Re: [Ebbc-Talk] [Discuss] Portland finding green "bike boxes" at intersections INCREASE right-hook collisions

That's not what the article says. It says that number of crashes have gone
up but that it is unknown as to why and that there a number of possible
factors, including the possibility that it's the increase in the number of
cyclists using those intersections, that have affected the crash-rate.

Be careful not to assign causation to your bias (everyone has one, not
assigning judgement).

The DOT letter shows that 87% of the crashes occured at four (out of 11)
intersections, suggesting that it was not the bike-box causing the problem,
but other factors that may be exacerbated.

In fact the letter states that "the bike box treatments appear to be
serving their primary function, which is to mitigate the occurence of
right-hook crashes at the start of the green-signal phase."

The letter identifies that the likely issue is the fact that the high crash
incidence sites are all in hte downhill direction and involve cyclists
traveling at relatively high-speeds and overtaking right-turning vehicles.

It also says that the treatment correlates with an overall decrease in
crashes at 7 out of 11 locations. So the lesson at this point isn't "Bike
boxes are bad, cyclists should just merge into traffic" It's ensure that
this use is located in areas which are flat which is everywhere in alameda.

In fact, portland is not removing these treatments in the four problem
areas, they are taking these lessons and adjusting their treatment to
ensure the safety of users. the Local, and highly respected BTA advocacy
organization is also standing behind them.

John Knox White



On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Jon Spangler <[email protected]> wrote:

> The "safe zones" established in Portland to protect cyclists from
> "right-hook" turns during green lights may have actually INCREASED th
> number of cars hitting cyclists who are moving up on the right in curbside
> bike lanes during the green phase:
>
>
> http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2012/10/16/city-finds-bike-boxes-may-actually-increase-crashes
>
> Although there are mitigating factors that cloud the doubling in car-bike
> collisions (an overall increase of 57% in bikes on the road over the past
> four years and a lock of clear causality attributable to the green "bike
> boxes" at intersections) it does appear that the number of collisions
> between moving cars and moving bikes is now higher. (The green zones were
> installed to keep moving cars from hitting stationary cyclists who were
> stopped at the intersection.)
>
> It seems that merging into the traffic flow at intersections--as we teach
> in our EBBC Street Skills courses--is far safer  than depending on the
> illusory and nonexistent "safety" of a green-painted zone.
>
> Jon
>
> Jon Spangler
> Writer/editor
> Linda Hudson Writing
> www.LindaHudsonWriting.net
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>
>
> "She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain
> the mastery of life."
>   —Frances E. Willard, in *A Wheel Within a Wheel: How I Learned to Ride
> the Bicycle* (1895)
>
>
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