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Posted on Thu, Sep 9, 2010 : 8:28 p.m.

Woman cyclist injured when car strikes her bike on Huron Parkway on Ann Arbor's north side

By Stefanie Murray

A 63-year-old woman was injured Thursday evening when a car struck the bike she was riding near the intersection of Huron Parkway and Lake Haven Drive on Ann Arbor's north side, Ann Arbor fire officials said.

The woman was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The accident happened sometime around 6 p.m. in front of the Geddes Lake Condominiums complex.

No further details were available.


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Comments

Milton Shift

Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.

I should clarify that when I say "idled through a red light" I mean she blew the red light at 5mph.

Milton Shift

Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 10:27 a.m.

So many people text while driving etc. that I won't even think about riding a bike in the street anymore. It sucks, but I've seen far too many people drift out of their lane, staring at their lap. I even saw someone idle all the way through a red light a few blocks from the county courthouse, texting - I couldn't believe it. If I bike I take it slow and stick to the sidewalk, and don't cross in front of a car until I make eye contact with the driver. A friend of mine was crippled a few years ago when a car went over the curb and ran her down on the sidewalk... nearly been creamed a few times myself. Horrible distracted drivers these days....Not to mention complete jerks! A week ago I was approaching Huron and I saw an Escalade, swerving to turn without signaling or slowing, come inches from running over some poor guy on his bike. I would've called the police if the next guy hadn't distracted me by pissing me off even more - having just seen the near accident, he sat there blowing his horn nonstop at pedestrians crossing who had the walk signal! Unbelievable! I'd like to see the city police deal with these drivers rather than some porch couches! It's a real problem!

Joel Batterman

Wed, Sep 22, 2010 : 8:37 a.m.

Constance is right that sidewalk biking tends to be more dangerous. A number of academic studies have supported this conclusion, and the one time I've been hit by a car while biking in Ann Arbor occurred when I was riding across Glazier on the Huron Parkway path. Whenever you need to ride on a path, take great care when crossing at intersections. The City could also improve this corridor by adding warning signage for drivers turning onto Huron Parkway. It is, after all, a designated bike route.

Richard

Wed, Sep 15, 2010 : 2:54 p.m.

I came by shortly after the accident (for a while I had a "front row seat" as there was an ambulance and a police car and they were letting cars go around the woman into Geddes Lake and just as it was my turn a fire truck came up and blocked the intersection entirely). Of course, things may have been moved around so this is somewhat conjectural, but what I saw (from the traffic island facing eastward into Geddes Lake, with Huron Parkway traffic going right to left) was that her bike was on the left side, a car was facing outward stopped and had a dent on the left (from my vantage point -- the car's right bumper), and she was pretty much in the middle of where the sidewalk would be with a woman attending her and then ambulance workers. So I *think* what happened was a car was past the stop sign, and she may have ridden right into the left side of it and gone over its hood to the ground on the right. I ride my bike up and down Huron Parkway, and I drive also. I too nearly hit someone coming from the right as I'm looking left at oncoming traffic on the divided parkway (and the marked sidewalk bike path there, as I understand it, has no "one way"ness to it, legally so it would be my fault). It was a close enough call that I always look both ways now. However, as a bike rider, that has taught me to NEVER cross a street in the "wrong" direction whether bicycling or walking without first making eye contact with the driver. I've also been nearly hit enough times. There are some (a few) places in Ann Arbor and area where there's only a bike path or decent shoulder on one side of a road so one is forced to ride against traffic to go through there (this is not one of them though).

Salbolal

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 9:44 p.m.

I drive down Glazier Way frequently towards Huron Pkwy. Recently, I almost hit a bicyclist traveling on the east side of the road going south....in other words, I was looking at the traffic coming north on the one-way part of the parkway, and while I did look right then left, I did not see her. I thought she should be obeying traffic and bike laws and riding her bike on the path on the right side of the road, with the traffic, and not trying to cross Glazier on the "wrong side." Of course, she was mad at me. Look, I used to bike a lot, I get it, I probably should have seen her, but there is a lot going on there; high school drivers, buses, etc. and bicyclists HAVE to assume the driver doesn't see you. And ride with traffic. I'm guessing this is what happened in this story.

boom

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 4:48 p.m.

Man, Bicyclists are getting picked off all over the place these days. I read about another hit and run too where the passenger side mirror is going to be missing from the vehicle.

Constance Colthorp Amrine

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.

I definitely want to know more details too. I'm starting to commute to work by bike, and I'm going to be carrying my Kindergartner and preschooler with me to drop off to their destinations on the way. I want this new plan to work and to possibly be our healthier, greener and happier lifestyle. These many recent stories about cyclists getting injured (or worse) by drivers are, however, making me a bit nervous. So, yes, please post more details when they happen, so we can be conscientious about what to do and what to avoid, or at least be assured that we are already doing the right thing. For example, I'm realizing that sidewalk biking is probably more dangerous because cars aren't expecting to see you when they pull up to get visibility, and you can't stop as quickly as a pedestrian.

leezee

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.

Details please. I live at Geddes Lake, so I am naturally curious. Was she hit by someone leaving the Geddes Lake complex? It's also possible someone entering the complex could have hit her. The details may help some of the residents understand the need to be on the lookout for bikers and runners that are on Huron Parkway as they leave and return.

Jay Allen

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 8:12 a.m.

C6 I agree with all of your comments. But would like to add to them. That is not a "sidewalk" per se` in that area, that is a nice, wide, smooth, paved "path" if you will. Just food for thought.

C6

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.

I suppose today there will be a police report on this incident that will tell us if the rider was in the Huron Parkway road, or was hit by a vehicle that failed to give her right of way as she crossed Lake Haven Drive on the sidewalk, or perhaps if she was crossing Huron Parkway at Lake Haven and was hit. I'm sure it will tell too if this was another hit and run, or if the vehicle driver stopped and has been identified. Huron Parkway is a popular road for speeding of course, so maybe the report will include if that's been determined to have been a factor. Also perhaps it will tell who is thought to have been at fault. Many questions in this story remain to be be answered, so I'm sure I'm not alone in waiting for the follow-up posting. Thanks.

Jimmy McNulty

Fri, Sep 10, 2010 : 5:25 a.m.

Thanks for the map, Stefanie!