Monthly Archives: July 2017

Is San Diego’s Bicycle Master Plan in Trouble?

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

The San Diego Bicycle Master Plan is one way the city hopes to get more people to consider biking as their main mode of transportation while also expanding access to the city’s extensive biking network. But the plan will cost $312 million by city estimates, and some are speaking out against spending that money to make biking more accessible. Why? According to census data, the most popular mode of commuting to work is driving alone, at 75 percent. Biking is the least popular, at 0.9 percent. Three times more people walk to their jobs than bike. Does this merit taking another look at spending and instead putting that money somewhere else? Or are there ways to ensure we get more bang for our buck with the Bicycle Master Plan? Suggestions to Fix the Plan One suggestion would be to identify factors that predispose commuters to bike, such as physical stamina…
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How Do I Get Stoplights to See Me While Cycling?

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

It’s not legal in California to roll through stoplights yet – though the “Idaho Stop,” as they call it, may become legal soon – so while cycling, you’re still required to obey traffic signals. But sometimes you are cycling and you get stuck at a red light that just won’t seem to turn. Crossing the intersection during a red light would be dangerous, and there are cars building up behind you. How do you get the light to change? Traffic signals are triggered not by weight, but by an electrical current induced by the metal of your bike. So, if you have metal wheels or a metal frame, the signal should be able to detect you. However, you have to be in the right place. Sometimes, you can look at the pavement and see the cuts the city made to lay down the wires. If the cuts are circular, your…
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Bicycle Accident Risk in California: Elders and Children

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Dudek Law Firm

Who is more at risk for bike accidents in California – children and teens, or the elderly? According to injury data collected from hospitals by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, children and teens are getting into less bicycle accidents than they used to. However, for cyclists 55 years and older, injury rates are increasing. Additionally, compared with younger riders, seniors are more likely to suffer serious injuries that require hospitalization. Due to loss of bone mass and density resulting from aging, seniors are more likely to suffer fractures from the same trauma that a younger person would not necessarily suffer fractures from. Seniors are also more likely to be on medications that can increase harm after an accident, such as blood thinners. Statistics Related to Cycling Accidents in the Past Decade For senior cyclists whose injuries required hospitalization, the older they were, the more likely they…
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