Bicycle Accidents

San Francisco Injury Attorney Predicts Fewer Injury Accidents on San Francisco’s Streets

September 25, 2009 | Gregory J. Brod

Apropos my last blog, there are two other projects underway in the City of San Francisco that focus on the safety and well-being of both its residents and visitors. One project, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on February 6, 2006 and appropriately called Better Streets, is a joint effort by several city agencies to improve the design of San Francisco’s streets and sidewalks and was. Since that time, Better Streets has created a collection of street types which are a great improvement over our current automobile-centered street scheme and focus on the appropriate use of land (i.e. residential, commercial and industrial), the efficiency of street width and the street’s role in the transportation system. The highlights and benefits that stand out most to us here at the Brod Law Firm are the ones that focus on safety, though there are many others–such as its support of neighborliness, civic interaction , community identity, and the enhancement of the quality of life for San Francisco’s residents and local businesses-and they are:

• The Design of sidewalks and medians, pedestrian safety and accessibility features, ways to mange storm water in the right-of –way, design and placement of streetscape elements such as street trees, lighting ,benches, and more • Decreased likelihood of pedestrian/auto collisions injuries and fatalities

• Increased accessibility for all street users, create settings that make it safe and easy to be physically active and enhance the everyday quality of life for San Francisco Residents.

The Seemingly Endless Conversation on the Need for San Francisco Street Safety and Improvements

September 21, 2009 | Gregory J. Brod

Recently, friends from Europe stayed with me and my family. During their time here they spent their days touring San Francisco by bicycle. I asked them if they felt San Francisco was as bike friendly city as most European cities. They said that they felt drivers were really aware of bicyclists and looked out for them. But they felt that bus drivers were not very considerate, if not hostile, toward bicyclists. I explained how cyclists have fought hard, with the help of the San Francisco Bike Coalition (SFBC), educating motorists as well as buses on being both cautious and vigilant as they share the road with cyclists. At the same time, I also explained how some bicyclists seem to have less interest in following the vehicle rules of the road and believe that red lights and stop signs are meant only for motorists. My friends agreed with me when I pointed out that there is a victim attitude among some bicyclists who feel –because buses are bigger, and can kill bicyclist, and most streets are not designed for bikes– that they are at a disadvantage on the road and should make their own rules. Bus drivers who encounter bicyclists with the victim attitude usually end up developing the same victim mentality and, as a consequence, ignore the safety of all cyclists. One might think there may never be a middle ground for bus drivers and bicyclists. Every story has at least two sides, though. The bottom line is this: If either bicyclists or bus drivers make their own rules on the road, that can, and usually does, lead to dangerous situations. But buses and bicyclists can coexist as long as bus drivers and motorists act professionally and bicyclists follow the rules of the road. Each year there are more bicyclists on the road, and everyone on the roads would follow the laws of the road, as well as use a little courtesy, our streets will be far less dangerous.
Since cyclists will be increasingly populating the roads and asking for more space in the years to come, we need, now, more than ever, the creation education campaigns that foster safety and respect among cyclists as well as bike network improvement projects that keep our city streets a safe place for all. There is good news. The SFBC has spent years planning and appearing at public hearings in an effort to get the city to implement improvements for cyclists and motorists on the road called the SF Bike Plan. This summer, 3 years after a lawsuit and injunction that barred any improvements and the city’s Bike Plan, the SFBC is celebrating their biggest victory: on June 26th, 2009 the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency voted to adopt their bicycle plan. Once the injunction is lifted, the vote gives a green light for 45 new bike lanes throughout the city. The plan also includes the implementation of on-street bike parking corrals, experimental colored pavement treatments and thousands of new bike racks. Another bit a good news for the SFBC is Mayor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement that he will implementing a package of trial improvements to market street beginning September 29th, modeled on Projects for Public Spaces –which is in partnership San Francisco Great Streets Project and SFBC. As we collectively move forward during these planned changes, go safely and considerately out there, people!

Reflections on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents in San Francisco

April 14, 2009 | Gregory J. Brod

May is approaching, and May is National Bike Month-a time for remembering that other people on the road are human beings. Staying aware of this fact can help us get where we’re going with more patience and less stress. This is a philosophy San Franciscans could benefit from as San Francisco strives to become a more bike and pedestrian friendly city. Here at the Brod Law Firm, we have dealt with many bike accident cases, cases usually involving drivers who at fault. Often the reason they are at fault is because they don’t have proper training or awareness driving or parking along city streets full of cyclists. While our community is waking up the fact that we must learn to coexist, we still have a way to go. Not only are bicyclists being injured in unnecessary numbers, but pedestrians are also being injuring at an increasingly alarming rate. For example, just last week, a man was dragged under a bus just after he stepped off of it. Logically speaking, if we became a community which was more bike friendly, it seems that we would also become a pedestrian and transit friendly city by default. If only we could follow the lead of Northern Europe, where children in such places as the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany all receive extensive training in safe and effective cycling techniques as part of their regular school curriculum-most of whom complete such a course before the fifth grade. Motorist training is in those countries is also more extensive as well. Heavy fines and points are placed a driver’s record for driving or parking in bike lanes, cutting off cyclists or otherwise endangering or inconveniencing them.

Thankfully, though, we have the San Francisco Bike Coalition, San Francisco’s de facto bicycling advocacy group. They have been instrumental in making riding conditions better for San Francisco bikers, drawing attention to pedestrian and cyclist safety and promoting the upsurge in bike friendly culture. They strive to show all of us on how to share the road. Their most important message is that motorists need to be aware of cyclists on the roadway and avoid endangering them, and vice versa. Portland, however, is the greatest example of what a bike and pedestrian friendly city in the United States should look like. One of the things they offer their community is a class called the Share The Road Safety Class. The class is a result of a partnership that began in 2006 when Multnomah county Judge, Christopher Larson, reached out to safety groups, such as Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division, the legacy Emanuel Trauma Nurses, Portland’s Bureau of Transportation, and other bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups. All these groups have worked together to develop a training that addresses traffic laws, as well as inattention and intolerance on the road. It also puts special focus on ensuring the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and children. Most who participate in the class are there because they have been charged with a traffic violation. If participants successfully complete the Share the Road course, they are eligible for dismissal or a sentence of discharge, a conviction entered with no fine. Partners of the program hope that individuals will leave the class and share what they have learned with others at work and at home. With programs such as these in place, it is no wonder that Portland has zero cyclist fatalities, even as bicycle use is booming.

Fewer Accidents on the Horizon for Bicyclists in San Francisco

March 26, 2009 | Gregory J. Brod

Early this week during a hearing at San Francisco City Hall, the Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee heard an update from city agencies regarding SF Bicycle projects, which could start in July– once a Supreme Court injunction that has banned bicycle improvement projects is lifted. In 2006, a Supreme Court judge had blocked the implementation of projects until City Hall put in place a study that analyzed how each of the projects would affect things like traffic flow and parking availability. The study was demanded by a small group of citizens who believe the city should not take space from MUNI and cars in favor of bicycles. Some of the proposed bicycle improvements, 56 in total, consist of adding more bike lanes, which would extend the 45miles of bike lanes to 79 miles, and bike parking, setting up a bike-sharing program, permitting two-wheelers on MUNI’s light rail, and retiming certain traffic signals to benefit cyclists.
Bicycle advocates of the San Francisco Bike Coalition (SFBC), look forward to seeing the projects move ahead quickly, and that all, not just some, of the 56 projects, part of their biggest and most important campaign, are approved and completed. Leah Shahum, the executive director of the SFBC, says: “It has been nearly three years since the city has striped a new bike lane, installed a new bike rack, put up new signage.” Because more and more people are turning to bikes as an alternative to cars, these improvements are needed more than ever. Here at the Brod Law Firm, we also look forward to seeing these new projects implemented, and we are glad to see the SFBC has made such enormous strides garnering support from the city. We support any project that would diminish the risks cyclists face and the numbers of bicycle accidents on San Francisco streets. Along with providing safer conditions for bicycles, we would like to think such improvements might also produce harmony in the streets between cars and bicyclists.