Biker hit on Cherry Ave
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Update 4:43pm: The biker involved in today’s accident is a 24-year-old female who was injured when she collided with a Carter’s cab that was turning left from Cherry Avenue onto Ninth Street. According to city spokesperson Ric Barrick, the bike struck the cab’s passenger side and the rider was thrown over the hood of the cab. She suffered a broken finger, scratches and bruises, and was treated and released from UVA hospital this afternoon. According to Barrick, the driver of the cab has been charged with failing to yield the right of way.
–edited for clarity at 10:21am Thursday, May 20.
Original story:
A 23-year-0ld female bicyclist was struck by a vehicle and injured while riding along the 800 block of Cherry Avenue near the Tom Thumb convenience store just before 1pm, according to an alert from the Emergency Communications Center. The nature of the accident and the extent of her injuries have not yet been released.
This incident comes exactly one month after UVA grad student Matt King was hit by a city waste water truck and killed as he rode his bike down West Main Street. The driver of that truck has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Charlottesville is a horrible city for bikers–more cars, more bikes = more accidents.
I hope she is ok. This is getting way out of control, and I’m waiting for the city to grab the bull by the horns and get serious about this problem before more people get hurt. Ticketing people on bicycles will not solve this.
Cherry Ave along this stretch is particularly dangerous. 35 mph is way too fast of a posted speed for such a high-intensity area (hmm.. we don’t see these speed limits on Park or Rugby do we?) The chance of serious injury goes up exponentially with speed. And somehow the decision was made just a few years ago to put three vehicle lanes and no bike lanes along this stretch.
What the??? Now comes a plethora of statements about bikes vs. cars….laws…etc, etc. Long heavy sigh…..
The question is whether or not bike accidents are increasing or if they’re just being reported more.
So if you are riding your bike down the road. You come to an intersection, you go around the car in front of you instead of coming to a stop (as you would have to do if you were in a car), and you are hit. It is the careless car drivers fault. I was taught to respect traffic laws. That when you ride a bike in the street you have to obey the traffic laws as if you were driving a car. Let us comment on the real problem. Irresponsible Cycle riders who think they can just zoom around traffic to get to their destination without regard for laws or other vehicles on the road. I often see responsible riders who signal their turns stop at lights obey traffic regulations. More often I see riders who run stop lights don’t stop at stop signs never signal a stop or turn and ride up on the side walk to skirt around stopped traffic Let us have cycle riders get a license to operate their vehicles on the road. I do not mind sharing the road but I want to share it with responsible drivers
@JD i agree totally. they think they can run our streets. but when a bike hits a car its the cars fault, however if a car hits a bike its the same way. can anyone say counter sue?
i believe charlottesville needs to get their head out of their @$$ and think about the future. how about make some BIKE ONLY trails or roads around charlottesville? a seperate divided by median lane for bikes, and oh, also it would help if the police enforce the laws against the bikers who dont stop at lights or stop signs. i also think it SHOULD be illegal for a biclyist to ride in a car only lane. bikes can typically only get up to 20mph maybe less. most speed limits in cville are 25-35? think about it. 2000+ motor vehicle, Vs a 200lb bike/rider. who will win?
Bike only sounds good. No bike lanes, no bikes. Too many hurt.
Knowing only what the story tells us, when a left turning vehicle is hit on the passenger side it is usually because the left turning vehicle failed to give right of way to oncoming traffic. Just as cyclists should follow the rules of the road, motorists must give right of way to cyclists equally, like they would a car.
Being outside of a locked car on that part of Cherry ave is not safe in the first place…
JD- I am a cyclist,with that I would like to point out the difference between cyclists and bike riders. I would say that 99.9% of cyclist treat their bikes better than they treat their cars. to say that they are irresponsible is like saying all drivers are terrible. it just isnt fair. I ride in traffic most of the time and generally really like it. I obey stops, use turn gestures and even brake gestures. I think if there were to be a study you would see more car/car accidents daily than car/bike. when I ride I know the rules of engagement if I make a mistake and there is an accident I understand if its my fault or the drivers. I was in an accident last year and technically it was my fault. I wasnt happy about the situation and the person that I hit made a bad judgement in her driving however I hit her from behind and it was because I was following too closely. I paid for the damage to her vehicle because I was at fault. the world keeps turning. everyone wants to talk about speed limits and what is and what isnt safe. I will ride in town between 25 and 30mph on most streets. I know what I can and cannot do at that speed and in what traffic. we are all in this world toegether and we should really focus more on respecting ours and others space. the bottom line is accidents happen. I dont like them but it is a fact. how about next time we see a rider we just give them the space that they need, and next time we are out riding we give the cars the space they need. trying to add bike lanes throughout town is only going to cost us all more money and then what? thans for the opportunity to express myself on this matter
Congrats tri_chef and I would gladly share the road with you. If my comment about riders rubbed people the wrong way an apologies is in order. I do understand the difference between cyclists and bike riders. And I would gladly share the road with cyclists just as I would with vehicle operators. Anyone can drive a car but with experience and respect you can operate a vehicle. Thanks for your comment and let’s challenge the law enforcement community to enforce the laws equally for all vehicles on the road
I would like to heartily congratulate tri_chef and jd on establishing one of the first pieces of real dialogue on this topic in my memory. The focus at the vigil for Matt King was the need to find solutions for all members of the traffic stream to cohabit in a safer and calmer fashion. It was not a venting upon drivers. I would encourage jd and other drivers who have issues to attend the bike forum at city space on the downtown mall this Saturday the 22nd from 5pm-7pm to see and join the effort of our cycling community to engage the city and county to find the best solutions for this issue. It is not just the government’s issue to take by the horns, it is ours. For more information, visit http://www.transportationchoice.org
Well, Hook, you did it again. Another wonderful example of word placement and mis-leading facts. “24-year-old female who was struck by a Carter’s taxi cab” then “the bike struck the cab’s passenger side and the rider was thrown over the hood of the car”(pull it together). We all know that good cylcists are all painted with the same brush as the bad ones. The catch is, what are the law abiding cyclists doing to teach the rogue ones? Bikes belong in the travel lane right along with vehicles. They aren’t supposed to work their way up to the front of the line or hop across sidewalks. Until the Legislature decides otherwise, that’s where we are. If you want to travel where the pedestrians travel, get off of your bike, walk it and become a pedestrian. To all of the squared-away cyclists in this town (and we have plenty), you have been empowered here. Show us some stewardship. Candlelight vigils are sweet but they don’t fix problems. Play a part in fixing this problem and saving some lives, ’cause the cars aren’t going anywhere!
thanks for the dialogue jd- i think education is key on all counts. just as cars arent going anywhere the same can be said for bikes (especially if I have anything to say about it) bring on sunny days and 165 bpm. nothing clears my head better than being in nature with the wind in my face. thanks to all that care enough about this topic to keep the discussions going. Have a grea sunny and safe day today!!! see you Saturday
Jack B. Nimble, you’re right– it wasn’t clear, and I’ve fixed it. Thanks!– Courteney Stuart
Would “struck each other” be more accurate? Weren’t both moving?
We need to rethink the roads in this town. We need more multi-lane 1-way roads. A good start would be to make Main Street 1-way east-bound from UVa to downtown and make Cherry 1-way westbound. At rush hour, both east-bound lanes of Main and Cherry are backed up. Ridiculous! Guide that traffic on the same road with multiple lanes and it will flow.
We need to change up our goofy web of 2-lane 2-way roads everywhere. This is terrible for moving traffic. Anyone can turn any way anywhere. With 1-ways, drivers will learn good ways to go and you benefit everyone by making drivers go an extra block to change directions rather than wait at stop sign trying to make a left turn forever and you can reduce the number of traffic lights. 1-ways force drivers to get on board with the flow and force drivers who want to enter the flow to be able only to do it one way.
When we get 1-ways, we get traffic to spread laterally. And this makes cyclists better able to pass and be passed. Many times on a multi-lane 1-way a cyclist could take up (GASP!) a whole lane without impeding cars. This would cut down on what I think is anger/jealousy of cars seeing bikes whiz past them during rush hour. Though, I love this on my bike commute home on Friday evenings!
With traffic not so dense, it would better harmonize the sometimes competing motivations of cars and bikes. When I drive a car, I am motivated to not hit stuff (especially moving stuff) not so much of my crippling fear of death but more for not wanting to cause a lot of property damage. When I ride my bike, I am motivated to not die. These 2 motivations lead to different (but I would argue reasonable) methodologies depending on my vehicle du jour.
My sense is that many cars think bikes are out of control and are coke-snorting scofflaws. And when I’m in my car it can seem like this. But bikes can dart and look out of control in a way that’s very much in control. The world looks much different through the lens of a windshield than on the summit of a saddle. Trust me. Did you know that the winter of 08-09 was very windy most days riding west on Main Street? But in the winter of 09-10 not so much. You notice different things on a bike—subtle, sublime things often—and so it follows that you ride a bike differently than a car drives you.
I’m all for congenial dialogue between motorists and cyclists, but if, at the end of the day, we’ve all got our warm fuzzies and the roads are still configured exactly as they are now - what’s the point? Really, all of us are the government, and the only way our community will be a safer and more pleasant place for all road users is if the city builds the infrastructure. Raising awareness only goes so far. I’m sure this weekend will be a source of several actionable ideas. Scott, I appreciate you sharing the date here.
There is a light there a 9th and Cherry. It seems to me that, in order for the bike to hit the cab broadside, the cab must have already been in the intersection, otherwise, the cab would have hit the bike with its front bumpers. Does the ticket mean that the cab was turning against the light?
cab did not have the lead green to turn left, thus needed to yield to any oncoming traffic before turning left
The one way street were sure a disaster downtown.
Tire tracks all across your back
quote: “A good start would be to make Main Street 1-way east-bound from UVa to downtown…”
Any cyclists would be going up Main Street the wrong direction all day long. Because they and pedestrians both know there is no law enforcement exercised in this city against bicycles and pedestrians.
And the biker was clearly in view when the cab proceeded through the light?
Im with you JD.. you took the words right out of my mouth!
Quote: “Any cyclists would be going up Main Street the wrong direction all day long.”
So, let cyclists do that. That’s on them. I’d just like for all traffic to flow better (traffic=cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians). Not many cyclists would ride this way—you have the incentive not to do this because you could get killed!
As to the question of law enforcement, we don’t need to have the same rules apply to bikes as to cars. Bikes and cars work and feel in fundamentally different ways and are subject to MUCH different risks. If we have bikes follow the same rules, I would encourage bikes to start taking up whole lanes of traffic and subject cars to their ebbs and flows. This would be legal on many of our thin streets w/o a bike lane:
Per 46.2-905, it’s okay to not ride “as close as safely practicable to the right curb” when (among other conditions) “substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right curb or edge.” 46.2-905 continues: “For purposes of this section, a “substandard width lane” is a lane too narrow for a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped and another VEHICLE to pass safely side by side within the lane.” [Emphasis mine].
About the idea of 100% perfect causation and correlation of law enforcement and safety: the cyclist and the driver at Main and 4th both didn’t appear to break any laws. Presumably, the cyclist thought he could safely pass on the right (legal) but tragically made a fatal error in judgment (not illegal)—to suggest otherwise would suggest he was suicidal. And from the evidence, it seems that the truck gave warning of his turn and presumably checked to make sure the intersection was clear (i.e. made a legal turn).
Imagine how things could have been different just if the bike and the truck were spread out. I don’t know how they got so close, but I could imagine being on my bike west bound on Main crossing Ridge/McIntire next to a big truck stopped at the light. Might be nice to blow the red light if the intersection is clear and get a little ahead of the truck to give us both some breathing room. Why is this okay for a bike? Because a 200 pound bike/rider is not going to ever cause the damage that a 2,000+ car would by running a red light (except to himself). Cars (usually) don’t run red lights because the risk of damage to themselves and OTHERS outweighs any benefit. Bikes sometimes run red lights because the cyclist sees that there is little risk to himself but more importantly extremely little risk to OTHERS. Traffic controls mitigate property damage, which is why they are useful to cars and trucks and society. I don’t think traffic controls were ever designed as a test of the moral fiber of cyclists.
Based on the story, the cabbie made a left turn cutting in front of the oncoming bike, a clear violation of right of way law and one I encounter regularly as a motorist and as a cyclist. Typically the left turn violator doesn’t use the turn signal and one has to use one’s powers of divination to know their intent to turn. As an anecdotal point, I seldom see taxi drivers use signals and consider them among the worst “slob driver” offenders. Other groups, some who are among taxi drivers, but who I cannot name due to political factors, are also among prime never-signal offenders.
So, unlike the West Main St. death, this case doesn’t appear to be about an irresponsible cyclist.
The cyclist was heading east on Cherry toward 5th St SW and went through a green light at the intersection. The cab was headed in the opposite direction and turned left across the cyclist’s lane. He wasn’t turning at the light, but just before the light into the Cherry Avenue Shopping Center at the entrance next to the gas station. There was no way the cyclist could avoid a collision with the cab.
Also, it turns out her finger wasn’t broken. She just ended up with lots of bruises and a sprained wrist. Very lucky, considering she flew over the car at 15-20mph and landed on the other side.
Gasbag, why the perpetual vendetta against bicyclists and pedestrians? Are you blind to the traffic violations committed by motorists?
Angel Eyes,
C’mon, please identify this other group.
It’s surely safe to say, “Volvo owners.”
Did, easy question to answer. Because both groups pay no attention to the laws that apply to them. And they do this because they know there is no law enforcement whatsoever directed at cyclists and pedestrians in the City of Charlottesville.
In the summer of 2009, a cyclist passed me on the right as I was turning into my office. If I had not been watching and expecting the cyclist to screw up. this would have been an identical accident to what took place on Main Street when the kid got killed. I most certainly would have been cleared of any wrongdoing, but I would have had to live with it the rest of my life if he had flown through the air 40 feet and broke his neck.
There’s going to be serious pedestrian and bicycle mishaps in this city until the local police start some type of law enforcement against both groups. The average citizen can’t get by with running over pedestrians like cop shoppes cars do. :)
Gasbag, why, oh why do you continue to give a pass to motorists?
I don’t disagree with you that some bicyclists and pedestrians do not observe traffic laws, but you never address the same issues vis-a-vis motorists. How about some motorists speeding, running stop signs and red lights, talking on a cell phone, texting, driving under the influence?
You undercut your arguments against bicyclists and pedestrians when you fail to see the whole traffic picture. My conclusion is that your bias is so strong, so unmovable that you will not even consider that some motorists are also part of the problem.
Afraid to Say;
Not Volvo owners, though female Volvo owners are prime offenders of distracted driving due to constant cell phone use.
But, regret I cannot be more specific about the other. I will give you a hint though. Who is most likely to cut you off at an intersection by turning left in front of you without signaling, and then gets mad AT YOU for getting in his/her way?
quote: “…some bicyclists and pedestrians do not observe traffic laws…”
Incorrect. Replace the word SOME above with MOST please. :)
The main difference or reason I give motorists a free pass is the fact that a motorist will get a ticket if they pull up to a red light, look both ways, and procced to run said traffic light. Traffic laws are enforced against motor vehicles. If you pay close attention, cops have become revenue agents lately. And they target motor vehicles, not bicycles and pedestrians.
I have watched cops totally ignore cyclists running red lights. I have also watched cops as they observe traffic having to come to a complete stop when a pedestrian has ignored their Don’t Walk signal and steps out into the street. Writing a ticket for jaywalking is way beneath our rambo rookie cops nowadays. Or so they think. But, I guess the police chiefs agree with them,