Ventura County Star: Editorial: Bicycles, cars can coexist – T.O. pushes safety, learning

The Star has long supported any idea that focuses on making roads more bicyclist-friendly, as a way to draw folks out of their cars. That’s why we applaud the Thousand Oaks City Council for launching a three-pronged campaign to improve bicycle safety in the city. The council unanimously agreed Wednesday to implement a bicycle-safety sign program, to start an outreach program to educate riders about the rules of the road and to hire a traffic engineer to focus part time on bicycle issues. The recommendations to improve biking safety were the work of the city’s Bicycle Advisory Team, made up of cyclists, city and park district employees and law-enforcement officials.

The team was formed in response to the Sept. 16 bicycling death of Glenn Garvin, a well-known local dentist and member of the city’s Traffic and Transportation Committee. Mr. Garvin was struck and killed while riding in a bike lane on Westlake Boulevard. Among the recommendations: Improve marking for cyclists at intersections; add signage and bike-lane striping to city streets; hold city-sponsored cyclist training to promote safety; develop a bilingual bicycle education program; ensure bike lanes are plainly marked; and target riders through new-employee orientations.

There’s no question that motorists and bicyclists have differing opinions about sharing the road. After the article, ” A push for cycling safety,” ran June 6 in The Star, letter writers weighed in immediately. One complained that cyclists “act like they own the road and they are invincible”; another stated that drivers “should take it slow and pay attention.” Another wrote: “Most drivers and cyclists don’t even know the law.”

How about cyclists and motorists practicing a little mutual respect and learning to safely share the road? As rising gas prices and expanding waistlines drive more people to the streets on bikes, it’s likely more car-versus-bike accidents will occur. Clearly, the day has arrived for programs promoting safety and awareness among cyclists and motorists. In that regard, Thousand Oaks’ plan looks like a winner.