New Jersey anti-QR law still possible

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer Association)
regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release law, which apparently
has "legs" and could very well be enacted if not opposed strongly enough,
and could become a model that's adopted elsewhere as well. --Mike--

=============================================
NBDA ADDS $7500 TO QUICK-RELEASE FIGHT
New donation to be matched by suppliers.

Following an initial contribution of $7500 last summer, the NBDA Board has
voted to commit another $7500 to defend the ubiquitous quick-release axle.
The latest contribution will be matched by the supplier side of the
industry, said NBDA Executive Director Fred Clements.

The fight is against a ban on quick-release axles that has been proposed in
the New Jersey legislature. While the law, if passed, would affect only New
Jersey, it might set a national trend, making the fight a national issue.
The bill exempts axles that also have a "secondary safety device," but fork
tips apparently do not qualify for the exemption and there is currently no
other technology that would.

The proposed law was a response to injuries to children riding Wal-Mart
bikes with quick-release wheels, Clements said. But with the exception of
some high-end BMX bikes, the kids bikes sold by independent dealers do not
have quick-release axles anyway. The New Jersey bill as written would ban
quick-releases on all bikes, adult as well as juvenile. Funds contributed by
the NBDA and the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association are to be used to
hire a lobbyist to make the case against the bill.-John Francis, Editor,
NBDA Outspokin'
==========================================

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

 

[landotter]

On Feb 28, 4:58 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer Association)
> regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release law, which apparently
> has "legs" and could very well be enacted if not opposed strongly enough,
> and could become a model that's adopted elsewhere as well. --Mike--
>
> =============================================
> NBDA ADDS $7500 TO QUICK-RELEASE FIGHT
> New donation to be matched by suppliers.
>
> Following an initial contribution of $7500 last summer, the NBDA Board has
> voted to commit another $7500 to defend the ubiquitous quick-release axle.
> The latest contribution will be matched by the supplier side of the
> industry, said NBDA Executive Director Fred Clements.
>
> The fight is against a ban on quick-release axles that has been proposed in
> the New Jersey legislature. While the law, if passed, would affect only New
> Jersey, it might set a national trend, making the fight a national issue.
> The bill exempts axles that also have a "secondary safety device," but fork
> tips apparently do not qualify for the exemption and there is currently no
> other technology that would.
>
> The proposed law was a response to injuries to children riding Wal-Mart
> bikes with quick-release wheels, Clements said. But with the exception of
> some high-end BMX bikes, the kids bikes sold by independent dealers do not
> have quick-release axles anyway. The New Jersey bill as written would ban
> quick-releases on all bikes, adult as well as juvenile. Funds contributed by
> the NBDA and the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association are to be used to
> hire a lobbyist to make the case against the bill.-John Francis, Editor,
> NBDA Outspokin'

Stupido! That said, my Kona city scoot came with those really dumb, or
so I thought, "slow release" levers, the ones with a recessed 10mm
lock nut--so you need a socket or some needle nose pliers to get in
there. Combined with the lipped fork, it makes stealing the wheel
mightily inconvenient, and for those that want pure QR, it's just a
matter of removing the nut.

Would this hit high end bikes? And do high end bikes have lawyer lips?
I was looking at a couple $5K fancy bikes at the LBS today and didn't
notice them--but I didn't look too hard either.

I got a better idea for ya Jersey--require that bikes be sold only in
bike shops that have real mechanics that can assemble the things
properly. I was at Costco the other day and checked the first five
bikes on the hooks, none had a single working brake. Decent enough
path bikes--if ya can stop. Anyway, if Costco and Wally World want to
hire bike mechanics, let them sell bikes--but this ******** panacea of
legislation is a turd. Who cares if your wheel stays in place if ya
can't stop?

 

[Rex Kerr]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer Association)
> regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release law, which apparently
> has "legs" and could very well be enacted if not opposed strongly enough,
> and could become a model that's adopted elsewhere as well. --Mike--

I found a news story that said:

> Lawmakers said they are prone to accidents. Under the bill,
> it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick-release wheels
> if the bicycle has a front wheel less than 20 inches in diameter.

So that would exclude a few recuments and small childrens' bikes.
What's the uproar about?

-Rex

--
Work and recreation are not often effected at the same time.
One using a bicycle in business makes an exception to the rule.
- Dr. Edgar H. Earl, Rochester. (~1892)

 

[Tom Sherman]

Rex Kerr wrote:
> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>> This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer
>> Association) regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release law,
>> which apparently has "legs" and could very well be enacted if not
>> opposed strongly enough, and could become a model that's adopted
>> elsewhere as well. --Mike--
>
> I found a news story that said:
>
> > Lawmakers said they are prone to accidents. Under the bill,
> > it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick-release wheels
> > if the bicycle has a front wheel less than 20 inches in diameter.
>
> So that would exclude a few recuments and small childrens' bikes. What's
> the uproar about?
>
More anti-recumbent discrimination!

As for uprights, ask the Brompton, Birdy, Breezer Itsy or Bike Friday
Tikit owner.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[It's Chris]

I would ask the legislators of the millions of bikes ridden yearly that
are equipped with QR's what is the percentage of total failures, not
just those resulting in accident and/or injury?

Then have them compare this with the percentage of FATAL automotive
accidents within the same period of time.

End of bill.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:40:44 -0600, Tom Sherman
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Rex Kerr wrote:
>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>> This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer
>>> Association) regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release law,
>>> which apparently has "legs" and could very well be enacted if not
>>> opposed strongly enough, and could become a model that's adopted
>>> elsewhere as well. --Mike--
>>
>> I found a news story that said:
>>
>> > Lawmakers said they are prone to accidents. Under the bill,
>> > it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick-release wheels
>> > if the bicycle has a front wheel less than 20 inches in diameter.
>>
>> So that would exclude a few recuments and small childrens' bikes. What's
>> the uproar about?
>>
>More anti-recumbent discrimination!
>
>As for uprights, ask the Brompton, Birdy, Breezer Itsy or Bike Friday
>Tikit owner.

And jogging strollers!
--
zk

 

[Bob]

On Feb 28, 8:33 pm, Rex Kerr <[email protected]> wrote:

> I found a news story that said:
>
>  > Lawmakers said they are prone to accidents. Under the bill,
>  > it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick-release wheels
>  > if the bicycle has a front wheel less than 20 inches in diameter.
>
> So that would exclude a few recuments and small childrens' bikes.
> What's the uproar about?
>

The *real* problem is right there in the first sentence of the news
story you quote- "LAWMAKERS (emphasis added) said they are prone to
accidents." Lawmakers are generally competent drafters of legislation.
They are not experts on safe bicycle design yet they want to ban a
product used safely on literally millions of bikes because it has
failed and caused injury in an infinitesimally small number of
incidents. What comes next? A ban the sale of window blinds because
infants have been strangled by dangling cords? A ban on electric
mixers because children have been injured by the whirling beaters? Or
sharp kitchen knives because people cut themselves with them? Almost
any product you can name has not only the potential to cause injury
but has been the instrument of actual injury. Reasonable product
safety standards are just that- reasonable. The proposed law is not.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

 

[[email protected]]

On Mar 1, 12:28 am, Bob <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> The *real* problem is right there in the first sentence of the news
> story you quote- "LAWMAKERS (emphasis added) said they are prone to
> accidents." Lawmakers are generally competent drafters of legislation.
> They are not experts on safe bicycle design yet they want to ban a
> product used safely on literally millions of bikes because it has
> failed and caused injury in an infinitesimally small number of
> incidents. What comes next? A ban the sale of window blinds because
> infants have been strangled by dangling cords? A ban on electric
> mixers because children have been injured by the whirling beaters? Or
> sharp kitchen knives because people cut themselves with them?

Gosh, Bob, really I wish you wouldn't give them ideas! ;-)

- Frank Krygowski

 

[Tom Sherman]

Bob Hunt wrote:
> On Feb 28, 8:33 pm, Rex Kerr <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I found a news story that said:
>>
>> > Lawmakers said they are prone to accidents. Under the bill,
>> > it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick-release wheels
>> > if the bicycle has a front wheel less than 20 inches in diameter.
>>
>> So that would exclude a few recuments and small childrens' bikes.
>> What's the uproar about?
>>
>
> The *real* problem is right there in the first sentence of the news
> story you quote- "LAWMAKERS (emphasis added) said they are prone to
> accidents." Lawmakers are generally competent drafters of legislation.

Well, most are lawyers by trade, so they should be able to write laws
from a legal/technical standpoint.

However, too many laws are based on whipping up public hysteria rather
than common sense; i.e. all "paternalistic" laws that ban acts between
consenting adults.

> They are not experts on safe bicycle design yet they want to ban a
> product used safely on literally millions of bikes because it has
> failed and caused injury in an infinitesimally small number of
> incidents. What comes next? A ban the sale of window blinds because
> infants have been strangled by dangling cords?[...]

Well, new blinds come with cords that do NOT form a loop at the bottom
and prominent warning labels.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Wilson Warmouth]

"Tom Sherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Rex Kerr wrote:
>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>> This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer Association)
>>> regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release law, which
>>> apparently has "legs" and could very well be enacted if not opposed
>>> strongly enough, and could become a model that's adopted elsewhere as
>>> well. --Mike--
>>

Being a conservative I find it weird that a state in the middle of a serious
financial crisis[1] we have a legislature that is concerned with getting
"legs" under a proposed anti-quick release law for 20 inch bicycle
wheels.[2] But that's just me. I do wonder where they get their
information that quick releases cause accidents with 20" bicycle wheels, but
apparently aren't a problem on larger wheels?

[1] To read the liberal democratic New Jersey governor's assessment of the
crisis check out the New York Times article on the subject.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/opinion/28thu3.html?ref=opinion

My take is liberal executive branch + liberal legislature = eventual
financial crisis. Party does not matter (for the first six years in office
Bush rubber stamped every earmarked spending bill put in front of him).
It's kind of a sure thing like the tee shirt I saw a motorcycle rider
wearing put it : "If it's got tits or a motor it's gonna give you trouble".

[2] I have a Bike Friday. It would be an ongoing annoyance to me for that
bike not to have quick release wheels.

 

[Tom Sherman]

Wilson Warmouth wrote:
>
> "Tom Sherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Rex Kerr wrote:
>>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>>> This was just sent out by the NBDA (National Bicycle Dealer
>>>> Association) regarding the proposed New Jersey anti-quick-release
>>>> law, which apparently has "legs" and could very well be enacted if
>>>> not opposed strongly enough, and could become a model that's adopted
>>>> elsewhere as well. --Mike--
>>>
>
> Being a conservative I find it weird that a state in the middle of a
> serious financial crisis[1] we have a legislature that is concerned with
> getting "legs" under a proposed anti-quick release law for 20 inch
> bicycle wheels.[2] But that's just me. I do wonder where they get
> their information that quick releases cause accidents with 20" bicycle
> wheels, but apparently aren't a problem on larger wheels?
>
I think the bill contains an ignorant assumption that small wheels are
only on children's bicycles. The average legislator is NOT a cyclist,
and is unaware of upright folders and recumbents, and furthermore the
advantages and proper use of a quick-release (QR) hub.

I currently have seven (7) ISO 406 mm wheels with QR hubs, and no
lawyer's lips (thank you Mr. Dremel and Mr. Grinding Wheel).

[...]
> [2] I have a Bike Friday. It would be an ongoing annoyance to me for
> that bike not to have quick release wheels.

I have minimal data, but I strongly suspect most of Green Gear's product
is ridden by adults.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful