Be careful biking with your family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to blame the parents here. First, they should have waited until it was clear. Next, dad should have seen that the SUV was coming. The kid should not have crossed until dad got to the the other side, so he could tell her it was safe to go. When Mom crosses the street, she never looked to the right. Did she not learn something seconds before? They are lucky they all didn’t get run over.

You could do that, but you'd be wrong. And probably should put down your phone while driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, you never let a small child cross a street alone, the taller parent should have dismounted and walked the child across. Yes, the car seems reckless too but they couldn't see the little kid behind the vehicle in the turning lane. So lucky!

But if the child got hit, would the car be at fault? I don’t see why it actually would

Striking a child in a crosswalk???? Yeah. Driver at fault.

I can't believe that someone with a driver's license actually does not KNOW that pedestrian/biker in the crosswalk always has the right of way, always.

Curious if pp learned to drive in Maryland. From other threads I've seen on here, it seems that driver education in that state is minimal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Absolutely agree. There was a stopped car to the SUV's left. It was incredibly reckless for the SUV driver to blow past a stopped car without understanding why that car was stopped. I hate people who don't notice their surroundings when they drive. It's happenned to me in parking lots before. People suck.

Raise your hand if you have a driver's license and you know that it's against the law in Maryland to pass a car stopped at a crosswalk (marked OR unmarked).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t seem like an appropriate road for a family bike ride with such a little biker. Maybe they’re only on it for a very short distance to get from their house to a quieter street or a trail, but cars go pretty fast, there are hills and curves, no bike lanes. Yeesh.

Did you watch the video?? They were on a bike trail. Simply crossing the busy road to return to the trail.

They should have gotten off their bikes and walked. 100%.

Why do you think it's safer to walk your bike across a road than to ride your bike?

This is BASIC urban biking 101, and if you don't know the answer, I sure hope you aren't biking your kids all over DC.

But, in the spirit of public education: biking through a crosswalk (especially entering from a sidewalk or bike trail) is dangerous because you're moving at a speed the car doesn't expect. A car is looking for someone moving at PEDESTRIAN speed, not bike speed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Road biking is so, so dangerous. I wish our roads were more bike-friendly, but they're just not.

They were biking on a bike trail. They were simply crossing a street, at pedestrian speed. They waited for traffic to stop and then entered crosswalk. They should have been pretty visible with bike and colored gear. Assume black suv was on phone.

No, they weren't going at pedestrian speed. And even if they were - would you let your 4 year old walk ahead of you in a cross walk across such a pedestrian unfriendly street? I don't think so.

What I wouldn't do:

1. Drive at 35 mph (or faster) in a turn lane, as though it were a through lane.
2. Pass a stopped car at a very-well-marked crosswalk.

The second, especially, is a terrible idea. It's called "multiple threat", and it kills people. I don't want to kill people when I drive.

Also it's illegal (see MD Transp Code § 21-502 (2017)): (c) Passing of vehicle stopped for pedestrian prohibited. -- If, at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, a vehicle is stopped to let a pedestrian cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

The transportation department responsible for the road should narrow the road to one lane each way at the trail crossing, to eliminate multiple-threat crashes.

Yes, the road design could be better and the car should have been more cautious. But parents must observe basic safe biking rules! That includes WALKING your small child across cross-walks that cross thoroughfares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to blame the parents here. First, they should have waited until it was clear. Next, dad should have seen that the SUV was coming. The kid should not have crossed until dad got to the the other side, so he could tell her it was safe to go. When Mom crosses the street, she never looked to the right. Did she not learn something seconds before? They are lucky they all didn’t get run over.

Do you think the SUV driver did nothing wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Me too.

Well, of course. Aren’t you always careful when you drive?

The SUV driver was at fault. The parents could have been much more careful but it is the most basic responsibility of the driver to be safe. Not to get where you are going as fast as possible. If you can’t be safe at 35 mph, slow down. The speed limit is a limit, not a target. If you cannot see the entire striped crosswalk when you are about to cross it, slow down or stop until you can cross safely. This is Driving 101. The driver- and car-centric culture we have allows people to feel their privilege to drive outweighs their responsibility to be safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

wtf? you just listed 10 things the parents did wrong, then concluded the driver was 100% at fault?

Not that poster, but yea, the SUV was 100% at fault. Yes, the parents could have been more cautious, but there is zero excuse for the SUV to blow through that crosswalk without ensuring it was clear.

Do you understand what fault means? The fact that the SUV was at fault does NOT mean the parents were not at fault. They were BOTH at fault. And since the parents have a higher duty to protect their child, I'd argue that they did a morally worse thing. Legally, I don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Absolutely agree. There was a stopped car to the SUV's left. It was incredibly reckless for the SUV driver to blow past a stopped car without understanding why that car was stopped. I hate people who don't notice their surroundings when they drive. It's happenned to me in parking lots before. People suck.

Raise your hand if you have a driver's license and you know that it's against the law in Maryland to pass a car stopped at a crosswalk (marked OR unmarked).

I have a driver's license. I couldn't have told you for sure whether it's legal in Maryland to pass a car stopped a crosswalk, but I can tell you I never pass a car stopped at a crosswalk at an otherwise uncontrolled crossing without at least slowing down enough to make sure the crosswalk is clear first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

wtf? you just listed 10 things the parents did wrong, then concluded the driver was 100% at fault?

Not that poster, but yea, the SUV was 100% at fault. Yes, the parents could have been more cautious, but there is zero excuse for the SUV to blow through that crosswalk without ensuring it was clear.

Do you understand what fault means? The fact that the SUV was at fault does NOT mean the parents were not at fault. They were BOTH at fault. And since the parents have a higher duty to protect their child, I'd argue that they did a morally worse thing. Legally, I don't know.

Legally, the SUV driver would be wrong. The law requires them to stop at the crosswalk to yield to those crossing, and the SUV didn't do that. It doesn't matter how many excuses they make for why they didn't see the girl, they are legally obligated to make sure the crosswalk is clear before proceeding through it. The SUV driver did not do that here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

wtf? you just listed 10 things the parents did wrong, then concluded the driver was 100% at fault?

Not that poster, but yea, the SUV was 100% at fault. Yes, the parents could have been more cautious, but there is zero excuse for the SUV to blow through that crosswalk without ensuring it was clear.

Do you understand what fault means? The fact that the SUV was at fault does NOT mean the parents were not at fault. They were BOTH at fault. And since the parents have a higher duty to protect their child, I'd argue that they did a morally worse thing. Legally, I don't know.

Legally, the SUV driver would be wrong. The law requires them to stop at the crosswalk to yield to those crossing, and the SUV didn't do that. It doesn't matter how many excuses they make for why they didn't see the girl, they are legally obligated to make sure the crosswalk is clear before proceeding through it. The SUV driver did not do that here.

Does legal liability absolve the parents of supervising their children in a safe manner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

wtf? you just listed 10 things the parents did wrong, then concluded the driver was 100% at fault?

Not that poster, but yea, the SUV was 100% at fault. Yes, the parents could have been more cautious, but there is zero excuse for the SUV to blow through that crosswalk without ensuring it was clear.

Do you understand what fault means? The fact that the SUV was at fault does NOT mean the parents were not at fault. They were BOTH at fault. And since the parents have a higher duty to protect their child, I'd argue that they did a morally worse thing. Legally, I don't know.

Legally the driver is at fault. 100%. Drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. If a driver can not see the crosswalk, because another car HAS ALREADY STOPPED, it's incumbent on them to slow down enough so that they can see the whole crosswalk and ensure it is clear. The fact that you don't know that would have me questioning your judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t seem like an appropriate road for a family bike ride with such a little biker. Maybe they’re only on it for a very short distance to get from their house to a quieter street or a trail, but cars go pretty fast, there are hills and curves, no bike lanes. Yeesh.

Did you watch the video?? They were on a bike trail. Simply crossing the busy road to return to the trail.

They should have gotten off their bikes and walked. 100%.

Why do you think it's safer to walk your bike across a road than to ride your bike?

This is BASIC urban biking 101, and if you don't know the answer, I sure hope you aren't biking your kids all over DC.

But, in the spirit of public education: biking through a crosswalk (especially entering from a sidewalk or bike trail) is dangerous because you're moving at a speed the car doesn't expect. A car is looking for someone moving at PEDESTRIAN speed, not bike speed.

First, they stopped, didn't they? And the little kid was hardly speeding across the trail crossing at Lance Armstrong speed.

Second, drivers at bicycle trail crossings darn well better be looking for someone moving at bicycle speed. If they're unable to do that, they shouldn't be driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Legally the driver is at fault. 100%. Drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. If a driver can not see the crosswalk, because another car HAS ALREADY STOPPED, it's incumbent on them to slow down enough so that they can see the whole crosswalk and ensure it is clear. The fact that you don't know that would have me questioning your judgment.

In fact, it's LEGALLY REQUIRED for them to STOP. A driver may not pass another car stopped at a crosswalk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Absolutely agree. There was a stopped car to the SUV's left. It was incredibly reckless for the SUV driver to blow past a stopped car without understanding why that car was stopped. I hate people who don't notice their surroundings when they drive. It's happenned to me in parking lots before. People suck.

Raise your hand if you have a driver's license and you know that it's against the law in Maryland to pass a car stopped at a crosswalk (marked OR unmarked).

I have a driver's license. I couldn't have told you for sure whether it's legal in Maryland to pass a car stopped a crosswalk, but I can tell you I never pass a car stopped at a crosswalk at an otherwise uncontrolled crossing without at least slowing down enough to make sure the crosswalk is clear first.

Now you know!

§ 21-502. Pedestrians' right-of-way in crosswalks
Universal Citation: MD Transp Code § 21-502 (2017)
(a) In general. --
(1) This subsection does not apply where:
(i) A pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing is provided, as described in § 21-503 (b) of this subtitle; or
(ii) A traffic control signal is in operation.
(2) The driver of a vehicle shall come to a stop when a pedestrian crossing the roadway in a crosswalk is:
(i) On the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; or
(ii) Approaching from an adjacent lane on the other half of the roadway.
(b) Duty of pedestrian. -- A pedestrian may not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.
(c) Passing of vehicle stopped for pedestrian prohibited. -- If, at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, a vehicle is stopped to let a pedestrian cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
(d) Violation of section that contributes to accident prohibited. -- A person may not commit a violation of subsection (a) or (c) of this section that contributes to an accident.
(e) Penalties for violation of section. -- A person convicted of a violation of subsection (d) of this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 months or a fine not exceeding $ 500 or both.