and national issues related to biking, rider rights issues (not just those of us that consider ourselves cyclists, but anyone who rides a bike), photos, videos, daily posts on the Tour de France every July (I have to justify the hours and hours and hours of the Tour I watch) and just the joy of biking in general. Recently I took a supported bike tour with a company that gave me a discount on the cost of my tour to write about the ride, I hope to do more of that in the future.All for the Love of Bikes can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.



  2. When and why did you decide to make cycling your preferred mode of transportation? I retired from my career several years ago which has allowed me the time and flexibility to use my bike for running errands and doing activities I would have done by car in the past.I don’t commute by bike nearly as much as I would like to but I am committed to doing it more. I definitely enjoy those types of rides. I feel like when I ride my bike in regular clothes to the grocery store or library or downtown to the coffee shop, that other people may see that as something they could do. When we are clad in spandex I think it makes cycling look like something for athletes only instead of a form of recreation and transportation that most everyone can enjoy regardless of their age or fitness level. That’s one of the great things about biking, just about anyone can do it.



  3. What kind of bike do you ride? My road bike, which is what I ride most of the time, is a 2005 Scott CR1 Pro, full carbon fiber; my commuter/touring bike is a “steel is real” 2010 Jamis Aurora Elite and I also have a 1994 Giant Cadex road bike which I rarely ride and should probably sell but I get attached to bikes so it is hard to think about selling one. I would like to add a mixte to my cycling corral with more of an upright position for riding in town. I subscribe to the philosophy that the correct number of bikes to own is: [number of bikes currently owned] +1.



  4. What do you love most about cycling? That’s a tough one, but I would have to say it is the freedom I feel when riding. I can be in a funk, or just not in the mood to ride, but by the time I am 5-10 miles into it, I’m having fun and by the end of the ride I am usually not ready to stop. That never happens when I run or swim, but it is common with biking. I love the way biking not only transports you physically but mentally and emotionally too. I also love the experience of riding – the sights, sounds and movement of riding. I love transporting myself with nothing more than my bike and body. Cycling is fun!



  5. Where is the most beautiful place you’ve ridden? Probably along Highway 1 in California, but Quebec province was also very beautiful. I find that on a bike you can see the beauty of wherever you happen to be riding.



    Love Of Bikes

  6. What are the biggest challenges of cycling in your city?
    The biggest challenge is the lack of bicycling infrastructure, lanes, paths, signage as well as the lack of acceptance (understanding) of drivers although both are improving. In 1991 when I started biking again I rarely saw another cyclist and I almost never saw another woman on a bike that has certainly changed, but it is still uncommon to see people riding bikes for transportation here. We just returned from a trip to Vancouver Island and Seattle, both areas are filled with people commuting by bike and their infrastructure supports it. The single reason most people state as to why they don’t ride a bike is they do not feel safe. We need the infrastructure first so people can feel safe to ride on the roads. Once we have that, the cyclists will follow.



  7. Ever had any accidents or run-ins with the law? Unfortunately, yes and yes. A couple of weeks ago I received a ticket for “disregard of a traffic signal (red)”. I had the misfortune of being stuck at a stoplight that doesn’t recognize bikes (not heavy enough for the sensor in road to detect) and there were no cars around to trip the light, so when it was safe to do so I proceeded through the intersection/ red light. There just so happened to be a police officer on a motorcycle there (who I didn’t see) and he stopped me and gave me a ticket. My frustration was that he didn’t give me an opportunity to explain why I took the action I did. We are expected to behave as vehicles yet the infrastructure here does not always allow us to do so.As far as accidents, I was hit by a car in 1995. A girl that had had her drivers license for 2 weeks ran a stop sign and we collided. My lovely old Trek was totaled, but I sustained relatively minor injuries considering so I consider myself fortunate.



  8. Have a favorite cyclist and/or bike tour? I mentioned being a fan of the Tour de France, I am a big fan of French cyclist, Thomas Voeckler, who I met in 2010 when we were in Quebec City (after riding there from Burlington, VT) to watch the Grand Prix Quebec bike race. He won the race and came close to winning the Tour last year. I love all the bike tours we have done, I think it matters less where I am riding and more about the experience of riding. Last year I rode King Ridge road in Sonoma County and part of Levi Leipheimer’s Gran Fondo route which was by far the most challenging riding I’ve ever done and I loved it. We did a one week tour in the Texas Hill Country this spring and I found it to be a perfect place for riding. I have yet to ride anywhere that I didn’t enjoy.



  9. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Probably France, in part because of my love of the Tour de France, but also because cycling is such a part of the European culture it has to be a great place to ride, not to mention the beautiful scenery and towns.



  10. What would you tell someone who is on the fence about taking up cycling? As a true-believer of cycling and all its many benefits, I would encourage them to just get on a bike and ride even if it is just a block to recreate the experience that most of us had as children when we rode our bikes and felt that sense of joy and freedom that bicycling brings. Once they get a taste of it, they are likely to want to do it again, I know I did. Cycling is great exercise but it is so much fun you don’t think of it as exercise. I always say if you want to feel like a kid again, go ride a bike!



    Love Of Bikes

Ticketed

ticket 2For the first time in nearly 25 years of riding as an adult I got a ticket.

The police officer had his ticket pad out before he ever asked me what happened, plus his tone told me it wasn’t going to go well.

He started writing the citation for “disregard signal light” immediately. No discussion. No attempt to get the facts. Since I am a cyclist he probably thought I had no regard for any red light and ran it. After all we’re all known for that.

Which in my case is laughable. Except it isn’t funny.

Here’s what happened:


Mark and I had made a run to a local grocery, Sunflower Market, which is located on 2nd street – one of Edmond’s busiest streets. We left the market with our stuff and rode out the way we rode in on a much less busy street, Littler. Heading north, we waited at the light (Littler and 2nd) but since no cars were behind us the light didn’t trip. There were cars in the left turn lane by us and they got the green and proceeded. The light for traffic going straight tripped to green for the cars opposite us but being on bikes it didn’t trip for our side.

History: I have waited… and waited… and waited… and waited… (and waited) at this particular light before and unless cars come up behind you it doesn’t turn green. No surprise to cyclists, it happens all the time at traffic lights. You could wait until the proverbial cows come home and the light isn’t tripping.

We were stopped with one foot down while we waited. Knowing the light would never change since there were no cars behind us (and none in sight) I elected to proceed through the intersection and red light when the opposing side got their green light, which is when if I had been in my car my light would have changed. There was no risk, the oncoming traffic was going straight, if there had been any risk I wouldn’t have done it. I don’t have a death wish.

I proceeded through noticing as I did that there was a policeman on a motorcycle stopped on 2nd street at the light. Unfortunately I didn’t see him until I was almost through the intersection. My husband did so he stopped – lucky too because we would have two tickets right now.

I saw his flashing lights in my helmet mirror but waited 10-15 seconds to pull over while I looked for a good spot. Before I was able to stop he yelled “HEY”. As I got off my bike and he got off his motorcycle I told him I had seen him but was just looking for a good spot to pull over.

He said nothing but got his citation book out. I told him I understood why he stopped me but wanted to tell him why I proceeded the way I did. At that point he made a comment that started with “you bike riders”, given his tone I knew I was most likely getting a ticket.

I still wanted him to understand why I did what I did so I told him about how bikes often don’t trip lights (and my history at that light) and even suggested he look at my husband who was still stuck at the light! Mark ended up being stuck there for nearly 10 minutes and 3 times during my conversation with said officer I pointed out “see that’s why I went when it was safe to do so because being on a bike you don’t trip the light!” He never looked over to see that Mark was still waiting.

He told me motorcycles do, I said yes, but they are bigger but the same isn’t true for bikes. I pointed out to him that although I knew he had no reason to believe me he had just stopped possibly the most traffic-law abiding cyclist in Edmond. Going to the grocery store there were numerous 4 way stops, many with no cars present, but guess who stopped at every one of them – yep, me.

I’m hardcore when it comes to abiding by traffic laws; look around here I’ve written about it numerous times. I once chased down two cyclists who blew through a 4-way stop. I believe and practice – same rights/same rules. I believe cyclists should stop at red traffic lights, and I do, and did on this occasion, but until those same lights can account for bicycles we have no choice but to proceed safely through the intersection or be prepared to sleep there.

This particular officer didn’t care. He seemed hell-bent on giving me a ticket. And he did. During this time Mark arrived (he had to push the cross-walk button and use the sidewalk to cross) and I asked him to take pictures for this blog post.

I told the officer I would be going to court to fight the citation because I didn’t deserve the ticket given the circumstances. He suggested I pick a different route or get the laws changed. I pointed out that Boulevard and Broadway would be worse and that Littler is the best option for cyclists. I doubt that he was serious with his suggestion that I get the law changed, I told him I helped get the law changed with the 3 foot ordinance several years ago when we got the Edmond City Council to adopt it. He said he didn’t make the laws, and I replied that no, but he was charged with enforcing them and given the circumstances he could have chosen not to issue me a ticket.ticket 4

After I got my ticket Mark and I proceeded home stopping at each and every stop sign (no other signals) just like we did before, and do whenever/wherever we ride.

An expensive trip to the grocery store – if found guilty it will be a $119 fine.

Stay tuned.

Edmond OK Bike Law

Some will view the news that the Edmond Police Department will begin their campaign to ensure that motorists and cyclists alike are aware of and obey the new bicycle ordinance as bad news. 

The campaign, set to officially begin May 1st, will include newspaper articles, t.v. spots and the use of social media, such as Facebook to get the word out. 

The awareness and enforcement campaign is to highlight the need for both motorists and cyclists to obey the traffic law and to ensure the safety of bike riders.

It may come as a surprise to many of you that some of those unhappy people will be bike riders.

As a driver and a bike rider, I’m happy about the news.  First, for motorists to be aware that by law they are required to give me 3 feet of clearance when passing me and subject to a ticket and fine if they don’t, will help to ensure my safety when I’m out biking.  Second, cyclists who have been used to riding through red lights and stop signs will hopefully cease and desist that practice immediately. 

I get beyond frustrated when I observe cyclists not following traffic law, last year I actually tried to chase a couple down to tell them so after observing them blow through a four-way stop, but I ran out of gas and couldn’t catch them (I had to stop at a stop sign ;)).

This type of behavior is not only wrong (not to mention stupid), it’s dangerous.  Every time a cyclist goes through a stop sign without even slowing down, rides with friends more than 2 abreast, fails to stop at a red light – it solidifies the negative opinion many drivers have of people that ride bicycles.  And some drivers will take it out on the next cyclist they see – whether they happen to be obeying the rules of the road or not.

If bike riders and motorists alike all follow the rules of the road we will be safer on the road. As I wrote in my post last year, Good Karma,

“Bad behavior begets bad behavior.  Good behavior improves your chances of being treated fairly and negative likewise improves your chances of getting that back.  I choose the positive approach, when out on the road cyclists need all the good karma we can get."  

To be clear, a cyclist can do everything precisely right and fall victim to the inattentive or aggressive driver. It’s tragic when it happens and it happens way too often.  The unlawful behavior of a cyclist generally doesn’t put anyone at risk of harm, unfortunately the same is not true of motorists.  It is a fact that when I ride my bike I am at greater risk than I am when I am behind the wheel.  Until there are more bikes on the road than cars I’m afraid that’s what we are faced with.

The new bike ordinance, and more importantly the enforcement of the new ordinance with drivers and cyclists alike, will serve to make the roads safer for those of us on two wheels and consequently for drivers too.  It will only be successful to the extent that we all follow the law – that means you “speedy-on-the-bike” and you, “impatient–in-too-big-a-hurry-driver”!

 

Related PostsEducating Motorists 

                   Let us Ride Our Bikes in Peace 

                               Outrage 

                       Improvements in OK Bike Law 

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