As I wrote on the Virginia Bicycling Federation site:

Our hearts go out to this German biker and his family. Having represented catastrophically injured German bikers, it is very important that there be a stenographer present for the December 6th Court case. Virginia General District Courts are “Courts NOT of Record.” This means that they do not provide their own Court reporters, so if the Defendant trucker changes his story later, there is no proof. This can be very frustrating. At the Landau Law Shop we almost always make sure that a court reporter covers our clients’ Traffic Court cases, so that if someone tries to change their story; the police officer or other witnesses relocate; or an appeal is taken, we have everyone’s statements, under oath and can undertake prompt, thorough investigation of the facts of the bike and motor vehicle crash.

For more information, read the story in the Roanoke Times.

Like the bride & groom (who share a bicycle built for 2) that adorned Herndon bike injury lawyer Doug Landau's wedding cake, Trucks, Cars & Motorcycles must learn to share the road

Truck vs. Bike – Guess who loses ?  The YouTube from the DC biker’s helmetcam (Caution: Profanity) resonates with many of us who have ridden on DC metro area roads, commuted by bicycle and seen inexplicable road rage, distracted driving and other dangerous maneuvers by motorists.  The troubling incident was discussed on the Landau Injury Law site.

I do not believe I have ever posted a comment to YouTube, but this video should be “Exhibit A” to those who contend bikers are not endangered by truck drivers or ridden off the road.  After reviewing the film with my own bride (and bicycling partner for life) I wrote:

“With cars parked in the left lane, traffic relatively light in the other 2 lanes, I would have ridden a safe, straight line in the same situation.  I have seen how devastating the injuries are from being “doored” & many motorists do not pay attention to bicycles riding inches from the curb.  So when the biker is forced to go left to get around parked cars, they can get “clipped” by motorists paying more attention to cars on their left and straight ahead.  If we want to curb unsafe conduct by people driving trucks, cars & motorcycles, then responsibility must be taken when they unnecessarily endanger others.”

P.S. If this had been a child riding to school & permanently injured, what would we make of the trucker’s cowardice then ?”

Usually excited for the swim to get underway, Reston triathletes will not compete in Lake Audubon this weekend due to safety issues

Due to the torrential rains that have struck Northern Virginia, the dedicated directors of the annual Reston Triathlon have decided to eliminate the swim for only the second time in the popular multisport event’s history.  The following was posted on the Reston Triathlon Association‘s web site:

Swim portion of the 28th annual Reston Triathlon has been canceled. Our lake official has been checking the lake since yesterday and has come to the decision that in the interest of safety it is not safe to swim in the lake…there is widespread disappointment but “Safety Is First.”

All racers will be notified by email of the cancellation and of plans for a replacement run as soon as the board has met to determine the details.

Triathlon Trial Lawyer, All American Triathlete and Virginia Triathlon Series (“VTS”) race sponsor Doug Landau adds that racers should also be mindful of debris on the roads when cycling, and perhaps “preview” the course once again since the storms have ended.  Tight turns with washout, leaves, bark and other organic matter on the pavement and an early morning start can all contribute to less traction on the road surface.  “Let’s all bike safely – the Reston Triathlon race directors cannot sweep every centimeter of the race course, and road flooding requires extra vigilance on the part of all participants.” adds Herndon Reston lawyer Landau.  “In light of these changed conditions and as I have at least 2 more VTS competitions this season, I am not going to be putting the ‘pedal to the metal’ Sunday.  I encourage all participants to enjoy the race, the shwag and the comraderie and ride safely.”

Reston bike riders assemble in the Herndon Town lot prior to a fun weekday ride from Fairfax County to Loudoun County

“Defensive Driving” is not just for motorists.  Even bikers need to ride “defensively” and anticipate unsafe actions by others on the roads, paths and trails.  A group of cyclists from Reston were enjoying the W&OD Trail, just past Leesburg in Loudoun County, when calamity struck.  A little boy about 6 or 7 years old was riding with at least one or two siblings and his father was walking with them.  The child was looking back and rode directly into the bikers’ lane.   While the cyclists yelled warning, and some were able to avoid crashing, but others were not so fortunate.  One witness noted, “the little guy rode right into us.”  This child was unhurt, and the neighbors were a great help.

The victim of this crash noted, “There was no one else on the trail with us. It was totally unexpected. After I was on the ground, people came out of the woodwork.  Then there were people on the path.”  Luckily, the cyclist sustained no broken bones.  However, the bicycle rider will no doubt be sore for several days, and her bike will undergo repairs.  The resident of an adjoining neighborhood’s helpful actions renewed the bikers’ confidence in their fellow human beings as he went the extra mile to help out. Everyone at the Landau Law Shop wishes the injured cyclists speedy recoveries and hopes that the child involved (and his parents) will be more careful in the future.

Th Tri Performance Team swept the top 3 places at the Infinitive Triathlon Championship Series race in Boradlands, Virginia. Winner Doug Steele (far left) was closely followed by the McAllister father & son team.

While managing to chase down racers through the transition areas, bike course and running paths, Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau was not able to catch three Team Tri Performance members at the Infinitive Sprint Triathlon at Broadlands today.  Race Director Brian Crow once again put on a quality event, which included the Broadlands 50 meter competition pool and plenty of friendly volunteers and a chalked running course.  Eventual race winner (and former training partner) Doug “Man-o” Steele had the best pool start and kept the pressure on during the 2-loop bike section of the triathlon.  Following Steele was the father and son combination of McAllister.

Broadlands injury lawyer Landau was close behind, but his 4th place finish across the line held up as the top 4 stayed in that order for the awards.  “I dug myself into a hole behind Doug by not swimming more aggressively.  Passing people once I got on dry land, I thought I could make up the deficit.  Next time, I’ll try not to give the fast swimmers such a big head start !”  Landau easily won his age group, and continues to rack up “top 10″ finishes, primarily by dint of hard work on the bike.  Despite averaging 22.4 miles per hour over the hilly cycling route, the Loudoun County injury and accident lawyer still had enough legs to run 6:44/mile over the curvy running course.

Landau has finished between 4th & 8th his last 6 races, and he hopes to be in top condition by the time of the USAT National Age Group Championships in August.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer has a race “double header” next weekend, taking on the “Lawyers Have Heart” 10 km in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. on Saturday and then the DC Splash and Dash (a swim-run duathlon) at the Martin Luther King Aquatic Center in Maryland on Sunday.  For additional information as to the Herndon Law Firm trial lawyer’s schedule of races, cases, seminars and travels, please call 703-796-9555 or e-mail us.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with REI, announced a voluntary recall of the bicycles.  REI recalled the bicycles due to a fall hazard. The alloy steerer tube could separate from the fork causing the rider to lose control, posing a fall hazard to consumers. REI received one report of a steerer tube detaching. No injuries have been reported. This defective sports product was sold exclusively at REI stores nationwide and at REI.com from November 2009 to November 2010 for between $600 and $900.

Purchasers should immediately stop riding the bicycles and contact their local REI store or the REI customer service center to arrange for a replacement fork to be installed free of charge.  Remember, it is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. For more information, contact REI at (800) 426-4840 anytime or go to REI’s website.

Whether you are cycling just for recreation and want to ride alongside your fellow bikers, or you are training for competition and need a pace lane, you should know your rights and obligations as cyclist.  You should also ride defensively so as to avoid a car accident, crashing or injuring others.  As far as how many riders can ride across a Loudoun Country Virginia road, there seems to be differences of opinion inside and outside of the Northern Virginia cycling community.  Specifically, can a Loudoun County cyclist ride 2 abreast (or more) on the public roadways ?

While there is no perfectly clear answer to this question, bicycling information that is provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation (“VDOT”), provides some guidance.  VDOT indicates that in general, bicyclists are obligated “to ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway”. This indicates that there is a preference for all cyclists to ride in a single-file line. However, exceptions to this preference are allowed when the bicyclist is passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

In addition, that same information states that, “bicyclists cannot ride more than two or more abreast on highways”, and that when riding two abreast, they cannot impede the flow of traffic. This information seems to indicate that it is generally okay to ride two abreast, even when not passing. However, cyclists should move into single file when another vehicle is approaching from behind. This rule does not apply when the bicyclists are riding on a bike path or a lane specifically set aside for bikers. These general guidelines are based on Virginia state laws on bicycling.  Other sources, such as Sharing the Road in Virginia, back up these general guidelines, also telling cyclists to:

• stay as far right as possible,
• to not ride more than 2-abreast, and
• to ride single file when moving slower than motor vehicle traffic.

All of this taken together seems to indicate that there is a preference for single-file riding and an out-right ban on riding more than two people side-by-side.  Riding two-abreast is definitely permitted when passing, and may be allowed in other circumstances.

Bikers stopped to traffic violations may find their ride (or race !) over prematurely if they do not have proper identification

Would the cops really frisk a cyclist in spandex ?  This is not as off-the-wall question as it may seem.  After representing several bikers picked up by local police for violations of state law, I was asked could they have gotten tickets (and potentially points on their Division of Motor Vehicles record) if they did not  have their drivers license on their person.  One irate cyclist noted that the foreign riders, who have no U.S drivers license, could not get points, nor could the young bike riders who did not yet have their permits.  It did not seem fair that drivers license carrying American citizens could be penalized this way.  Plus, it seemed unjust that a cyclist could lose his/her driving privileges for an infraction committed while biking, but a car driver cannot lose his/her bicycling privileges if they get too many speeding, reckless driving or DUI convictions !

Having prosecuted many ticketed motorists, I understand that from the police officers’ point of view, once a violation of the law has occurred, or the officer has a reasonable suspicion that there has been a violation, they can ask for identification.  Some states require more than your name and address, and several states mandate government issued form of identification, much as you would use to fly.  And what if you do not have such government-issued identification on your person when stopped on your bicycle for blowing through a stop sign or making an illegal and unsafe turn ?  The trooper or sheriff can take you into custody !  That would really ruin your ride.

As suggested in prior posts, always carry an emergency first aid kit, money, cell phone, and a form of official identification.  I have an expired drivers license in my little bag, as I do not want to lose my current operators permit, but I want something official, with the same number on it so that an investigating officer, could type my information into the computer, if necessary.  Because state laws vary, it is probably a good idea to carry a form of official identification so as to avoid misunderstandings and compounding a ticket with incarceration.  Bikers use the public roads.  Those who use the public roads, whether trucks, mopeds, busses, motorcycles or bicycles, are subject to the traffic laws, just like cars.  If you violate the law, you can be ticketed, questioned, fined, given points and even lose your driving privileges.  So the smart move is to carry appropriate ID on you when riding for fun, training, touring and commuting.  Your identification can be an asset if there is an accident, an infraction and if it is required to make a purchase.

UPS bag drop at the Richmond Marathon Races - runners could drop off their bags and dry clothes after warming up and then pick them up after crossing the finish line

My wife participated in the Half Marathon, which had course amenities like junk food stops and wet washcloths.  Once again, the Herndon Reston area sports injury lawyer participated in the HCA 8km (5 mile) road race, along with Brodie Reid, who was also attending the “by invitation only” annual Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (“VTLA“) Advanced Workers Compensation Law Retreat.  Richmond’s races are famous for friendly and courteous volunteers who treat you like more than just a bib number.  There were musical groups at today’s race and one nearly every mile on the scenic course of the Monument Avenue event, along which several of Landau’s clients and lawyer friends live and work.  Runner’s World magazine  selected Richmond as a site for their Runner’s World Challenge and to confirm what the Sports Backers have been saying all along: The SunTrust Richmond Marathon truly is “America’s Friendliest Marathon”!