Safe Streets Ordinance – Testimony of Rob Hendricks

Hello, Council Members. Thank you for your time. My name is Rob Hendricks and I live in Linden. I am a cyclist, my wife is a cyclist, my 13 year old son is a cyclist, and my 8 year old son is a cyclist. We don't just ride for fun, we ride for transportation. We learned early on that cars, trucks, and buses will try to squeeze past us on the road almost every chance they can get. On my commute to work, I have been forced off the road on a regular basis, I even had a school bus physically contact me in my shoulder, forcing me off the road. Just last week, my wife was forced off the road by a passing truck, going fast enough and close enough that the wind made her bike shudder, almost forcing her to completely lose control. Passing a safe passing law and educating the drivers about its existence will help us to return from work safely to our children. It will give us room for our family to get to our destination and return home safely together. Regardless of the comments in the Dispatch articles, we are not trying to outrace Lance Armstrong, we are Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Brothers, and Sisters just trying to get from point A to point B.