Bike Safety

A Proposal for a New Set of Bike Rules

Most states classify bicycles as "vehicles", and therefore bicyclists as "drivers" of vehicles. Practically what this means is: car rules are bike rules.

February 20, 2015 - Community Builders

Report: Divvy Proving Safe for Chicago Bikers

DNAInfo Chicago reports on new data showing the relative safety of bikeshare operations in Chicago.

February 16, 2015 - DNAinfo Chicago

Legislation would Require Bike Helmets, Reflective Clothing for Bike Riders

A newly proposed bill in California comes down hard on one side of a hotly contested issue regarding the necessity of helmets in ensuring the safety of bikers.

February 12, 2015 - Sacramento Bee

U.S. Department of Transportation Issues 'Mayors Challenge' for Bike Safety

Bike advocates will be pleased with the talk coming from the direction of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

January 29, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Safety in Scofflaws: More Research Needed on the Dirty Secret of Biking

An article on Washington Post's Wonkblog says what some bikers were thinking: sometimes it feels safer to break the law.

January 10, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Kids Biking

Study Casts Doubt on Bike Helmet Laws for Children

Do bike helmet laws prevent injuries for children, or do they just discourage children from riding bikes?

January 1, 2015 - The Incidental Economist

Did Advocates Overreact to Bike Safety Report?

When I read the subtitle to the recent GHSA bike safety report, "Adult Males and Urban Environments Now Represent Bulk of Deaths," I took an interest as I fit that demographic. I was surprised to read here about the dispute that erupted from it.

November 10, 2014 - Governing

Dispute Over Bike Fatality Report

The Governors Highway Safety Association released a report titled Bicyclist Safety showing a surge in bike fatalities since 2010. The report provoked widespread media coverage and, also, strongly critical reactions.

October 29, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Bicycle Collisions, Fatalities Increasing in Boston's Suburbs

The Boston Globe crunched the numbers in a recent Massachusetts Department of Transportation report.

October 13, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Nashville's New Bike-Friendly Bonafides: Bike Boxes

Bike boxes, a European import, may not have received as much attention other novel bike facilities such as protected bike lanes, but they are spreading. Nashville's first bike box accompanies a road diet and buffered bike lanes.

September 10, 2014 - The Tennessean

How Safe is Biking while Rocking Out (with Headphones)?

Joseph Stromberg examines the question of how safe it is for bikers to wear headphones—a common practice for which there is no safety data.

August 11, 2014 - Vox

Bicycle traffic light in Berlin

Responding to the 'All Bikers are Scofflaws' Fallacy

NPR's Scott Simon, Peabody-winning journalist and the Saturday host of Morning Edition, recently set off a Twitter-storm when he called out bikers as scofflaws.

July 8, 2014 - Medium

Study: Oregon Bikers Abide Red Lights

Move aside, myth of the reckless biker who flouts the law at every possible junction.

July 3, 2014 - Bike Portland

Study: Safety in Bike Numbers Found on the Streets of Boulder, Colorado

The high mode share of bikers in Boulder, Colorado allowed researchers to verify findings already documented by researchers in Europe.

July 2, 2014 - PhysOrg

A bride and groom riding on citi bikes in New York

The Case Against Bike Helmets

Should helmets be an optional accessory, rather than an absolute requirement? Or are helmets a sign of a culture not yet ready to embrace biking as a normal, safe activity?

May 19, 2014 - Vox

Preventing Illegal U-Turns through the Pennsylvania Avenue Bike Lanes

The effort to protect bikers from cars making illegal maneuvers continues in Washington D.C. on Pennsylvania Avenue. Because the street holds regular inauguration parades, planners can make a limited number of permanent changes.

May 13, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Should Bikes Be Allowed to Roll through Stop Signs?

Joseph Stromberg discusses the "Idaho Stop"—so named because Idaho has been allowing bikers to roll through stop signs since 1982.

May 12, 2014 - Vox

The Elements and Benefits of the Protected Intersection

A Dutch design for a protected intersection goes beyond the "mixing zone" to create safer multi-modal conditions in intersections on streets that include protected bike lanes. Do you think it will work?

May 5, 2014 - Greater Greater Washington

Biking Boom Takes to the Sidewalks

The city of Santiago, Chile offers a cautionary tale for cities amidst a biking boom that don’t rethink the mode balance on their streets: there’s nowhere for bikers to go except the sidewalk.

April 20, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Woman in Bike Lane, Toronto, Canada

Bike and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Bill Introduced in Congress

Rep. Albert Sires (D-N.J.) introduced the New Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Act of 2014 (H.R. 3978), modeled on TIFIA, to promote investment in bike and pedestrian facilities to make streets safer for all modes.

February 3, 2014 - NJ.com

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