The Blog Page

News, commentary and humor about bicycling and other topics of the day

 

LIB pushes safety enforcement

In preparation for May being National Bicycle Month, the League of Illinois Bicyclists is encouraging local law enforcement agencies to make special efforts to ensure cyclists and motorists can share the state's streets and highways safely. In a recent bulletin sent to the departments, LIB is sharing these ideas:

• When you see bicyclists and motorists make maneuvers that are dangerous, stop them and explain what they did wrong and the consequences. It’s better to make 50 preventive stops than to devote long hours to investigating a crash with injuries or a fatality.
  
• Be alert for situations in which motorists put bicyclists in danger – speeding, making left turns in front of oncoming bicyclists, failing to yield at stop signs and traffic lights, overtaking bicyclists without giving them sufficient space – at least three feet – and making right turns in front of bicyclists going in the same direction.
• Be alert for situations in which bicyclists put themselves and possibly motorists in danger – riding out of driveways or side streets without looking, failing to yield at stop signs and traffic lights, making left turns without signaling and checking over the shoulder for oncoming traffic.

To see the full list of ideas LIB is pushing, you can download a PDF file of the bulletin.

Labels: cycling, League of Illinois Bicyclists, safety

Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:08 AM   

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Cycling issues in Illinois

The League of Illinois Bicyclists will pursue several significant changes in Illinois traffic law designed to give more protection to cyclists.

The first is Senate Bill 80. The proposal would:

• Require vehicles leave a minimum of 3 feet clearance when passing bikes.
• Clarify that bikes do not have to stay close to the right-hand curb where right turns are permitted.
• Permit the option of using the right arm and hand to signal a right turn.

LIB has created a PDF file illustrating what the law would mean for cyclists and motorists.

The second is a new negligent vehicular homicide bill closing a gap in legal prosecution. The bill was prompted by