Spokane7
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May 20, 2010 in City
Bike ride emphasizes safety and sharing roadways
Event starts at spot where cyclist was killed by hit-and-run motorist
Bike riders participating in the Ride of Silence are framed in the white painted “ghost bike” at Sprague Avenue and Division Street on Wednesday. The white bike represents those riders injured or killed while riding.
(Full-size photo)
Ted Chauvin wasn’t able to bike to work this week.
In fact, he isn’t able to ride at all. The cyclist was on a training ride April 15 in preparation for an amateur road race when he was hit by a car along Cheney-Plaza Road.
The crash left him with a broken arm and leg.
“I know the rules of the road well. In fact, I’m very sensitive to it,” Chauvin said. “I’m a visual of what can happen.”
Although he couldn’t ride, Chauvin showed up Wednesday night to support the more than 50 cyclists who pedaled through downtown for the Ride of Silence as part of Bike to Work Week activities.
The international event was meant to draw attention to the need for increased awareness among those who share the roadways.
“Everyone needs to be looking out for one another and following the rules, and that’s cyclists as well,” said Barb Chamberlain, co-chairwoman of the city’s Bicycle Advisory Board.
The ride began at the corner of Division Street and Sprague Avenue, where 56-year-old David Squires was killed in a hit-and-run bicycle accident in March.
Statistics show that from 2004 to 2009, there were more than 400 serious injury accidents involving motor vehicles and bicycles in Spokane.
“And those are only the ones serious enough that they are reported to police,” Chamberlain said.
Wednesday’s riders wore black armbands in memory of fallen riders. Those who have survived accidents wore red armbands.
In rows of two, the group rode west on Riverside Avenue from Division, with signs that read “Share the Road” and “Same Rules, Same Road, Same Rights” pinned to their backs.
“He (Squires) got hit at the same time I usually ride home every day,” said Tomas Lynch, who works at Spokane’s Two Wheel Transit bike shop. “I didn’t know him personally, but we shared the love of cycling.”
Riders said cycling as an alternate mode of transportation has grown in Spokane since in the early 1990s, with the completion of the 37-mile Centennial Trail. Riders are also discovering the environmental, physical and financial benefits of commuting by bike.
“I started riding to work three years ago when gas hit $4 a gallon,” said Phillip Lindstrom, who works in maintenance for Spokane Public Schools. His commute is only a few miles, but he says it’s still worth it. He’s recruited at least four other co-workers to join him in biking to work.
“It just makes me feel better,” Lindstrom said. “I feel more alert and I’m happier when I get to work in the morning.”
Past and present 
Bill_R on May 20 at 10:53 a.m.
Here’s a question, If bicyclist’s expect to share the road with motorist’s who pay for the road way with tabs and road tax, why don’t the bicyclist’s register and buy tabs for their bikes? Pay to play.
TOOBAD2 on May 20 at 11:46 a.m.
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE LONGER DRIVE A SUV JUST AS BIG AS YOU CAN. OTHER WISE YOU WON’T.
fishinjay on May 20 at 12:20 p.m.
Bicyclists do pay the same taxes as motorists. They own cars too. In fact, by riding a bike occasionally they are impacting the roads less and causing less required maintenance for the road. They “pay to play” just like you suggest.
To try and say that if you’re not wrapped in steel you shouldn’t be on the road is just plain ignorant and ignores the law.
Bucky on May 20 at 12:25 p.m.
fishinjay…Ditto
It’s great to see more and more bike riders out there, would love to see the average poundage of our citizens get to a reasonable level.
MrNatural on May 20 at 1:23 p.m.
The commute today is in some disarray
As Spokane commuters all freak
To share the road with a cyclist load
This decree they call bike to work week
To cycle they say is a healthier way
To cut pounds and emitted pollution
The problem it seems is compatible dreams
On this road toward a bike-car solution.
We espouse the merits or fuss up like ferrets
The nuisance t’ween pedal and drive
Take patience my nation and accommodation
And we’ll all get to work alive
We ponder the rules see oblivious fools
Weaving in and out sidewalks and lanes
As the cars try to pass it’s a pain in the ass
And harmonious idealism wanes
From shore to shore here’s a metaphor
For how we as a society meld
Drive car or ride bike whatever you like
We resolve to be equally held.
crossfire on May 20 at 3:06 p.m.
Rules of the road… Bike nuts … you want equality on the roads? Here’s my list of do’s and dont’s.
Do - Ride in a straight line as much as possible with a reflective vest and some reflective tape.
Don’t - Come to a stop sign or red light and run through it just because there’s no crossing traffic.
Do- Make hand signals to give intent of when you are making a turn.
Don’t - Jump up on curbs and ride across crosswalks to prevent having to stop at a stop sign.
Do - Expect drivers around you to want to pass since you’ll likely be traveling much slower than the flow of traffic.
Don’t - talk on your cellphone while riding a bike in traffic on the road.
Someone feel free to give a list of drivers do’s and dont’s ….
spokanada on May 20 at 4:35 p.m.
I strongly support bikes as a mode of transportation but Crossfire has a point. The organizers of Bike to Work Week should create a code of conducts for bicyclists to abide by.
When I am driving I treat bicyclists as if they were another vehicle. I expect them to observe the same laws as cars and I too get really upset when they blow by stop signs because no cars are around. They shouldn’t be passing cars in the median or between lanes as well.