[Lincolnparkdc] Bike lane or sidewalk/crosswalk makes a difference in our assessment here

[Jessica Gardner]

Cars generally do not stop in the exact spot where the collision occurred.  Also, when the car hit the bike, it would make sense that it was propelled forward  somewhat. Margaret posted a still photo so it is hard to tell from that exactly what happened, but the photo seems to back up what the eye witnesses reported:  “Taking my daughter to school this morning on my bike I witnessed a reckless driver crash his Prius into a man on a bike at Kentucky Ave and East Capitol SE, the same street where advisory bike lanes were just finished I was riding north on Kentucky toward Lincoln Park when a Prius driver came flying past me. He then approached the right-only intersection at the park, barely slowing down at the stop sign. The cyclist was going west using the crosswalk when the he got clipped by the turning car. Everyone seemed to be ok, thank God it was just a sedan and not an SUV. I immediately started screaming obscenities at the driver even though I was just a witness. The cyclist blamed himself for using that route even though it was not the slightest bit his fault. I was so spooked because it could have been us, with my babies on board. The driver was clearly racing to get his kid to school and trying to bypass the light at 13th and Mass.”

I am a very cautious driver and I have to admit that when I am trying to make that right turn, I *always* have to remind myself to look right for anyone in crosswalk.  Drivers are very focused on the oncoming traffic to the left.  I’d be very interested in anything we could do to make these crosswalks safer.  This is the exact spot where my son was hit while walking across the street (IN the crosswalk) a few years back though he was crossing East Capitol not Kentucky.


From: lincolnparkdc <lincolnparkdc-bounces at lincolnparkdc.info> On Behalf Of John Hirschmann
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2021 12:56 PM
To: lincolnparkdc at lincolnparkdc.info
Cc: Will Handsfield <William.Handsfield2 at dc.gov>; Corey Holman <6b06 at anc.dc.gov>; Charles Allen <callen at dccouncil.us>
Subject: Re: [Lincolnparkdc] Bike lane or sidewalk/crosswalk makes a difference in our assessment here

(Tim

I suggest you study the picture Margaret posted      It appears the accident occurred in the street, north of the crosswalk and NOT in the crosswalk.

It also appears the bicyclists struck the car, not vice-versa.  The front of the bike struck the rear of the car.

As a driver going north on Kentucky, you expect (except for pedestrians) that traffic is approaching from your left and that is where your primary focus is to make sure you safely enter the intersection.

John
John F Hirschmann
hirschj154 at gmail.com<mailto:hirschj154 at gmail.com>
Sent from my iPad


On Sep 10, 2021, at 12:31, Tim Dube <timothydube at gmail.com<mailto:timothydube at gmail.com>> wrote:

All this hand wringing about the cyclist seems unfair. According to the first-hand account, the bike was using the *sidewalk and entering the crosswalk.* If that's true, then that's not "wrong way down a one-way street" or "wrong way in the bike lane." At that point the cyclist is in a legally protected zone. Cars have to stop for bikes in crosswalks even if it's right next to a bike lane. Kids use sidewalks and crosswalks because it's safer. Just because it's an adult (I presume) doesn't mean cars get to crunch you.
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