News-Press Sunday 3/8/15 Bike Safety Feature:
Cyclist Jacobus "Jack" van
Caulil, 80: Killed when a motorist blew through a stop sign on Ben Hill Griffin
Parkway. The price for Caulil's life? Driver was fined $1,000.
Cyclist Austin Dukette, 15: Killed
when hit by a Lee County sheriff's deputy vehicle. The deputy had veered out of
his lane, apparently distracted by his laptop, the law enforcement report
concluded. The price for Dukette's life? Still to be determined but probably will
not exceed a $1,000 fine to the driver.
Cyclist Emilia Santiago, 47: Killed
when a motorist failed to see her while in a crosswalk. The driver was cited
for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Price for Santiago's life?
Driver was fined $1,603.
Cyclist Scott Johnsen, 60: Killed
when hit by a speeding vehicle, reportedly traveling about 100 mph. The price
for Johnsen's life? Still to be determined as driver Jason Stewart, arrested on
charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving, awaits trial.
Cyclist Werner Gattinger, 67: Killed
when hit by motorist while riding along Gulf Shore Boulevard North in Naples.
Driver Jacqueline Ribes smelled of alcohol, police said, arrested on a DUI
charge and eventually charged with DUI manslaughter by the state attorney's
office. Price for Gattinger's life? Still to be determined.
They were all senseless deaths. They
all occurred over the past year. These cyclists were doing most things
properly, but not everything. The motorists were not.
But the penalties for such vehicular
attacks that claim lives are not nearly tough enough. Our Florida Legislature
needs to make them more severe.
Fortunately, there is a bill to do just that, and it is sponsored by two local
representatives — Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples; and Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort
Myers. There also is a companion Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman,
R-Cape Canaveral.
We urge the House and Senate to
react swiftly and convincingly to this legislation and pass it. We also urge
Gov. Rick Scott to sign it so come later this summer, cyclists can ride a
little more confidently that there are new laws in the books to hold motorists
accountable.
The reason this law is important is
because we have a serious problem in
this state and in Lee and Collier counties with cyclists and pedestrians dying
or being seriously injured at the hands of careless drivers — drivers not
obeying the laws that apply to cyclists, drivers shouting expletives and
throwing objects at these cyclists because they don't think they should
co-exist on our roads with them, drivers bullying these riders.
The problem is not getting better,
only worse. More cyclists die in Florida each year than in any other state. The
state Department of Transportation considers it critical and state officials
should. Lee County is a major player in the horrific injury and death counts,
ranking third in 2014 with eight deaths. Last year, Collier County ranked
seventh among Florida counties in the rate of bike crashes per 100,000 people.
In order to lower the injury and
death numbers, not only do penalties for careless driving need to be toughened,
but we also need to increase safety awareness. Children and adults need to
embrace the importance of riding
bicycles with the proper equipment, with the proper riding attire. They need to
know the law — that riding against traffic on the road is illegal. that
vehicles must give them three feet of clearance. Our law enforcement agencies
must become more vigilant with community outreach programs. As cities and
counties plan new road projects, bike lanes and sidewalks must be included and
money must be found to make sure they are built.
We examined nearly 1,400 records
from Lee and Collier counties to identify trends in bicycle-related
crashes.
According to cycling safety advocate
group, BikeWalkLee had urged the Lee County commissioners to return to 100
percent impact fees to help build new infrastructure. About $58 million in
bike/pedestrian stand alone projects — already approved by the county's Bicycle
Pedestrian Advisory Committee — await funding. Although the commissioners
decided on 45 percent, money must be found to continue building safe routes for
riders and walkers.
BikeWalkLee's efforts are one
example of keeping awareness and safety front and center. There are others:
•The Cape Coral Police Department
recently received a $55,000 grant and
plans to offer cycling safety and education programs. They have been proactive in the past with such programs, but
as funds dried up, so did the programs. Now, with heightened attention to a
growing tragedy, money is becoming available. Cape plans to initiate programs
where its own cyclists work the roads and as motorists violate their space,
police cruisers will stop drivers, educate them on the importance of
co-existence. The idea is educate first, issue fines later.
•The state Department of Motor
Vehicles and Lee County Tax Collector's Office has a "Share the Road"
specialty plate with up to 25 percent of the revenue collected going to
marketing and promotion of the plate, as well as education awareness programs, training
workshops and educational materials.
The Fitzenhagen-Passidomo bill,
which had its first reading in House chambers last week, improves what are
currently weak laws – allowing officers to do little more than issue fines when
cyclists are injured or killed. The bill does increase fines, can allow for
flexibility in issuing criminal charges and also makes it illegal to verbally
or physically assault cyclists as they ride.
On the front page of today's The
News-Press, there are heart-wrenching stories of cyclists who have been killed,
including the ones listed above. There also are stories of dead cyclists who
broke the law themselves, or were not dressed appropriately. There is a column
on this page about News-Press writer Janine Zeitlin, who stopped riding on busy
roads. She grew tired of the abuse and dangerous conditions. She feared for her
life. In other words, the insensitive motorists won. She is deprived of
something she loves to do. It should never be that way.
We all see the dangers and accidents
waiting to happen. Roads that don't have bike paths force cyclists to engage
with vehicles traveling much faster and it is a recipe for disaster. We see
cyclists increasing the danger by riding against traffic, wearing dark clothing
or riding bikes without lights.
Gov. Scott proclaimed March as
Florida Bicycle Month. Such a proclamation is only words unless action results
in significant change. "More and more people are using bicycles as a
transportation option," said Lora Hollingsworth, FDOT chief safety
officer. "The people riding bikes are neighbors, friends and co-workers,
so remember to give them space and keep them safe."
Cycling crashes skyrocketed 71
percent in Lee and about 40 percent in Collier over the past three years. We
urge legislators to enact legislation that increases safety for riders, find
the funding for crucial safety and awareness programs and stay involved with
their communities in outreach efforts.
Cyclists have the right to the road.
They should be able to enjoy the ride. They don't need to die.
House and Senate transportation
bills:
HB 231: Revises provisions relating to the rights and safety of
vulnerable users of public rights-of-way; prohibits assault of bicycle riders;
revises provisions for careless driving; provides penalties for specified
infractions contributing to bodily injury of vulnerable users; requires traffic
law and substance abuse education courses to include certain instruction;
requires driver license examinations to include test of applicant's knowledge
of certain traffic laws; requires driver education courses offered by school
district to include certain information.
Co-sponsors: Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples; Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort
Myers
Effective date (if passed and signed
by governor): July 1
Status: Bill had first reading on Tuesday after moving through
committees.
SB 908: Revising provisions relating to the passing of a vehicle;
prohibiting passing and turning in front of a vulnerable user in an unsafe manner;
prohibiting harassing, taunting, or throwing an object at a person riding a
bicycle; providing criminal penalties; requiring traffic law and substance
abuse education courses to include instruction on traffic laws relating to
rights and safety of vulnerable users, etc.
Status: Introduced on Tuesday
Sponsor: Thad Altman, R-Cape Canaveral
Let them know what you think
How to reach local legislators:
Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto
R-Fort Myers (District 30)
Phone: 239-338-2570
Sen. Garrett Richter
R-Naples (District 23)
Phone: 239-417-6205
Rep. Matt Caldwell
R-North Fort Myers (District 79)
Phone: 239-694-0161
Rep. Dane Eagle
R-Cape Coral (District 77)
Phone: 239-772-1291
Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen
R-Fort Myers (District 78)
Phone: 239-533-2440
Rep. Matt Hudson
R-Naples (District 80)
Phone: 239-417-6270
Rep. Kathleen Passidomo
R-Naples (District 106)
Phone: 239-417-6200
Rep. Ray Rodrigues
R-village of Estero (District 76)
Phone: 239-433-6501
It is important to take steps to make the roads safer for cyclists. The increasing number of injuries and deaths has become alarming.
ReplyDeleteYeah I completely agree with you that laws should be changed to make cyclists safe and protected than ever before. They are most vulnerable as you never know when someone drunk can ram into you and there is no protection. My cousin who works with a DUI lawyer often tells me DUI crashes involving cyclists.
ReplyDelete