Letter to the Editor
Bike accident
Published Monday, May 12, 2008
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!May 6, 2008
To the editor:
On the morning of May 6, I rode my bike to West Valley High School so I didn’t miss my math class. As I crossed the intersection of Fairbanks Street and Geist Road, a small dark car shot in front of me, and I slammed into the side of it. I wasn’t hurt, but as I continued on to school, I became indignant.
First of all, I had the right-of-way! The white pedestrian sign was lit, and I was already crossing the street. I could’ve been killed easily. If I was riding even slightly faster, I would’ve been hit.
I know that the turn itself was questionable, and the fact that the driver didn’t even stop is far worse.
C’mon, drivers! Remember your driver’s ed! Honestly ... this is the thanks I get for helping out the environment by riding my bike?
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
I am sure the environment thanks you -
Maybe to get back at it you should buy and drive a Hummer.....
In the driver's ed I took, they taught us that bikes go with TRAFFIC. If a bicyclist is in a crosswalk, going on the "walk" sign, he or she should be walking the bike across.
Come on, lets not confuse the situation any further with facts!
I've counted 4 near misses of pedestrians (one of my own), and 1 hit of a bicyclist at the College/University intersection. I can only imagine how bad it is on Geist where people routinely drive way over the speed limit.
Driver's ed. also teaches you to be aware of the pedestrian signals and assume that there's going to be someone in EVERY intersection (even on a green). It doesn't sound like this kid came out of nowhere. Irresponsible biker or not, drivers should know better and watch where they are going.
Come on now bikers. You can't have it both ways. Either you ACT like a car and obey those rules or you ACT like a person and obey those rules. Get it? Duh.
Be sure to wear a helment to cover your brains. I have bicycle in 50 state. You will have that problem everywhere. Car open a door when triple parking in Philly.
The letter writer doesn't tell us if he was riding on the sidewalk or the street so we can't determine if he indeed had the right of way or not. The hit and run aspect is much more of a concern.
Is it my imagination, or has there been a steadily increasing percentage of drivers involved in accidents leaving the scene? I think it is an increasing problem.
People are not so willing to accept responsibility for their own actions as they once were, and it's hard to get a handle on why that seems to be the case.
Swanny
Well I'm glad this issue has been raised. I am sorry for your unfortunate experience , however, it seems that you pedestrians and bikers are so arrogant in crossing when the hand is red, and generally laxidasical, that I curse under my breath daily how I'd like to pop you guys with my car door! There, I said it. You students on Geist Road and Cowles crossing show no regard to the hurried life of adults trying to make appointments, get to work or take kids to Drs. It's a show across the road as you strut your stuff. I am not saying that this person is you Grace...but it is even worse on the corner of Cushman and Airport. Can Fairbanks not read Picture Signs or do we need new signs with words? I can't tell you how many times I have had to stop and witness a pedestrian who'd rather strut across traffic and hold up traffic, mouth off his rights or use sign language to angry drivers. I also think of that movie Fried Green Tomato's about then..."I am older and I have more insurance!" Personally, I think if you Biker's are going share the road, you should share in a license for that bike and pay some money for insurance to share it...I see you all the time on the highway and on MY STREET going not only with traffic but in the road...holding me up and everyone else. If you're going share the road than share the load of responsibility that comes with it...maybe it's a good thing all you environmentally friendly (pssssst) folks don't have a car, because you can't even ride a bicycle!
from reading the letter i wonder if the car was making a turn. lots of times the walkway will show green and the cars turning have a green light!
I was at Hess St (by Gulliver's) and was preparing to make a right turn onto College. I looked left, right, left and was clear to turn so began my turn. In that briefest of moments, a bicyclist shot out from the right sidewalk and we nearly collided. Who had the right of way in that situation?
Bicyclists and pedestrians - you may have the right of way but I would never ARGUE the point with a motor vehicle.
Drivers of motor vehicles - be aware that we share the road with two footers and two wheelers - be courteous... and extra cautious.
One voice- Maybe we could also learn something from the students and slow down. Leave a little early, 'cause you know what there is always going to be someone slowing us down because of the choices they make. I understand the frustration there are more and more bikes in the road that show blatant disregard to the cars around them, some even getting offended when getting beeped at for going 10 mph in a 40 zone. Another thing I know is that I can't make their decisions for then, weather they are bad decisions or not. I can control my own and by affording ourselves the time to take a deep breath ( maybe say a word or two under it and go on will make it a far less stressful drive.
Oh and to the bikers out there, just because you are allowed on the roads does not mean you are equal, its going to hurt you a lot more than a car when you collide, please watch out. Right away or not does not mean safe passage indefinitely, there are dangers being on the road.
I know te Hurst Rd light in North Pole is virtually impossible to walk your bike across the crosswalk even though you start out when the hand is white. The hand is nearly always red by the time I get to the other side. So, I generally ride my bike across, and even then the hand is red before I get through to the other side.
That may be the case for the "arrogant pedestrians" One Voice mentioned.
I was taught that the pedestrian always has the right of way. Even though, one of those speeding 4 wheelers on the bike path are probably going to get nailed by my car as I try to leave my driveway.
The rule is that one must WALK the bicycle across the road when utilizing the cross walk.
Sounds to me that you were riding your bike to fast.
At train tracks I always look for a train, even if the lights are not flashing.
Even if you think you are in the right, you may still get killed.........
Fact is, when your on your bike it is YOUR responsibility to keep yourself out of harms way. When you have to cross the street you don't just look both ways and cross, you gotta keep looking, and moving. Traffic is fast, lights are short and folks seem to be a bit more impatient these days. Throw a cell phone into a drivers hands ( or yours) and you can quickly become a stain on the road. Yes there are laws designed to keep us all "safe" but good ol' common sense will keep you alive much longer
Car vs. person is no match. Always look good before crossing. My thinking is everyone is a nut on the road and I am the only one that can save my life. Anyone can kill you anytime anywhere on the road. Good defensive thinking, and know what YOUR DOING always too!
One time when I was younger I got hit on a bike cross riding a bike. The car hit my front tire, turned me and I ended up regaining my balance by hang on to his mirror and fairing down the road abit. That person stopped and looked a second and took off. So, hit and run is not a good thing
fairbanks always used to be a pedestrian and bicycle friendly town. come on fairbanks drivers, be more considerate. i don't know how many times i have almost been run down by a car turning right that doesn't look to the right before turning. car drivers get tunnel vision. the only thing they see is other cars and trucks. they totally forget pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles or even snowmachines even exist. i used to walk or bike everywhere i went. now i mostly drive. when i bought this new car i made a promise to myself i would be a more considerate driver to pedestrians, and i am. leave earlier so you can get to where you need to go on time! stop being so selfish. you live in fairbanks, no one is that damned busy here. watch out for bike and pedestrians.
OneVoice: "I see you all the time on the highway and on MY STREET..."
When you say "my street", I'm not sure whether you mean the street you live on, or the street that you, as a driver, feel you have some greater ownership of and right to. Judging by the tone of your letter, it's easy to believe that you meant the latter.
I'd like to point out that streets, historically, have been built for the accommodation and conveyance of PEOPLE, not cars. Streets have traditionally been, and in many places still are, designed and used as "outdoor rooms" where people of all ages actually want to spend time, not as automotive sewers for the "hurried life of adults". The degradation of streets into places meant to accommodate cars began in the early 1900s, but it only really kicked into gear after the second world war. So if you'd like to claim that drivers should have equal or greater rights to the street than pedestrians, you face several thousand years of history that say the opposite.
I am not trying to excuse anybody's rude or illegal behavior. But I object to what sounds like your bias against the fundamental human right to walk.
On our pedestrian right: http://fairbankspedestrian.wordpress.com...
--Paul Adasiak
Wow, the aggression towards bikes feels almost palpable in this comment thread. OneVoice, many riders and pedestrians are adults. We're going to work, to the store, back home, just the same as anyone else.
Now, I don't know anyone who walks their bike across the crosswalk. I agree that everyone--pedestrian or bike--in the crosswalk should not zip as fast as possible and should keep all eyes open for traffic, but I don't see the problem with riding across the crosswalk at a reasonable speed (esp. given the length of some lights).
Let me detail a situation for everyone: one vehicle is waiting to go straight ahead at a 4 way intersection with lights. At the crosswalk to the car's right, a bike is waiting to do the same. The light turns green, the little green walk symbol comes on. Now, for the car, they look for random crazies--a bike or car darting out against the light--and go. However, the bike looks for traffic turning right on the green; these cars may or may not decide to yield to the crosswalk (I have had an entire line of cars cut me off in this way and I had to wait for the next cycle in order to cross). Once into the crosswalk, depending on the traffic pattern, there may be oncoming cars looking to make a left hand turn. Once past that, there are cars looking to make a right hand turn. So, for those in the crosswalk, that's at least three points where they might unfavorably intersect with vehicles.
Here are things that cars can do to improve:
1) Make a proper stop. Target stops so that your car ends BEFORE the first line of the crosswalk. Converse rule for crosswalk-goers: look for vehicles that are going to be making right hand turns through the crosswalk and be aware that they may not see you.
2) When making a right hand turn on green, look for oncoming pedestrians/bikes that may have a green to cross. If the car ahead of you makes the turn, don't assume the all-clear. For those in the crosswalk, be wary of turning traffic.
3) Watch for pedestrians when turning into commercial driveways (the Old Steese is a great example for this). You might only be looking at oncoming traffic, but there could be traffic on the left-hand sidewalk trying to cross (in some cases, the sidewalk isn't even interrupted; it simply dips). If you're riding in this kind of high-crossing area, looking for turning traffic even if you're still on a sidewalk.
You see the pattern? If you are a car, bikes might annoy or inconvenience you. If you are a bike, cars might kill or greatly injury you. Be aware!
A few rules for bikes:
1) Learn and use your hand signals. Know your turn signals (this goes for drivers, too!). Make eye contact with drivers, but know that they may not see you even if you saw them. If drivers give you a break, give a thank-you wave. For drivers, if you're going to let a bike or pedestrian have the right of way, look them in the eye and wave them across. Just slowing down a bit doesn't indicate yielding.
2) Wear a helmet.
3) Grow eyes in the back of your head. No one else is going to take responsibility for your safety and in the event of a car-bike accident, you will almost certainly lose. Pick your battles carefully and look ahead to anticipate any vehicular encounters before you enter the road.
Paul Adasiak, that was a nice lesson in the "history of the street", however that's exactly what it is, is HISTORY. Streets ARE made for cars these days.
Bicyclists and car drivers alike can do alot more to improve safety just by constantly being more aware of their surroundings.
Years ago I was crossing the exact same intersection as the letter writer mentions. The walk signal came on and the car in the lane next to me waited for me to proceed before making a right turn. However, the car in the oncoming turn lane shot through the intersection, doing a wide left turn into the far lane (the one I was legally walking across) and nearly hit me (I would have been hit had I not stopped and jumped back). The driver was looking at me the entire time. I'm not sure who the driver was, but at this point I'd guess their name was perhaps "akguy" or "joesmith44" or (most likely) "OneVoice." Now that I know who who the culprit was, may I again present a single finger for your contemplation.
Ironically, a state trooper was pulled up to the light in the stopped lane. He watched the whole thing and yawned. Perhaps if I'd been pushing a portable donut cart across the lane he would have taken more interest. And cops wonder why they get so little respect. Even when they witness laws being broken they can't be bothered.
A pedestrian is a person travelling on foot, whether walking or running. (Taken from Wikipedia.)
Bicyclists are required to obey traffic signs, signals, and all other traffic laws. Always be alert for other traffic. (Taken from the State of Alaska Driver Manual.)
In most if not all states, the bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle. Bicyclists using a public roadway are considered operators of motor vehicles and are responsible for observing traffic laws. Adherence to the law is the foundation of respect.
So, bicyclists are not pedestrians!!! Since they are not pedestrians they do NOT have the right of way! If you were walking your bike across the intersection then you would have had that right of way. As it was, you had no more of a right of way then someone running a red light!!!
A few years ago my son was riding his bike (with helmet on) and a car hit his back wheel and almost got his foot, the bike was bent all out of shape and his ankle was bruised and scratched up. The driver of the car saw him and hit him and drove off smiling! While my son did everything right for a bike rider this person hit and ran away. Unfortunately, my son didn't get the drivers plate number. I don't care who you are, you endanger peoples lives when you drive like that and intentionally! There are a lot of bad drivers and bike riders out there, please don't take out your troubles on each other just because your late for an appt. or talking on the phone. Someone could get seriously hurt or killed by your actions.
Well, there you go, Grace. I think you probably learned a few things from the responses to your letter today:
• You are apparently not a pedestrian with pedestrian’s rights.
• You are responsible for your own safety on your bike—wear a helmet
• There are a lot of hicks in this town who, inexplicably, hate bicyclists.
Since I moved to Fairbanks I have been "bumped" by peoples bumpers five times. I know the exact amount because I keep a tally. I have only lived here two years. I wasn't on a bike. That's just me crossing the street, in a posted crosswalk, on my proper walk signal. It also happened once crossing a parking lot. It's sad really.
Hey maybe they mistook you for the gents in the picture everyone is up in arms about and were trying to exact justice. :P
Hasn't this been a telling little thread. The motorists here seem to agree bicyclists shouldn't be using the crosswalks because we aren't pedestrian traffic. However, you also don't want to share the roadways because we cyclists are too slow and are keeping you from your ever so important meeting with your barista before work. And you claim we want it both ways.
Bicyclists suffer the unhappy job of having to use a mix of walkways and roadways in this town because of the woefully inadequate network of bicycle paths. Don't even get me started on those because they