Posted on Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : noon
Ann Arbor Pioneer student injured in car-bike accident on way to school
By Cindy Heflin
A Pioneer High School student suffered minor injuries this morning when his bike was struck by a car driven by another student, authorities said.
The 16-year-old boy was taken by Huron Valley Ambulance to University of Michigan Hospital.
The boy was riding north on a path that runs along Seventh Street about 7:30 a.m. when he was struck by a car that was turning into the school parking lot, police said. The driver of the car did not see the boy, police said.
The accident remains under investigation.
View Car-bike accident in a larger map
Comments
Jeff Gaynor
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 2:25 a.m.
First, I wish the best for the injured student. I know this must be hard on the driver as well. Still, driving and cycling entail great responsibility, as lives are at stake. From an experienced cyclist, I'd like to repeat these tips, and pose a question: * Yes, bicyclists need to be sure they are seen - lights, reflectors, and bright or reflective clothing, vests, etc. in the dark, or near dark. * Given the above, yes, in most cases riding in the street is safer than riding on the sidewalk, where drivers aren't looking for you when they turn. Data supports this fact. If drivers need to slow down temporarily, so be it; a good idea anyway, obviously. (This is not true on the stretch over the bridge on Stadium. There, the sidewalk on the north side is safe, though care must be taken by the Crisler parking lot entrance.) -> My question is why aren't more students walking, or bicycling, to Pioneer. There is an embarrassing few number of bike racks; what's shameful is that there are enough for the demand. (For what it's worth, I'm over 60 years old, and bike 5 miles across town to work. It's not that big a deal.)
Dayne White Bull The Terrible.
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
I'm surprised it took this long for a cyclist to get hit. I had wayyyy too many close calls on my bike. I hope this brings some sort of reform to how kids should drive to school in the morning
Tony Livingston
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
Yes, it is dark when school starts and cars, bikes, and walkers are all trying to get in before school starts. But, the lack of sidewalks around Pioneer is shameful. If students ride or walk into the back entrance they are in the street as there is no sidewalk. Also the sidewalk ends along 7th and there is no sidewalk at all in the back along Scio Church. Kids ride in the street and it is really dangerous. The west side of 7th is vacant land also owned by the schools and there are no sidewalks at all along that property. One would think that sidewalks would be a high priority around schools.
JC
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 12:08 a.m.
In most cases it is safer to ride in the street. Riding on the sidewalk, you are invisible to the driver and ignored until you are plastered on their wind shield or jammed under their fender. Riding in the street increases your visibility and is safest place to ride.
Judy Fry
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
This may not have been a factor in the accident this morning, but provides an opportunity to remind everyone riding bikes- it is truly difficult to see you on these dark mornings if you do not have lights and reflectors on your bikes.
Ignatz
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
My reading skills must have diminished beyond my capacity to recognize that fact. The story says twice that the details were unavailable, but folks here seem to fault the driver of the car. Does anyone have more specific info?
Barb
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
Maybe your reading skill have diminished since I don't see anyone blaming the driver.
Alison Abbott
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
I used to drive that stretch regularly in the morning and the way may of the the students (and some parents) drive there entering the school property off of 7th is a menace. After one particularly hairy incident I called the school to ask that something be done before someone was hurt..perhaps someone stationed out there for an hour in the morning to keep an eye on things, but I was pretty much brushed off by the school I'm sorry to say.
jns131
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Having a cop on duty there in the morning is a relief to the parents who have children there and to those who also went to Pioneer back in the dark ages. They had cops then and will always have them there. But he can't be everywhere.
A2Woman
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 6:19 p.m.
I've got kids at Pioneer, too. I have seen Officer Foster parked in the parking lot off 7th, in the afternoon, watching the traffic going through the parking lot...and stopping several cars. That was a couple of weeks ago. Having him being more visible certainly does slow the students' vehicles down...maybe some parents, too.
Barb
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 5:44 p.m.
I just sent an email to the Project Management division of the City (and copied my 4th Ward council people) requesting a traffic light there. People have to stop or someone will get killed. I am sick to my stomach hoping this has hasn't already happened.
KINGofSKA
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.
That's too bad. I knew someone who got hit by a car at the clock tower entrance. Another reason why kids need to slow down in the morning. For the clock tower entrance, I still say they need some kind of flashing light only operable during school hours. They wouldn't be the first school to have one. I was in an accident there once and if there was light we could have prevented that too.
Barb
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
Oh God - saw this on my way to work this morning. I sincerely hope the student is OK ... That area is a nightmare in the morning. Please everyone who drives thru there in the AM stop trying to dart across traffic as quickly as possible and just slow down.
jns131
Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 3:16 p.m.
Explains why mine got a tardy for 1st hour. Hope all are ok in this accident. But yes, I do agree, it is dark out there and kind of scary too.