In some instances, bicyclists rely on parallel multi-use paths (MUPs) and painted crosswalks for safety along Delaware's major highways. Route 72, between Old Baltimore Pike and Route 4, is one such example. However, motorists routinely overshoot the stop line, impeding pedestrian and bicycle travel. Is law enforcement, driver education, courtesy, and basic common sense lacking in Delaware?
Bike Delaware members often inquire about the position required so their bike can trip a traffic light from red to green. DelDOT has now adjusted the sensitivity on several in Delaware, by request, taking them from cars-only detection to detecting all users. However, it still requires a bicyclist to position their bike in a very specific location, or the sensor simply will not see them. There is a simple MUTCD tool that can help. Read on . . .
Sometimes we see a project started, partially completed, and then abandoned. Here, along Route 72 south of Newark remains a gravel filled, wheel grabbing utility cut. After many months of waiting, there is no repair in sight and cyclists are left to negotiate what could easily trap them or cause a crash.
What leads to projects ending too soon? Is it budgetary constraints, loss of interest, or poor oversight in the field?
Riding against traffic accounts for 45 percent of bike vs. car crashes in Orlando. The majority of those are intersection crashes because the bicyclist comes from an unexpected direction. Despite the numerous conflicts people experience from this behavior, they don't connect the dots. Why?
And how do we change that? (full article HERE)
How can we get one of these?
We've seen safety billboards for motorcycles, now public service personnel. When for pedestrians and bicyclists? Delaware should qualify, taking 2nd place in the U.S. when it comes to non-motorized fatalities.
We've seen safety billboards for motorcycles, now public service personnel. When for pedestrians and bicyclists? Delaware should qualify, taking 2nd place in the U.S. when it comes to non-motorized fatalities.
PSAs like this certainly help as an education tool, and in the interest of safety. Hopefully, our turn will come.
Noise pollution is unwanted human-created sound that has the effect of being annoying, distracting, painful, or physically harmful. People exposed to noise pollution suffer from hearing loss, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, anxiety, hostility, depression and hypertension.
The intense sound caused by modified exhaust systems, easily reaching 120+ db at close range, triggers an involuntary stress response commonly known as "flight or flight". This results in the secretion of adrenaline, with ensuing spikes in cardio-respiratory rates, muscle tension, and elevated blood pressure. Millions of people, including unprotected bicyclists and pedestrians, are adversely affected by this noise. Cont ...
Early last year the state of Virginia became the first state to severely limit cul-de-sacs from future development. Similar actions have been taken in Portland Oregon, Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina. What they are beginning to realize is that the cul-de-sac street grid uses land inefficiently, discourages walking and biking, and causes an almost complete dependence on driving, with attendant pollution and energy use. Furthermore, town officials are beginning to realize that unconnected streets cost more money to provide services to and force traffic onto increasingly crowded arterial roads, which then, in many cases, need to be widened (more tax money).
Will Delaware consider this, or continue to allow the dangers of bicycling and walking on high speed roads to worsen?
Idaho Stops common among motorists
Philadelphia, PA. An amazing video taken in Rittenhouse Square. Watch as Motorists routinely ignore three stop signs and a blinking red light - just like bicyclists do - only inside three ton vehicles with a more limited view of the street. Imagine a video where each bike actually stops with a foot down, at an intersection requiring cyclists to take the lane. It would be tantamount to constant assault if we followed existing stop laws on a bike, and a car behind had to wait for a full stop and restart.
Failure to maintain bike lanes, refresh markings
Disdain for existing facilities is commonplace in Delaware, chief among them bike lanes. It is poorly understood why all manner of traffic lane restripe or refresh can be counted on by motorists, while bicycle markings are left to fade or disappear altogether. Among the comments submitted for Delaware's upcoming Complete Streets policy is equal level of service.
Motorists are rarely denied an alternate route around construction activities, road closures, and/or emergency situations. Not so for bicyclists and pedestrians - even phone poles get in the way. Among the comments submitted for Delaware's upcoming Complete Streets policy is equal level of service. Examples HERE. The opposite situation in Portland HERE.
Incorrectly designed Pedestrian Refuge Islands (aka "Pork Chops") are probably the #1 complaint from Delaware cyclists, and are a violation of DelDOT's own Bicycle Policy. Anthony Aglio, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, has fought tirelessly on our behalf to ensure at least 4-5' of shoulder remains at all times between the white line and concrete edge. Failure to do so forces cyclists to swerve into high speed lanes of traffic, or in this case an unnecessary share situation with often intolerant motorists.
Kudos to DelDOT, for providing a new 5 Foot Memorandum in writing, guaranteeing that Pedestrian Refuge Islands (aka "Pork Chops") are no longer designed to encroach on shoulder space through intersections.
