Comments on: Orlando Kids Take Back the Streets — By Bike

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:13:49 +0000

Nice to see all the comments. I also did interviews
with the HS kids and was astounded by their comments. They have a different sense to this experience and it is global, green and practical. One kid said ” I love going to school now, and being there” so much was said and learned by us that day. As the inactivity epidemic continues and talks of healthcare and not health dominate we have a special secret weapon with our HS kids that could reinvent health, mobility and make the streets Humanways for people first. Yea I am optimistic because I know the power of economic forces and the power of freedom and health too.
Change the world of a child and you change the world. Go colonial kids.

By: todd

todd — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:45:22 +0000

massive respect & thanks.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:55:58 +0000

It’s great to see so many people here are now questioning helmets. I don’t think I’d have seen that many helmet skeptical comments here just 1 year ago.

By: Parent

Parent — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:04:27 +0000

As the parent of one of the students in the video, I can certainly attest to the positive impact this has had on my son. This club was started this year by the kids and has the support and leadership of two teachers from their high school. They meet during lunch on Wednesdays. Kudos to them.

It is so nice to see recognition to a school that does not have to do with sports or academics. This is something different that involves anyone who wants to ride. The type of bike does not matter.

It does not show up well in the video because of the car lights, but almost everyone does have some type of light or reflector on their bike. If they do not, they ride in the middle of the pack. Helmets and shirts and/or jackets with reflective lettering or tape has been discussed and is in the works.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:02:21 +0000

The short of it: “Where can I get my bus pass, too?!?!” Positive influence begins with one.

By: Keri

Keri — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:06:48 +0000

Sidney,

The law is “no more than 2-abreast.” They’re allowed to ride double:

The rule to ride single file only applies to roads on which a single rider can operate side-by-side with a motor vehicle (i.e. a lane 14 ft or wider, or a road with a bike lane). A single cyclist (or single line of cyclists) is entitled to the full use of a lane less than 14 ft wide, therefore it makes no difference in the flow of traffic for riders to be 2-abreast. In many cases it actually facilitates overtaking by reducing in half the distance needed to pass.

Additionally, 2-abreast riders do not impede traffic if: (the below applies to any width lane with or without the presence of a bike lane)

* on a multi-lane road – motorists can pass in the next lane over
* on a road with a center two-way left turn lane in which motorists can pass
* there is sparse oncoming traffic and motorists can safely use the oncoming lane to pass
* the cyclists are traveling at or near the speed limit
* the cyclists are traveling at or near the speed of traffic

By: damian

damian — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:41:31 +0000

Wow. I needed that. Hope is restored.

By: Sidney

Sidney — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:56:25 +0000

Why aren’t they riding single file. In Oklahoma bicyclists are to follow the same rules as cars when on the road. Riding single file is one of those rules.

By: Keri

Keri — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:05:48 +0000

@ John in NH

They did pick the route themselves. There aren’t many choices out there. barely anything connects except the traffic sewers. They sent me the route so Robert and I could ride out to meet them at their start point. I studied the google maps (out of curiosity) to see what the options were out there. I think they chose the best possible route. The cool thing is, they ride past a bunch of bus stops.

Before forming the bike bus, a couple of the kids tried using a different route and had difficulty with busy 2-lane roads. They discovered the 4 lane road turned out to be much easier and safer.

That’s one of the most counter-intuitive things about route-planning. Sometimes 2-lane roads don’t work well (especially for groups) because they are very narrow and motorists can’t pass. (They can’t pass a school bus either, but we all know that perspective doesn’t penetrate the reptile brain.) We have no such thing as a low volume thru-route in sprawlando. If it connects, it has cut-thru traffic on it. I’ve been studying the maps for years trying to connect pleasant (or just tolerable) bike routes.

By: John in NH

John in NH — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:49:08 +0000

I think there were tears in my eyes at this. I did notice that they were not wearing helmets and yes its truly inconclusive at their age as to benefits but none the less the general public is again more likely to knee jerk react and shut them down if they don’t, any freaking excuse. these kids are good! hey if I had a custom helmet that would make me stand out, I would be all for it!

note to Mighk, did they plan the route themselves? did they have help from gis based data? eg demographic, street volume, road width? or just pick the easiest root and go for it? only reason is I am in the planning phase of a senior project doing a total safe routes to school initiative for my entire city’s school districts including walking and biking busses as part of this using GIS information to provide best and safest routs… just wondering

thanks!

By: Danny G

Danny G — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:57:29 +0000

Much love for 2:46 in the video.

By: Andy B from Jersey

Andy B from Jersey — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:52:44 +0000

Sorry Mighk.

I should have been more clear in my last post that I was generalizing about general public perceptions regarding bicycle safety and that I was only using this blog post as an example.

Please do keep up the good work with this project and keep those kids riding! Your obviously off the a great start!

By: Keri

Keri — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:36:28 +0000

Clarence, Come on down! We’ve got a convergence of cool stuff going on. (Especially considering what we have to work with)

By: Rich Wilson

Rich Wilson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:27:13 +0000

I have to think those guys at the front know how to signal a stop, so the fist up (and different fist for each) was interesting. But I assume more visible to the rest of the ‘bus’.

By: Eric McClure

Eric McClure — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:28:11 +0000

@da,

You beat me to it. If these juvenile delinquents tried to pull this “bike bus” stunt in NYC, they’d all be busted for parading without a permit. If they swapped their bikes for cars, however, well, that’d just be traffic.

Orlando 1, NYC 0.

By: Kevin Maines

Kevin Maines — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:19:27 +0000

This totally rocks.

By: J. Mork

J. Mork — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:43:30 +0000

Very moving video. I finally got around to watching it, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

By: Mighk

Mighk — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:23:39 +0000

Many of these kids are low-income. Instead of wringing our hands and kvetching about whether or not they have lights or helmets, we’re just working the problem and helping to get them legal and safe. Our goal is to do another video with them wearing helmets and with lights on their bikes, then we will make a big splash in the mainstream local media.

By: Andy B from Jersey

Andy B from Jersey — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:46:46 +0000

Point well taken Mighk but I actually find it disturbing that helmets are the first thing the politically correct nannies fixate on particularly when nearly every one of them was breaking the law by not riding with a proper complement of lights.

I personally could care less if the kids wear helmets or not (I never did when I was their age). Still I do think its cool that they’re looking to get matching custom helmets.

By: Giffen

Giffen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:18:15 +0000

Mighk,

Great point. This is probably not the best occasion to fight the conventional wisdom on helmets.