Bike Friendly City?

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https://m.facebook.com/IrvinePD/posts/1241403129220000:0
Irvine Police Department
Fatal Traffic Collision
Irvine, CA – The Irvine Police Department (IPD) is investigating a fatal traffic collision. 
At approximately 3:05 p.m., a 9-year-old boy was riding his bicycle and was hit by a van driven by a 57-year-old man at the intersection of Roosevelt and Bay Tree. 
IPD and Orange County Fire Authority immediately responded to the scene, and the child was transported to an area hospital. The child tragically succumbed to his traumatic injuries at the hospital at approximately 3:35 p.m. 
The identity of the child is being withheld at this time to allow time for family to be notified. 
The male driver was the sole occupant of his vehicle and remained at the scene. His identity is not being released at this time. The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing. 
The intersection at Roosevelt and Bay Tree is partially closed for the investigation, with limited lanes open allowing residents access to their homes. 
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact IPD Traffic Sergeant Matt August at 949-724-7023.

 

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http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area...e-bicyclist-suspected-drinking-hit-and-killed
SAN JOSE -- A bicyclist who authorities say was under the influence of alcohol was hit and killed by a car on Monterey Road on Saturday evening, adding to a traffic-death tally that is the city's highest in at least two decades, according to San Jose police.
A collision between the rider and a 2004 Mercedes-Benz was reported about 7:40 p.m. near Monterey and Lewis roads, police said.
The victim, described only as a male adult, was taken to the hospital, where he died. His identity was not immediately released pending notification of his next of kin.
Traffic investigators believe the man was traveling westbound across Monterey Road when he was hit. They ruled out speed or driver impairment as factors in the collision, and said there was suspicion that the "victim riding the bicycle was drinking."
The death marked the city's 48th traffic fatality of the year -- the highest total since at least the mid-1990s -- and the 18th involving a bicyclist or pedestrian.
Check back later for updates to this story.

 

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http://www.ocregister.com/articles/kevin-693420-zhou-boy.html
IRVINE – Hundreds of mourners gathered Sunday night at a small park in the Cypress Village neighborhood, just down the street from where 9-year-old Kevin Jiang was struck by a van and killed while riding his bike home from school Friday.
A steady stream of those wishing to pay their condolences walked from the neighborhood across from the park carrying flowers.
As a mix of Christian hymns and traditional Chinese music played over speakers, mourners lit candles and placed them with flowers in the shape of a large heart.
Handmade signs at a sidewalk memorial at Roosevelt and Bay Tree, where Kevin was struck, pleaded with drivers to slow down. “Our lives are important,” one sign read.
Kevin’s parents came to the U.S. from China in hopes of a better life for their child, looking for the safety, security and better education that the U.S. could provide, said Edward Zhou, a friend of the boy’s father.
“He was a sunshine boy,” who loved kung fu and playing Chinese music, Zhou said.
Neither Zhou nor others at the vigil would identify Kevin’s parents.
The tentatively titled Kevin Angel Foundation has been created in the boy’s memory, and organizers say they plan to reach out to drivers every weekend and urge them to drive safely.
Kevin’s heart was donated to another child, Zhou said.
The fourth-grader had come to the U.S. with his family six months ago from the city of Ningbo in the Zhejiang province of China, about 100 miles south of Shanghai, said Michael Liu, a Ningbo native living in Fullerton who had heard about the vigil through an online group for recent Chinese immigrants.
The Irvine Police Department is investigating the crash.
Police Cmdr. Julia Engen said Roosevelt usually has many kids walking on it as they leave nearby Cypress Village Elementary School, where Kevin was a student.
She recommends that parents talk to their children about traffic safety and the rules of the road.
“We all have to be watching out for each other,” she said.

 

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http://sfappeal.com/2015/11/6-8m-bike-pedestrian-corridor-to-begin-construction-at-mclaren-park/
A $6.8 million yearlong project will transform half of a busy four-lane road in San Francisco’s McLaren Park into two lanes of designated bicycle and pedestrian only pathways starting this month.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Mansell Street Corridor Improvement Project was held today and construction is slated to begin next week.
The infrastructure project will place vehicles on one side of a wooded median and pedestrians and cyclists on the other, and will also update signage, crosswalks, and bring flashing beacons to major intersections in the area.
This project will also incorporate bioswales, broad ditches used to catch and filter stormwater runoff and decrease flooding potential.
The improvements to the roadway aim to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety on Mansell Street between University Street and Brazil Avenue as well as a small stretch of Persia Avenue between Brazil Avenue and Dublin Street, according to San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.
Situated in the southern portion of the city, McLaren Park is the second largest park in the city, after Golden Gate Park.
With the Bayview and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods to the east and the Excelsior and Crocker Amazon neighborhoods to the west, McLaren Park serves as one of the few large green spaces in the area.
The changes to the park’s infrastructure are also likely to help improve the park’s reputation, which has been scarred by numerous homicides, acts of violence and traffic collisions over the years.
In May, 18-year-old Balboa High School student Jonathan Sauceda Caballero, was fatally shot at the park and in June, 23-year-old bicyclist and San Francisco resident Donald Pinkerton-DeVito, died in a collision with a marked police patrol vehicle in the park.
When the Mansell Street Corridor Improvement Project is completed in late 2016, not only will cyclists and pedestrians experience a safe, dedicated pathway, but drivers will also notice newly paved roads and reduced vehicular speeds, according to San Francisco Recreation and Park officials.
San Francisco District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen said this streetscape improvement project “is a transformative project that will build stronger connections with neighborhoods that utilize Mansell and border McLaren Park.”
Cohen said residents surrounding the park deserve to see these safety improvements in their neighborhood.
The project, a partnership between the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, San Francisco Public Works, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, aims to create better infrastructure that will encourage more people to bicycle and walk in the park, free from fears of speeding vehicles.
District 11 Supervisor John Avalos, whose district includes the western edge of McLaren Park, said he is looking forward to riding his bike on the new cycling path in the fall.
The $6.8 million in funding secured for the project came from vehicle registration fees, gasoline tax revenue and the city’s half-cent tax for transportation funds, as well as grants from One Bay Area and the California Urban Greening program and the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, according to SF Rec and Park officials.

 

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http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article46790980.html
Family members and bicycle advocates say the California Highway Patrol botched key details in its investigation of a fatal bicycle crash this month involving a Sacramento Superior Court judge, deepening their skepticism about the agency’s handling of the case.
On Nov. 2, Judge Matthew Gary was driving his Toyota pickup truck on Fair Oaks Boulevard when he hit a bicycle ridden by Margaret Bengs, 66, who died the next day. Shortly after her death, a CHP spokeswoman said Bengs appeared to be at fault, in part because she was not wearing a helmet.
But a witness who stayed with her until paramedics arrived said she was wearing a helmet, and Bengs’ family says she had two helmets among her belongings at the hospital. Her relatives also note that Bengs died the day after the crash, not two days after, as the CHP had first reported.
Anne Bengs Maffucci said her sister suffered a crushed skull, two broken arms and a shattered kidney in the crash, and was taken off life support at the family’s request.
“The CHP seems a bit negligent,” Maffucci said. “I hate to say this is a cover-up, but it seems like they are trying to slough this off like everything is OK.”
CHP spokeswoman Officer Jenna Berry defended her agency’s investigation.
“We take our time and work very hard to make sure that all investigations, especially collisions where a fatality is involved, are clear, concise, complete, and answer the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how in a time sequential manner,” she said in an email. “This is not a fast process.”
Berry said she made the mistake about Bengs’ date of death and sent a corrected version of the press release Tuesday.
She said she could not discuss whether Bengs wore a helmet, “as it is still part of the ongoing investigation.” The agency expects to complete the investigation before the end of the year.
Bengs previously served as a speechwriter for former Gov. George Deukmejian and former Attorney General Dan Lungren, and she was an op-ed contributor to The Sacramento Bee.
Gary, 54, has declined requests to discuss the accident. He has been a Sacramento Superior Court judge since he was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007; he ran unopposed for the seat in 2010.
Jim Brown, executive director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, said the helmet is an issue because CHP made a point of singling it out in its initial accounts of the crash. Now that the account has been proved wrong, “it raises red flags about how they conduct investigations,” he said.
Maffucci said she received two helmets in her sister’s belongings from the accident scene. One, marked with blood, she had been wearing, while the other helmet had been secured to her bike, Maffucci said.
Shannon Wells-Lawler said Bengs was wearing the helmet immediately after the crash. Wells-Lawler said she did not see the crash but pulled over on Fair Oaks Boulevard to help Bengs on her way to work as an executive chef at a Sacramento private school.
She said Gary and two other men stood over Bengs in the middle turn lane of Fair Oaks Boulevard just south of Kenneth Avenue. One of the men suggested they remove the helmet, but Wells-Lawler said she insisted they not move Bengs.
According to the CHP’s initial account, Gary made a left turn from Kenneth Avenue onto Fair Oaks Boulevard, while Bengs was crossing Fair Oaks from the other side of the street.
Based on the position of Bengs’ bike and body, Gary seems to have hit her when she was in the middle turn lane, Wells-Lawler said. She said it was raining and traffic was heavy on Fair Oaks Boulevard.
Standing in front of the intersection where the crash happened, Wells-Lawler this week called Fair Oaks Boulevard “very dangerous” and said she has seen many accidents on her daily commute on the road, which has four lanes of traffic and a center turn lane.
Christopher Gayner, a traffic accident reconstruction expert in Santa Barbara, said bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists.
“The bicyclist had every right to be in the median as the motorist,” he said. “The big unknown in this is, what was her path and timing and what was his path and timing? It seems like he’s the only one that can answer these questions.”
Wells-Lawler said she grabbed two blankets from her car and draped them over Bengs, then held her hand and talked to her to try to keep her alert. Bengs could not speak and her eyes gave the impression that she was on the edge of consciousness, she said.
When paramedics arrived, one of them said, “You can go now,” she recalled. She and the two other witnesses left before the CHP arrived, she said. That left Gary as the only witness on the scene.
“It was all very strange,” she said, thinking that paramedics should have kept the witnesses there for questioning.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to the accident. Assistant Chief Maurice Johnson said the district’s emergency responders usually let law enforcement decide how to handle witnesses, but he was not able to determine Friday what happened at the Nov. 2 crash.
Berry said the CHP urges any witnesses to contact the North Sacramento office at (916) 348-2300.

 

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http://blog.sfgate.com/bicycle/2015/11/28/sfs-pattern-tragedy-first-safe-streets-second/ :x

 

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http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancou...t-city-to-cycle-in-canada-pembina-report.html
Vancouver cyclists, drivers and pedestrians alike may tell horror stories about near crashes on city streets, but a new report suggests Vancouver is the safest of five major cities to cycle in Canada.
There is less than one crash reported for every 100,000 cycling trips in Vancouver compared to seven in Montreal and five in Toronto, the most dangerous cities to travel on two wheels, according to a report released by the Pembina Institute on Thursday.
Calgary and Ottawa were in the middle of the pack with four and three crashes per 100,000 trips respectively. The data likely underestimates accidents since many smaller crashes such as doorings go unreported.
“It shows there can be safety in numbers,” Pembina senior advisor and report co-author Nithya Vijayakumar said, pointing to the high volume of cyclists in a relatively small area.
At 106,500, Vancouver had the highest number of daily cycling trips – Toronto was runner up with 96,084 trips and Calgary last with 19,476. Vancouver also boasts the densest cycling network with most cycling infrastructure in the downtown core.
Vijayakumar cautioned that direct comparisons between the cities are flawed because of Vancouver’s small size. It would have been more accurate to study all of Metro Vancouver in order for the study area to be comparable to the other cities, but she said data wasn’t readily available for municipalities including Burnaby and Richmond.
Nevertheless, the report showcases how different cities are investing in bike infrastructure and where their strengths lie. Vancouver has done a great job of signage and neighbourhood bike routes, Montreal has the most on-street bike lanes and Calgary has far and away the largest off-street, recreational cycling network.
“It’s not a one size fits all approach,” she said.
She hopes planners will read the report to discover ideas that work in other cities with the recognition that there’s a growing momentum around cycling.
“Every city is recognizing the appetite for cycling infrastructure,” she said.

 

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http://www.nugget.ca/2015/12/01/cyclist-charged-2 :x Rear ended in a crosswalk and gets a ticket?
A female cyclist has been charged following a collision with a pickup Monday afternoon.
North Bay police said the 46-year-old cyclist has been issued a provincial offence notice for riding her bicycle on the sidewalk.
The cyclist was travelling on the sidewalk on the left hand side of Lakeshore Drive at about 5:15 p.m. Monday. The bicycle did not have a light nor reflectors.
While the cyclist was crossing Lovell Avenue from the sidewalk, the female driver of the pickup who was making a right-hand turn from Lakeshore struck the back tire of the bicycle.
The cyclist suffered minor injuries.
North Bay police remind cyclists that under the Highway Traffic Act, a bicycle is a vehicle. Cyclists not ride on sidewalks, must have a white front light and a rear red light or reflector when riding from half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise and must ride on the right-hand side of the road, as close to the edge of the road as possible.
Cyclists must also obey all traffic laws including stopping at stop signs and red lights, must ride only in the designated direction on one-way streets, must have a working bell or horn on their bicycle and must wear a helmet if under the age of 18.
Although helmets are not compulsory for anyone aged 18 or over, police recommend all cyclists wear helmets.
Motorists are also reminded they must share the road with cyclists.

 

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http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20151201/downtown-chico-sidewalk-riders-face-78-ticketChico sidewalks are notoriously slippery this time of year. Add a few slimeball cops and shake well to protect those very few pedestrians who haven't already slipped and fell on their own accord. That "racing" skateboarder is going so slow that he has time to chat with a young lady outside a bike shop.

Chico >> Police are in the giving spirit this holiday season — the ticket-giving spirit — as the Chico Police Department promises to give citations to people riding skateboards and bicycles on downtown sidewalks.
Municipal codes 10.45.030 and 10.40.090 restrict cyclists and skateboarders from riding on the sidewalks between Salem and Wall streets and between First and Fifth streets, according to a Police Department public service announcement. During the busy holiday season, sidewalk riders have the potential to cause serious injuries, and they present a significant safety hazard.
Officers will be enforcing the codes, the announcement states, and anyone caught riding a bike or skateboard on downtown sidewalks will be ticketed.
Breaking the sidewalk-riding municipal codes will cost $78, according to the Butte County Superior Court’s bail schedule.

 

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http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/dec/03/bicyclist-struck-and-killed-on-friars-road/
San Diego — A bicyclist was fatally injured when he was struck by a car Thursday night in Mission Valley, San Diego police said.
Both the cyclist and a BMW sedan were headed east on Friars Road near Rio Bonito Way about 8:30 p.m. when the bicyclist crossed the road diagonally and was hit, police Officer Robert Heims said.
The 22-year-old man died before he could be taken to a hospital.
The driver had a minor injury, the officer said. Two passengers in the car were not injured.

 

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http://www.sfexaminer.com/bicycle-crackdown-continues-cyclists-fear-it-may-be-permanent/ :x

It seems reports that the “bicycle crackdown” ended were premature.

Enforcement targeting bike riders along the popular east-west cycle route “The Wiggle” are back in force, bicyclists tell the San Francisco Examiner.

Morgan Fitzgibbons, a cyclist and member of The City’s Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, said he’s seen enforcement return. “It’s been almost weekly,” Fitzgibbons said.

Targeting cyclists with tickets was a renewed effort from the summer, when Park Station Capt. John Sanford controversially started a “crackdown” on cyclists who roll through stop signs or run red lights began along the Panhandle.

Soon after, Supervisor John Avalos proposed a “bike yield law,” that would make ticketing cyclists who roll through stop signs safely a low enforcement priority for police. That law will be reviewed in a Board of Supervisors committee next week.

When Sanford announced the end of the enforcement action in August he told the community “we can revisit it at any time.”

At a police commission meeting Wednesday night, Sanford verified the bike enforcement’s back. “It’s exactly what I said to the community,” he said, “that we could resume enforcement at any time.”

Bike advocates claim the enforcement actions target cyclists who pose no physical danger to pedestrians or themselves. One of those cyclists is Katrina Sostek.

Sostek said she was ticketed for rolling through a stop sign at Church and Duboce streets Nov. 30, but was traveling slowly and safely. She showed a photo of her ticket to the Examiner. The officer wrote her speed was less than five miles per hour. “I wasn’t endangering anyone,” she said. “I slowed down, looked both ways, and went through the intersection cautiously.”

The above ticket was issued to Katrina Sostek for rolling through a stop sign at Church and Duboce streets on Nov. 30. (Courtesy photo)

Sanford said he will task his officers with ticketing cyclists when Park Station receives complaints of unsafe cyclists. He also said only 1 percent of all traffic enforcement in The City is of cyclists. According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, bicycling represents 4 percent of all private trips locally.

Chris Cassidy, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition spokesperson, said the San Francisco Police Department should focus enforcement on autos, as they’re the source of the most dangerous collisions.

Fitzgibbons favors SFPD bringing enforcement levels in line with the number of cycling trips in The City, with a caveat.

“Please, only [ticket] the ones who are being dangerous on the road,” he said, “Do not waste your time ticketing people being perfectly safe.”

 

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http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...er-officer-neglected-rights-of-bicyclist.html :x Letter to the Editor:
Approximately three weeks ago, I was riding my bike down Neil Avenue near W. 8th Avenue as I made my way to Kroger for some groceries. As I moved into the middle of my lane, a car tried to pass and abruptly smacked me from the rear.
The car hit its brakes and pulled into the median while I, shocked and disoriented, dragged my bike off to the side of the road. The driver began yelling and using profanity, telling me that I should not be in the middle of road. That is, I should not be in the middle of the road that has a picture of a bicycle on it, which, in theory, means I have as much right to the lane as a car.
After a few minutes, the driver of the vehicle called the police in order to file a report. The police officer lectured me on the traffic laws for bikes until they realized the portion of the road in question was in fact a bike lane.
It’s interesting that Columbus prides itself on being a bike-friendly city when a rider cannot even feel safe while commuting five minutes to the store. As an avid bicyclist in Columbus, it makes me very uneasy to know that even the police are not on our side.
LUCAS McCLISH
Columbus

 

[Chalo]

Cyclists have a right to the entire right lane almost everywhere in the United States.

It's amazing to me that a car driver can hold a license without knowing this, or that a cop can keep his job without knowing it.

 

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https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/30299000/perth-cyclist-killed-hours-before-surprise-party/
A cyclist who died after he was hit by a car on Sunday morning was just hours away from his own surprise birthday party.
Tom Curtis was riding alone to meet members of his regular group the Over 55 Cycling Club when a 20-year-old woman knocked him off his bike on Marshall Road in Bennett Springs at about 5.40am.
Fellow rider and friend Graham Miller expressed his shock and sorrow at his friend’s loss.
“We are absolutely shocked. Most of us haven’t accepted he is not going to be here anymore,” he said.
“He was the type of guy you think is going to be there forever. He was a strong rider a friendly person.”
Mr Miller described his cycling mate of five years as a “gentle giant” and passionate cyclist.
He said the cycling group organised a surprise party for Mr Curtis, who turned 60 on Saturday .
“We were meeting at Warwick to take the train to Mandurah and ride back,” he said.
“Tom was coming to meet us. When he didn’t arrive we tried to call him then decided to go without him.”
The group heard on the train that Tom had been horrifically injured in a cycling accident and was fighting for his life in hospital.
“We kept hoping he would recover, but it wasn’t looking good,” Mr Miller said.
Tom’s wife Liz called with the sad news that Mr Curtis had died while his cycling mates were at a barbecue intended to be his surprise party.
“We still went ahead with the barbecue, but it was very subdued,” Mr Miller said.
“We are going to make this time next year a memorial ride for Tom.”
Mr Curtis lived in Henley Brook with his wife Liz. The pair has been married for more than forty years and had two children.
He was an active member of the cycling community and last year completed a charity ride across Australia for autism.
Police are still investigating the circumstances of the crash that killed Mr Curtis, and last night no charges had been laid.
Mr Miller said the tragic death of a rider so focused on safety reminded him and his fellow riders how vulnerable they were.
“We are trying to get the message out to motorists to be more careful and keep an eye out for cyclists,” he said.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the incident was a tragedy.
“It is always a tragedy whenever we have an accident on our roads, whether it be cyclists, motorbikes or cars,” he said.
“The State is investing a lot in infrastructure to support this. I have been discussing with the minister for road safety regarding further awareness campaigns.
“We implore on everybody to take care out on our roads. We want people to enjoy the holiday time and be safe.”

 

[LockH]

Toronto, Canada, eh?

Our triking is off for the next little while. A drunk driver backed over my trike this afternoon and damaged the ring gears and one front wheel. I also got dumped onto the road way and pulled a muscle in my chest or broke a rib. Will see how I am in the morning. Might end up in the hosp. Cop ticketed the driver. Suspended his license for a week. I wonder how to get my trike checked over for hidden damage? No dealers in town. Amazingly the tire held air still and I was able to wobble home about 3 km. It's 6 hours later now and I'm more uncomfortable. 66-year old muscles and bones are feeling their age tonight. I can't imagine being without a trike for months while his insurance fights with me. Anyone else have to settle trike damages with an insurance company?

 

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http://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/bicyclist-killed-in-crash-on-oswell-st-and-virginia-ave
According to the CHP Traffic website , a bicyclist was hit and killed by a vehicle. Fire officials came to the scene and said the person was not breathing

 

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http://mashable.com/2013/11/21/bike-cities-united-states/#cB9YjAx82GqV :? Forget Long Beach, police and motorists hostile towards bikes.

 

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http://m.pe.com/articles/perris-788772-intersection-killed.html
A 60-year-old Perris man was killed Monday, Dec. 7, while trying to cross Perris Boulevard at the intersection of Orange Avenue in Perris.
At 6:13 p.m., James Pica attempted to bike across the intersection and was struck by a Honda CRZ traveling north, a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department news release states.
Pica was transported to a local hospital where he later died of his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, an 18-year-old Perris man, remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement. He is not suspected of driving under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, the news release states.
The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 951-210-1000.

 

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http://www.ocregister.com/articles/county-695773-orange-transportation.htmlGood news for my neck of the woods. Or stumping for votes? Time will tell. :wink:
In 2012, two pedestrians and four bicyclists were either injured or killed in traffic collisions each day in Orange County.
These numbers, from the California Office of Transportation Safety, ranked Orange County among the most dangerous counties for people who bike in the state, and highlighted a decline in pedestrian safety in the county from 2008, particularly when it came to children under 15. By 2012, a young pedestrian was injured or killed by a driver of a motor vehicle nearly every other day, on average, according to OTS data.
These statistics are deeply troubling, but they reflect two current realities: Our population is growing and more people are going places, and we need to be more mindful about sharing our roads – people’s lives are at stake.
Orange County leaders – elected officials, the Orange County Transportation Authority and city staff, public health organizations and non-profit organizations – have been working toward advancing a common vision for safer streets and communities.
Since 2012, Orange County alone has secured more than $40 million in state Active Transportation Program grants. In October, Santa Ana learned that we will receive $11.5 million in grants that will go toward constructing protected bikeways. These were among 34 projects selected for funding in the region.
That’s not all. Orange County and its cities have received over $2.3 million for active transportation projects from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and additional funds from OCTA.
In September, the Southern California Association of Governments launched Go Human, a region-wide advertising campaign to remind everyone to promote traffic safety. SCAG collaborated with OCTA and the Orange County Health Care Agency on the campaign, and also will provide support to host mini-CicLAvia events and demonstration projects, organized by the cities of Fullerton and Westminster and Orange County Parks.
I’m proud of our progress, but I also recognize more work needs to be done. There still are far too many injuries and fatalities on our roadways and neighborhoods where walking and biking simply are not safe options.
This week, SCAG released the draft 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, a 25-year vision to address Southern California’s needs and challenges. The draft plan identifies $555.4 billion in transportation investments, which includes $102.4 billion to fix and maintain our state highways and regionally significant local streets and roads. But the draft plan also recognizes the fundamental importance of walking and biking to regional mobility, sustainability and public health.
The plan includes $12.9 billion – double the investment from the previous plan – for improvements, like crosswalks, sidewalk repair, bike lanes and bike paths. And it asks cities to reconsider 50 years of auto-oriented design and update their development plans and codes to accommodate the growing demand for homes in more compact and walkable communities – where getting to the grocery store or a transit stop doesn’t require crossing six lanes of high-speed traffic.
With campaigns like Go Human and the ongoing efforts of transportation and community leaders throughout Orange County, we are making a difference in protecting the lives of our residents and improving the health of our communities.
But let’s not forget that as our population continues to grow – the SCAG region will add nearly 4 million more people over the next 25 years – the need to make our streets and crossings as safe as possible for everyone takes on even greater importance.
Today, we can celebrate that Orange County has received more than $42 million over the past four years to improve our streets and make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. Our cities are sharing best practices and helping improve the quality of life in their communities. And with the 2016 RTP/SCS, Orange County will be better positioned for additional funding to make these projects a reality.
Michele Martinez is a Santa Ana councilwoman. For more information on the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, please visit http://scagrtpscs.net. For more information about the Go Human campaign, visit http://gohumansocal.org.

 

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http://kron4.com/2015/12/14/man-arrested-for-vehicular-manslaughter-following-cyclists-death/
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON/BCN) — A 26-year-old San Francisco man who fatally struck a 63-year-old cyclist Monday morning while allegedly driving a car on the wrong side of the road and speeding in the city’s Portola neighborhood was arrested on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, a police spokesman said.
San Francisco police spokesman Officer Carlos Manfredi said the suspect arrested in connection with the cyclist’s death is Erick Mendez.
Manfredi said that although the collision appears to have been accidental, investigators believe Mendez was at fault.
While the San Francisco medical examiner’s office has not yet released the victim’s identity, pending notification of his next of kin, Manfredi said the victim was a 63-year-old man who resided in San Francisco.
The crash at the intersection of Goettingen and Woolsey streets was captured on video surveillance footage, according to Manfredi.
The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet and reflective gear, was traveling north in the 500 block of Goettingen Street shortly before 10:15 a.m. when Mendez, who was traveling south on Goettingen Street in a gold four-door sedan, struck him head-on, Manfredi said.
Mendez was traveling on the wrong side of the narrow street while speeding, according to police.
He apparently stopped and attempted to render aid to the victim, who died at the scene, Manfredi said.
Manfredi said so far neither drugs nor alcohol appear to have been a factor in the crash.
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition released a statement Monday afternoon, sending their condolences to everyone impacted by the collision and urging the city to improve the safety of its streets.
“Goettingen and Woolsey streets are like many streets across San Francisco. They are quiet, small, residential streets abutting schools, parks and libraries,” the coalition said in the statement.
“Every street in San Francisco should be safe for people of all ages to walk and bike. We need greater urgency from our civic leaders on delivering the safe, livable streets that San Franciscans deserve,” the coalition said.


http://abc7news.com/news/female-bicyclist-fatally-struck-by-truck-in-san-jose/1122076/
SAN JOSE (KGO) --
There has been another fatal accident on a San Jose road. This time a woman was killed while riding her bike next to a popular park.
A woman was riding her bike around 8 a.m. on Chynoweth Avenue when she was hit by a full size white Chevy pickup truck. She died at the scene.
"This is a very quiet neighborhood. There is a walking path that is dedicated right next to, adjacent to the street and however, this was a bicyclist," said San Jose police Lt. Tom Sims.
The driver appeared to be heading to work. She stayed at the scene and cooperated. Officers said drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor. The sun was facing the driver at the time of the crash, but investigators say they're still trying to determine the cause. One neighbor said he's complained about speeding drivers in the area and requested crosswalks.
"It's sadness that something you hope for wouldn't happen, has finally happened," said Manuel Perez, neighbor.
Police said the victim is a 52-year-old woman who lives in the area. They don't expect any arrests and are calling this a tragic accident.
This year in San Jose there have been significantly more people who have died in traffic fatalities than homicides.

 

[The fingers]

http://ocbike.org/2015/12/anti-bicycle-bigotry-growing/More news from my neck of the woods, localism is not unknown even towards cyclists. :x
Cycling is fun. It’s good for you. And it should be good for future generations, too, if people would just get out the way.
As an experienced cyclist you know that some motorists resent our being on the road. But did you know America’s bigotry toward bicyclists extends to bike paths, too? Two examples of narrow mindedness confront us today: Peters Canyon Regional Park and the San Juan Creek Trail.

Bigotry as Public Policy
You may have heard about Peters Canyon, how a small bunch of influential residents surrounding that Regional Park are using bogus claims about “safety” and “habitat” to keep a long-planned Class 1 trail from being paved. A trail that would open the park to families and recreational riders unable to use the park’s many rocky dirt trails, to enjoy the peace and respite from the surrounding suburbs. A trail that would complete the Peters Canyon/ Mountains to the Sea Trail and provide commuting alternatives to thousands of Active Transportation users.
The real concern of the Friends of Harbors, Beaches, and Parks Foundation and the Foothills Communities Association is this: No More Visitors to Peters Canyon. At meetings and in conversation their members will admit it, they think the park is “over used” and should be reserved for citizens lucky enough to live around it.
If some parks are too popular the answer is more parkland, not “pull up the drawbridge.”
Publicly funded parks must be optimized for their intended use, not reserved for the exclusive benefit of local residents. That’s Not In My Backyard-ism at its ugliest.

Trouble on the San Juan Trail
The same is happening now to the popular San Juan Creek Trail, which ends now at San Juan City limits. For years the developer of Rancho Mission Viejo has promised to complete this scenic trail to Caspers Wilderness Park, seven miles up Ortega Hwy. The developer has plans drawn and has funded the extension. The problem: the horsey folk in San Juan Capistrano want the trail all for themselves. And they’ve packed the City Council to be sure no paved bike trail ever reaches Caspers Park.
Arguments about “safety” and “crowding” are bogus. The easement is 40 feet across, wide enough for equestrian trail users to be separated and screened from bicyclists. The section in question is only 1,000 feet in length, but it’s crucial because without it bicyclists will be forced out onto Ortega Highway eastbound as it approaches Antonio Parkway.

Fortunately you can turn this tide of ignorance and privilege around: Attend the San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting, Tonight, Dec. 15, 5:00 PM at City Hall.

From the I-5, Ortega Hwy exit,
Turn NORTH on Ortega Highway
Turn LEFT onto Del Obispo Street
Turn LEFT onto Paseo Adelanto.

 

[The fingers]

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article50178985.html
A 43-year-old Sacramento man has died after being struck by vehicles Tuesday night while bicycling on Marconi Avenue in the Arden Arcade area.
The man, whose name has not been released pending notification of family, was riding a bicycle eastbound on Marconi west of Mission Avenue about 6:10 p.m. and had traveled into the two-way left-turn lane. He was wearing dark clothing, and his bicycle was not equipped with any type of lighting devices or reflectors, according to a California Highway Patrol news release.
Arthur Costa, 47, of Carmichael was driving a 1991 Mazda 626 westbound on Marconi, west of Mission Avenue in the left lane. When Costa entered the two-way turn lane to make a left turn, he saw the bicyclist in front of him. Costa’s vehicle struck the bicyclist in the turn lane, according to the CHP.
The bicyclist was ejected into the left lane of eastbound Marconi Ave., where he was struck by a 2004 Honda Accord driven by a 16-year-old girl from Carmichael, CHP officials said.
The bicyclist was taken to Mercy San Juan Medical Center, where he died of his injuries. CHP officials said the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet.
Costa and the teenage driver were wearing seat belts and were not injured in the collision, according to the CHP.

 

[The fingers]

http://www.bicycling.com/culture/ad...ike-cities-have-done-to-promote-safer-cycling Green lanes can get slippery. :wink:

 

[The fingers]

http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/12/18/56358/video-raises-questions-about-los-angeles-sheriff-d/
Video released by attorneys representing the family of Noel Enrique Aguilar shows Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies on top of Aguilar when they fatally shot him May 26, 2014 in Long Beach. 
The video, which shows a chaotic struggle, was taken by a bystander who recently dropped it off anonymously at one of their offices, according to the attorneys.
Deputies attempted to stop Aguilar, 23, as he was riding his bike near Long Beach Blvd. and 69th Way around 9:45 a.m., according to the department. Aguilar allegedly fled.
The camera shows two deputies and Aguilar in a driveway adjacent an apartment complex nearby. At one point, Deputy Albert Murad fires his gun--and accidentally hits his partner.
“I’ve been shot,” Deputy Jose Ruiz cries out.
“I didn’t shoot nobody,” Aguilar responds. 
It's unclear if the deputies realize that it was Murad who shot Ruiz. 
After 45 more seconds of struggle, Murad shoots again and Ruiz, apparently bleeding from his stomach, fires three rapid shots. Before the end of the video, Aguilar is heard saying “I’m dying.”
For more than a minute on the video, Murad is on his knees straddling Aguilar's limp body. Another deputy is seen on the video telling him to get up.

Aguilar's family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the sheriff's department.
“Its clearly an execution. Its murder,” said attorney Humberto Guizar, who is representing Aguilar’s fiancé and mother.
A statement from the Sheriff’s Department following the shooting said Aguilar was grabbing for a deputy's gun. The statement also said he was armed with a loaded handgun.
A gun was recovered at the scene, according to the sheriff's department.
The department issued a new statement Friday.
“We welcome any additional video evidence that individuals may have,” it said.
“The Sheriff’s Department takes all deputy involved shootings seriously. An internal affairs investigation was conducted and completed and will be presented to the Executive Force Review Committee in January.”
Both deputies are back on patrol, according to the statement.
The family is calling for a federal investigation of the shooting.

“It just breaks my heart to see the video and know that one day my daughter is going to see it," said Mary Herrera, Aguilar’s fiancé. "I feel very sad."
“Noel was a person with a nice heart,” said Herrera, who was five months pregnant with their daughter when he was fatally shot.
Aguilar’s mother Elvia Marina Aguilar, who is from Honduras, cried as she recalled a son who recently appeared in a dream in which he said he loved her.
“I want them to pay for taking my son’s life,” she said through a translator.

 

[Chalo]

Y'know, if the sheriff's department had a couple of attack dogs that screwed up that badly resulting in the death of an innocent man, there would be no question of what to do with them.