A Sad Day For Bicyclist In DC

As a bicyclist who rides her bike five days a week in rush hour traffic you never like to hear about fatal biking accidents.  What’s even more disturbing is hearing that a bike rider was hit by a five-ton military vehicle.

President Obama meet with 44 nations to discuss nuclear security during the Nuclear Security Summit here in Washington, D.C. During the two-day event, entire sections of DC had been on virtual lock-down, with roads barricaded and a heavy police and military presence in and around the Washington Convention Center where leaders and officials gathered.  With all of these safety measures in place and less drivers on the road I felt totally and completely safe driving my bike to and from Union Station.  I passed the police, the barricades and the National Guard with no incident.  In fact, when I came home Monday night I thought, wouldn’t it be great if we had this presence every day?  That is until I heard the news that a bicyclist was hit by a military vehicle, instantly killing the biker.

The Major Crimes Division of the DC Police Department and the DC National Guard are still investigating the fatal accident.  The National Guard truck struck and killed the bicyclist at the intersection of New York Avenue and 12th Street NW.  I’m somewhat less confident in our military and Police Department and I am much more cautious as I ride to and from on my daily commute.

Here’s more on the story from the Washington Post and the memorial in honor of the bicyclist:

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has placed a memorial to cyclist Constance Holden, 68, near 12th Street and New York Avenue NW, where she was killed Monday evening.

The white bike, which we’ve seen elsewhere around the District near the sites of fatalities, reminds us of the need for all travelers to pay attention to one another, even under the stresses of getting around in a crowded city.

Holden, of Mount Pleasant, was struck by a D.C. National Guard truck assigned to the Nuclear Security Summit. She was the first cyclist to die in the city this year. The incident is under D.C. police investigation.

I had walked through the area about a half an hour earlier. The mix of drivers, cyclists and walkers was somewhat diminished because so many people worked from home, but the intersections still were quite active, with motorcades and security forces occasionally passing through.

The cyclists’ association has long urged all of us, no matter what our mode of travel, to be aware of our surroundings and cautious in our navigation.

Glen Harrison, who directs the association’s education program, passed along some safety reminders for everyone.

Cyclists
Be seen. If you can‟t see the driver of a vehicle either directly, or through a window or in a side-view mirror, then they cannot see you. Make eye contact if possible. Wear high-visibility clothing and use front and rear lights when riding at night or in the early morning.

Ride away from the “door zone.” Give enough space between yourself and parked cars that a car door can open unobstructed. If necessary, take your own lane of traffic. It’s your right.

Obey traffic rules. Inside the central business district in Washington, bicyclists are not allowed on the sidewalk. On the road, you are subject to the same rights, responsibilities and rules as motor vehicles.

Drivers
Watch for cyclists. Check your side mirrors when turning. In urban areas, bikes and cars can travel at comparable speeds so just because you passed a cyclist doesn’t mean he or she disappeared. Always use your turn signals when turning. Take the time to look before you open your car door.

Reduce your speed. Driving slowly and carefully around other road users saves lives.

Share the road. There are more than 72,000 bike trips a day in the Washington region. Give cyclists three feet when passing. The extra time it takes you to drive safely around a cyclist could save a life.

The association has a guide called Safe Bicycling in the Washington Area that I think is very helpful for all travelers.