SOCIAL: 70% of all accidents fault of cyclists?

[Susan King]

Another factoid: many crashes involving cyclists are not reported or  
recorded by police, only those involving injury requiring an ambulance  
or damage to property other than the bike (even small dents on cars  
can cost hundreds to fix). Even though the 70% at fault number is  
inaccurate for other reasons, many incidents involving cyclists where  
the motorist is clearly at fault are not included because police  
routinely refuse to make a report if there is no significant injury or  
costly damage.

Also, as noted by Marc, law enforcement personnel often inaccurately  
attribute fault to the cyclist ('unsafe speed' is a catch all for  
assigning blame when they can't find another reason to fault the  
cyclist- I was told this by SFPD Captain Corrales when he headed  
Traffic Division), based on their autocentric interpretation of  
cyclists right to be on the road. I can only imagine it is worse with  
CHP compared to city police forces since they spend so much of their  
time dealing with heavily traveled high speed roads.

good luck with your fellow parents- thanks for helping to educate folks.

peace,
susan


On May 8, 2012, at 10:25 AM, Manish Champsee wrote:

> you might ask the person to source their statistic to find out whats  
> really going on.  As they say, lies, damn lies and statistics.
>
> Manish
>
> On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 9:37 AM, jen schradie <schradie at hotmail.com>  
> wrote:
> really? someone on my kids' listserv (below) just posted this.
>
> --------------------------- j e n s c h r a d i e
>
> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 09:31:17 -0700
> From: jaskart at yahoo.com
> Subject: Re: [noccs] Bicycle safety - parents and kids
> To: schradie at hotmail.com
>
> Those efforts would be worthwhile (cutting back bushes, etc.) but  
> futile if cyclists don't take responsibility for their own safety.  
> It is one thing to be empowered, and another to be oblivious and  
> entitled where it doesn't work. 70% of all bicycle accidents are the  
> fault of the cyclist, not the driver! CHP data right there.
> Putting responsibility on the drivers is exactly what this parent  
> did, and it is a sure recipe for danger.
>
> I grew up in San Francisco, during the 80's and there were no bike  
> lanes, etc. and a LOT fewer accidents involving bikes, because  
> cyclists understood that their own safety was their responsibility.  
> Can't pass the buck in this situation. Kids need to STOP at  
> intersections and busy driveways/parking lot entrances, even when  
> they're walking, but especially when they're riding a bike.
>
> From: jen schradie <schradie at hotmail.com>
> To: noccs at yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 9:21 AM
> Subject: RE: [noccs] Bicycle safety - parents and kids
>
>
> Hi Jask,
>
> Great timing! Thursday is the East Bay's annual bike to work  
> (school) day. Bicycle awareness from bicyclists, motorists and  
> pedestrians is all very important to support cycling. For NOCCS  
> cyclists, there are a number of "energizer" stations Thursday with  
> free food, tools, coupons and other cycling perks. The one closest  
> to NOCCS is at 40th and San Pablo. Also one at Actual Cafe and at  
> various other points.
>
> Another bicycle issue at NOCCS is now that cyclists who park their  
> bikes in the NOCCS parking lot are no longer able to go through the  
> back door, cycling kids/parents/teachers need to walk through the  
> parking lot entrance to go into the building. My kids have almost  
> been hit by incoming cars into the parking lot two times. Very  
> scary. Perhaps the bushes could be cut back (I'm happy to do this if  
> I have permission), so drivers can better see cyclists coming from  
> the bike racks, as visibility is almost nill.
>
> --------------------------- j e n s c h r a d i e
>
> To: noccs at yahoogroups.com
> From: jaskart at yahoo.com
> Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 15:54:34 +0000
> Subject: [noccs] Bicycle safety - parents and kids
>
>
> Hey y'all, I know I pretty much never write here, just follow  
> topics. My daughter graduated from NOCCS years ago, and I think it  
> is a great school, and a school which is very community oriented.
>
> That being said, I know many of our students ride a bike to school,  
> and I have seen some very unsafe riding habits, from parents and  
> students alike. Blazing through stop signs with your hand out is  
> really dangerous, especially for your child, and totally unfair to  
> the people driving.
>
> I know that NOCCS parents are better than this, but I've seen it 3  
> times over the last two weeks. Parents please teach your children  
> bicycle SAFETY. One day, they'll be riding on their own, and the  
> safe habits will keep them alive!
>
>
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> -- 
> Manish Champsee
> Champsee Solutions
>
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