Finally, we make the top ten in something! From today's Albuquerque Journal, this story:
"...The number of cyclist deaths per capita for New Mexico was second only
to that of Florida in 2010-12, and 50 percent higher than the U.S. rate
in that period, the New Mexico Department of Health said in a recent
report..."
Of course, the story ends on an infuriating note, telling cyclists to wear helmets and use lights. Yeah, sure, both of which are good ideas. Neither of which did Matt Trujillo or David Anderson a damn bit of good. Matt died when a drug-addled motorist ran a red light and blasted his body apart. David died when a careless motorist launched her speeding car airborne, over an embankment, and into David who was riding on a nearby bike path. Dr. Ronald Fronczak died when hit from behind on a state highway which had unrideable shoulders due to partial shoulder paving.
The combination of sometimes deliberately poor infrastructure, urban streets whose profiles (no. of lanes, lane widths, say nothing of speeds) could be mistaken for interstate highways, careless or impaired drivers, and low standards of accountability create this monster that a helmet or light cannot counteract. BikeABQ's efforts at starting a Vision Zero movement in that city will help a lot--if it catches on and gets Mayor Berry's blessing (and Mayor Gonzales of Santa Fe's blessing).
Its about time we started pushing back on this debacle, isn't it? Here are the historical rankings of the LAB for Bicycle Friendly States, 2008-2014.
To see how cyclists die, go here.
The combination of sometimes deliberately poor infrastructure, urban streets whose profiles (no. of lanes, lane widths, say nothing of speeds) could be mistaken for interstate highways, careless or impaired drivers, and low standards of accountability create this monster that a helmet or light cannot counteract. BikeABQ's efforts at starting a Vision Zero movement in that city will help a lot--if it catches on and gets Mayor Berry's blessing (and Mayor Gonzales of Santa Fe's blessing).
Its about time we started pushing back on this debacle, isn't it? Here are the historical rankings of the LAB for Bicycle Friendly States, 2008-2014.
To see how cyclists die, go here.
1 comment:
"The combination of sometimes deliberately poor infrastructure, urban streets whose profiles (no. of lanes, lane widths, say nothing of speeds) could be mistaken for interstate highways, careless or impaired drivers, and low standards of accountability create this monster that a helmet or light cannot counteract."
WORD!
Sorry about the loss of your fellow cyclists/friends, Khal!
I really don't have anything else to say for now.
Peace :)
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