From SPD:
At about 4:45 pm Wednesday, a bicyclist was traveling northbound on Beacon Avenue South approaching South College Street. As the bicyclist approached South College Street, a pedestrian going westbound across Beacon Avenue South stepped into the roadway.
The bicyclist was unable to avoid the pedestrian and collided with him.
The pedestrian sustained a serious head injury and Seattle Fire Department Medic transported him to Harborview Medical Center (HMC).
During the investigation, HMC stated that the pedestrian’s medical condition improved to become non-life threatening.
An officer responded to the scene to screen the bicyclist for any signs of impairment due to drugs/alcohol. The officer determined that the bicyclist was not impaired.
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{ 4 comments }
Was there a crosswalk or light for the pedestrian or did he/she just jump out in front of the bike? Or did the bike run a stop sign or light?
Mark, I really think bike riders should be as alert to pedestrians as car drivers.
I walk a lot, downtown and other areas and ride the bus and the light rail and I’m very scared a bike rider will fly by me on the sidewalk when I am making some movement that puts me in their path.
While I haven’t actually been hit so far, sometimes it’s so close it scares me into an adrenaline state.
And the bike rider goes merrily on his/her way, lucky that I wasn’t moving (for any reason) into their path.
I used to ride and I know it’s wonderful to not drive and move so quickly, but pedestrians are completely vulnerable to any driver who isn’t watching for them, on the curb or anywhere else.
I know bike riders watch parked cars in case someone suddenly opens the door in their way. They watch for this because they are very vulnerable to injury in this situation.
Try to picture a pedestrian, perhaps an older person with bad knees like me, suddenly making the “wrong” move with a biker coming up behind or from the side at the speed bikers usually travel.
I have begun to keep my rolling backpack, which I have to use, on the open side of the side walk, so that bikers have to pass on that side.
I am honestly more afraid of bike riders than cars because cars don’t travel on the sidewalk and because cars are easier to see coming.
A head injury that is not life-threatening. That’s the end of the story? Hmmm. A head injury is never ok. How happy would you be to have “just” a not life-threatening head injury? Talk about a crap shoot.
@Cahetrine F
I’m with you, my question was aimed at the bike riders that talk about drivers but do not obey traffic laws themselves.
Unfortunately when it comes to driving (bikes or cars) we are a nation of law breakers.
See you on the streets (hopefully in an upright position)!
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