Comments on: BTV Police Step Up Enforcement for Bike-Ped Safety http://www.localmotion.org/blog/2011/11/burlington-police-step-up-enforcement-for-bike-ped-safety/ Building a culture of walking and biking in northwest Vermont Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:25:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Krista http://www.localmotion.org/blog/2011/11/burlington-police-step-up-enforcement-for-bike-ped-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-6609 Krista Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:12:55 +0000 http://www.localmotion.org/blog/?p=2211#comment-6609 I applaud this new initiative, and think ALL offenders should be ticketed, regardless of mode of transportation. It's simple - no matter who you are, you need to follow the rules, no matter how inconvenient they may be. This is just common sense and self preservation. It is rare that the cyclist is blamed when an incident with a vehicle occurs, even though it is often a result of their ignorance or disregard of even the most basic safety and traffic standards. I am all of the above (cyclist, pedestrian and motorist) and have seen more than my fair share of idiots out there who ignore traffic laws, but lately fellow cyclists and especially pedestrians on cell phones seem to be the worst offenders, while it is usually the vehicular offenses that are targeted. About time things got evened out a bit! I applaud this new initiative, and think ALL offenders should be ticketed, regardless of mode of transportation. It’s simple – no matter who you are, you need to follow the rules, no matter how inconvenient they may be. This is just common sense and self preservation. It is rare that the cyclist is blamed when an incident with a vehicle occurs, even though it is often a result of their ignorance or disregard of even the most basic safety and traffic standards. I am all of the above (cyclist, pedestrian and motorist) and have seen more than my fair share of idiots out there who ignore traffic laws, but lately fellow cyclists and especially pedestrians on cell phones seem to be the worst offenders, while it is usually the vehicular offenses that are targeted. About time things got evened out a bit!

]]> By: Jonathan slason http://www.localmotion.org/blog/2011/11/burlington-police-step-up-enforcement-for-bike-ped-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-6606 Jonathan slason Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:26:09 +0000 http://www.localmotion.org/blog/?p=2211#comment-6606 See this on-going debate. <a href="http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/11/20/should-cyclists-ignore-stop-signs/" target="_blank">http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/11/20/should-cyclists...</a> - This as a post I put on my facebook page: I completely agree that cyclists should be able to treat the facilities like 'yields' of 'give ways' since it is only them who will pay the consequences of a ill-faited decision. (obviously if they collide with someone then they are to blame, be it a Pedestrian or a vehicle). I feel much safer trying to jump ahead of a light or at a stop sign to maintain momentum and my place in the general traf...fic stream vs. stopping and then starting slowly getting up to speed and then being passed again my all the vehicles behind me. Like a recent crash I have had and the quote from my insurance broker... the cycle is an odd thing neither a vehicle-vehicle crash and neither a vehicle-pedestrian incident. They didn't know how to code it in their system showing both personal property damage and personal body damage. The cycle is a mixture of the two modes and needs to have a separate set of laws and traffic behaviours associated with it.See More See this on-going debate. http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/11/20/should-cyclists…

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This as a post I put on my facebook page:
I completely agree that cyclists should be able to treat the facilities like 'yields' of 'give ways' since it is only them who will pay the consequences of a ill-faited decision. (obviously if they collide with someone then they are to blame, be it a Pedestrian or a vehicle).

I feel much safer trying to jump ahead of a light or at a stop sign to maintain momentum and my place in the general traf…fic stream vs. stopping and then starting slowly getting up to speed and then being passed again my all the vehicles behind me.

Like a recent crash I have had and the quote from my insurance broker… the cycle is an odd thing neither a vehicle-vehicle crash and neither a vehicle-pedestrian incident. They didn't know how to code it in their system showing both personal property damage and personal body damage.

The cycle is a mixture of the two modes and needs to have a separate set of laws and traffic behaviours associated with it.See More

]]> By: patricia http://www.localmotion.org/blog/2011/11/burlington-police-step-up-enforcement-for-bike-ped-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-6605 patricia Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:19:42 +0000 http://www.localmotion.org/blog/?p=2211#comment-6605 barnstable bike cops in massachusetts are some of the guiltiest when it comes to violating traffic laws! drives us crazy! barnstable bike cops in massachusetts are some of the guiltiest when it comes to violating traffic laws! drives us crazy!

]]> By: Guest http://www.localmotion.org/blog/2011/11/burlington-police-step-up-enforcement-for-bike-ped-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-6602 Guest Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:27:49 +0000 http://www.localmotion.org/blog/?p=2211#comment-6602 I can't count how many close calls I've had from motorists during the last seven years. I've been in the cross walk at Church and Cherry,College, or Bank, had a motorists barrell right at me, or roll at me instead of stopping.... while three cops stand in a group and chit-chat, totally oblivious. It happens a 100 times a day. Or how about motorists who just hit the accelorater when pulling out of parking garages or lots, without a care for bikes or pedestrians, even though they see them? Only 8 motorists cited and 16 pedestrians? How about a few dipshit skateboarders who purposely buzz pedestrians on the sidewalk? I can't count how many close calls I've had from motorists during the last seven years. I've been in the cross walk at Church and Cherry,College, or Bank, had a motorists barrell right at me, or roll at me instead of stopping…. while three cops stand in a group and chit-chat, totally oblivious. It happens a 100 times a day. Or how about motorists who just hit the accelorater when pulling out of parking garages or lots, without a care for bikes or pedestrians, even though they see them? Only 8 motorists cited and 16 pedestrians? How about a few dipshit skateboarders who purposely buzz pedestrians on the sidewalk?

]]> By: meg http://www.localmotion.org/blog/2011/11/burlington-police-step-up-enforcement-for-bike-ped-safety/comment-page-1/#comment-6601 meg Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:28:48 +0000 http://www.localmotion.org/blog/?p=2211#comment-6601 I think that we aren't at the point where equal enforcement makes sense except maybe in the case of lights on your bike. Not all bikers should follow the same rules as vehicles, especially when the infrastructure (South Winooski Ave) is no where near safe enough for all bikes/cars to share the road. Using the bike lane on Union in the wrong way is often the safest and wisest choice. Not stopping at a stop sign to maintain momentum with a load on the back of your bike (when the coast is obviously clear) also makes sense. It feels like concessions are being made before needs are being met to make the city really bike safe and conscious. A lot of great work has been done to get some lanes marked here and there. Unlike cars, bikes tend to come in a spectrum of users that need to be treated differently: commuter high speed bikers, families, kids riding to school, tourists etc. I am not sure the transportation rules or planning take this into consideration. I think that we aren't at the point where equal enforcement makes sense except maybe in the case of lights on your bike. Not all bikers should follow the same rules as vehicles, especially when the infrastructure (South Winooski Ave) is no where near safe enough for all bikes/cars to share the road. Using the bike lane on Union in the wrong way is often the safest and wisest choice. Not stopping at a stop sign to maintain momentum with a load on the back of your bike (when the coast is obviously clear) also makes sense. It feels like concessions are being made before needs are being met to make the city really bike safe and conscious. A lot of great work has been done to get some lanes marked here and there. Unlike cars, bikes tend to come in a spectrum of users that need to be treated differently: commuter high speed bikers, families, kids riding to school, tourists etc. I am not sure the transportation rules or planning take this into consideration.

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