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PrintCOLUMBIA — A bicyclist was injured Thursday afternoon in a collision with a vehicle at the intersection of Fifth and East Walnut Streets.
James C. Campbell Jr., 18, of Columbia, traveled off the north sidewalk and into the intersection, as Joan Leeper, 49, prepared to turn north onto Fifth Street in her vehicle. The bicyclist and vehicle collided at the middle of the intersection, Columbia police Sgt. Will Green said in a news release.
Paramedics transported Campbell to University Hospital with minor injuries. Police have not issued any summons in the incident, pending further investigation, Green said.
Leeper, of Columbia, was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.
Comments
Yet, another reason this intersection should have a four-way stop. But, in the name of car counts, traffic engineers will fight it.
I always hate to see a cyclist get hit, no matter the circumstance,but the misconception by many cyclists that riding on the sidewalk is safer than in the road is at fault. Sidewalk riding is far more dangerous because it takes away the cyclist's best defense: visibility & predictability. Taking a good bicycle education class like the ones offered by the Getabout Columbia Project and Columbia's Parks & Rec Department would go a long way towards reducing accidents like this one.
The reason most drivers get frustrated at cyclists is that they are worried about hurting (or killing) them and the guilt associated with that. Defensive cycling needs to be practiced just like defensive driving. Don't zip around across traffic or you can get squished.
Slow down at intersections, look out for cars when crossing, etc. just like a pedestrian (although some college kids in this town don't do that very well either).
Once motorists aren't so scared they're going to run over a cyclist, then they will be more welcoming to share the road with them.
Of course you're right, Brian, but a cyclist should not do anything other than exactly what any other driver would do. Cyclists are vehicles and should act as such. Sidewalk riding is dangerous, but so are some "defensive" maneuvers that differ from normal road behavior. Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.