Behind the Big Wheels

During the 2011 Fall Bike Walk Week, the Public Works Department partnered
with the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota,
Minneapolis Public Schools, Metro Transit and the Minnesota Trucking Association
to hold the first-ever Behind the Big Wheels safety event.

The event was an opportunity for bicyclists and pedestrians to get behind the
wheel of a full-sized semi truck, a Metro Transit bus and a school bus to better
understand the visibility and blind spot difficulties that large vehicles frequently
have.  Public Works also created an educational brochure for drivers and bicyclists
on this issue and created a presentation for drivers of commercial vehicles.
This event was created in response to several fatal bicycle crashes in recent years
involving large commercial vehicles making turns. The Bicycle Advisory Committee
is interested in making Behind the Big Wheels a regular event and moving it
around the city for more residents to see.