bicycle accidents

Do Cameras on Cyclists Make Roads Safer?

September 11, 2016 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Bicycle accidents and aggression against cyclists by motor vehicle drives are nothing new on Florida roads, though there has been some increase for the simple fact more people are riding. However, there is one element that has dramatically shifted the dynamic of these encounters: Cameras.

An increasing number of bicyclists are donning GoPro cameras or others like it, mounted to the cyclists’ helmets, filming every moment. Cycling cameras were first sold primarily for recreational riders as a means to allow them to capture images of their journey. However, they have been more often cropping up on social media sites, showing just how badly drivers are behaving. The footage may not shock some who ride on a regular basis, but they are grabbing the attention of the public and law enforcement. They are also being used in an increasing number of both criminal and civil cases.

Cyclist-versus-car crashes were often he-said-she-said ordeals in court. These cameras are changing the game. Continue reading ›

Defective Bicycle Case Weighed by Sixth Circuit

August 7, 2016 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Most of the bicycle accident lawsuits that are pursued involve a cyclist who was struck by a motorists. The National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports approximately 750 people annually die in bicycle crashes on public ways, with most of those occurring after the cyclist is struck by a car or other vehicle.

However some of these cases – as well as bike accidents that don’t involve cars – may be caused in whole or in part by a defective bicycle.

There are a host of potential defects that bicycles can have that could render them unsafe or even cause a crash. Some of those issues include:

Faulty frame welds
Brake issues
Pedals that come loose during operation
Broken chains or other drive train component problems
Tubes or tires that pop or blow out

Bicycle Tourism Prompts Bike Safety Investments

April 30, 2016 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

A growing number of tourism officials have cozying up to the bicycle advocacy movement amid recognition of the economic potential of this subgroup of tourists, according to a recent report by Stateline.org, a publication of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Biking is becoming increasingly popular as people embrace it not only as a form of healthy recreation, but as a green alternative to driving a motor vehicle. According to the League of American Bicyclists, the number of bicyclists doubled from 1.7 billion in 2001 to 4 billion in 2009 – and the numbers have continued to grow. Bicycle commuting rates are up more than 100 percent from 2000 to 2013. People who have fallen in love with this sport are also recognizing it as a way to see the country from a different perspective, and that’s given birth to bicycle tourism.

Although bicyclists make up a small portion of out-of-state visitors, they are a much-desired one, according to the report. They tend to stay longer and spend more when they come.

Florida is an ideal spot for many cyclists across the East Coast and beyond due to its flat terrain, unparalleled scenery and mild winters. But there is one major hurdle: Safety. Continue reading ›

Florida Bicycle Safety Bill May Be Losing Its Teeth

March 10, 2016 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

State measures that would bolster protections for bicyclists and pedestrians is in jeopardy of losing critical elements, according to supporters in Southwest Florida.

House Bill 253, currently being weighed in the Economic Affairs Committee, while companion measure SB 332 , is pending a reference review before the Criminal Justice Committee.

They would amend F.S. 316.003, creating F.S. 316.0275, which would establish expanded definitions. They would also provide criminal penalties for certain noncriminal traffic infractions that result in serious bodily injury or death to a person to “vulnerable road users.” They would also direct law enforcement issuing citations for specified violations to note certain information on the citation. Bicycles would be exempted from provisions for passing a vehicle on the right under certain circumstances, and other exemptions would be granted to provisions for no-passing zones. There would also be a portion that would require motor vehicle operators to allow a group of bicycles to travel through an intersection in certain circumstances. Continue reading ›

Fort Myers Bike Crash Crisis Curtailing?

February 27, 2016 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida is the most lethal state in the nation for bicyclists, and South Florida is particularly perilous for those on two wheels.

As The News-Press has reported, 2014 was an especially horrific year. There was a woman who spat on a cyclist after driving into him in Naples. Then there was the man who careened into a row of cyclists on Fort Myers Beach and then said, “I should have hit them harder.” And in Cape Coral, a driver actually shot a cyclist who asked him to slow down.

As more cycling lanes have been added awareness of the issue has grown, some cyclists feel the hostile climate is slowly shifting. Nearly 18 percent in a recent poll said cycling in Lee is getting safer. That may be reflected in preliminary crash statistics for 2015. Continue reading ›