Know Your Cycle Rights: Bike law basics

Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Activist Committee Holds Monthly Meeting at YWCA

April 1, 2016 By John Alexander Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Photos courtesy of Steve Vaccaro

Share this:

The Brooklyn Activist Committee held its well-attended meeting Thursday night at the YWCA on Third Avenue. The enthusiastic committee members and attendees discussed a number of appealing programs for bicycle riders to help make cycling safer and more enjoyable for everyone on the road. The three areas of bike safety campaigns focused on Atlantic Avenue, Meeker Avenue and Rogers Avenue. Upcoming bike rides were discussed and the committee reviewed successful events of the past month.

Guest speaker attorney Steven Vacarro, of the firm Vaccaro & White, gave an engaging and well-received speech about bike law basics. Vaccaro’s talk addressed two central issues: what a cyclist should do when involved in a crash, and cycle laws at traffic stops. His informative discussion encouraged cyclists to know their rights, as he defined the “contradictions and paradoxes of biking in a city built for motorists.” Vaccaro, an avid cyclist who does not own a car, stated that cyclists should resist the impulse to leave the scene of a crash, and that they should always seek medical attention. He further stated that ignoring spinal injuries could lead to chronic future health issues. Vaccaro explained that victims are entitled to free medical coverage, and emphasized that “there are flaws in the no-fault system, but it’s there.”

The meeting concluded with committee members dispersing into small groups to discuss specific projects and upcoming events, with a special invitation for new members to get involved and participate.