In DC and around the country, motorists continue to park in bike lanes, despite the fact that the practice is both illegal and unsafe. When a car is blocking a bike lane and a cyclist is forced into lanes of traffic, this disruption clearly presents a dangerous and avoidable situation for the cyclist as well as the drivers on the road.
Sharing Trails Responsibly
In June 2012, a jogger turned around suddenly on the Roanoke River Greenway in Roanoke, Virginia and caused a cyclist to fall off of her bicycle. The cyclist, Ann Shepherd, sustained injuries including bleeding and bruising of the brain. She brought a suit against the jogger, 62-year-old William Bundy, stating that Bundy was negligent and that his failure to signal caused the collision. Shepherd sought $750,000, citing $81,000 in medical bills and $7,600 in lost wages. Last month, a jury determined that Bundy was negligent and ordered him to pay Shepherd $300,000.
Long-Awaited Capital Bikeshare Expansion Coming This Fall
While there are already more than 3,000 bicycles and 350 Capital Bikeshare stations in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, and Montgomery County, the much-anticipated expansion of the system has been on hold since the main supplier of the bicycles, Public Bike System Co., declared bankruptcy in early 2014. Capital Bikeshare (CaBi), which has been a huge success in the DC area, currently has nearly 30,000 members and has supported more than 10 million trips since its establishment in 2010. Thanks to a new agreement with Motivate, the wait for new bikes and stations will soon be over.
8 Things To Do Right Away if You’ve Been Injured in a Bike Accident
Being involved in a bicycle accident can be frightening and traumatic, and what you do in the minutes and hours after the accident can make a big difference in terms of your recovery and your insurance claim. Know your rights, and should you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, follow these eight steps to protect yourself.