With truck issues back in the public mind again, I was wondering whether
this would be a good opportunity to organize an event similar to what
was held in Minneapolis?
*Behind the Big Wheels*
During the 2011 Fall Bike Walk Week, the Public Works Department
partnered
with the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Bicycle Alliance of
Minnesota,
Minneapolis Public Schools, Metro Transit and the Minnesota Trucking
Association
to hold the first-ever Behind the Big Wheels safety event.
The event was an opportunity for bicyclists and pedestrians to get
behind the
wheel of a full-sized semi truck, a Metro Transit bus and a school
bus to better
understand the visibility and blind spot difficulties that large
vehicles frequently
have. Public Works also created an educational brochure for drivers
and bicyclists
on this issue and created a presentation for drivers of commercial
vehicles.
This event was created in response to several fatal bicycle crashes
in recent years
involving large commercial vehicles making turns. The Bicycle
Advisory Committee
is interested in making Behind the Big Wheels a regular event and
moving it
around the city for more residents to see.
-Jonathan