93 replies to this topic

[cleeland]

Use this thread to document (but not discuss) traffic incidents involving bicycles.  This can include motor vehicle-bike incidents as well as bike-bike incidents.

In the body every entry should have the following information:

• Date
  
• Location - good enough description that somebody could find it using google maps or similar
  
• Factual description of incident - try to leave out anything incendiary, judgemental, or opinionated.
  
• Names of involved parties (if known)
  
• Physical Damages - what got messed up
  
• Injuries - how the folks got messed up

Additional information that could also be helpful:

• Police report number
  
• Legal actions taken or underway

An entry can be updated as more information comes available or as it changes.  In that case, please update the original entry; do not create a new one.

[Patrick]

1) 1/29
2) Big Bend @ Deer Creek Plaza
3)
4) Andrew R.
5)
6) Fractured Pelvis,


Ill fill in more as i get it

[Big Jim Mac]

From the Jeff City News Tribune:

Young bicyclist injured




An 11-year-old Jefferson City boy was listed in fair condition Wednesday morning at University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Center after a colliding with a car while riding his bicycle Tuesday evening.

According to Jefferson City police reports, Austin Hudgens was going west and traveling on the side of the 3900 block of Buckingham Park around 6:30 p.m. when he turned into the passenger side of a Chevrolet Silverado being driven by Dianne Trammell-Bentley, 43, Jefferson City .

Hudgens was taken to St. Mary's Health Center with serious injuries and then transferred to Columbia.

[TenSpeedMike]

Date: Monday, March 24th, 2008.
Location: Intersection of West Pine and Kingshighway, Saint Louis, westbound lane of West Pine as it crosses Kingshighway southbound lanes.

Description
I am a daily bicycle commuter, I ride from the Hampton/Chippewa area to downtown, via Macklind to Forest Park and West Pine.  I stopped for the red light at the intersection of West Pine and Kingshighway, on my way out of the park on West Pine, where it crosses Kingshighway and enters the Central West End.  Because of the busy right-turn lane on West Pine and the lack of any cars in the go-straight lane, I chose to wait by the pedestrian crosswalk, near the sidewalk, so that right-turning cars wouldn't run me over when I couldn't see them.  When the light turned green I checked with the driver of a pickup in the right-turn lane to verify that he was going to give me the right-of-way, which he did, and I proceeded through the intersection.  As I crossed the left-most of the two southbound lanes of Kingshighway, a motorist driving a small car, who was making a left onto Kingshighway from the westbound lane of West Pine, nearly hit me.  The motorist was driving faster than cars normally drive while making this turn, I think he probably had not been waiting at the light on West Pine, and suspect that he saw the light turn green while he was approaching the intersection, and decided to try to beat the oncoming traffic that would have cut off his left turn.  The driver apparently did not see me until I started screaming at him, as his car approached me from my left-front direction.  At the last minute, as I was braking and swerving to avoid him, he swerved to avoid me.  I swerved again to avoid his new direction, and I fell off my bike in front near the middle of Kingshighway, near the pedestrian crosswalk.  The motorist at first didn't seem inclined to stop his car, but when he saw that I fell off the bike he stopped on Kingshighway and exited the vehicle.  By this point I was standing up, and I was screaming rather colorful language at him.  He said 'I just wanted to see if you were OK', but because of my cursing and aggressive demeanor, he opted to get back into his car and leave without approaching me.

Names of involved parties (if known)
Driver unknown.  Bicyclist name available on request.

Physical Damages - what got messed up
Minor damage to bicycle brake lever.

Injuries - how the folks got messed up
Minor bruising, and a really sore shoulder that has caused me to stay off my bike during some very nice weather.

Additional information that could also be helpful:
Police report number
None
Legal actions taken or underway
None

[cleeland]

You know it's Spring when...the hooligans are out at the corner of Norfolk & Tower Grove again (just north of Adams School).

Same problems as years before.  On Monday, I got jawed at because they liked my lycra and my "nice ass".  Today, I got stuck at the intersection (i.e., had to stop) because a semi-truck was turning to go north on Tower Grove, and one of them ran up behind me, said "get off your bike, bitch!" and hit me in the back of the helmet.

I use my phone to call 911, he police took 15 minutes to arrive, took a statement.  Since I never got a clear look at the kids' faces, there's no way I could identify.  So, it's unlikely that anything will happen to anybody this time.

Be careful out there.  I won't change my route, but I may decide to buy some pepper spray in case of "dogs".  Any recommendations?

Update: I've also sent a letter to Joe Roddy, Alderman for that area.

[ThomasG]

A bad one involving kids.
Post-Dispatch Article

[JerryW]

From the O'Fallon Illinois Progress
http://www.bnd.com/4...ory/341111.html

Posted on Thu, May. 15,
Councilwoman hit with can while bicycling on Witte Road
By Steve Berry
Progress Staff Writer

O’Fallon Councilwoman Mary Schmidt was cycling with her husband and a friend Thursday night on Witte Road, when someone in a passing truck threw an unopened beer can at Schmidt striking her in the arm.

“A truck came up along side of us going about 60 mph, we figure, and maybe a foot away from us, and I think they underhanded a beer can at us,� Schmidt said.

Schmidt said after the can hit her the cyclists flagged down a passing motorist who caught up to the truck and got the license plate number. Schmidt also called the police.

She said she got another look at the white Dodge “king cab� when it drove by a second time as Schmidt was on the phone with police.

O’Fallon police referred the matter to the St. Clair County Police Department, who have not returned phone calls concerning the incident.

“This I think was kids playing a prank,� Schmidt said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they were trying to put that can in my tire which would have really been a huge accident because we were going close to 20 mph.�

Schmidt sustained a bruise on her arm from the impact of the can, but did not seek medical treatment.

“I will have a battery charge against them since I was actually injured,� Schmidt said.

Schmidt rides with a group of bicyclists in the Metro East Cycling Association. She said harassment is common while the group is cycling.

“We get a lot of harassment because people are impatient,� Schmidt said. “A lot of times we get harassed the minute before we are even out of town.�

Schmidt said the residents of other communities are often very friendly to bicyclists.

“We regularly take rides through East St. Louis and sometimes East St. Louis is a more pleasant place to ride than O’Fallon,� Schmidt said. “It’s shocking.�

The Metro East Cycling Association is hosting a bicycle race in northern O’Fallon on Saturday, May 31. Witte Road, where Scmidt was hit with a can, makes up a section of the race course.

The inaugural O’Fallon Grand Prix bicycle race will feature small races for children and a 90 mile race for professionals. The 22.5 mile race course will begin and end at 273 Kyle Road. O’Fallon has bike trails within Rock Springs, St. Ellen Mine, and Family Sports parks. The city also has a one-half mile long bike route that passes Hesse Park connecting Mulberry Lane with Illini Drive. In Addition, O’Fallon Director of Parks and Recreation Mary Jeanne Hutchison said Fairwood Hills Road and Illini Drive in northern O’Fallon are official bike routes.

[Patrick]

Bigbend and Dale
Driver made left hook in front of cyclist hitting them

[Breadhead]

I was coming home from work yesterday (about 4:30) on Olive Road  (Creve Coeur, east of the shopping center containing Pumpernickel's) and noticed a bicycle laying on the ground amongst several Fire Department vehicles.  Does anyone know if the cyclist was hit by a car and if he/she is okay?

[blabber]

TenSpeedMike, on Mar 26 2008, 11:26 AM, said:

I am a daily bicycle commuter,   I stopped for the red light at the intersection of West Pine and Kingshighway, on my way out of the park on West Pine, where it crosses Kingshighway and enters the Central West End.  Because of the busy right-turn lane on West Pine and the lack of any cars in the go-straight lane, I chose to wait by the pedestrian crosswalk, near the sidewalk, so that right-turning cars wouldn't run me over when I couldn't see them.

OK,  first mistake is no consistency. You a vehicle or a pedestrian? You got over on the sidewalk because you were scared of cars turning right. Well, you shouldn't be in right lane noway if you were going straight - you should have been in middle lane to let right turners pass. The guy coming other way would have seen you better if you had been in middle lane, and you would had more room to react since you are not hemmed on pedestrian crossing.

[Slingen]

blabber, on Jul 9 2008, 11:18 AM, said:

TenSpeedMike, on Mar 26 2008, 11:26 AM, said:

I am a daily bicycle commuter,   I stopped for the red light at the intersection of West Pine and Kingshighway, on my way out of the park on West Pine, where it crosses Kingshighway and enters the Central West End.  Because of the busy right-turn lane on West Pine and the lack of any cars in the go-straight lane, I chose to wait by the pedestrian crosswalk, near the sidewalk, so that right-turning cars wouldn't run me over when I couldn't see them.

Alright, you're first mistake is not being consistent. Are you going to be a vehicle or a pedestrian? You got over on the sidewalk because you were scared of cars turning right. Well, you shouldn't have been in the right lane anyway if you were going straight - you should have been in the middle lane to let the right turners pass. The guy coming the other way would have been able to see you better if you had been in the middle lane, and you would have had more room for reaction since you wouldn't have been hemmed in on the pedestrian crossing.

Dang Blabber....tenspeedmike was just asking a question!....calm down....why such a mean reply?    (this thread is to report bike accidents anyway..not advice on how to avoid them)

[2slo]

• Date - 12 July 2008
  
• Location - Wildhorse Creek Rd, on W side of Babler St. Park
  
• Factual description of incident - I was northbound, big Ram-style pickup truck was southbound, two deer were eastbound (heading into the park).  The first deer made it through.  The second deer was broadsided by the truck and bounced of, flew through the air and hit me & the bike on the left side, knocking me down.
  
• Bambi; humans not known.
  
• Physical Damages - none.
  
• Injuries - pretty big thud when the truck hit it, so although the deer eventually scrambled up and made it into the park, I'm guessiing that it did not survive.  My right thigh took a light hit and was bruised a bit.  Biggest thing (for me) was my right shoulder.  Even though I felt well enough the next day to do a 2hr plus ride, by Tuesday I could barely move my right arm.  X-rays showed nothing busted.  My first ride since last Sunday was today, Saturday.  Took it easy.  Shoulder is improving pretty quickly.

[goodtimes]

When: Last Sunday 8/10 around 2:00
Where: Clayton Road between Ballas and Geyer
Description: The cops and ambulance were there when I drove past. All I saw was a bike on the road and a car on the side of the road, that had obviously skidded to try and avoid the cyclist. Most likely not paying attention until the last moment the driver swerved onto the grass and kicked up a ton of earth and what looked like asphalt.

Anybody know anything on this?

[cat4ever]

I saw one last Sunday too, at Long and WHC.  Car, cyclists, ambulance.  Not a good combination.  Any details?

Jeff

goodtimes, on Aug 14 2008, 11:29 AM, said:

When: Last Sunday 8/10 around 2:00
Where: Clayton Road between Ballas and Geyer
Description: The cops and ambulance were there when I drove past. All I saw was a bike on the road and a car on the side of the road, that had obviously skidded to try and avoid the cyclist. Most likely not paying attention until the last moment the driver swerved onto the grass and kicked up a ton of earth and what looked like asphalt.

Anybody know anything on this?

[rdwing9]

cat4ever, on Aug 14 2008, 11:32 AM, said:

I saw one last Sunday too, at Long and WHC.  Car, cyclists, ambulance.  Not a good combination.  Any details?

Jeff

goodtimes, on Aug 14 2008, 11:29 AM, said:

When: Last Sunday 8/10 around 2:00
Where: Clayton Road between Ballas and Geyer
Description: The cops and ambulance were there when I drove past. All I saw was a bike on the road and a car on the side of the road, that had obviously skidded to try and avoid the cyclist. Most likely not paying attention until the last moment the driver swerved onto the grass and kicked up a ton of earth and what looked like asphalt.

Anybody know anything on this?

That was me at Long and WHC.  Self-induced burnt out at 25 mph.  Traveling east bound on WHC just past the intersection, I pointed out a pothole with my left hand to the guys behind me and as I went to put my hand back on the hood, my wheel hit something and turned dead right.  I went dead left.  Grade 2 separation of AC joint in left shoulder, helmet cracked in two places, and road rash up and down left side.  All in all, it could have been alot worse.  The car that stopped was a nurse who was very helpful.  

On the helmet, I can't stress enough on wearing these fitted tightly to your head.  I see so many people with them pushed way back or bouncing around loosely on their head.   I would be dead without it.

Michael