Bike Law Archives - Outspoken Cyclist Podcast

September 17, 2026

Show #702 September 17, 2026

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Guest: Rob Anderson

I’m really excited about this episode because it’s an approach to safety that could truly wake up the public to a concrete reason for watching out for us on the road.

Rob Anderson represents an organization called MTAC (no, not like the NCIS MTAC,)

It stands for More Than A Cyclist and their visual campaigns are seeing some remarkable results.

From social media and local billboards to and men’s toilets – yeah, you’ll have to hear what Rob says about this – these visual reminders that cyclists are also doctors, mothers, nurses, engineers, and more are having positive effects on drivers where the campaigns are running.

What’s really so gratifying about this is that, everywhere a campaign has been initiated, it gets positive responses and wide recognition.

We are, after all, more than just cyclists.

If you log on to their website, morethanacyclist.org, you’ll find a plethora of resources to help you learn about the organization, find research that can boost your confidence to approach your community to start a campaign, and learn about the results of campaigns that have already been working.

If you log on to my Substack, you will also hear a short conversation with Professor Amelia Katanski from Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Professor Katanski has run two successful MTAC campaigns, and you can learn how she made it happen in her City.

Next time on TOC, we’ll be speaking with Peter Wilborn, the founder and lead counsel of Bike Law. Peter lost his brother to a bike crash in 1998 and has dedicated his life and his work to helping cyclists and their families when the absolute worst happens – a crash resulting in injury or worse.

Our conversation is enlightening as it goes to a hot topic right now – A.I. and how its use could impact your case.

Link to some of the visuals

https://healthycities.org.au/programs/more-than-a-cyclist/

https://healthycities.org.au/2024/08/21/more-than-a-cyclist-campaign-2024-2/

https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/more-than-a-cyclist-campaign-helps-change-attitudes-in-the-illawarra/

https://www.uci.org/article/wollongong-set-to-benefit-from-uci-road-world-championships-legacy/6GFasIfu0fBmmp72MDD9id

Transcript_September 17

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026

Show #697 July 24, 2026

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Guest: Rachael Maney – Bike Law

My guest is Rachael Maney. Rachael is the managing director of Bike Law, a network of independent bicycle crash attorneys. I was supposed to speak with her last month, but as is often the case, the Bike Law offices are so busy, she hardly has time to turn around!

Anyway, this conversation begins a series that will include Rachael, the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,) Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns, and others.

Since I spoke with Rachel on July 13th, there have been several high-profile incidents including a road rage crash in Texas killing US decorated boxer Hannah Rapp, the tragic loss of Louisa Gag, a long time cycling advocate for the City of Boston who was hit by a truck on her way to work, and a group of cyclists in Colorado who were run down by an impaired driver.

These crashes resulting in injury and death are all the more poignant when the Secretary of Transportation claws back $1.7B from the infrastructure bill that promised the money to hundreds, if not thousands, of projects, claiming that he was going to redirect the funds to roads and bridges, not to and I quote “DEI bike lanes.”

The pushback from all quarters – not just the bicycle world – was loud and long; but I doubt this administration will change its mind about reallocating the funds.

My conversation with Rachael outlines some of bike Law’s well-honed thinking when it comes to enforcement, laws, eBikes, and more.

If you have any questions or need any advice from Rachael or Peter, send a message to info@bikelaw.com. Log on to bikelaw.com to find help in your state if you find yourself in a situation where you need legal representation.

Transcript_July 24

July 16, 2026

Show #696 – July 16, 2026

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Guest: Zac Wiebe

I’ve had this conversation archived for way too long and in re-listening while editing it today, I thought – how interesting that we are at this strange place with the announcement last week of so much money being rescinded from bike and ped infrastructure, to the amazing 50year project that completed the Poudre River Trail in Larimer Country, Colorado. So I cued it up for edit and it truly highlights what might be an exemplary project.

My guest is Zac Wiebe. He is the planning and resource manager of Larimer County in Colorado.

The Poudre River Trail sounds like the perfect ride for someone who wants the scenery of Colorado coupled with great amenities along the way without climbing the Rockies!

As with most long trails – this one covers about 45 miles –the first mile was laid in 1978 and here we are almost 50 years later as Memorial Day weekend saw the final connection to complete it.

It is clear that the commitment to completing this trail took a lot of cooperation among the county, the communities it crosses, and the state. And the way the counties were able to look to their citizens for funding to complete the trail is a lesson other states might want to look at for themselves.

What trails like this can do to unite communities and bring economic benefits as well as recreational pleasure to so many is so worth the efforts.

Here are links to a few of the websites Zac told us about including the Larimer and Weld counties as well as Cotrex – the website that is all-things-trails in Colorado.

You can also let your voice be heard as the reauthorization of the transportation bill is coming up – contact your representatives. You can find an easy-to-navigate link to their offices at bikeleague.org.

Our series about safety begins next week with my conversation with Rachael Maney, the managing director of Bike Law. In addition to the funding that has been withdrawn from biking and walking projects, there are many issues that Rachael helps to unpack about bikes and cars, crashes and the law, and much more.

Transcript_July 16

November 13, 2021November 15, 2021

Show #581 – November 13, 2021

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Guests: Brett Horton; Rachael Maney

In the first of conversations for holiday 2021, we finally caught up with Brett Horton who, along with his wife Shelly, owns the Horton Collection out of San Francisco.

The first poster was printed in 1893 for the Chicago World Championships

THC logo 01 02 2016 v4

and in 1927, the first UCI World’s was held. Brett & Shelly love posters from the World Championship and for more than 25 years have pursued to collect an example from each World Championship. They are not quite there yet, but hope springs eternal.

Brett looks at these artistic pieces as “snapshots in time.” And, in our conversation he explains why these posters are no longer produced and, how you can get add one or more to your bicycle art collection if you are interested.

Brett and I talk about what it takes to make these reproductions artistically beautiful – from the paper to the printing process.

Then, one of the more outrageous cases that Bike Law is currently working on has been blowing up on media for weeks and, Rachael Maney, national director for Bike Law, joins me to talk about that and some of the continuing issues that keep cropping up for us when it comes to crashes between cars and bikes.

Waller, Texas is now the scene of two multi-cyclist crashes – two investigations – and so far, one conviction and one indictment.

In the first instance, people lost their lives, and the trial resulted in a life sentence for the driver.

In the second, a teenager who claims to be a “new driver,” is going to find out what is in store for him in the not-too-distant future.

But, what is really telling about these crashes is that it took social media to get the cases moving when the police failed to charge the driver and instead let him go.

I wanted to try to understand why these crashes aren’t being prosecuted to the full extent of the law and what Bike Law has to suggest if there is ever a circumstance where you find yourself in a crash.

I also wanted to share Rachael’s post that includes a point-by-point checklist of what to do if you are in a crash! (Scroll down for the list)

I’d like to offer a big shout out to Huck Kurinsky. He’s a now 7 year old who lives in Bay Village, Ohio – on the West Side of Cleveland and is a BMX National Champion. If you’d like to read the story, you can find it at cleveland.com for November 9th.

Huck began entering competitions and winning, even landing a scholarship to train with professionals at the X Games summer camp in Pennsylvania. He eventually entered the U.S. National competition in California last month. Huck broke the world record for the youngest male to complete a backflip.

Way to go Huck!

October 16, 2021October 16, 2021

Show #577 – October 16, 2021

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Guest: Jared Fisher

When you look up the word entrepreneur in the dictionary, it would NOT surprise me if Jared Fisher’s face was what you saw.

Riding, performing, and producing BMX trick events from the time he was 10 until he was 27, Jared Fisher is now the owner of multiple bike shops, Escape Adventures, a 30 year old touring company that specializes in mountain bike and mutli-sport tours, and has his sights on the Governorship of Nevada.

OH and then there is the new Aquarius Trail… a project Jared had on his bucket list for many years and that came to fruition late last summer… wait til you hear about THAT.

His energy is palpable and contagious and our conversation covers the gamut at 51 he has accomplished so much and yet has so much more he wants to do.

If you are interested in reserving one of the huts on the Aquarius trail, you can log on to aquariustrail.com. And, for more information about Escape Adventures – yep you got it… escapeadventures.com. And, to learn more about the man himself… as well as his wife Heather, go to
escapeadventures.com/contact-us and scroll down.

Before we go, I’d like to read you a short piece about the State of Texas vs Victor Kevin Tome. It’s a win for bicyclists out of a horrible situation resulting in unbearable loss.

On Monday, June 21, 2021, trial began for the State of Texas v. Victor Kevin Tome.

Tome, was charged with Capital Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Accident Involving Serious Bodily Injury, and 2 counts of Accident Involving Death.

The charges stem from the events of March 25, 2017, when Tome drove his vehicle into a group of cyclists, killing 2 of them. Witnesses testified that Tome was driving towards several bicyclists training in Waller County on Buller Road. Tome struck five innocent victims while purposely maneuvering his car towards them. He killed Craig Tippit and Keri Guillory. Tome fled the scene and hid in a local house until his arrest later that afternoon. Tome plead not guilty by reason of insanity. A military psychiatrist, Michael Arambula, testified for the prosecution against three defense experts on the issue of insanity. Arambula found that the defendant suffered from psychosis due to extensive abuse of ecstasy, marijuana and alcohol. The jury took a little over an hour to convict Tome of all counts.

On the charge of Capital Murder, Tome was sentenced to life in prison without parole by the Court. The State was represented by prosecutors Sean Whittmore and Warren Diepraam. The Honorable Albert M. McCaig, Jr. presided over the trial. District Attorney, Elton Mathis would like to thank the jurors for their diligent service, as well as the court staff and law enforcement officers who assisted with the investigation and trial. Mathis stated, “Waller County is a peaceful rural county, and people committing crimes of this nature will be held accountable by the citizens. We hope this conviction will help the families of the victims in some small way. The pain that they have suffered is unimaginable.” Tome will never be eligible for parole.

So while we may claim some victory for the 2017 crash, we are still watching the most recent multiple victim crash investigation that occurred in the same Texas county, injuring 6 riders. .

This time, a teenage driver decided to coal-roll the cyclists before running into them.

I would like to ask you to go to our sponsor’s website – bikelaw.com and click on the blog at the top of the page. Read the entry titled “Coal Rolling Texas Truck Driver Plows Into 6 Cyclists” because, in addition to explaining what is happening in the case, Rachael and Peter explain some very important elements of this crash and what you can do to protect yourself if you ever find yourself in a similar situation. It’s a must read for all of us.

June 5, 2021June 6, 2021

Show #558 – June 5, 2021

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Guests: Clarice Lorenzini; Elli Sias

In an article she wrote for teamusa.org’s triathlon site on May 19th, Clarice Lorenzini says:

“I’m Clarice Lorenzini and I’m Here To Make A Difference.”

As the only Asian-American Pro Triathlete on the Ironman Circuit, Clarice is bound and determined to race proud as a member of the AAPI community as well as give back to the cycling community at large with ongoing advocacy.

Our conversation today runs the gamut from where she grew up and went to college – in NY – to what she does in addition to racing and coaching and we get into some depth about why more Asian Americans aren’t racing on the pro circuit and why it’s important that we talk about it.

Racing her first Ironman as a sponsored pro in Tulsa recently – apropos as it coincided with the commemoration of the Tulsa Massacre – Clarice and I delve into what’s it’s like to stand on the start line and not see anyone who looks like you.

In February of 2020, we spoke with Elli Sias from Cycle of Life Adventures as she explained what it was taking to get even the smallest group on tour.

Now, bicycle touring is opening up again after the fifteen or so months of shut-down, and Elli’s business is not only open – it’s booming. With an already 80% full rate on many of her offerings, Elli and I talk about three of her many wonderful adventures including the Asheville Fundo, the Bluegrass and Bourbon Tours – oh, yeah… we’re up for that; and the 33-day epic Mighty Mississippi tour.

October 24, 2020October 24, 2020

Show #525 – October 24, 2020

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Guests: Peter Wilborn; Dr. Chris Cherry; Jacob Van Sickle

How is politics impacting cycling? Is there undue influence to how we perceive our “cycling movement” from the outside- or even from the inside?

What do equity and inclusiveness REALLY look like? And, why is infrastructure – bicycle infrastructure – so important to the overall success of cycling?

Of even more urgency is to understand why it is important to embrace law enforcement as a relationship that will benefit us as cyclists instead of distancing ourselves from it.

Politics has certainly been up from for many if not most of us lately; but, I’m not certain I saw the juxtaposition of bicycle advocacy and politics until my conversation with Peter Wilborn, founder and partner at Bike Law. He always makes me broaden my thinking, and today is no different.

After a break, we’ll head to Knoxville, TN to speak with Professor Chris Cherry.

If you have ever come to a railroad crossing and missed the mark – meaning, you hit the crossing at an angle that caused you to crash – you will appreciate the work my second guest has done to mitigate the problem.

When his wife crashed at a railroad crossing on her way to work and the head of his department at the University asked Chris Cherry what he was going to do about all the crashes that seemed to be occurring at this crossing near the campus of UT, he and his team decided they’d better do something. The solution – his jug handle design – was simple, efficient, and inexpensive.

Dr. Chris Cherry. is a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering whose primary research areas focus on transportation system impacts from emerging technologies (like e-bikes, e-scooters, & shared mobility) on safety, sustainability, health, and mobility, and he joins us today.

And then, we’ll do a quick check-in with Bike Cleveland‘s Executive Director, Jacob van Sickle. As has every other organization in the past 7 months, Bike Cleveland needed to make radical changes to its programs and events in the wake of COVID19.

Jacob fills us in on those changes as well as offers us some bright spots to focus on for 2021.

Bike Cleveland, our local advocacy organization, has been busy trying to navigate the new normal of COVID for local cyclists. Jack Van Sickle, the executive director, fills us in on some of the programs and projects in the works for the remainder of this year and on into 2021.

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020

July 9, 2020 – Special Edition

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Guest: Rachael Maney From Bike Law

For as long as I can remember, the bicycle industry has been on a “mission” to get more women on bikes – whether that means recreationally, for transportation, for leisure riding, or for elite competition.

The truth is, that there are already millions of women on bicycles – both worldwide and right here in the U.S. And yet, we seem invisible.

At this moment in time, a time where nothing seems to fit – where there are so few things we feel we can depend upon and trust anymore – there is the simple and well known fact that bicycles and women go together – perfectly.

To illustrate this more fully, my friend, colleague, and an elite bicycle rider herself, Rachael Maney, and I offer up this conversation.

It was recorded July 3rd.

We welcome feedback and comments.

June 13, 2020June 12, 2020

Show #507 – June 13, 2020

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Guests: Rachael Maney; Sgt Mike Wear

This week’s show tries to put some perspective on the events of not only the past two weeks; but, also the raw realities that have emerged about everything we might have been taught when we were in school and what we think we see in the news and on the streets today – and how the bicycle can be a symbol for both good and bad.

As we try to untangle and understand all the myriad things that are happening – – from COVID19 and its profound effects on our lives and the economy, to the horrific and sickening death of George Floyd and the subsequent global outcries for equity and justice, I turned to my friends and supporters at Bike Law for some perspectives that you may not have heard yet.

Peter Wilborn, who is the founder of Bike Law, started out as a civil rights attorney. In fact, in 2016, Peter wrote a piece for the Bike Law Blog titled, Biking is a Civil Right.

National Bike Law Director, Rachael Maney, has some very personal connections to discrimination and civil rights herself.

So today, Rachael and I take a look at everything from statistics and consequences to illustrations of how inequities show up in everyday situations.

Then, I speak with Sgt Mike Wear, the VP and Public Information Officer for IPMBA. the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) is a non-profit association dedicated to promoting the use of bikes for public safety, providing resources and networking opportunities, and offering the best, most complete training for public safety cyclists.

Over the past couple of weeks as people demonstrated, and sometimes rioted and looted, you may have seen photos of police officers holding their mountain bikes up as shields – or what some headlines have said as weapons – to fend off crowds of people.

From those photos came a barrage of commentary from bike manufacturers that they would no longer supply bicycles to police departments and will “do better” and be “all in” in making changes in their work cultures.

Then I got to thinking and started seeing another side – a way different side – of police on bikes and decided there was way more to the story than the knee jerk reaction – including mine – of condemning the police for the work they were trying to do.

April 18, 2020April 18, 2020