This is the approximate site of yesterday's bicyclist accident. You are looking down Park Avenue, a one-way street and major arterial into downtown Minneapolis.
From RideBoldly, a cycling site/blog:
If you look at the configuration of the bike lane and the traffic lane
at this intersection, and, in fact, all the way along Park Avenue, this
tragic occurrence is not surprising. The lane configuration will
regularly put a bicyclist riding straight through in the path of
turning vehicles, contrary to the rules of strategic lane placement for
vehicular cycling.
Incidents like this are challenging, because the bike lane itself ends up being a part cause of the accident. A cyclist stopped at the light may be invisible to a vehicle stopped next to it, depending on lane width, placement, and even the height of the vehicle (like a truck). My advice to cyclists using such a lane with such engineering is to never stop AT the stop line. Be sure to be stopped in such a position that you have a clear view of the rear view mirror of the car in the adjoining lane - so the vehicle is ahead of you. Watch for turn signals. Making noise is also a good plan - sing, clap, whatever. You may look like a goof, but better a live goof than crushed by a truck.
Incidents like this are challenging, because the bike lane itself ends up being a part cause of the accident. A cyclist stopped at the light may be invisible to a vehicle stopped next to it, depending on lane width, placement, and even the height of the vehicle (like a truck). My advice to cyclists using such a lane with such engineering is to never stop AT the stop line. Be sure to be stopped in such a position that you have a clear view of the rear view mirror of the car in the adjoining lane - so the vehicle is ahead of you. Watch for turn signals. Making noise is also a good plan - sing, clap, whatever. You may look like a goof, but better a live goof than crushed by a truck.
Younger Son told me a lot of these safety tips when he called me yesterday with the news. I am reproducing it here in hopes that it may help someone else someday avoid an accident.
