Insurance for cyclists is at the intersection of health, auto, and homeowner/renter insurance.  Depending on the situation you may or may not be covered on one of your own policies (ex. you are hit on your bicycle by an uninsured motorist – you will most likely be covered by your auto policy).  If you are hit by a driver, and you don’t have an auto policy, you may be covered by the driver’s policy (ex.  personal injury protection (PIP) is no fault coverage for medical care, wage loss, and household services).  If you crash your bike, your health insurance will cover you.

There haven’t been any bicycle-specific policies, but there now appears to be an insurer that is providing such policies.  Enter CLIPP.  I’m suspicious.  Is this anything other than an insurance company ready to take your money?  Will a CLIPP-insured cyclist be covered that far above and beyond her existing health, auto, and/or homeowner policy?  To fully understand whether this coverage makes sense, you need to review your health, life, car, and homeowner/renter policies. The basic coverage appears to be very minimal.  It is NOT comparable coverage to a standard car policy.  If you have at least health insurance and a homeowner/renter policy, it’s possible that is not coverage that makes sense.

Let’s take a closer look (CLIPP’s language is bolded, my comments are in italics).  The actual insurance coverages are in green – the other stuff is just fluff.

Base membership includes:

• Annual Safety Training by LAB Certified Instructors. This is cryptic.  LAB = League of American Bicyclists.  There are plenty of safety training classes – check with Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle.  Better to support Cascade than an insurance company.
• $1,000.00 of Accident Medical Insurance* per occurrence. This is barely any coverage.  For $1,000, you won’t even get a visit to the ER.  This is excess coverage, meaning it doesn’t kick in until you’ve maxed out all other medical insurance.
• $1,000.00 of Property Damage Insurance** per occurrence. CLIPP offers additional property coverage, for more money.  This is subject to a deductible.  If a driver hits you, his/her property damage coverage will cover your bike, if it’s his/her fault.  If you rent, and don’t have a renter policy, I strongly suggest it to cover your belongings in case of a burglar that enters your house in broad daylight after you leave the house to go to work (that was me, 5 years ago). As your insurer about “scheduling” your bicycle if it’s a pricey one.
• $1,000.00 Theft Insurance***Similar comment to property damage coverage – this can be easily covered by your renter/homeowner policy.
• $25,000.00 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage. If you are killed or seriously injured, you and/or your family is going to need an attorney, not this type of coverage.
• Bike registration with the National Bike Registry. If you’re interested, the cost is $10/10 years, $25/30 years.
• Club Membership in Adventure Cycling Association A good organization, but maybe it’s better to just join it directly and make sure they get the full benefit of the membership cost.
• Education for the public about bicycle awareness. *eyeroll*
• Updates on the cycling lifestyle. *eyeroll*
• CLIPP member discounts. *eyeroll*

I’m requesting more detailed information about CLIPP’s coverage – stay tuned . . .

Portland Streetcar Tracks

I always look at Portland as a bike mecca – great bike facilities, lots of hipsters, a racing scene, and nice flat streets to cruise down.  I was down there this past weekend for a concert and saw many streets with streetcar tracks running down the lane of travel (no bike lane).  Portland too?!  I thought it was just a Seattle problem.

The latest news in Seattle is about a group of people suing the City for putting similar tracks down Westlake Avenue in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

A law school classmate called me up on another topic, but mentioned the lawsuit and commented that cyclists should know there are some streets you just can’t ride on!  But in Seattle’s case, the City could’ve foreseen the problem and did very little to warn cyclists.  I have no doubt that the case will build on the basics set out in the Seattle Times article (see below).  The city dropped the ball, people got hurt, and the City isn’t willing to take responsibility despite clear laws that tell it the roads must be safe for vehicles.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012003618_streetcarbikes02m.html

Hub and Bespoke flower vase

The weather was looking questionable when we set out this morning at 6:15 am, but it stayed dry and our fellow commuters were out in full force!  I was headed toward the Fremont Bridge commuter station to pass out some swag (emergency info cards and “watch for bikes” stickers).  There were people tearing their socks off to trade Smartwool for new PhD socks, free bike repair from Free Range Cycles, and perhaps best of all . . . Hub and Bespoke (a new cycle boutique in Fremont) was fashioning bike frame vases out of tire tubes and putting Gerber daisies inside.  I wish it were Bike to Work Day everyday!

A common misconception among cyclists is that there is a statewide law that requires the use of a bicycle helmet – there is no such law!  In the past 15 or so years, a number of cities and counties have enacted laws to require the use of bicycle helmets, but as of now there is no statewide requirement.  Check the chart below to see where in Washington you better clip one on.

On a bicycle we are not invisible, BUT drivers claim they can’t see us.  The days are getting shorter and we just lost an hour of daylight in the evenings due to daylight savings.  Proper equipment is key when riding at night.  There is no such thing as too many reflectors and blinking lights at night.

David Longdon’s recent blog posting shows us an extreme example of a riders commitment to getting visible on his bike click here to read the post.

THE LAW

It’s not just a good idea, but proper lighting is required by Washington State statute.  You need a white light in front and at least a red reflector in the rear.

46.61.780. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles

(1) Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined in RCW 46.37.020 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the state patrol which shall be visible from all distances up to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. A light-emitting diode flashing taillight visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may also be used in addition to the red reflector.