The following message is posted on the Iowa Bicycle Coalition website.
It time to let the public and our legislators know that we care and are
willing to get involved. I know that many DMCC members plan to
participate in this ride. Unfortunately I will be out of town so please
be there for all of us who can't make it. Danny
Cyclists will ride to the Iowa Capitol on Wednesday, April 15 at 5:30 PM
in opposition to the violent crashes and road rage incidents that have
occurred this spring. The ride will begin in the parking lot of
Rasmussen's Bike Shop at 301 Grand Ave in West Des Moines.

The ride follows a crash near Winterset, where the driver of a truck
pulling a trailer passed too closely to a group of cyclists, ran over
one cyclist with his trailer and left the scene. Cyclists report the
motorist was honking constantly as he passed and returned to the scene
30 minutes later.

Another crash this year involved Ken Sherman. Sherman was riding through
an intersection in Des Moines when a car failed to yield to the oncoming
cyclist and collided with Sherman causing injuries. The Des Moines
Police failed to issue any citations following the incident, but
determined the motorist to be at fault.

The Iowa Legislature considered clarifying the Iowa Code to specify
passing distances and safe following distances for bicyclists. The bill
failed to be considered through the funnel date despite passing in the
Senate.

Whether or not new laws were enacted, cyclists still have the same
rights and duties of the drivers of motor vehicles as specified in the
Iowa Code. Incidents where cyclists are injured due to the
inattentiveness of motorists are irresponsible and should be cited by
police as appropriate. Incidents where cyclists are harassed or
intimidated intentionally are violent and should be prosecuted to the
full extent of the law.



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