This past Wednesday, cyclists across the country took part in the annual Ride of Silence, which seeks to raise awareness about the importance of recognizing cyclists’ right to the road.  100 persons on bikes descended on the Pasadena area to take part in the event.  Participants were clad in black and red armbands, the former to signify the loss of a loved one hit by a vehicle and the latter standing for that participant being in an accident themselves.  Half of those who showed up for the event had reportedly been struck in some way.  The coordinator of the Ride of Silence explained that 25 cyclists have already been killed in Southern California this year.  The Pasadena version of the event began in 2005.

For more about the ride, click here.

There hasn’t been much movement on Newport Beach bicycle safety proposals for awhile, but that will change with the City Council’s decision to vote in members of a new task force tonight.  The Bicycle Master Plan Committee will be asked to come up with ways to improve the city’s bicycle infrastructure so as to encourage more persons to commute via bike and to protect those same persons from harm.  Various bicycle enthusiasts and safety advocates applied to be a part of the committee, but for the committee to be adopted, the Council must agree to look past a policy that requires two applicants to apply for each committee slot (there weren’t enough applicants to meet that standard).  If approved, the committee could start meeting as soon as June.

For more information, follow this link.

A number of businesspersons in the Seattle, Washington area who commute to work via their bicycles are providing some safety tips to other cyclists.  The business cyclists are largely upset with the city’s lack of infrastructure dedicated to bicycle safety, and each reports being involved in some kind of accident at one point or another.  Many talk up the importance of visibility-enhancement equipment such as reflectors, strobe lights, and brightly colored clothing.  Cyclists should ride their bikes along the right side of the road while being cognizant of certain obstacles, such as a car door being suddenly flung open.  The report cites research which suggests that cities with more cyclists might also decrease the danger, and thus employers are asked to get involved and offer incentives to workers who bike to and from work.

Click here for more information.

A report out of Salt Lake City examines the prevalence of cyclists whose actions along the roads put themselves and others in danger.  One particular threat that caused a local news station to examine the issue was occurrences wherein cyclists would fly past buses in the process of picking up kids.  Bus drivers attested to the fact that they have to keep kids on the bus longer if they see a bike approaching because of the danger.  A team decided to monitor the situation and watched as seven cyclists rode right past a stopped bus with lights flashing.  This issue has also come to the fore in San Francisco, where two pedestrians were reportedly killed by cyclists who didn’t acknowledge the directives of red lights.

Even during National Bicycle Safety Month, cyclists must take pains to obey the rules of the road.  Click here to learn more.

May is National Bike Safety Month, and as a result, numerous organizations across California and the entire country are enacting measures that aim to spread awareness about the importance of safety.  In the city of Lompoc, the local school district and police department will hold their 2nd Annual Bike Safety Rodeo.  Local kids are invited to drop by take part in skills courses that aim to enlighten them as to the proper riding maneuvers.  And as part of the Safe Routes to School program, any kid who watches a bicycle safety video at their school and then drops by the event will be entitled to a free helmet.

For more information, follow this link.

A report out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin highlights some important bicycle safety advice from the local police department that could be followed by cyclists and drivers anywhere in the country.  For one thing, cyclists are told keep the number “three” in mind at all times.  Bicycles should be positioned three feet away from a curb or parked car to avoid danger, including dooring.  And automobile operators can do their part by moving over at least three feet when attempting to pass a bicycle.  Cyclists should look over their bicycle to ensure its safety prior to riding, and bright clothes should be worn to increase visibility.  Helmets can limit danger in the event of a crash, and all cyclists should recognize that laws pertaining to automobiles are applicable to them as well.  That means running stop signs or traffic lights is a poor decision.

Click here for more tips.

Bell Full Throttle BMX helmets that include a chin bar and offer full coverage are being recalled by the Scotts Valley, California-based Bell Sports because the safety strap could be defective.  The strap has a buckle that’s in danger of coming undone should an accident take place, and if that condition leads the helmet to be dislodged from the rider’s head, he or she could sustain a potentially serious injury.  No such incidents have been reported at this time.  Owners of the estimated 2,500 helmets, which were only sold at Toys R Us from last July to January, are being asked not to rely on these helmets for protection.  Instead, consumers should reach out to Bell Sports to receive a refund.

Follow this link for more about the recall.

The Olney, Illinois-based Magura USA has announced the recall of MT 8 and MT 6 hydraulic disc brake systems.  Each affected version of the items will have a date code between March 1, 2011 and May 31 of last year displayed as a series of five digits i.e. 10301 through 20531 (systems without date codes are also affected).  2,800 bikes in total are affected by the possible safety issue, which is prompted by temperature.  If it gets cold enough, the brakes might be unable to conduct their duty, potentially leading the rider to be involved in a crash.  No such incidents have been reported at this time, but consumers are still being asked to cease riding the bikes.  They should get in touch with Magura, who will conduct repairs at no cost.  The brakes were available across the country up until this month.

Click here for more about the recall.

A potential injury hazard has led the Sausalito, California-based Yuba Bicycles to announce the recall of 1,000 Mundo V4 Cargo Bikes.  These 26 inch bikes contain a rear cargo rack with a wood utility deck, and if a passenger is positioned on this portion of the bicycle, the hazard presents itself.  That person’s foot could potentially get snagged by the back wheel, possibly leading them to sustain an injury.  Two incidents of this issue have been reported, but thankfully, neither led to an injury.  The bikes, which were available across the country between May 2011 and the end of last year, should not be used until such time that free wheel covers can be obtained and installed.

For more about the recall, click here.

Volvo was on hand at the Geneva Motor Show last week to announce an onboard technology that aims to limit the danger posed to cyclists by vehicles.  The technology utilizes a forward-facing camera and a radar in the grille of the automobile to detect cyclists that are coming up in the road.  Once a person on a bicycle has been detected, the automobile operator will receive a signal from the system, and if action isn’t taken, the brakes will automatically be pressed.  Three years ago, the auto company unfurled a similar system that aims to detect pedestrians in the path of danger, but this more advanced technology has a higher price tag due to its requiring a greater processor.

Click here to learn more.

Although a Bicycle Safety Committee in the city of Newport Beach has been disbanded, that doesn’t mean that bike safety is no longer being taken seriously.  A new committee will be formed in the next couple months to look over essentially the same topic.  The biggest duty of the committee will be coming up with a Bicycle Master Plan that aims to recommend future projects and strategies that can improve bicycle safety throughout the area.  Among the measures that the plan may help to implement are bike sharing programs, additional bike parking, and more.  The plan also sets the city up to receive grant money from the state and the federal government.

To learn more, follow this link.

The potential threat of a falling bicycle has prompted the recall of a series of bike racks.  Yakima announced the recall, which pertains to bike racks meant to be affixed to those vehicles which have a spare tire attached to the rear door.  7,000 two-bike racks under the SpareTime brand are impacted by the potential defect, which has to do with the fact that a breakage can occur in the racks’ mounting bolts.  If this were to occur while in transit, the bikes could be dislodged and careen into the path of other vehicles.  Two persons have filed complaints at this point, and dealers of the bicycles are being asked to provide lists of registered bike buyers to Yakima.  The company will then ship free mounting bolts that shouldn’t suffer from the problem to consumers.

Click here for more about the recall.

In Gladstone, Oregon this week, the local police department plans to hold a bicycle education event for local Cub Scouts.  But ahead of that meeting, one officer has provided some safety tips that would be applicable to riders all across the country.  He says that riders should wear proper clothing and a helmet at all times.  The bike itself needs to receive proper maintenance.  Brakes ought to be in great shape and the tires should have enough air to get you to your destination safely.  If your ride brings you off a trail and into the street, it’s best to stay as close to the curb as possible while going the same direction as traffic.  Distractions from things like headphones should be eliminated, and you should pay attention to all signage to know what riding maneuvers are appropriate.

Click here for more tips.

A doctor with the League of American Cyclists based in Fort Collins, Colorado is calling for increased attention on education efforts in order to improve bicycle safety in the future.  He hopes that newcomers of all ages will submit to the necessary training and learn about important rules through mentoring from those already a part of the cycling community.  He worries that new residents and persons who have been away from cycling since they were kids tend to think of a bike as a toy, when in fact it’s another vehicle, the safety of which should be made paramount.  The author also offers up a guide to upcoming editions of his column, which will focus on numerous aspects of cycling safety.

Click here to learn more.

The deaths of two cyclists prompted Newport Beach to establish a Bicycle Safety Improvement Fund, and the fund has accumulated more than $300,000 since its formation.  The organizer of that fund has come up with a list of potential improvements that could be made to bike safety with the money provided, and that list contains such things as enacting education efforts and making necessary improvements to troubled areas along the Pacific Coast Highway.  In February, the City Council will likely begin the process of designating the money for the various bike safety measures proposed.  They will also attempt to put together a bike master plan that would improve safety for years to come.

Click here to learn more.

A member of the Fort Collins, Colorado branch of the Safe Routes to School program is touting the virtues of a book that aims to promote bicycle safety among children in an informative yet entertaining manner.  Known as “The Bear’s Bicycle,” the book follows the exploits of a bicyclist who happens to be a bear, and this bear apparently pilots his bicycle in a very unsafe manner.  Reading the book aloud to kid is one way the author (of the report, not the book) teaches children about cycling safety, and once he has finished reading the book to students, he typically asks them for suggestions on how to help the bear become a safer, more conscientious cyclist.

Click here to learn more.

Officials in Boston are trying to get back on the right track, so to speak, when it comes to bicycle safety.  Throughout 2012, five bike rider fatalities were reported, leading many parties to pledge to make the roads and paths in the city safer for cyclists.  One way they seek to do that is to bring back a so-called Bike Czar who was reportedly responsible for improving bike safety in Boston back in 2007.  Her efforts previously led to the implementation of a bike sharing program and the creation of a multitude of bicycle racks and dedicated bike lanes.  She hopes to pick up where she left off when she previously exited the Boston Bike program director position.

For more information, follow this link.

The Port Coquitlam, British Columbia-based Norco Bicycles has announced the recall of 90 Havoc Bicycles of the 2011 model year.  The recall affects 24 inch grey bikes and 26 inch red bikes.  The recall was necessitated because the area where the down tube and the top tube connect can have its joint cracked.  This can lead to a component separation and an ensuing loss of control.  Three persons have reported the formation of a crack, but none of those incidents led an injury to take place.  The bikes, which were sold across the country between November 2010 and September of last year, should not be used.  Instead, Norco should be contacted by owners, who can receive a replacement bike at no cost.

Click here for more about the recall.

Officials in Montgomery County, Maryland are pleased to see a drop in pedestrian fatalities between 2008 and 2012.  19 people died in 2008, but cut to four years later, and that number has dropped to less than ten.  The County Executive attributes the downturn to a recent pedestrian safety effort put forth by county officials.  The five year initiative has reportedly seen a 45% decrease in the number of pedestrian strikes that took place at the county’s most dangerous intersections.  Officials hope the future can become even safer by extending the time of pedestrian crossing signals and implementing bicycle and pedestrian safety measures in future sidewalk and road improvement projects.

Click here for more information.

Two incidents, one involving a cyclist and another involving a person on foot, have caused officials in Kennewick, Washington to ask citizens to place a greater emphasis on ensuring the safety of such individuals.  An officer for the local police warned that cyclists and pedestrians need to pay attention to their environment just like a person in a motor vehicle should.  To promote visibility, cyclists are required by Washington state law to affix red reflectors to the back of their bicycle and lights to the front.  Persons must also realize that requisite driving laws in place for automobiles also pertain to bikes.  And for their part, a pedestrian should understand that not only is crossing without utilizing a crosswalk or waiting for the proper signal dangerous, it could lead to a ticket being issued.

Click here for more information.