Ride Safety
You must wear a helmet to participate in any Kalamazoo Bicycle Club ride.
Recommended (in addition) for KBC and Other Rides
- basic repair tools, including spare tube, tire levers, and an inflation device
- highly visible clothing
- lights and reflectors as required by law
- eye protection such as sunglasses
- rear-view mirror
- water
- emergency contact information
- cell phone
- insurance information
- sunscreen
- and, make sure your bike is in safe, well maintained condition for your intended ride.
KBC Bike Camp Recommended Ride Protocol
Point out hazards. Those behind you may not see them.
Signal your intentions, verbally and/or using the appropriate hand signals.
Alert others to a car "up" or car "back."
Riding more than two abreast is not legal on public roads, and aggravates motorists.
Bicyclists are required to ride as far to the right as practicable with certain exceptions.
Learn how to ride in a peloton (group in a line); ask your ride leader for tips if you need more instruction.
Inclement Weather Policy
Riders are urged to use common sense and good judgment when deciding whether to embark on, or continue, bicycle rides in inclement weather or when a high heat index has been posted by the National Weather Service.
In rainy conditions, pavement and any metal material, like manhole covers and railroad tracks, can become slick. In additions, braking distance is greatly increased and visibility can be severely compromised. Puddles can conceal potholes and other defects in the road surface. Auto drivers may have a difficult time seeing riders on the roadway.
In windy conditions, tree limbs can fall unexpectedly either onto the roadway or onto bicycle riders. Bike control may be hard to maintain, particularly with crosswinds.
If the weather looks at all threatening, be sure to check local media outlets or the national weather service before starting a bike ride. Kalamazoo Bicycle Club policy with respect to National Weather Service severe weather warnings is as follows:
In the event of a TORNADO WARNING – where a tornado or funnel cloud has been sighted in the area, or has been identified on radar – all KBC events, including regular club rides, time trials and special rides will automatically be canceled.
In the event of a TORNADO WATCH – where conditions are conducive to tornado formation – or a severe thunderstorm warning, riders may ride regular evening club rides at their own risk. Club ride leaders might not be present at times when tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings have been posted. Club rides, time trials and special rides may be canceled in the event of a tornado watch or severe thunderstorm notification, at the discretion of the ride leader or event organizer.
Reporting Road Rage and Accidents
On August 10, 2011, the Kalamazoo County Road Commission hosted a presentation on Traffic Laws by Sgt. James Campbell, an expert in Traffic Crash Reconstruction with the Michigan State Police. I followed up with Sgt. Campbell. His well thought-out answers to my questions may be important to some of you, so I am releasing them immediately. You never know whether his information might come in handy sooner, rather than later.
Paul Selden, Director of Road Safety
Q: What should a bicyclist do, if a motorist causes a bicyclist to be injured by their actions, such as in an accident, or through an act we might call "road rage?"
A: If there is an actual crash and some one is injured there needs to be a report per MVC 257.617 (stop and ID and report). If there is no contact but the vehicle causes a crash with injury the same applies and the vehicle is still required to report. This vehicle would be listed as a "non-contact" unit on the report.
Q: What if no actual injury occurs, but a bicyclist believes the motorist engaged in a deliberate act that otherwise could have hurt someone?
A: If the vehicle violates a traffic law that is not seen by a police officer - in your case it most likely would have to be "careless" 257.626b (likely to endanger person or property). The citation would have to be written with a "witness" as the complainant and that person would have to come to court and testify.
Q: In the case of such careless driving (or "road rage"), what would be required in order to make a complaint with some hope of justice? Does it help if more than just one rider saw what happened?
A: A careless ticket is written to a driver (not owner) so there would need to be some ability to identify the suspected driver.
The citation would require - time / date / location / vehicle information (plate, color, make and model) and a way to identify the driver. Witnesses always help because in court it will be you vs them.
Q: When should a report be filed?
A: The complaint should be made ASAP so that if the vehicle can be located if possible.
This information is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the counsel of an attorney or any other professional whose service may be required in the situations discussed above.
Thanks to Sgt. Campbell for the time and thought he put into helping our membership.
Safety Video
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club has a new Public Relations Coordinator, Brian Gonda.
Earlier this month he filmed a bicycle safety story that features KBC members Paul Selden and Renee Mitchell. The story is currently airing in the April 'Connect' on cable channel 21. You can watch the story below.
Useful Safety Related Links
The League of Michigan Bicyclists sponsors many education and safety related programs and booklets, many of which are available for download, including What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know, and What Every Young Michigan Bicyclist Must Know. See http://www.lmb.org/index.php/Education/ for more information.
The League of American Bicyclists offers a number of safety and education related videos you can watch on your computer. See http://www.bikeleague.org/ for more information.