CALIFORNIA BICYCLE NEWS AND CYCLING SAFETY TIPS BLOG

Drunk Driver Hits Group of 100 Cyclists

According to MSNBC.com, a tragic bicycle accident in Los Angeles has left 11 cyclists with various injuries.  A suspected drunken driver struck a pack of 100 cyclists who were enjoying an organized midnight ride. The accident occurred just before 2 a.m. on June 16 approximately 8 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.  According to some of the cyclists, she merged across the road and plowed into their group.  Some say she appeared to be on her cell phone.  Police suspect the driver was intoxicated and traveling at speeds up to 60 mph at the time of the bicycle accident. “We were all just chilling right here,” one of the cyclists told RMG News.  “She merges in and takes everybody out.” One of the cyclists was caught under the car and dragged.  11 bicyclists total were taken to the hospital.  Police have not released the driver’s name, but told reporters she…
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Program Provides Safety for Young Cyclists

According to Lisa Rosenthal of Burlingame.Patch.com, students in San Mateo County Public Schools will have a safe and healthy alternative to riding the school bus every day.  A new program has been put into place—Safe Routes to Schools—thanks to a $2 million grant from the San Mateo City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG). The Safe Routes to Schools program is designed to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety and awareness.  The objective of the program—which is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation—is to encourage more children to walk or ride bikes to school instead of taking the bus.  It aims to improve the environment and overall health of the community. The community hopes to reverse a trend that has been going on for years.  According to the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools, in 2001 less than 16 percent of students between the ages of 5 and 15 walked or…
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Study Shows Young Cyclists at Greatest Risk

A recent study conducted by the California Highway Patrol shows that young cyclists are at the highest risk or personal injury or even death because of a bicycle accident.  According to NYTimes.com, cyclists from the ages 10 to 19 were at the highest risk of being involved in a bicycle accident. Between 2005 and 2009, in the Bay Area alone, theres were more than 3,200 cyclists in that age group that were involved in traffic collisions.  Almost half of the accidents involved boys aged 12 to 16. California bicycle experts believe this is a sign that there needs to be an improvement in education and awareness, particularly regarding bicycle safety.  Young children are required to wear a bicycle helmet in California.  Some local cyclists were surprised at the findings from the study. “I would have it would have been males in their 20s,” said Ranee Rivera, head of the East…
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