Tag Archives: crash

Lessons of Spruce Street

I’m posting this in connection with the video I shot of a ride on Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, already embedded in an earlier post. Spruce Street is a one-way street with parallel parking on the left side, and a bike … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

RRFBs: Time for Co-opetition

The US Federal Highway Administration has withdrawn its interim approval of  Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) because a company which makes them has patented them. This is a serious public-policy error. The RRFB has proved effective at increasing compliance of … Continue reading

Posted in traffic circles, Traffic Signals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Spruce Street, Philadelphia

Bicyclist Emily Fredericks was killed, crushed by a right-turning garbage truck, on Spruce Street in Philadelphia on November 29. Another bicyclist, Becca Refford, was similarly right hooked a block away on Pine Street on December 8 and suffered serious injuries. … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dutch Strict Liability Myth

A commenter on Facebook made a statement which is often heard in the USA: “A Dutch lady said they have so few hurt because drivers are guilty unless they can prove they weren’t.” Well, this doesn’t quite amount to fake … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

An undertaking undertaking

I answered this question on the Quora question-answering site. Who is at fault if a driver undertakes you from behind you while you are safely making a left turn on a one-way road? First, let’ define “undertaking”. That doesn’t mean … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Bike lanes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brooklyn Bridge air horn blast

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the engineering wonders of the world, opened in 1883 and is still in full service. (Highly recommended: David McCullough’s book The Great Bridge…) Traffic on the roadways when the bridge opened consisted of horseback riders, … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, New York City, shared space | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Avoiding the left cross

This post isn’t about pointing the finger of blame. If that is to your taste, you can find endorsement of that position in many of the comments on the video on YouTube. But I think that we would rather avoid … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Bike lanes, Crashes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Say what?

Click on the photo for a larger view. Your comments are welcome. This is yet another of Boston”s bike boxes, where bicyclists are expected to advance in a bike lane at the right side of the street, than to prepare … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Bike box, Bike lanes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Protected?

The cyclist’s comment on this Youtube video: “This is why turn signals are important. Had she used a turn signal, I would have stayed back and let her turn. But because she didn’t use one, I assumed she was going … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycle facilities, Cycle tracks, Sidepaths | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The “Dutch Reach”

I have sent the following message to Dr. Michael Charney, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, promoter of the “Dutch Reach”. The “Dutch Reach” is motorists’ opening the driver’s side door with the opposite hand, so they must look back for bicyclists riding … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Bike lanes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments