Archive for May, 2008
May 5th, 2008
A story in this morning’s Tribune looks at the two recent deaths of Chicago bicyclists.
There’s a guy quoted who says bicycle accidents are going to increase simply because more people will start riding.
I’m afraid he’s right even if new bicycle-friendly laws are enforced.
Just after I finished writing those sentences, this release came from the governor’s office.
Gov. Blagojevich announces campaign
to educate drivers about new law to protect bicyclists
IDOT and League of Illinois Bicyclists team up to remind drivers
of a new law that they must give bike riders at least 3 feet
SPRINGFIELD – As the weather warms up and more and more bicyclists are taking to the roads around the state, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today launched a public awareness effort to educate drivers about a new state law requiring motorists to pass bicyclists with at least three feet to spare. The effort – called “Please Don’t Squeeze” – starts today and is funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Traffic Safety to the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB).
“This is the time of year that more and more bicycle riders of all ages will be taking advantage of the warmer weather to get out on our roadways. Sadly, two recent fatal crashes in Chicago remind us how vulnerable bike riders can be,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Today, we’re launching a radio campaign to educate drivers about a new law requiring motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing. If you see a bicyclist up ahead, remember to please slow down and give that cyclist plenty of room.”
Bicycle fatalities decreased in Illinois from 24 to in 2006 to a provisional count of 18 in 2007.
“The message of our radio spot is ‘Please Don’t Squeeze,’” said IDOT Secretary Milton R. Sees. “We want the motoring public to be aware of the new law and to observe it. Our goal is to make the roadways safer for bicyclists and reduce crashes and injuries.”
Ed Barsotti, executive director of LIB – a statewide advocacy group - said, “The purpose of the radio campaign is to inform public before the height of the bicycling season about the new state law, which took effect last Jan. 1.”
Barsotti said the previous law only indicated that motorists must pass bicyclists and others safely but did not specify the distance. Illinois has joined nine other states with similar safe passing laws.
The new law was sponsored by Sen. Edward D. Maloney (D-Chicago) and Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D- Des Plaines).
“We hope that when all motorists see bicyclists ahead, they know to pass them safely by affording at least three feet of space,” Barsotti said. He said the public service announcement also urges bicyclists to do their part for safety by obeying all traffic laws.
LIB received a grant of $33,373 from IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety to produce the radio spot and purchase airtime. The 30-second spots will air on 10 stations starting today through May 30.
LIB and IDOT worked together on a May 2007 radio campaign that urged drivers and bicyclists to obey traffic laws and share the road.
IDOT and LIB have teamed up on number of safety efforts in recent years. In 2006, IDOT provided funding for LIB to produce a bike safety video, “Share the Road – Same Road, Same Rules, Same Rights”, that was distributed free of charge to 2,000 Illinois high schools, private driving schools and law enforcement agencies. The video educates drivers on how they should share the road with bicyclists.
IDOT and LIB have also developed a “Safe Roads for Bicycling” program that involves teaching a class to Police Departments that makes local police more aware of bicycle safety issues.
The new radio spot can be heard at www.bikelib.org or www.dot.state.il.us.
May 5th, 2008
The Editorial Board hosts many visitors. Last week Adam Smith, the city’s director of education and lifelong learning, was here with folks from the Salvation Army, building trades and First Northern Credit Union, to fill us in on the nCenter. We were impressed with the concept and how the pieces came together.
This week, Winnebago County Chairman Scott Christiansen and Judge Janet Holmgren will be here to tell us about the juvenile justice center, which has a truancy component.
Also this week, economist and best-selling author Burton Malkiel will meet with some of us.
These meetings help us gather information and ask questions of sources that reporters may not get to ask during the normal course of their jobs.
May 2nd, 2008
Just when I think sportsmanship is dead, I see a story like the one below. There was a brief version in the newspaper the other day, but I thought the entire story was worth reading. That’s why I’ve included the full text rather than a link.
Opponents carry injured home run hitter around the bases
By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. — With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.
But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.
She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.
Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count — an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.
Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.
The umpire said there was no rule against it.
So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky’s legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.
“The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,” Tucholsky said. “I told her it was my right leg and she said, `OK, we’re going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,’ and I said `OK, thank you very much.”’
“She said, `You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,’ and we all kind of just laughed.”
“We started laughing when we touched second base,” Holtman said. “I said, ‘I wonder what this must look like to other people.”’
“We didn’t know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run,” Wallace said Wednesday. “That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her.”
Holtman said she and Wallace weren’t thinking about the playoff spot, and didn’t consider the gesture something others wouldn’t do.
As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain.
“I really didn’t say too much. I was trying to breathe,” she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday.
“I didn’t realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit,” she said. “Then I realized the extent of what I actually did.”
“I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation,” Tucholsky added.
As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.
Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship “unbelievable.”
For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholsky’s injury presented.
“She was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away. But at the same time I was concerned for her. I didn’t know what to do,” Knox said.
Tucholsky’s injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline her for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business. Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington’s chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.
“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” Holtman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”
May 2nd, 2008
A 24-year-old woman was killed when her bike collided with a car Thursday afternoon. Police think the car may have run a red light.
A couple of times I’ve posted comments about the proposed red-light cameras in Rockford. As a bicyclist, I see cars run the red in front of me almost every day. If cameras can get a few of the chronic light runners to stop, we might have fewer accidents (as reported in a previous post) and perhaps save a life or two.
The Tribune seems to pay more attention to bicycle issues than the Sun-Times or the suburban papers. Maybe that’s because there are so many bike riders on the staff.
May 1st, 2008
We need more studies like this.
But remember the disclaimer: Chocolate can have benefits IF combined with otherwise healthy eating and exercise.
I think I’ll ride over to Logli this afternoon so I can buy something to satisfy my sweet tooth.
May 1st, 2008
It looks like Gov. Rod Blagojevich has decided to release money that was promised to Illinois’ soil and water conservation districts, the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service offices and other ag-related groups.
Folks in the comptroller’s office said they’d write the checks as soon as they had authorization. As of late Wednesday, they were still waiting.
The gov got a lot of flack for holding back the money. As unpopular as he is right now, he had to do something to deflect criticism.
But if I were involved with one of the agencies that’s waiting for money, I wouldn’t celebrate until I got the check or maybe not until the check cleared.
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