Christopher Becker is not a doctor. He’s not a lawyer, an urban planner, or even a state legislator. But he is an avid cyclist who damaged his knee badly in a crash with a delivery truck, and during these years of recovery he has learned a ton about how to fight within the legal system and get his life back to normal.

Ann Arbor’s Vision Zero goal has not only failed, the numbers of traffic injuries and fatalities are trending upward. There are many things that safety advocates can do — such as protesting unsafe roads, proposing more infrastructure, and fighting for local control of state-owned roads. But as long as crashes happen, every cyclist should know the best procedures to follow in pursuit of justice.

We discuss, for example, that personal journals are admissible during any legal proceedings. Start as comprehensive a paper trail as possible, as soon as possible. And above all, dismiss any instinct you might have to resist confrontation and assume the situation will resolve itself. The fight can be stressful, but it’s necessary.

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Thankfully, most of Christopher’s functionality has returned, and he loves to ride because visibility helps normalize proper road-sharing and combats the misinformation about cyclists that is too commonly spread. We also talk about verb endings in Slavic languages, how the Soviet Union inspired his banjo, and the enduring influence of Dildo Man.

Other links:

* San Francisco Critical Mass

* Working at Factsheet Five

* Story times at the Ann Arbor District Library

* Collisions along Huron Street on April 30 and May 5

* Bike the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)

* Sinas Dramis handled Christopher’s case

* Bike and Trail Advocacy Day in Lansing, May 13

* Bike to Wherever Day, May 14

* Sign up for the getDowntown Commuter Challenge

* A2 Bike Party has a new home

Other episodes mentioned:

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