Cyclist Hit – 7:30 Monday Columbia Pike and S Rolfe St

[Raymo853]

Saw a very sad sight while driving to work this morning. At around 7:30 I saw the aftermath of a young women hit by a car. It appears, from my assessment of her and the car placement, she was riding the right side sidewalk along Columbia Pike. A car pulling out of S Rolfe (or another nearby driveway or street) hit her. Based on how she was holding herself, she had dislocated a shoulder in the fall. The driver was out talking to her and I he had his phone out I assume/hope calling for EMTs.

Now my questions. What should we do in such situations? I wanted to stop, but to what end? I did not see anything so could be no use there. IF I had been on my bike I would have but even then what can one really do…?

Topic

[annoyedindc]

Ugh, I hate that intersetction. You have not very good sight lines, a narrow sidewalk, and drivers trying to figure out that new lane control lighting system with the 27 interchange.

In a car, I don’t think much can be done. If you stop, you’re adding another obstacle to EMS arriving. On a bike though, if you have first aid items with you I’d stop. Maybe help cover a wound, or just provide some moral support.

[KLizotte]

According to the presentation I attended about bike accidents, the best thing you can do in this circumstance is gather evidence and make sure the cyclist receives proper medical care.

The latter is obvious. The former means taking down the info on the driver, taking lots of pics of the scene (preferably using the cyclists’ phone), getting the contact info from any bystanders. And making sure the cops come to file a report. Insurance companies won’t settle without that report.

After being hit and injured, the cyclist is usually too dazed and injured to acquire all of this very important info.

This advice comes from Bruce Deming who specializes in helping bikers injured in accidents.

[Steve O]

I also think you could be helpful in making sure the bike is properly accounted for. Not sure how that works, but I always feel nervous that an injured party is taken to the hospital, and then who knows what happens to the bike?

[dbb]

@Steve O 138443 wrote:

I also think you could be helpful in making sure the bike is properly accounted for. Not sure how that works, but I always feel nervous that an injured party is taken to the hospital, and then who knows what happens to the bike?

Good point. Cyclists should stuff a business card in the seat bag to help the bike to get back to the owner. I took possession of a bike a while back and the cyclist finally discovered my business card in his backpack. I didn’t think to get a photo of his license or anything that would have allowed me to contact him. As you’d imagine, privacy concerns pretty much prevented the police and medical responders from being much help. I hosted the bike at my house for about a week before he contacted me.

[KLizotte]

@dbb 138454 wrote:

Good point. Cyclists should stuff a business card in the seat bag to help the bike to get back to the owner. I took possession of a bike a while back and the cyclist finally discovered my business card in his backpack. I didn’t think to get a photo of his license or anything that would have allowed me to contact him. As you’d imagine, privacy concerns pretty much prevented the police and medical responders from being much help. I hosted the bike at my house for about a week before he contacted me.

A laminated luggage tag might work as well. Registering your bike with the local authorities if they have a bike registry might be helpful as well.

[elbows]

Thanks for informing us of this unfortunate incident.

Ten years ago when I was taken to the hospital for my accident which occurred very close to Rolfe on the Pike under similar circumstances, ACPD delivered my bicycle to my home for me. I really wish ACPD would do more to protect cyclists, and I especially wish Arlington would move forward with some alternatives to biking the Pike, but I did really appreciate that.

Hope the young woman is ok.

[Tim Kelley]

@elbows 138524 wrote:

I really wish ACPD would do more to protect cyclists

They heard you!

[JimF22003]

When I had a crash on Wilson Blvd a few years ago, the cops took the bike to an impound lot in Shirlington. Bike was in better shape than I was. It was cool that my Garmin was running during and after the crash, and it tracked the path it took in the back of the police cruiser to the hospital, and then to the impound lot.

[elbows]

@Tim Kelley 138528 wrote:

They heard you!

Thanks; I’m glad to see that. Having ACPD on bicycles would go a long way as well. A few years ago when I complained to ACPD about close passing on the Pike, I was told that it wasn’t illegal and then that there would be no way to enforce the law. I’ll bet if cops were on bikes in more than perfunctory situations, they could figure out a way.

[KLizotte]

@elbows 138524 wrote:

and I especially wish Arlington would move forward with some alternatives to biking the Pike, but I did really appreciate that.

Actually Arlington has started building and putting in signage for the Columbia Pike bike blvds which parallel the Pike. I haven’t looked at a map to see how much they have finished thus far but I did use one on the southern side of the Pike a few weeks ago for the first time and thought it was great. I stumbled upon it by accident actually. Hopefully they will be able to implement all of the bike blvds asap as far as they can along the Pike.

[elbows]

@KLizotte 138609 wrote:

Actually Arlington has started building and putting in signage for the Columbia Pike bike blvds which parallel the Pike. I haven’t looked at a map to see how much they have finished thus far but I did use one on the southern side of the Pike a few weeks ago for the first time and thought it was great. I stumbled upon it by accident actually. Hopefully they will be able to implement all of the bike blvds asap as far as they can along the Pike.

I appreciate the response. What I meant (and failed to say) is that there are no alternatives in the Wash Blvd to Courthouse section which is a stressful area for cyclists and is where this accident occurred.

[Judd]

@elbows 138778 wrote:

I appreciate the response. What I meant (and failed to say) is that there are no alternatives in the Wash Blvd to Courthouse section which is a stressful area for cyclists and is where this accident occurred.

I can confirm what elbows says. There’s a gap from S Courthouse to Orme in having a low stress route. It’s particularly rough at the exit off of the Pike on to the ramp to 395 as the right lane splits into two lanes. I’ve had some difficulty being able to safely take the left hand lane so that I can take the left turn on to Orme to get to the low traffic road between Arlington Cemetery and the Air Force Memorial. I’m relatively comfortable in traffic. I typically see other bikers taking the sidewalk instead. I’m not exactly sure what could be changed to make this stretch less stressful except for my dream of having a protected bike lane down the center of the entire Pike.

[Author]

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