A bicyclist was injured today in a collision with a truck in West Hollywood.
The accident was reported about 8:30 a.m. at Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards, the sheriff’s department reported.
The unidentified bicyclist was taken to a hospital with injuries of unknown severity. Apparently a woman, she was said to be riding on the sidewalk.
Traffic was blocked on Santa Monica Boulevard and routed away from the area while an investigation was conducted. As of publication, Santa Monica has been reopened.
Tragic! Why so many pedestrian and now this bike happen RIGHT IN FRONT OF SHERIFF’S OFFICE?
D – Thank you. My brother has been by her side since the moment she arrived at the hospital. I can’t imagine having been there and seeing the accident. We all agree that is an unbelievable miracle, especially with the very limited amount that she was actually injured. She has a lot of healing, but nothing life threatening.
Looks like the bike hit the truck?
J – I am so very happy to hear she is ok! Words cannot even describe. I was there, behind the truck, and have had her in my prayers and heart. I am sending love and light her way for a speedy recovery and hold all who are dear to her in my heart. Such a miracle.
Please remember to be sensitive to these situations. I know the person who was hit very well and it is a miracle she survived.
How awful. I hope she recovers. I don’t see how her possible riding on the sidewalk is relevant to who’s at fault for this accident. The semi was driving in the road, not the sidewalk, and the image shows her mangled bike on the rainbow crosswalk, indicating this happened in the intersection. Cyclists may feel safer using the crosswalk to cross — cars use or cross through the bike lane to turn right at the intersection so there’s not really a separate, safe space for bikes there. Also, to turn left, many folks on bikes feel safer crossing each street… Read more »
“Your bike is as dangerous to a pedestrian as a car is to a cyclist. That is why it is illegal to ride bicycles on city sidewalks when there are bicycle lanes present on the street.” Bicycles kill on average 1-2 peds a year in America. It is not uncommon to go several years without a single bicycle killing a pedestrian anywhere in the US. By way of comparison, cars kill over 30k a year in the US alone. We don’t ride on sidewalks because it is dangerous for cyclists AND peds. But much more dangerous for the cyclist because… Read more »
Riding on the sidewalk is rarely the safest option. Back when I was an instructor it was the single most difficult thing to teach novice cyclists – because it does not seem intuitive. She was right-hooked probably because of poor sight lines which is the prime reason why you don’t ride on sidewalks. If there is no bike lane take the lane for your own safety. I ride through WeHo 5 days a week on my way to Santa Monica and it’s always very crazy because of the desperate traffic and amount of parking going on. And those bike lanes… Read more »
Here’s the WeHo municipal code, as per the city’s website: http://www.weho.org/city-hall/city-departments-divisions/community-development/long-range-and-mobility-planning/programs/bike-weho/local-state-laws Do not ride your bike on city sidewalks where a bicycle lane is present (WHMC 15.53.010) Your bike is as dangerous to a pedestrian as a car is to a cyclist. That is why it is illegal to ride bicycles on city sidewalks when there are bicycle lanes present on the street. The City of West Hollywood currently has bike lanes on Santa Monica Blvd. between Kings Road and Almont Dr., and San Vicente Blvd. between Santa Monica Blvd. and Beverly Blvd. Where there is no bicycle lane present,… Read more »
I’m hoping people not speculate on who is “at fault” with this accident, as often seems to happen on this site, with almost any article involving an accident between a car and a pedestrian, or a car and a cyclist. No matter what the law says, if you weren’t there to see it, you shouldn’t express an opinion. Not to mention it is insensitive to the family and friends of those involved to start pointing fingers (especially those who sustain injury or cases resulting in a fatality).
This accident looks terrible, and I hope she is OK.
In CA, riding on sidewalks isn’t generally prohibited, but in Santa Monica it is except for along the beach. Still, while it’s easy to understand how this could potentially threaten pedestrians, it’s unclear what it has to do with big rigs. And the prohibition against riding bicycles in parking structures is just bizarre. 3.12.540 Bicycle riding or coasting restricted. (a) It shall be unlawful to ride a bicycle or to coast in any vehicle upon any public sidewalk, except as provided for in Section 3.12.550. It shall be unlawful to ride a bicycle or to coast in any vehicle in… Read more »
Bike riding is permitted on the sidewalk where there is no dedicated bike lane in WEHO but there is such a lane in that stretch of SMB.
That is awful, people need to be more cognizant of other’s..
I think I need to know more about Tom Smart