Be careful biking with your family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm why is the kid going out on the bike by herself? You get off the bike and walk with your child. If there is no stop sign or flashing lights, drivers typically do not stop at the cross walk. I don’t think you have to, correct? And it looks like the father had safely made it across so the truck that was stopped, blocked the view.

Crosswalks do not have stop-signs. If you really think you can barrel through a marked crosswalk because it doesn't have flashing lights you should turn your license. Keep that supremely dangerous "I dare you to step in the crosswalk" crap in MD.

[Anonymous]

Why was that stopped car in that lane anyway? Isn't it a turn only lane? He crosses the solid yellow line and hangs out in the turn lane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so scary!! The diver was 100% in the wrong.

At the same time, bikes should be WALKED across traffic lanes. Is this not a thing anymore? Her parents should have also accompanied the small child across the road.

If the plates are legible, can the police ticket the car?

Honest question here - how does walking a bike across a crosswalk make it safer?

It's a good question. I grew up "knowing" this and I still do it today as an adult. I thought it was becuase when you are walking you are going slower and are not darting in front of cars. I googled and this is what I read:

https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/bicycle-safety/on-the-road/#.W74qRRNKiRs
"Walk your bike on pedestrian crosswalks and overpasses. This gives you the right-of-way as a pedestrian. If you ride your bike across crosswalks and overpasses, you may not have the legal right-of-way."

[Anonymous]

We saw this exact scenario play out at a DC intersection next to the White House. Bus in middle lane blocked view of peds, car in right lane saw green light and couldnt see peds, Guy got knocked about 12 feet - would have been worse but the car did manage to brake just before impact. Terrible thing to witness and I recall being mad at both the ped for crossing when the light was changing and the driver for not exercising more caution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why was that stopped car in that lane anyway? Isn't it a turn only lane? He crosses the solid yellow line and hangs out in the turn lane?

Presumably he intended to turn left after the crosswalk.

[Anonymous]

Everyone was at fault. The driver should have stopped. The bikes should have been walked across the street after it was clear that all lanes of traffic had stopped. Always assume there's another car that you can't see. It's why I look both ways on a one way street. You never know.

[Anonymous]

Why are the dash-camera driver and driver of the white van/trailer in front both driving in a turning lane? It seems they both crossed solid yellow lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say the message here is be careful when you are driving.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are the dash-camera driver and driver of the white van/trailer in front both driving in a turning lane? It seems they both crossed solid yellow lines.

Turning lanes are meant as a 35 mph thru lane. Which is what both driver were treating it as.

[Anonymous]

This car was 100% at fault. You can nitpick a hundred different ways the parents could have been even more cautious to prevent this, but the car was driving recklessly and almost killed a kid.

You can see they are all trailing each other. Dad doesn't realize how far back the little one is, the girl doesn't slow down enough before she enters the cross walk. Mom sees the car and does almost jump off her bike but would have been way too late. It was about 3 or 4 small things that if NOT there, would have kept this from being so close. Yes, I'd make sure the kid knows to never enter the crosswalk without stopping at the side first and getting the go-ahead from mom or dad. Yes I make sure my kids are next to me, with an iron grip on their hands when we walk across. But I still do not blame the parents at all here.

The car was driving recklessly and should be ticketed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this intersection this crosswalk - it's in Takoma Park and there is currently construction around there which complicates things. If you were this parent - would you want this posted on the local listserv? I think it would be good for the family to see it but don't want to be instrusive. Maybe a post that links to this thread? What do you think?

What would be your objective in posting it to the local listserv?

Somebody said they thought it would be good for the family to see it.

Responding to another PP - speed limit is 35 there.

That's way too fast for a road with a trail crossing like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this intersection this crosswalk - it's in Takoma Park and there is currently construction around there which complicates things. If you were this parent - would you want this posted on the local listserv? I think it would be good for the family to see it but don't want to be instrusive. Maybe a post that links to this thread? What do you think?

What would be your objective in posting it to the local listserv?

It’s a Public Service. Please absolutely post it anywhere people will see it. This is incredibly important to remind drivers to pay attention. My high school aged son was hit and thrown from his bike in the exact same scenario as posted here. The only reason he wasn’t killed is because traffic was slowing. The driver said he just didn’t look and never saw my son (even though the other lane traffic had stopped — just as in this video).

Please post everywhere and often. It’s a good reminder.
Sort of like those eerie silent clips of people drowning that pop up every summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this intersection this crosswalk - it's in Takoma Park and there is currently construction around there which complicates things. If you were this parent - would you want this posted on the local listserv? I think it would be good for the family to see it but don't want to be instrusive. Maybe a post that links to this thread? What do you think?

What would be your objective in posting it to the local listserv?

Somebody said they thought it would be good for the family to see it.

Responding to another PP - speed limit is 35 there.

I think the family is already well-aware of what happened, why do they need to see a replay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This car was 100% at fault. You can nitpick a hundred different ways the parents could have been even more cautious to prevent this, but the car was driving recklessly and almost killed a kid.

You can see they are all trailing each other. Dad doesn't realize how far back the little one is, the girl doesn't slow down enough before she enters the cross walk. Mom sees the car and does almost jump off her bike but would have been way too late. It was about 3 or 4 small things that if NOT there, would have kept this from being so close. Yes, I'd make sure the kid knows to never enter the crosswalk without stopping at the side first and getting the go-ahead from mom or dad. Yes I make sure my kids are next to me, with an iron grip on their hands when we walk across. But I still do not blame the parents at all here.

The car was driving recklessly and should be ticketed.

The DRIVER was driving recklessly. The DRIVER was at fault. It wasn't a self-driving car. Cars don't do this - PEOPLE do this, while driving cars. And people can change their behaviors, either voluntarily or through traffic enforcement. Ideally before they kill or seriously injure someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the dash-camera driver and driver of the white van/trailer in front both driving in a turning lane? It seems they both crossed solid yellow lines.

Turning lanes are NOT meant as a 35 mph thru lane. Which is what both driver were treating it as.