Bicycle Video Should Be Required Viewing For All Illinoisans

Below is a very good, and fairly comprehensive video produced by the cities of Champaign and Urbana about bicycle safety and the law.  It is not slick, but chock full of real world demonstrations of how bicyclists and motorist should deal with each other, with bicycle specific infrastructure and with old-timey, not-bike-friendly road infrastructure.  The central message in the video, Champaign-Urbana Sharing the Road, is that, "Predictability is the key to bicycle safety."  I like that the video presents bicycling not merely as a recreational activity, but that people ride for all sorts of reasons, and should be encouraged to do so.  It shows and explains that people ride to shop, commute to the office, get to school, as well as for pure pleasure.  It encourages cyclists to use the whole road when appropriate and reminds drivers that bicyclists are not only permitted to do so, but should "take the lane" when it is the safest means to traverse an area.  This video should be required viewing for all Illinois residents.  How about making people watch it every time they renew their driver's licenses?

Illinois To Begin Production Of "Share The Road" License Plates

Finally at least 1500 Illinoisans have reserved "Share the Road" license plates.  Production can now begin on these plates which promote bicycling awareness.  Due to what the League of Illinois Bicyclists calls, "a lengthy design approval and production process," it is projected that these plates with hit the back end of cars in five to six months.  Thanks to all who ordered one.  If you haven't yet, please do so.

Car Company Promotes "Share The Road" Message In Commercial

Getting the "Share The Road" message out to both motorists and bicyclists is vitally important.  The State of Illinois has deemed it important enough to issue specialty license plates containing the message.  Apparently, the message is gaining some traction; enough that even a car company is promoting it.  Check out this recent ad from KIA:



The commercial states that KIA started out as a bicycle company.  According to Wikipedia's entry for the company, "Kia was founded on June "9, 1944 as a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts by hand."


Thanks to Urban Velo for posting this video.

Chicago Bike Program Produces New Video To Promote Road Sharing

Bicyclists and motorists alike can benefit from viewing this new video produced by the Chicago Bike Program.  It provides a nice overview of how best to share the road.

Layin' Down the Law In Logan Square

The City of Chicago's "Share the Road Campaign" will be in full effect in the Logan Square neighborhood on September 7th and 8th.  Two events on those dates will take place at the busy intersection of Kimball, Milwaukee and Diversey.  On Tuesday, the 7th, bicycle front headlights will be handed out at no charge to bicyclists without them between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.  Chicago Municipal Code requires bicycles to have a white light on the front that can be seen from at least 500 feet.  On the back a red light or reflector is required.

On Wednesday, September 8th, Chicago police officers and Mayor Daley's Bicycling Ambassadors will stake out a presence at the intersection and will stop cyclists and motorists acting dangerously and violating the rules of the road in order to "educate them on safety."  Specifically, motorists engaged in the following behaviors will be targeted:  parking in bike lanes, opening car doors in front of bicyclists, passing cyclists with less than 3 feet of space, distracted driving, failing to yield to cyclists and speeding.  Bicyclists will be stopped who disobey traffic signals, bike at night without headlights, bike on the sidewalk and bike against traffic.