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We're spreading the
General Membership meetings around for our members in Norfolk and
Portsmouth. The next General
Membership Meeting will be held at Indian River Library, 2320 Old
Greenbrier Rd Chesapeake, VA
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
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TBA
4th of July Ride and Picnic
Northwest River Park
Self Paced Courses
Open at 9:00 am Food served
at 12:00 21 and 30 mile routes
Join fellow cyclists on Saturday, July 4th for
self-paced bicycle rides followed by a FREE cookout! Non-TBA members are welcome to attend for
a $10.00 donation. New members who
join TBA at the event can also attend for free! Our 21 and 30 mile routes will both open
at 9:00 and food will be ready to eat at 12:00. All TBA members need to do is bring their
bicycles and work up an appetite. Non-members
should also bring $10 or plan to join TBA at the event. Non-riders are also welcome and should
come hungry! Everyone is welcome to
bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Please RSVP with Jeff Hathaway at 757-572-1486 or editor@tbarides.org
so we know how much food to cook.
Leader: TBA
Executive Committee
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President's Message
Another month has gone by and my inbox is once again
full of email messages that discuss senseless deaths of fellow cyclists and
other people using alternate forms of transportation who were unseen by the
motorists who hit and killed them. I
have read numerous opinions critical of our legal system failing accident
victims in these cases. While this
may be true, filing charges against someone will never bring anyone back.
Each one of us is responsible for our own safety every
time we go out on to the road on our bikes, on foot, or even in our cars. I was originally going to write about the
importance of not riding with headphones blaring Jerry Lee Lewis, Nancy
Sinatra, Snoop Dog, or your favorite polka into your ears while you are
riding, but we all know this is not the smartest thing to do. In some cities and states it is even
illegal, and I read that tickets have been issued to headphone wearers in
California. Instead of concentrating
solely on the hazards of using headphones while riding, I decided it would
be more appropriate to mention some other safety tips as well. After all, I want everyone to be here to
read my August article too!
Please take a few minute to read the summary of Laws and
Safety Tips put together by VDOT and brought to my attention by Bill Hart. (http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp)
Bicycling
in Virginia
Rights and Duties
Every person riding a bicycle on a highway shall be subject to
the provisions of the Code of Virginia section on motor vehicles and shall
have the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle unless a
provision clearly indicates otherwise.
Traffic Controls
Bicyclists must obey all traffic signs, signals, lights, and
markings.
Changing Directions
Bicyclists must signal their intentions to stop or turn.
Safety Considerations
- Bicyclists must not
carry articles which prevent them from keeping at least one hand on
the handlebars.
- Bicyclists must not
carry more people than the bicycle is designed to accommodate, except
for adult bicyclists carrying a child, under six years of age,
securely attached to the bicycle in a seat or trailer designed to
carry children.
- Bicyclists must not
attach themselves or their bicycles to any other vehicle on the
roadway.
- Bicyclists are not
permitted to wear earphones in both ears while riding a bicycle.
Helmet Use
Several jurisdictions in Virginia require that every person
fourteen years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet whenever
riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or public
bicycle path.
Equipment
Every bicycle ridden between sunset and sunrise must have at
least one white headlamp with the light being visible at least 500 feet to
the front. The bicycle must have a
red reflector on the rear visible at least 600 feet to the rear. On roads posted with speed limit of 35
mph or greater, the bicyclist must additionally be equipped with at least
one red taillight visible from 500 feet to the rear. Taillights may be steady or blinking, are
allowed under all conditions, and may be attached to the cycle or rider.
Bicycles ridden on highways must have brakes which will skid
the wheels on dry, level, clean pavement.
Tips for Safe Bicycling
- Be a responsible
bicyclist - obey all traffic control devices and use proper hand
signals.
- Always ride with
the flow of traffic.
- Dress safely - wear
a helmet, wear bright colored clothing, and secure loose pant legs.
- Ride defensively -
anticipate the actions of other road users and watch for road hazards.
- Pass vehicles with
extreme care - turning vehicles may not see you.
- Be aware of motor
vehicle blind spots whether while riding or when stopped at an
intersection.
- Maximize your
visibility at night - wear reflective clothing and apply reflective
tape to your bicycle.
- Walk your bicycle
when you get into traffic situations beyond your cycling abilities.
- Exercise great
caution when riding in bus traffic - watch out for buses pulling to
and from curbs and passengers getting on and off buses.
- Park your bicycle
so you do not block sidewalks, handicap and building accesses, or
emergency drives.
- Lock your bicycle -
secure both wheels and the frame to a stationary object using a sturdy
lock.
- Register or license
your bicycle if required or provided by your community.
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