I am writing in regards to a hit and run! Yes, a hit and run! A few years ago I wrote an article about my close call of being ran over by a car while walking across the crosswalk — and my light was green. So this time it was a hit and run and there were others who saw this happen!
I was riding my bike on the sidewalk by the bridge thinking there was no other safe place to be since it was rush hour, coming up to a parking lot. I saw the lady creeping out in her car to wait for a break into traffic by then I was close enough to judge it was OK to pass in front of the vehicle safely. By the time I was almost in front I looked to my left at her and she sped up, and she was looking to her right, not looking ahead while moving forward. If I wasn’t looking at what was going on I would certainly have been underneath if not DEAD! With my quick response and judgement I was able to escape with just being hit on the back wheel of my bike and knocked over on the sidewalk. A few feet after I gained control and stopped I looked back. She was riding off and didn’t stop to check if I was OK or if my bike was OK! There were other cyclists around and they looked at me and her, so needless to say I did not get the license plate number to report her. She took off that fast. Anyway, I’m glad I made it out unharmed.
I know, as a cyclist, motor vehicles and motorcycles, we all share the road! But lately things have been careless! Take, for instance, that young man who lost his life, whether it was his or the other’s fault. Then there are drunk drivers to address as well!
The bottom line is, do the innocent have to lose their lives because of others’ poor judgement or carelessness? Please, as one with the privilege of driving, be aware of your surroundings. It will save a life and, as a cyclist, I do my part, even though no license is required.
Wilson H Nicklie Jr.
Juneau
Comments (14)
Add commentI try to always watch for
I try to always watch for others - be they other drivers, bicyclists, motorcycle riders or pedestrians. But something about this doesn't quite ring true. Maybe it's all the exclamation points. Maybe it's the contradicting details - "I was able to escape with just being hit on the back wheel of my bike and knocked over on the sidewalk. A few feet after I gained control and stopped I looked back." - So, you were knocked over on the sidewalk, yet still managed to gain control and stop before you looked back? That's some bike you must have. although the message "watch out for cyclists" is a good one, the story seems like just that - a story.
I would have to agree Kara.
I would have to agree Kara. I am a huge supporter of cyclists and love my bike but something about this letter makes no sense. I have been sitting here for the last 5 minutes visualizing every intersection and parking lot area around the Douglas bridge then adding the "math" problem of "if I'm looking left at you and you're looking right away from me" I can't make it work. Why didn't this person take a safer route and cross behind the car? Why are they biking on the sidewalk and obviously the wrong way if the woman can't see the cyclist while she's looking to the right. If it's rush hour I can't believe she sped away and got very far...it's rush hour at the bridge.
It's hard to get past all the weirdness of the letter to see the core message "watch out for cyclists" but that means that cyclists must also be following the rules of the road.
I would chaulk this up to a "full-moon" rant.
Bicycles are vehicles
They have every right to be on the road. But they have the same responsibilities as other vehicles too.
This cyclist appears to have been riding on the sidewalk when the incident occurred. Sorry, sidewalks are for pedestrians, not bikes.
If you want to be respected like a vehicle...act like a vehicle. Obey ALL traffic laws. Own your space on the road.
That all aside, there are roads and bridges in Juneau where a cyclist can't safely be on the road. The Brotherhood Bridge is one. Hopefully it will be bike-friendly when they replace it.
miss information
I know this person and this person told me that it did hit the bike tire and the bike bounced over a foot or so and did not literally crash over like it looks like it said, and as for being on the side walk this person said he had just crossed JD Bridge and it was rush hour so it was dangerous to ride out on the street with all the craziness drivers heading home.
Latitude please explain
I love riding my bike. I'm more into mountain biking that road biking but none the less, I disagree with latitudes perspective. I recall a thing called a bike lane. They even painted a picture of a bike just so bikers know that from white line to edge of asphalt is their space. What I can not seem to figure out is why so many bikers ride in the road or right on the white line when they have a couple feet reserved just for them! When you make a car go over the yellow line you are making it dangerous for everyone!
I'm all ears, please explain why you must pretend you are a car.
907
1) Not all roads have dedicated bike lanes. In fact, most don't.
2) Even when there are, they're usually full of debris and glass because they don't get swept, forcing bikes to ride close to the line.
3) Bikes have no business riding on sidewalks amongst pedestrians.
4) Act like a car. Obey the traffic laws. Be predictable, so cars know what you're doing. When you ride on sidewalks, ride on the wrong side of the street, run stop signs, etc. you don't warrant respect. And you won't get it.
5) Cars need to recognize bikes have a right to the road. If that means slowing down until it's safe to pass, get over it.
6) All that being said, drivers in this town are generally clueless and rude when it comes to bikes. It's getting worse, what with druggies hooked on their oxy and cell phones. A dangerous town to ride in.
Thanks lat
Those make sense. I live on N. Douglas hwy which is a very popular spot for road bikes. I just get tired of a few bad apples that constantly ride two feet in the road. If you need fatter tires to withstand the debris than so be it. When you say bikes have a right to the road, does that fall under cars must yield to all pedestrians?
I do understand where your coming from, and I see cars swerving on a daily basis because they are looking down at their phones so I'm sure riding is much more dangerous than 10 years ago. If the city did a better job sweeping the bike lane or maybe more than once a year do you think it would get used more? I'm sure the biking community has tried that, it's tough to get city workers to do much besides drive around.
pathetic
lady, lat, JNU!
you are all pathetic! did you not see the issue on the story? the cyclist was hit and run! the so called law abiding citizen who probably works for the state! had no intention of stopping to!
what a bunch of knuckle heads! ok ill turn the table around so the bike should have not been on the side walk stupid cyclist dont want a pedestrian to be hit or to mingle with the busy traffic! yes like a drunk driver stupid cyclist should ride a straight line and not go over the line
everyone of you are pathetic i dont visit this site to often but this caught my eye and for the reason everyone of you all have nothing to say on issues but negativity, like you live for drama.
I am glad the cyclist didnt make the obit! now i wish the license plate was taken to turn this person in
OMG
907
"When you say bikes have a right to the road, does that fall under cars must yield to all pedestrians?"
No. Bikes are considered vehicles, not pedestrians. They have a right to the road (with some limits of course) the same as cars do, and must generally follow the same rules as cars.
I'd like to see some enforcement on cyclists. If you regularly drove your car the wrong way down the street you'd be cited in a hurry, but I see bikes being ridden the wrong way every day with no fear of a cop stopping them. Hold bikes accountable to the same rules as cars.
Agree about the shoulders. If they were swept regularly, bikes could ride on them more safely. But riding with skinny, frail road bike tires might not be the wisest choice for a cyclist, even though that provides the best performance.
Isn't N. Douglas Hwy a state road? Maybe you should expand your city worker bashing to state worker bashing. More likely, however, is that sweeping roads costs money that neither the city nor state have adequately budgeted for. The City is in the red, and Parnell wants to give the State's money to oil companies. We citizens are the ones who suffer.
frog
"i dont visit this site to often but this caught my eye and for the reason everyone of you all have nothing to say on issues but negativity, like you live for drama."
Glad to see you're here reversing that trend, Froggy. Welcome!
Frog
"you are all pathetic! did you not see the issue on the story? the cyclist was hit and run! the so called law abiding citizen who probably works for the state! had no intention of stopping to!"
Just judging from all your "!!!!!!!" I'm guessing that "i don't visit this site to(sic) often" means you only dropped in to see what reaction your letter to the editor got. Clearly you are the original letter writer. Your writing style is unmistakable.... !
hmmm
Just judging from all your "!!!!!!!" I'm guessing that "i don't visit this site to(sic) often" means you only dropped in to see what reaction your letter to the editor got. Clearly you are the original letter writer. Your writing style is unmistakable.... !
JNU?
I can't be, both my knees are bad
I'm just stating~! maybe you are the one who hit and ran?
Could this be the reason Mr.
Could this be the reason Mr. Nicklie rides a bicycle and doesn't remember the incident exactly as it may have happened?
6/01 - Wilson H. Nicklie Jr., 39, was found guilty of drunken driving and of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.241 percent stemming from an offense of March 12.
8/03 - Wilson H. Nicklie Jr., 41, was found guilty of driving under the influence, stemming from an April 20 incident.
Even the most cautious people
Even the most cautious people can have their moments. I am a cautious driver, I look both ways, stop for pedestrians in cross walks, use my turn signals. Last winter I was leaving a store parking lot, looked both ways, didn't see no one or anything moving, and started to proceed to make my turn. All of the sudden there was a black movement in front of me (and it was dark out). Slamming on my breaks, the person continued to walk and flipped me off. I honostly didn't see anything (black in the dark isn't the best choice of clothing). I am greatful that no one was hurt.
Pulling off the highway and heading to the hospital, a bike came whipping off the path and continued to cruise through. Had I not stopped (backing up traffic as it was the end of the work day), the bike would have hit me (it didn't even slow down). Now as I turn off the highway, I try to take a quick glance down that path and make sure no bikes are coming.
I think that everyone just needs to be aware of their surroundings and be cautious. Cars, Bikes, and Pedestrians alike. Lights on and Signal... all helpful and should always be used.