CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Pete van Nuys

March 23rd, 2010

Amy, thanks for tying these two stories together, it points out the need to educate both cyclists and non-cyclists. Because whichever your readers are, bicycle use is growing rapidly in SoCal, we must all share finite road space, and courtesy is the only lubricant. But by implication the injured cyclist in your story is to blame for his injuries. How do we know he was "traveling at 35 mph?" Is that Ms. Hardaway's estimate? Did she overhear that from the cyclist's companions? Or she pack radar when the rollerblades? And was this cyclist one of the 35% rude ones? Just curious: does Ms. Hardaway know of any rude rollerbladers? 'cause I do: the ones who plug Ipods in their ears, skate with their backs to other traffic, swing their arms 3-persons wide, and expect everyone else to get out of their way. Shared Use Trails are not the safest places to ride or rollerblade. Back Bay is even worse, because it's a shared use trail-- with cars on it. Everyone, cyclists included, needs to slow down, relax, enjoy the scenery and chill.

Corona del Mar Today Staff

March 23rd, 2010

Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. I think you've hit on something I've noticed -- every group sees the rudeness in others. Pedestrians don't like rude cyclists, cyclists don't like rude motorists, etc. etc. etc. We all need to chill and relax and slow down! I think the woman who spoke at the meeting yesterday was estimating and also using other witnesses to get her speed estimate. I hope my article didn't portray her in a way that seemed hostile or unsympathetic. She was deeply upset about this man's accident and hoped to figure out a way to protect other cyclists, she said.

Bicycling Voter

March 23rd, 2010

For the March 17th accident, the cyclist strained the handlebar braking and bike balance on the Back Bay downhill with a speed over 20 mph. The incident is not significant in the bigger picture of evaluating bicycles as eco-friendly transportation for commuting to work and school as well as health and recreation. Newport Beach can follow other cities with projects that involve California’s 2007 Complete Street Act to accommodate pedestrians, bicycles and motorists. Newport Beach could embrace bicycling as transportation by joining other cities at www.biketoworkweek.org with a ride during National Bike-to-Work in May. We are grateful for the report from the volunteers for Safe Cycling Task Force. City Council members will review the Safe Cycling report before facing November reelection. We can evaluate our incumbent City Council by comparing the past versus the present conditions for bicycling in Newport Beach. During the 1990’s, Newport Beach installed bicycle buttons at curbs and motion sensors to detect bicycles in left turn lanes. The bicycle buttons were timed like a crosswalk button to ensure safe crossing for all types of bicyclists. A decade later, Newport Beach roadways are unsafe for bicycling. Principal Civil Engineer Tony Brine and his staff of traffic engineers began replacing the motion sensors with inductive wires in late 2006. The embedded wires do not detect bicycles unless the bicycle is laid flat across the loops or the cyclist rides crisscross repeatedly. NBPD motorcycles chased bicycles and concocted vehicle citations. NBPD commanders and city engineers refused to test left lanes, believing that ongoing chases would force cyclists to dismount for crosswalk buttons. Mr. Brine’s staff continued the disabling of signals to include bicycle buttons. During most of 2009, the other entrance to the Back Bay at San Joaquin had a disconnected bicycle button with a 5 second green and yellow clearance for a bicycle if only one car was present. Cyclists were raising their hands trying to hold off traffic across Jamboree Road’s ten lanes. And since the 1990’s, Newport Beach’s road design has ignored bike lanes and warning signs to prevent accidents like the Tesoro-Ridge Park bicycle fatality. The west uphill of Bison Road from UCI is another example of no bike lane and impassable sidewalk while Newport Beach traffic engineers created a right lane for Fletcher Jones Mercedes to shuttle to the church parking lot during the weekdays. Newport Beach did flawed road design and bought cheap signal technology during a strong economy. Now a local budget deficit threatens safety expenses. The trade-off could be bicycle accident claims against Newport Beach. Newport Beach can postpone bike racks with wave motifs. Vote for a candidate to City Council that has a plan to restore bicycle safety to Newport Beach.

JIm

March 23rd, 2010

I agree that both cyclists and non cyclists need to be educated and need to each have equal rights here. Sorry you had a bad experience not all cyclists are like this

backbaybiker

March 23rd, 2010

Ms. Hardaway's story reiterates the sightings of NBPD Officer O'Beirne at a previous Task Force meeting that cyclists are "zoomed", at "fault" and bicycles "come apart". Will Newport Beach's Safe Cycling report classify this intelligence as actionable?

billcoast

March 24th, 2010

I think alot of the problem is lack of knowledge of the law regarding bicycle travel on the street. Can someone either call the police liaison officer or get a copy of the vehicle code and post on this web site, the law, word for word? It might surprise alot of riders and drivers.

Corona del Mar Today Staff

March 24th, 2010

Frank Peters of the Task Force provided this DMV Link: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/shr_slow_veh.htm#bike Here is what it states: BICYCLES Bicyclists on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile and motorcycle drivers. Respect the right-of- way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with other drivers. Here are some critical points for drivers and bicyclists to remember: Motor vehicle drivers must: Pass a bicyclist as they would a slow moving-vehicle. Pass with caution, and only when safe. Look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning. Safely merge toward the curb or into the bike lane. Not overtake a bicyclist just before making a turn. Merge first, then turn. Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a freeway. Bicyclists: Must obey all traffic signals and stop signs. Are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways, in some rural areas where there is no alternate route. Turns for bicyclists Intersections with special lanes Must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it. Shall ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical– not on the sidewalk. May legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, animal, make a turn or avoid debris and other hazards. May choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street. Should ride single file on a busy or narrow street. Must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns. Must signal all their intentions to motorists and bicyclists near them. Must wear a helmet if under the age of 18. Should carry identification. Shall not operate a bicycle on a roadway during darkness unless the bicycle is equipped with: A brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry level, clean pavement. A front lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet. A rear red reflector visible from a distance of 500 feet. A white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from a distance of 200 feet.

Corona del Mar Today Staff

March 24th, 2010

Here is another great link courtesy of the Orange County Bicycle Coalition: http://ocbike.org/bicycle-law/ Thanks, Pete Van Nuys for sending it. He said they welcome all comments; the information includes some history and analysis along with vehicle code info.

City Evaluator

March 24th, 2010

Why is the Cycling report recommending that cyclists meet with the NBPD? It is the job of Newport Beach City Council members to represent bicyclists and meet with NBPD police department. Vote for a City Council candidate that meets with city departments to coordinate police practices, traffic engineering, road design and most importantly, community needs.

Traffic Analyst

March 24th, 2010

The DMV list has to be supplemented with the Caltrans requirements of a city for bicycle traffic. Newport Beach appears to have outgrown its design for safe sharing of roadways. In other cities, court decisions for accident cases have made the city responsible for road conditions to realize the "musts" and "shoulds" of road conduct - e.g., motorists and bicyclists can only be as safe as road lanes and traffic signals allow.

Code Clarifier

March 25th, 2010

In going to the link of http://ocbike.org/bicycle-law/, please notice the code is CVC 21200 that bicyclists have all the rights and duties applicable to motorists. The NBPD has been chasing and detaining cyclists for CVC 21453 moving vehicle violations. Newport Beach engaged in deliberate and ongoing practices to exploit bicyclists at non-detecting signals. Civil Principal Engineer Tony Brine took on the authority that if his staff set back signals to not detect bicycles, cyclists would be forced to use crosswalks with the threat of being chased by the NBPD for moving vehicle violations. The NBPD and the Orange County Superior Court-Harbor Division further assumed the authority to define bicycles as vehicles instead of apply CVC 21200 for rights and duties. If Newport Beach were concerned about bicycle safety, signs could have been posted that the motion sensors had been replaced and traffic signals no longer detected bicycles. Instead Newport Beach preyed on bicyclists at set-back traffic signals. It is despicable to watch a NBPD motorcycle chasing a woman cyclist in sports apparel into the Back Bay when there is no traffic on a summer Sunday afternoon while the congested Coast Highway needs help. The trio of NBPD motorcycles at the Persian New Year being overheard mentioning "chicks" raises more questions.

signmaker

March 25th, 2010

Newport Beach could consider signs at unsafe bicycle areas that state "Bicycles use crosswalks and sidewalks if permitted. Go to website NewportBeachCA.gov/bicycles". The website could be both a city disclaimer as well as an educational tool by listing factors such as inadequate road design, non-detecting traffic signals, mistimed bicycle buttons, budget constraints, police detainments to confirm car ownership, Orange County appealing implementation of AB-1581 for signal detection of bicycles, etc.

scott

March 25th, 2010

Please remember to advise bikers that the Fernleaf hill between Bayside and Seaview is a NO BIKE hill. It is posted "WALK YOUR BIKE ON SIDEWALK". I have seen many close calls on this street. Hope on the new bike route map this will be portraded. Thank you

Bottom Liner

March 26th, 2010

The bottom line on the Newport Beach Safe Cycling Report will be three costs: 1) Roadway improvements, 2) Traffic signal upgrades, and 3) Bicycle accident settlements. Beyond maps and education, the bottom line on bicycle safety is spending money for warning signage. We thank the Task Force volunteers and look toward the November elections for City Council.

fernleafer

March 27th, 2010

to scott, regarding fernleaf sign: Corona del Mar's Fernleaf hill could become the first incident of motorist-cyclist rage in Newport Beach. The sign reading "Bicycles Use Sidewalk" is ineffective for the Fernleaf hill because of the sidewalk being a narrow path often used by walkers and pets. Groups with beach cruisers dismount, walk on the roadway, and try to direct traffic. Courteous cyclists capable of climbing the hill wait at the bottom for cars to pass. However, I watched a cyclist get heavily honked by a motorist. The cyclist was already at the top of the hill, and the motorist wanted to accelerate from the bottom. Some motorists interpret the sign as unshareable ownership of the Fernleaf hill. A better sign would be "Roadway Is Shared by Motorists and Bicycles". The sign would only be a warning indicator and not have to comply with transportation codes.

Cycling Reporter

March 29th, 2010

Newport Beach engineers and the equipment vendor continued to disable traffic signals for bicycle detection despite the Safe Cycling Task Force and two bicycle fatalities in 2009. Is it mere oversight, careless irresponsibility, or a deliberate attempt to defy bicycles and AB-1581 before Caltrans implements? The bicycle button at San Joaquin into the Back Bay preserve did not communicate with the control unit of the traffic signal for several months. Cyclists waved their arms trying to make the signal across ten lanes in the five seconds allowed for a single car. NBPD vehicles routinely watched the situation but did not ameliorate the hazard. The NBPD had previously chased bicycles for vehicle citations at the other Back Bay traffic signal set back by traffic engineers. Let's watch before the November election if this City Council is more actionable than the three seasons taken to remove boats from the Corona del Mar State Beach. The boats were not just anchoring for storage, but using the summer weekends as a party destination via GPS for jet skis and speed boats. During the first year of the anchoring, then assistant city manager Dave Kiff replied in an e-mail that the boats were "nice" and "no problem". Bicycling on Newport Beach roadways needs more than the slow response to water safety at Big Corona. At the November polls, ask yourself if the incumbent City Council is actionable or just forming committees and reading reports.