Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/22  at  05:44 AM

Again, thank you for using WFLA to educate on road laws and safety.

Here is an example of how education would have prevented a tragedy:
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/newswire/story/driver-charged-in-fatal-hit-run/

Florida law states that motorists are to pass bicyclists with at least 3’ of space.  I encourage more.  Many motorists have no idea how close they are passing because they are sitting way over on the left side of the car.

If you pass with only 3’, the bicyclist is 5 or 6 feet tall, and the bicyclist must lay the bike down in an emergency, what are you going to run over?

Did the bicyclist have lights?  Since bicycles are vehicles, lights are required.  They help motorists see bicyclists.

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/22  at  04:50 AM

Florida Statute 316.003(57) defines traffic as “Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, and vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street or highway for purposes of travel.”

Thank you to WFLA for using your traffic time to educate people about road safety.  I encourage you to do more to educate all road users about the laws, safety tips, and needs concerning large trucks, light trucks and SUVs, passenger cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, pedestrians, horses, etc.  You will be making roads safer to inhabit.

Posted by  Laurence Howman, Ottawa Canada on 06/21  at  11:14 AM

Alyson Grant, of Tampa Suggests that it is insane to ride a bicycle Sans Helmets and suggest we look at the statistics which we can google from the Web.
Prehaps these Web Sites may be a good start
http://www.magma.ca/~ocbc/
http://www.cyclehelmets.org/
http://neptune.spacebears.com/opine/helmets.html
I might add I worked in a hospital for 24 years part of which was on a Neurology Floor(4.5 years)How many cyclist did I treat with Head Injuries.
Not One

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/14  at  08:33 PM

Please read my comments again.

I stated that 30 years of bicycle safety study have shown that bicyclists have the greatest chance of crashing with a car when they bicycle on the sidewalk.

I was not encouraging people to bicycle on the sidewalk.

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/14  at  08:29 PM

Nope.  Not crazy.

As stated, I wear a helmet, encourage other people to wear helmets, and educate people under 16 years about the law.

I spend time asking people why they don’t wear helmets.

Too hot?  Buy a helmet with sufficient vents that channel air across your head.  Drink water.  Dehydration can make you feel hot.

Slops all over your head?  Try my helmet with it’s cage to hold the helmet in place.

I’ve even bought helmets for other people.

But, the most important thing for preventing crashes is educating yourself.  Helmets don’t prevent crashes.

Posted by  Alyson Grant, Tampa on 06/14  at  07:02 PM

There are solid statistics showing that head injuries and fatalities are reduced through bicycle helmet wear.  Just google and become educated.  Are you people who are making these comments just insane? Ask any emergency room attendant what they see when a child or adult comes in with a bicycle injury. I would most likely be brain injured or dead had I not had a helmet on during a crash.  Riding on sidewalks is another death wish.  Just read the statistics regarding deaths in Florida.  Please become educated before you make your comments.

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/14  at  06:05 AM

Check out the riders who take off Saturdays at 8:30 AM from North Shore Pool (9th Ave NE & North Shore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg).  The Gib’s Ride Group (max. 12 mph speed) has a sweep for people who are really out of shape and need some help to get started.
http://www.stpetecycling.com/

Usually, I do the sweep.  I spent so many years in school being excluded from sports because my skills are so bad.  The only things bicycling takes are balancing and putting one foot in front of the other.  So, I understand and want to help people fit in with the riders.

No one ever hears about the Gib’s Ride Group because reporters primarily focus on the faster groups.

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/14  at  05:58 AM

Yes, people are very welcome to join bicycle groups.

In northern Pinellas, check out Suncoast Cycling Club.
http://www.suncoastcycling.com/
They don’t have a slow ride because everytime they get one going, the riders improve their fitness so much that they join the faster riders.

For other bicycling groups, ask your local bicycle shop or go to
http://www.floridabicycle.org/clubs/clubs.html

Posted by  Laurence Howman, Ottawa Canada on 06/13  at  11:16 AM

First There is no studies so far that have recorded a reduction in Head Injuries through wearing of Helmets. Helmets are designed for one thing that is a low Speed Fall invovling no otther vehicle.
Secondly the comments about riding on the Sidewalk being Dangerious is True you have about 7 times the chance of a accident with Car that is unless you are prepared to stop and look four ways before proceeding at every intersection.
THIS apply to Bike Paths too.
I suggest all future rider read the John Forester book “Effective Cycling” John Franklin>s book “Smart Cycling “ is also good but please remember it is writing for the U.K. That is to Left is Right and Right Left.

Procycle Website says it all
SAME RULES SAME ROADS SAME RIGHTS

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/12  at  07:40 PM

You can find more Florida State bicycling laws at
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/ped_bike/laws/ped_bike_bikeLaws1.htm

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/12  at  07:38 PM

I use a bicycle helmet and encourage all bicyclists to wear them.  People under 16 years are required to wear bicycle helmets in Florida.  When I see young people riding without helmets, I give them a copy of Florida bicycle laws and give other helmet info.

However, I don’t get upset when I see adults riding without helmets.  They are adults and responsible for themselves.  Besides, research shows that the greatest cause of head injuries in the USA is riding in a car.

When they start requiring all car occupants to wear helmets, I’ll think about getting upset about bicycling without helmets.

Posted by  Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg on 06/12  at  07:33 PM

A municipality is allowed to make it legal to bicycle on all sidewalks, no sidewalks, or “these sidewalks but not those”.  To find out if and where you can bicycle in a city, you need to call the city’s police department.

Although people may be allowed to bicycle on sidewalks, I like to let them know that 30 years of bicycle safety studies show they have the greatest chance of getting in a crash with a car when they bicycle on the sidewalks.  That’s because they’re bicycling where the motorists aren’t looking.  It happens at driveways, alleys, crosswalks.

Bicyclists have the least chance of crashing with a car when they operate like car and motorcycle drivers.

Posted by  Dave Newberry, Tampa on 06/12  at  11:07 AM

In the picture that goes with the story, I see no helmets on any of the cyclists and they are riding on the sidewalk, where it is unlawful (in Florida) for cyclists to ride.