OurStreets

Brand new bike lanes … at least, that was the idea

Bike Baton Rouge is excited to announce a new partnership with OurStreets, formerly How’s My Driving. With the OurStreets App, users can record unsafe and/or illegal driving behavior, such as parking in a bike lane or getting passed too closely. Basically, it’s a reporting tool. Users record instances of illegal driving and parking and log it in the app. Each report has a location tag. Reports are compiled and that data is available for Bike Baton Rouge to view and for the app developers to share with local law enforcement and city/parish officials.

Here is a great podcast episode that talks about the OurStreets app.

And here is a great article from the League of American Bicyclists describing it.

“We know that “momentary” disruptions like a blocked bike lane or crosswalk can be more than annoying--they can be incredibly dangerous. Documenting dangerous driver behavior might not get that delivery truck to move in that moment, but it will help us work with advocates, cities and lawmakers to build the infrastructure for safer streets for everyone.”

Now, will creating a report in OurStreets get the violator a ticket or a tow? It will not. Local enforcement agencies (LSU PD, LSU Parking, BRPD, EBRP Sheriff’s) are the only ones who can do that. However, this is another tool for us to collect data, which can be used in enforcement and long-term planning.

Consider downloading it and using it. The more people who do, the better it works.

Cheers!

Oh…. and BTW, OurStreets has a merch site, the proceeds of which go to local advocacy organizations such as ours.