Marlton, NJ (PRWEB) August 13, 2012
Adding to the growing voice for increased protections for cyclists, the Pennsylvania cyclist accident attorneys at Console & Hollawell are throwing their support behind multiple nonprofit groups and advocacy organizations, including the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (NJBWC) and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. These charitable organizations are working to increase community awareness of cyclist safety as well as educate the public at large about the importance of sharing the road. These initiatives could never be more important than in the Philadelphia metro area, which has the largest population of commuter cyclists in the country. The firms managing partner, Richard P. Console, Jr., an avid cyclist, has firsthand experience of just how treacherous cycling in the area can be.
The streets in downtown Philadelphia can be extremely narrow, says Console. Drivers who arent paying attention can cross right into a riders path and cause pretty serious accidents. All it takes is a single bump to send a cyclist flying off of their bike.
Created in 1972, The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia serves all counties surrounding the city as well as southern New Jersey. The organization hosts regular community events to raise awareness about cycling safety and continues to be an advocate for cyclist rights. The nonprofit recently lobbied successfully to keep the Ben Franklin Bridge accessible to bicycles, according to the organizations strategic plan. The New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, founded in 2009, is also a strong supporter of laws protecting cyclists. Just a year into its creation, the NJBWC hosted the states first bicycle summit to show support for improved regulations requiring drivers to keep safe distances from cyclists sharing the road.
The work these organizations are doing for cyclists is incredible, remarks Console. Cyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists and I think drivers sometimes lose sight of that. Greater protections can also help increase accountability, so when a cyclist is hurt in an accident, we know whos responsible.
Outraged by the growing number of cyclist injuries and deaths at the hands of thoughtless drivers, the lawyers at Console & Hollawell are excited to hold a contest thats giving away one GoPro video camera designed to be mounted on a helmet or headband. The firm strongly believes this increasingly popular technology can play a crucial role in locating motorists who are responsible for injuring cyclists on city streets. These video cameras may also encourage drivers to be more considerate of cyclists rights and operate with greater caution around them. The rider with the story detailing their most outrageous motorist experience wins. The contest is currently running until September 5th. The firm encourages all cyclists whove had ridiculous traffic experiences to share their stories for a chance to win. Riders can submit their stories through the firms Twitter page as well as on Facebook. The firms efforts are just one step in a larger plan to give a louder voice to a cycling community thats only growing larger as more motorists shed their four wheels for two.
Helmet-mounted cameras are proving invaluable for riders in downtown environments with heavy traffic volumes. In one instance, a helmet-mounted camera used by cyclist Evan Wilder recorded the license plate number of a driver who struck him and sped off, according to the New York Times*. Police were able to use the footage to find the driver responsible and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident.
Console & Hollawell P.C. is a personal injury law firm representing victims of cycling accidents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The firms experienced attorneys have won tens of millions of dollars for 5,000 clients.
*The New York Times
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