Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails

Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails | Grist

grist.org 13 Jul '12, 11am

Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails

A few weeks ago, just outside of Washington, D.C., a woman was hit and killed by a man on a bicycle while walking on a paved multi-use trail, aka a “bike path.” It was a tragic accident. My heart goes out to any and all that knew and loved her. It also distressed me to read the anti-cyclist reaction in the comment sections of local online news sources and neighborhood forums, when all of this could have been avoided with a few simple precautions. When various news sites reported the story online, the comments were predictably absurd. There were all sorts of attacks on bikes that reflected more on anti-bike sentiment than on the incident in question. “The path is for everyone not a bunch of spandex wearing Armstrong wannabes,” wrote one commenter. A member of the Fairfax Underground forum posted a story about the incident under this headline: “Bicyclist Mows Down Old Lady a...

Full article: http://grist.org/biking/blood-on-the-bike-path-what-a-tra...

Tweets

@walkplace » 24 Jul '12, 9am
Common sense + common courtesy…“@americawalks:@grist: sound advice 4 cyclists/ped conflicts on multi-use pathways. [link]”
@CaliforniaWALKS » 24 Jul '12, 1am
MT @americawalks: well written article re cyclists/pedestrian conflicts on multi-use pathways. [link] #SafeStreets4All
@CharityChicken » 24 Jul '12, 12am
RT @americawalks: This is a well written article with good points about cyclists/pedestrian conflicts on multi-use pathways. [link]
@americawalks » 24 Jul '12, 12am
This is a well written article with good points about cyclists/pedestrian conflicts on multi-use pathways. [link]
@alisonborealis » 22 Jul '12, 6pm
Also an excellent argument for why we should be angrier about cars. [link] (same article as prev) #bikes #roads #safety
@alisonborealis » 22 Jul '12, 6pm
An excellent article on how sharing the trails means EVERYONE needs to be courteous, #bikes and pedestrians. [link] via @Grist
@ExpressLanes » 21 Jul '12, 5pm
RT @BikeMetro: Bike paths are not only for bikes. Use care passing and ride at safe speeds. @grist @gwadzilla [link]
@BikeMetro » 21 Jul '12, 12am
Bike paths are not only for bikes. Use care passing and ride at safe speeds. More safety tips via @grist @gwadzilla [link]
@cascadebicycle » 19 Jul '12, 5pm
Trail courtesy is a big concern of ours. Is it one of yours? Blood on the bike path: /@Grist [link]
@miss_maryland » 17 Jul '12, 7pm
This misses the point - a cyclist yelling "on your left" to a pedestrian assumes they can hear. Dismount, walk around. [link]
@art00t » 16 Jul '12, 6pm
all cyclists please read! RT @PhoenixBikes Some sensible advice from Phoenix Phan Joel Gwadz. [link] #bicycling #commonsense
@Zelechoski » 15 Jul '12, 11pm
#OneTrail “@grist Can a tragic accident in D.C. teach bicyclists and pedestrians to look out for each other on trails? [link]”
@grist » 15 Jul '12, 10pm
Can a tragic accident in Washington D.C. teach bicyclists and pedestrians how to look out for each other on trails? [link]
@CatherineLanser » 15 Jul '12, 3pm
Sad story of an accident on a bike trail in DC is a good reminder on trail etiquette for all [link]
@GrowinCities » 14 Jul '12, 4am
RT @greenforyou: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails #green [link]
@grist » 14 Jul '12, 2am
Most popular today - Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@catcoffin » 13 Jul '12, 10pm
What a tragic cycling collision can teach us about safely sharing bike trails: [link] #BikeLA #UserFriendlyLA #JP13 #WalkLA
@smallBLDG » 13 Jul '12, 9pm
What a tragic cycling collision can teach us about safely sharing bike trails: [link] (via @grist) cc: @SofyTremblay
@cgnm » 13 Jul '12, 9pm
RT @drgrist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@grist » 13 Jul '12, 9pm
What a tragic cycling collision can teach us about safely sharing bike trails: [link]
@notsogarrish » 13 Jul '12, 9pm
Great article by @gwadzilla - [link]
@jtedc » 13 Jul '12, 8pm
RT @WABADC: Nice Grist post from Joel, aka @GWADZILLA, on trail safety. [link]
@WABADC » 13 Jul '12, 8pm
Nice Grist post from Joel, aka @GWADZILLA, on trail safety. [link]
@KarlOnSea » 13 Jul '12, 7pm
@gwadzilla on the Man-Bites-Dog story of someone on a bike running over a pedestrian with tragic results [link]
@AmberCollett » 13 Jul '12, 6pm
I get annoyed w/ peds on bike paths, but bikes are still responsible for yielding so accidents like this are avoided: [link]
@shmooth2 » 13 Jul '12, 6pm
if bike paths are not bike paths we should probably not call them bike paths. #obv [link]
@ghanscom » 13 Jul '12, 6pm
Some really thoughtful comments from readers on the story about bike-pedestrian collisions [link] h/t @gwadzilla
@CaptCruz » 13 Jul '12, 6pm
RT @ghanscom: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@CharlieQuimby » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
Here's another view on bike/walk path use. [link]
@Ptbo_Canada » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @keithbeats: Be careful @Ptbo_Canada @PtbBikeAdvisory RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us [link] #bikeptbo
@SamEB_NHPR » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
"Blood on the Bikepath" @Grist. Anti-cyclist sentiment building or flat? [link]
@keithbeats » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
Be careful @Ptbo_Canada @PtbBikeAdvisory RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us [link] #bikeptbo
@drewbkerr » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
Hear plenty about car/bike fatalities. Here's a story about a bike/ped tragedy, and a plea for better trail etiquette. [link]
@Action_Alert » 13 Jul '12, 6pm
Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails ~ #grist [link]
@ghanscom » 13 Jul '12, 6pm
Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@HikeOurPlanet » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@LeeHillerLondon » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@callmepolly » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@stakx » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@mboing » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@weidman_kyle » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@anner442 » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@fairuzrahman » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@juanzelli » 13 Jul '12, 4pm
Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails... [link]
@sdmba » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@aweesan » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@hewanderson » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@GreenSteve_com » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@rmeinig » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]
@SweetAsMagPie » 13 Jul '12, 3pm
RT @grist: Blood on the bike path: What a tragic accident teaches us about safely sharing the trails [link]