Biking Safely
Read “18 in the U.P.,” my pamphlet on my U.P. biking infrastructure improvement plan.
I’ll bet every active biker knows someone that has been hit by a car. It’s on our minds each time we start pedaling.
Outside magazine launched a #2020CyclingDeaths project in which they found 697 deaths. That was down from 846 in 2019, which they attribute to reduced traffic in the beginning of the pandemic. Interesting, they found that the risks were split evenly between suburban, rural and urban areas. In 2015 the CDC estimated nearly half a million bicycle accidents in the U.S.
I founded Tour Da Yoop, Eh in 2018 to bring awareness to biking safety. My plan was to highlight a tremendous biking excursion around the perimeter of the Upper Peninsula and drive attention to all the fabulous road biking opportunities. I’m a triathlete and was pained by all the people I knew and saw being horribly damaged in unnecessary bike accidents. We were all engaged in this sport to be healthier people, not to become broken, paralyzed or worse.
Cycling 1,200 miles around the UP brings about a valuable perspective on bike safety. I rode in and out of almost every single community within the Upper Peninsula. I saw which towns clearly embraced the cycling community and worked diligently for their safety. I saw projects that attempted to separate bikers and vehicles, but were done without a real world understanding of what would make that project successful. I saw highway projects focused on increasing safety for vehicles, not knowing the increased dangers these modifications made for cyclists and in turn vehicle passengers.
Non-motorized safety is an all encompassing endeavor. I’m thrilled to report that since my inaugural ride in 2018, the conversations, feedback, and involvement I’ve had with safety planners throughout the Upper Peninsula has been tremendous. Not all of them are cyclists. But all of them want people to be safe. They are listening, learning, adapting and continuously working toward zero accidents.
There were 1,228 bicycle accidents Michigan in 2020. Only 18 of those were in the Upper Peninsula. You might be thinking that makes sense, much fewer people live in the UP. That is correct, however, millions of weekend warriors storm to the UP. In fact, 2020 had an extremely high level of tourism. The bottom line is that you have to admit to the facts - the U.P. is a tremendous place to ride your bike.
As good as biking in the UP is, there are two primary efforts that will make it about perfect.
Connectivity. Most road projects are done within a silo. Bikers don’t think about boundaries. They don’t know that the State, counties, cities, townships, road commissions, DNR… all have different independent projects and responsibilities. They simply would like to ride their bike safely from L’Anse to Marquette. My theme when working with planners is always connectivity. Where are the forgotten 3 miles of improvement that are necessary to connect a 60 mile bike pathway from one community to another. I use time in the saddle awareness and technology, such as Strava Heat Maps to pinpoint the opportunities.
Mumble strips. This is a long conversation but here’s the bottom line. It’s categorically believed by road people that mumble strips (grooves cut into the shoulder to warn vehicles they are going off the road) reduce crashes. Over a period of years, mumble strips were laid on various portions of highways in the Upper Peninsula with the primary focus being vehicle safety and feedback. In most circumstances the mumble strips have eliminated the shoulder for bicycle use. This forces bikers onto the road, which has made things much more dangerous for both the cyclists and vehicle passengers. The ultimate fix will be to widen the shoulder on those particular roads. In the meantime, I proposed widening portions of the shoulder to provide bikers a stretch of shoulder to use, allowing vehicles to pass. And a campaign awareness, such as signs, to let vehicle drivers be aware that bikers don’t have access to the shoulder and to be on the watch. Many drivers don’t see the mumble strips or the hazards they create, and take frustration and impatience out on the bikers (who are doing their absolute best to be safe).
I engage in countless conversations with planners throughout the year and it’s obvious they are striving for the safety of all people. I’ve read every single vehicle/bike crash report in the UP in the past five years. I’m impressed and thrilled at the respect and care people throughout the U.P. have toward not just bikers, but everyone enjoying life in the U.P.
Wearing the TDY jerseys are an exceptional way to show unified awareness and support for continued bike safety. I’ve learned that connectivity and smart bike planning decisions don’t just happen without people providing input and work to get them done. The jersey’s are a huge visual voice. So please, proudly wear your TDY jersey with a purpose and a smile.
James Studinger