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Bicycle Transportation Safety Ordinances

Bike Cleveland has been advocating with Cleveland City Council to pass a series of policies that will protect cyclists on the road, one of which requires motorists to give cyclists 3-feet on the road (commercial vehicles would be required to give 6-feet). The legislation for these ordinances was introduced on Monday, May 7th and is scheduled to be voted into existence on June 4th. Here is a copy of the legislation as it was introduced (the new pieces related to bicycle safety are underlined in the link).

UPDATE and ACTION NEEDED:

It is almost time to celebrate, just one critical vote needs to take place! This evening Cleveland City Council will (hopefully!) vote the Bicycle Transportation Safety Ordinance (ORD. #672-12) into existence. We need you now more than ever. If passed the ordinances will requires motorists to maintain a three-foot distance when passing bicyclists. The ordinance will also make driving or parking an automobile in a bike lane illegal, remove the never enforced bike licensing requirement, and add some protection to cyclists at intersections. Without a “YES” vote cyclists safety will continue to be compromised, and we will continue to be questioning what it means to “Share the Road.”

Here is how you can help:

1. Call and email your councilperson right now. Tell them to support Ordinance 672-12, the Bicycle Transportation Safety Ordinance, and to protect the safety of cyclists on our roads. Here is a list of council members and their contact info.

2. Come to the Cleveland City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, June 4th. Lets pack council chambers with people who love bikes as a show of support for the Bicycle Transportation Ordinance. The more people in attendance, the more powerful our voice in support of safe cycling, and a more bike-friendly Cleveland. Show unity as cyclists by bringing your helmet to the meeting.

Cleveland City Hall
601 Lakeside Rd, Room 218
Cleveland, OH
Bring a Photo ID and your helmet, you will need it to get into City Hall

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Here is a little background about the ordinances and statistics about bike safety in Cleveland:

In April Bike Cleveland proposed to council a series of model ordinances, similar to ones that have been passed in cities like Chicago, Cincinatti, and Fort Worth. Check out our proposal. The short of it, we are asking for city ordinances that:

1. Requiring motorists to maintain a three-foot passing clearance; or must move out of the cyclists lane if possible.

2. Bike Licensing: Eliminate the existing bike licensing ordinance that requires cyclists to be licensed to ride on the streets in the City of Cleveland and use the National Registry.

3. Parking, Driving, or Standing on a bike path or lane: ordinance that prohibits driving or parking on any on-street path or lane designed for use solely by bicycles or other non-motorized vehicle.

4. Intersection Safety – this ordinance states that no turn by a motorist may interfere with a bicycle proceeding straight through the inter-section to avoid what are known as “right hook” or “left hook” collisions.

A compliment to the city of Cleveland’s Complete and Green Streets Ordinance, these ordinances will help to make our existing streets safer for both motorists and cyclists. This series of ordinances are a cost effective way to make our streets safe for all users immediately. They will help transform Cleveland’s transportation infrastructure into one that accommodates all users, and encourages more people to bike more often. More biking leads to a more healthy, vibrant community.

Interest in bicycling in Cleveland is on the rise. According to the most recent American Community Survey results, there has been an increase in people commuting to work by bicycle from 0.2% in 2000 to 0.8% in 2010. While there is a growing interest in bicycling there are still barriers that prevent people from safely biking in the city. According to the most recent Benchmarking Report published by the Alliance for Biking and Walking, in Cleveland, there were 5.7 bicycle fatalities per 10,000 daily cyclists when averaging the data between 2007-2009. This is 40% higher than the average of the 50 largest US cities.

These ordinances will give law enforcement a measurable tool for defining a safe distance for passing and sharing the road with bicycles. With more people biking there is a need to educate the public on how to best share the road and reduce the chance for serious injury.

Frequently asked questions.

Why are these ordinances needed?

A compliment to the city of Cleveland’s Complete and Green Streets Ordinance, these ordinances will help to make our existing streets safer for both motorists and cyclists. This series of ordinances are a cost effective way to make our streets safe for all users immediately. They will help transform Cleveland’s transportation infrastructure into one that accommodates all users, and encourages more people to bike more often. More biking leads to a more healthy, vibrant community.

These ordinances will give law enforcement a measurable tool for defining a safe distance for passing and sharing the road with bicycles. With more people biking there is a need to educate the public on how to best share the road and reduce the chance for serious injury.

What would the ordinances do?

If passed the vulnerable road user ordinances will:

  1. Strengthen the existing Rules of the Road by offering an objective measure of a safe passing distance.
  1. Uphold the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists by encouraging operator education.
  1. Support the legal concept of bicycles as vehicles.
  1. Move Cleveland closer to becoming bicycle-friendly city by supporting a message to safely share the road

Are the ordinances enforceable?

These ordinances would serve, primarily, as an educational tool. It would help outline safe practices for motorists and bicyclists, over being used to punish law breakers. In times of enforcement this law adds clarity for law enforcement officials to the Ohio Revised Code in defining what a “safe distance” for passing is (ORC 4511.27) and what it means for motorists and cyclists to share the road.