News:

Campaigners group to fight for strict liability for Scotland
Bike Biz: Campaigners group together to fight for strict liability for Scotland by Carlton Reid Monday, April ...
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Cyclist hopes to make 'strict liability' legal history with High
Road.cc: Cyclist hopes to make 'strict liability' legal history with High Court case Suing both passenge...
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South African cyclist manhandled by occupants of diplomat's car
Road.cc: Video: Diplomatic incident! South African cyclist manhandled by occupants of diplomat's car could face c...
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With crash data, Boston tries to make bicycling safer
The Boston Globe: With crash data, Boston tries to make bicycling safer

Ridership up; 50% drop in injury rate ...
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Support grows for 'strict liability' for cyclists in Scotland
Bike Biz: Support grows for 'strict liability' for cyclists in Scotland by Jonathon Harker Bike Sta...
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Arrested driver complained bicyclists 'don't belong' in Lyons
The Daily Camera: Driver arrested in cyclist's death had complained bicyclists 'don't belong' in Lyon...
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Bike advocates react to citys crash study
The Boston Globe: Bike advocates react to city’s crash study

By Martine Powers | Globe Staff May...
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In the helmets debate, cyclists need to use their heads
The Herald: Inside Track: In the helmets debate, cyclists need to use their heads

Helen McArdle News Reporte...
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Road Rights:

Road Rights- Help From Our Friends
How to talk bike safety with those who don’t ride (yet) By Bob Mionske Have I ever mentioned my Uncle...
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News:

Driving schools promote safer habits around cyclists
Enterprise News: Driving schools promote safer habits around cyclists By Monica Jimenez/mjimenez@wickedlocal.com...
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The bike revolution and its backlash
The New York Daily News: The bike revolution and its backlash

From bike lanes to Citi Bike and beyond, how th...
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More proof that bike lanes boost business
Treehugger: More proof that bike lanes boost business Lloyd Alter

Transportation / Bikes

May 13, 2013 ...
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Cyclists Aren't 'Special,' and Shouldn't Play by Their Own Rules
The Atlantic Cities: Cyclists Aren't 'Special,' and They Shouldn't Play by Their Own Rules

SAR...
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News:

Cyclist Captures Harassment on Camera in South Williamsburg
Streetsblog: Cyclist Captures Harassment on Camera in South Williamsburg

by Stephen Miller Elevated from ...
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By Rick Bernardi, J.D.

You’ve probably seen “the comment.” It goes something like this. A news article reports that a cyclist was injured, or maybe even killed. The cyclist was following the law. The driver was not. Maybe the driver was just being careless. Maybe the driver was deliberately targeting the cyclist for harassment, or worse.

It doesn’t matter, because “the comment” always follows the same logic: “When cyclists stop breaking the law…” Regardless of what actually happened, regardless of the fact that this particular cyclist was following the law and this particular driver was not, some aggrieved motorist feels obliged to point out that cyclists break the law.

This is the myth of the scofflaw cyclist.  

[ Keep Reading... ]

By Rick Bernardi, J.D.

The reason most often-cited by motorists for the animosity between motorists and cyclists is the disregard that cyclists have for the traffic laws. And one complaint in particular always comes up in any discussion about cyclists—the well-known disregard that cyclists have for stop signs and red lights.

Well, it’s true that many cyclists do not follow the traffic laws when it comes to required stops. But it’s also true that many cyclists do follow the law. And yet it’s virtually guaranteed that whenever the subject of cyclists comes up, motorists will volunteer their observations that cyclists have no regard for stop signs and red lights. And these observations are offered regardless of circumstances. A motorist right-hooked a law-abiding cyclist? A driver has no explanation for why he didn’t see a brightly-clad law-abiding cyclist in broad daylight? A road-rager uses his vehicle to assault a cyclist and bully him off the road? No matter. Somebody will mention that cyclists break the law. 

So with all of that sanctimony, one might reasonably believe that drivers are themselves paragons of lawfulness, especially when it comes to observing stop signs and red lights.

[ Keep Reading... ]

By Rick Bernardi, J.D.

Should bicycling under the influence (dubbed “BUI” by Bob Mionske) be legal? Should it be illegal? And if it is illegal, what is the proper penalty?

[ Keep Reading... ]

This news article featuring Bob Mionske and Rick Bernardi has been reproduced here for our archives. To access the original article, follow the link.

Westword: Drunk cycling: Is Denver's new bike DUI policy harsher than rules in other states?

By Sam Levin Tue., Nov. 27 2012

 Yesterday, we reported that Denver Police are now enforcing state drunk-cycling laws -- meaning intoxicated cyclists can be charged with DUIs just like inebriated drivers. Some cycling advocates question whether this is good public policy -- and a look at parallel laws around the country shows that Denver's approach is harsher than some other states' enforcement rules.

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This blog article featuring Bob Mionske has been reproduced here for our media archives. To access the original article, follow the link.

Bike lawyer: cyclists often a 'target'

Former Olympic cyclist Bob Mionske, now a cycling attorney, discusses the growing tension between motorists and cyclists as more and more bikes hit the road.

Video" Bike lawyer: cyclists often a 'target'

 

This news article featuring Bob Mionske has been reproduced here for our archives. To access the original article, follow the link.

Hey, angry driver: Smile for the bike cam

As commuting by bike becomes more popular, bikers are mounting small cameras on their bicycles to document what they say is aggressive driving. NBC’s Tom Costello reports.

Video: Hey, angry driver: Smile for the bike cam

This news article featuring Bob Mionske has been reproduced here for our archives. To access the original article, follow the link.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge:  Stay Safe, Cyclists

Story by Joe Silva

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the past few weeks with regards to cycling it’s that no one is immune to the dangers of riding out on the roads. Several recent high-profile wrecks have once again brought home the reality that even the most capable and experienced bike riders are subject to the hazards of traffic. In early November Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins was toppled by a van during a training ride. The Olympic champ and 2012 Tour de France champion was described by witnesses at the scene to be in severe pain as he waited for an ambulance to whisk him off to a hospital. Not long after the team’s coach Shane Sutton was also the victim of a run in with a motorist that was far more serious. Wiggins suffered a rib fracture and a dislocated finger, but Sutton was treated for bleeding on the brain and memory loss. And proving the axiom that bad things come in threes, Wiggins former teammate Mark Cavendish “slammed” into the back of a car that hit its brakes suddenly while the Manx speedster was out training. Luckily, Cav sustained only a bruised arm in the incident.

[ Keep Reading... ]