Bicyclists talk about safety, sharing the road

The leading cause of bicycle crashes in Coeur d'Alene is people riding on sidewalks, said Bike CDA founder and former Coeur d'Alene police officer John Kelly.

Bicycle safety was the foremost concern at Saturday morning's "Bike Talk" at Calypsos Coffee and Creamery, attended by about 20 people — community members, committee members, business owners and avid cyclists.

The bike talks are held monthly to discuss things happening in the community regarding non-motorized transportation. Saturday's topics focused on Coeur d'Alene's "wrong-way" bike crash problem and creating a "bike passing law."

"It's bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road on sidewalks and they get hit by a car who's not looking for them," said Theresa Moran of Coeur d'Alene.

Kelly said in Coeur d'Alene in 2014 and 2015, one bicycle-meets-car accident was reported by this time each year. So far in 2016, four accidents have been reported, three of them caused by the cyclist riding on the wrong side of the road or sidewalk. The proper way is to ride with the flow of traffic.

Moran said cyclists often feel a "sense of security" on the sidewalk rather than the road, but it is actually more dangerous.

Tom Morgan, co-owner of Rubber Tire Adventures and organizer of the Bike Giveaway Program for Bike CDA, said the problem with riding down the sidewalk, especially in the wrong direction, is people pulling out of driveways or roads might look for a pedestrian walking down the sidewalk, but not see the faster-moving cyclist until it is too late.

"Your safety is in your own hands," Morgan said, referring to cyclists. "You have to be conscientious of your own safety — when you come to an intersection, slow down; pay attention."

Kelly is also the Pedestrian and Bicycle Representative for the Kootenai County Area Transportation Team, which is a group that works with the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization on advising and considering the needs of various modes of transportation during the development of various capital projects.

Brought to attention at a recent KCATT meeting, Kelly said a 31-mile "Class I" bike path has remained unfinished for several years between Garwood and Sagle. When the construction was done to make U.S. 95 north of Coeur d'Alene into a four-lane highway, the bike path was in the plans. As it sits today there is a dirt path in some areas, but disappears occasionally with no sign of the expected route. He said KCATT is looking into why the path is not finished.

"That would be huge for that community to have a Class I trail running through that area," Kelly said, referring to Athol and the surrounding community. "As well as Silverwood — it's pretty big for tourism. If you are into public health it's big for that group as well."

Kelly explained that "Class I" trails are completely separate from the road, giving bicycles and pedestrians the exclusive right-of-way, such as the Centennial Trail. "Class II" trails are marked paths adjacent to the roadway, and "Class III" simply has a sign stating "Bike Route" to let motorists know to share the road with cyclists, which Kelly referred to as "the table scraps of bicycle infrastructure."

Because many of the roads in the Coeur d'Alene area are narrow, not all areas of town have sufficient and safe bike paths. Several people in attendance were concerned about Fourth Street in Coeur d'Alene, which is "Class III," and there is no room to expand.

Kelly said Bike CDA will team with Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh next month to draft the first "bike passing law" in Idaho addressing safe passing of cyclists. Bike passing laws seek to ensure motor vehicles allow adequate space to avoid sideswiping bicyclists or causing them to overcorrect to avoid a vehicle.

"I'm hesitant to say three-foot passing law, which is very common," Kelly said, adding that when vehicles are traveling 45 mph or more, "it's too close."

He said McHugh agreed to join the workshop for drafting the law in May, but no official date has been set.

Education for bicyclists on where and which direction they should ride on roads was also brought up during the meeting. Jennifer Jordan, who lives downtown, said she sees bike crashes too often at a four-way stop near her house.

"The bikers don't stop, so I know it has to do with education," she said.

Morgan's wife, Jamie, also co-owner of Rubber Tire Adventures, agreed that education is important, but not just for those who ride bikes.

"It's the same thing with motorists," Jamie said. "They don't know that we have the right to be in the road ... we can't blame a motorist who doesn't know."