Following recent bicycle accidents, including one last month that left a rider seriously injured, members of the greater Redmond community have raised concerns about cyclist safety in the Bike Capital of the Northwest.
The most recent accident occurred at Northeast Union Hill Road and 225th Avenue Northeast in unincorporated King County near Redmond. As previously reported, the cyclist fell off his bike and sustained a major head injury and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Sgt. Cindi West of the King County Sheriff’s Office said the man is expected to recover.
AN AREA OF CONCERN
This was not the first time someone has gotten into an accident while riding on Northeast Union Hill Road in that area.
In May, during the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure ride, a woman fell and was taken to the hospital with injuries. West said the woman later died.
There was another accident in November 2013 in which a cyclist died when he slipped on wet pine needles, lost control and slid into oncoming traffic, according to the Cascade Bicycle Club (CBC) blog.
Some of the concerns that have been raised were regarding the condition of Northeast Union Hill Road and whether the road is safe for bicyclists.
Robin Zambrowsky, who has been living in the area for 24 years, is concerned that the area’s pavement is in disrepair. The self-described casual and cautious bicyclist said following last month’s accident, she did see King County’s Road Services division come out and repair the area. Zambrowksy said Northeast Union Hill Road is not the only road that is in disrepair. She noted that Northeast Novelty Hill Road has not been overlaid in many years.
“It is tragic that someone’s life has to pay for that,” Zambrowsky said.
Susan West, public information officer for King County Road Services, said they are aware of and sorry to hear about the two accidents on Union Hill from this year, but do not know what led to either accident. She said the sheriff’s office is investigating both accidents and the results of those investigations may provide them with more information.
“The location is at the bottom of a hill,” Susan West said. “Controlling speed and having a clear view of what is ahead are important when riding in general and particularly when riding down a hill like this one.”
She continued, saying their records do not show a history of accidents or problems with pine needles at this location.
“We have looked at the roadway in the area and done some minor repairs,” Susan West said. “The repairs consisted of resealing seams at the edges of pavement patches in the roadway.”
STAYING SAFE
To help cyclists and motorists stay safe while sharing the road, the Reporter reached out to the CBC, a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to improve lives through bicycling.
Shannon Koller, senior director of education for CBC, said for cyclists, the No. 1 thing they can do to stay safe is to be predictable. This means following the road rules and traffic laws, making sure to stop at stop signs and stoplights, riding in straight lines when possible, and the like.
“(The laws) are really there to keep everyone safe,” Koller said.
She said cyclists should also make sure to communicate their intentions on roads and trails — such as the much-used Marymoor Park and Sammamish River trails — by using their voice when passing others or using hand signals.
Riders should also take care to be visible, Koller said. She said cyclists should use lights at night: a steady white light in front (strobing or flashing front lights are illegal); and a minimum of a red reflector in the back (though a flashing red light is better).
As a full-time, year-round bicyclist, Koller said she also anticipates the errors of others on the roads or trails. In addition, eye contact is particularly important when crossing in front of others — even when you have the right of way. Koller said she has avoided three or four collisions that way when motorists did not see her and did not stop, so she stopped.
When riding downhill, Koller said cyclists need to manage their speed and leave plenty of time for safe braking, especially in wet conditions. Cyclists should also brake using both hands and shift their weight to the back of the bike for better traction on their back wheel.
When riding on a curvy road, Koller said bicyclists should position themselves toward the center line so they are more visible to vehicles.
Wearing a helmet is also important to protect your heads, Koller said. She said a properly fitted helmet should cover a person’s forehead and the chin strap should be snug enough to only allow one or two fingers between the strap and chin.
While cyclists need to take care to stay safe, Koller said there are things motorists can do, as well.
She said drivers should leave at least three feet between them and a cyclist when passing. In addition, motorists should leave plenty of space between them and a cyclist when driving behind one as there are things such as potholes, debris and rocks that could cause a rider to detour and the driver to brake suddenly.
Motorists should also look before merging or turning across a bike lane, Koller said.
And when parking, she said to avoid “dooring” a cyclist, motorists should check before opening their car door into a bike lane or path.
IT STARTS EARLY
Koller said CBC works to educate people at an early age, going into schools to teach bike and pedestrian safety.
The three-week program is taught to third- through fifth-graders in their physical education classes and is free to districts. In the Lake Washington School District, there are 12 schools that have signed up for the program this year, including Louisa May Alcott Elementary School near Redmond.
