Concerning Todd Weaver

The meeting held November 7 was very successful with 14 people from many different sectors of the bike community gathering together. Lots of enthusiasm and energy and many suggestions in Todd's memory. Minutes of the meeting will soon be posted on the B.I.K.E.S. website - www.charlottebikes.org.

A second meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday December 6 at 6:30 at the Uptown Gateway YMCA. This meeting will in part, provide a forum for discussion of specific plans like a Share the Road campaign. Such plans or campaigns would address safety issues. This meeting will be open to all citizens with an interest in improving bike safety and reducing the risk of bicycle crashes on the streets of Charlotte.

For specific information contact Martin Zimmerman, martinzimmerman8@yahoo.com, Interim Exec. Director/ B.I.K.E.S.

This coming Monday, November 7, B.I.K.E.S. is sponsoring a meeting to discuss what can or should be done in response to the tragic death of commuter cyclist,Todd Weaver, a few weeks ago. This will take place at Fuel Pizza on the Green in Uptown from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. For more information, contact Martin Zimmerman at martinzimmerman8@yahoo.com. Fuel Pizza is located in Shops On The Green, 500 South College, across from the Convention Center.

B.I.K.E.S. is a Charlotte organization dedicated to bicycle advocacy. Their web site is at http://www.charlottebikes.org/.

The passing of Todd Weaver was a terrible tragedy. We cannot bring him back, so we ask ourselves “What can we do to help prevent this kind of thing from happening again? What can we do to make Charlotte a safer place for cyclists?”

I am a bicycle commuter on the streets of Charlotte. For the last four years I have ridden several thousand miles each year on Charlotte city streets. Though I have witnessed rude motorists, I have had many, many more positive encounters. I occasionally have had a motorist pass me a little too close or cut me off or honk at me for no apparent reason. However, much more frequently, I cooperate with motorists and I find that they cooperate with me as we share Charlotte’s roads.

I stop for stoplights and stop signs. It’s required by law and it is expected of me, whether I am on my bicycle or in my car. If I come upon a line of traffic waiting at a light, I take my place in traffic instead of riding along the right side to get ahead of the cars, or I choose a different route so that I avoid the traffic. I don’t ride two abreast if there are cars present. That is what the law requires and that is what is expected of me. I have a right to road but I know that I also have responsibilities.

One response to the tragedy that has happened is to be bitter, to lash out at motorists and institutions, to engage in name-calling. This can make us feel better in the short term, but there is no lasting effect. The loss of a fellow cyclist calls for a response that lasts – a response that can make a real difference. Ultimately, we each have to make a commitment and bring about change in ourselves before we can begin to see change around us.

I am going to suggest two possible responses. First, I suggest that we each strive to embrace a “share the road” philosophy. If I am going to share something with you, two things are required. I must own something, and I must act to share some of it with you. Sharing is a benevolent activity. It has its risks. It also can have unexpected benefits. If you know that I am willing to share with you, you are less likely to feel a need to compete with me for possession. We must desire to share the road and we must act to share our roads. We as cyclists are entitled to the roads – we have the same right to the roads that motorists have. We also have to recognize that we are often slower and that we can impede the flow of automobile traffic. Sharing the road means that we offer a compromise. We can ride in a manner that minimizes our effect on traffic flow. We can choose routes that have a low traffic volume. We can obey traffic laws. We can signal our intentions so that motorists know what to expect. We can ride predictably. Sharing is an action that we perform. It is something we can offer and it requires a benevolent attitude.

The other response is to get involved. Email or write your elected officials to let them know how you feel. Our city government has a number of events each year seeking input from cyclists on issues that affect cyclists. Watch the newspapers and the city’s web site and get involved. The emails and letters of Charlotte cyclists were an important force in getting the city’s bicycle parking ordinance passed this past year. There is currently a connectivity study under way to identify means to overcome connectivity problems and identify specific projects that will enhance connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians. This is one of many opportunities where we as cyclists can make a difference.

I am sure you have had some bad experiences in Charlotte as a cyclist and as a pedestrian. We all have. And we have all experienced a deep loss. What can we do to keep this from happening again? What can we do to make Charlotte a safer, more civil place for cyclists and pedestrians? We can be a little more careful. We can accept responsibility for our actions. We can truly share our roads. And we can participate in the public dialogue that helps to shape the Charlotte cycling environment.

Just a note to all that cared about Todd: www.toddweaver.org has been significantly revised. Check back often for updates.