Bike accident

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  • April 16, 2015 at 8:58 pm #916719
    mdoan96
    Participant

    The high point of my biking was probably the time I rode for a block next to Lance Armstrong as he warmed up for the Tour of California in 2010. The low point came yesterday in a head on bike collision on the 15th Street bikeway near the Treasury, and medics tore off my Tour of California t-shirt to treat me. I think i or the other rider, who wasn’t hurt badly, were trying to avoid a tourist. I did not break any bones,but I had a big cut on my head and fingers in both hands hurt from probably a pinched nerve in my neck. I left GW hospital this afternoon. Over all, I feel lucky. And I must be important because the Secret Service first came to assist me. I don’t think i would have been hurt if i was 35 because i have a lot of degenertive discs in my neck, at age 73. Also i am questioning the wisdom of these very narrow bike lanes. I was also pleased that researchers for the Highway Insurance Institute interviewed me about the ccident.

    Mike Doan,Arlington

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  • April 16, 2015 at 9:24 pm #1028257
    wheelswings
    Participant

    Oh no. Very sorry to hear of your accident…that sounds scary. It must have been a bloody mess given your head wound. Were there any motor vehicles involved, or only the other rider and the tourist? I agree that the 15th Street lanes can feel treacherous at times. Sending healing wishes. w&w

    April 16, 2015 at 9:36 pm #1028258
    Terpfan
    Participant

    Glad to hear you’re alright, but that sucks. I used to ride that cycletrack daily and know exactly what you mean about tourists stepping into it, particularly at crosswalks. I had my share of very close encounters there. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

    April 16, 2015 at 9:41 pm #1028260
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    I think they could add those small, thin chains in between the metal bollards. I’ve seen them elsewhere in the area. They are strung loosely so that they droop down and hang in an arc. They would keep pedestrians from venturing into the bikeway while maintaining the aesthetics of the road. I don’t think they would pose a danger to cyclists, because no cyclists would be riding through those bollards, between the sidewalk and the bikeway.

    April 17, 2015 at 12:28 pm #1028284
    Dickie
    Participant

    So sorry to hear about your accident, and wishing you a fast recovery so we can hear more stories about your riding history. The silver lining is that this terrible incident got you to post on our forum, so welcome and stay in touch.

    April 17, 2015 at 4:07 pm #1028306
    KLizotte
    Participant

    Ouch! So sorry to hear about your accident; I’m glad that it was not more serious. Am also glad that the Secret Service jumped into help; I wouldn’t have expected that. Yes, the tourists crossing/walking in the bikeway is a major problem along that stretch. Sigh.

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery and I hope this does not deter you from pedaling again. Please join us at the next happy hour or for any of the numerous coffee club meetups in the area.

    April 17, 2015 at 5:47 pm #1028319
    scoot
    Participant

    What’s particularly bad about that spot is the fact that the northbound bike lane is between southbound general lanes and the southbound bike lane. This leads to close head-on encounters, and makes it very difficult and unsafe to bail to the street to avoid any obstacles. Combine it with turning drivers unaware they need to check both directions for bicycle traffic, then add lots of pedestrians, many of whom are tourists: it’s a recipe for disaster.

    April 17, 2015 at 6:38 pm #1028322
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    This is an example of what I’m talking about, with the chains between the metal bollards.

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]8380[/ATTACH]

    I think it looks distinguished, better than just the plain bollards there. Unlike other locations (such as the pedestrian plaza on Pennsylvania Ave. in front of the White House), placing chains between the bollards would not pose a risk to cyclists. (At other locations, cyclists might ordinarily be traveling between the bollards and such chains would pose a significant safety risk to them, especially at twilight and nighttime hours.)

    The chains would be a clear signal to pedestrians (tourists) that they should not walk into the bikeway. It would take a fair amount of effort for most people to climb over or under the chains. (Small children would be able to sneak under the chains easily, but the parents should be holding onto their kids next to a busy road. In any case, it’s not children that I’ve seen in the bikeway. It’s usually adults.)

    String these chains along the entire stretch of bollards next to the Treasury Building. Of course, crosswalks would remain clear.

    This crash is terrible and I hope you recover fully. I think the chain idea could help to prevent future incidents from occurring at this very busy location, where there are so many cyclists, pedestrians and drivers on that block.

    – Does anyone know who has jurisdiction over that part of the bikeway? DDOT? NPS? Another federal agency? I believe it is DDOT. I once reported the crumbling concrete on the old bus pad next to the Treasury Dept. to the DC311 site. Eventually they dug up the concrete and replaced it with new asphalt. I will send my suggestion to them, pointing out the danger of not having those chains, because pedestrians frequently walk into the bikeway.

    April 17, 2015 at 8:08 pm #1028331
    dasgeh
    Participant

    I hope you’re suggesting to put chains between the bollards on the sidewalk (which is a great idea). Adding those chains between the plastic bollards that are between the cycletrack and the street would be very dangerous.

    April 17, 2015 at 8:26 pm #1028335
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    It wouldn’t even be possible to put heavy chains on the plastic bollards. They would all tip over from the weight of that much metal. I also specified that I was talking about the metal bollards.

    I sent a message to DDOT about this. I assume they will understand that I mean the metal bollards. I mentioned the need to separate pedestrians on the sidewalk from the cycletrack/bikeway. They will also recognize that the plastic bollards would not support metal chains.

    April 17, 2015 at 8:54 pm #1028341
    dasgeh
    Participant

    @PotomacCyclist 113986 wrote:

    I sent a message to DDOT about this. I assume they will understand that I mean the metal bollards. I mentioned the need to separate pedestrians on the sidewalk from the cycletrack/bikeway. They will also recognize that the plastic bollards would not support metal chains.

    You have a lot of faith in DDOT. More clarity is always better.

    April 17, 2015 at 9:04 pm #1028342
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    It’s not even possible to add chains onto the plastic bollards, not without completely replacing them. I don’t think they will do that.

    Based on the Street View image of the bollards on 15th St., it appears that the existing metal bollards already have loops for chains. So those wouldn’t need to be modified at all. Thus, the process of adding chains should be relatively simple. No modification or replacement of the metal bollards would be needed. The chains don’t need to be super-sturdy. They would only serve as a reminder to pedestrians to stay out of the bikeway. I think DDOT or whoever is in charge there, could add the chains at relatively little cost and with relatively little effort. They could accomplish the task in a day or two.

    April 19, 2015 at 11:34 am #1028379
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    Close-up of a bollard along the 15th St. cycletrack, next to the Treasury Building:

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]8388[/ATTACH]

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