Bicycle Accidents

A bicyclist was critically injured in a San Francisco car accident after he was struck by a taxicab. According to a news report in Mission Local, the injury collision occurred the morning of May 29, 2011 at the intersection of 14th and Mission streets. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. Officials are investigating the cause of the accident and trying to determine who may have been at fault.

My heart goes out to the bicyclist who is apparently fighting for his life at this time. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this victim and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Read the rest »

For those of you who share my disgust for the raising gas prices, stick it to em by participating in Los Angeles' CicLAvia event on Sunday July 10th 2011 from 10am-3pm. This is the third time in Los Angeles that this event is being held, and judging by the 100,000 who came out previously, participants may get to bask in the added bonus of ticking off drivers caught in the wave of surrounding traffic that is sure to result.

From 10am to 3pm bicyclists, skateboarders, pedestrians, and rollerbladers will get to rule nearly eight miles of Los Angeles. The event is based off of ciclovia which was held in Bogota, Columbia several decades ago to bring to light the information that surfaced regarding pollution and street congestion. Producers of the event are hoping that these events will lead to more people using these alternative means of transportation.

"As a city, we've developed a car culture, and we've learned that's no substitute for human interaction," CicLAvia producer Aaron Paley said, "What we need to do now is reinvent the public space of Los Angeles so that there are places where people can come together and share. We don't have to build an entire new infrastructure -- we can actually use something we already own and re-purpose it.

So whether you're a Glendale doctor, Inglewood teacher, or Los Angeles car accident attorney, make sure to stop by on Sunday July 10th to give the earth a little love. Who knows, maybe we will actually make a difference.

Gustavo Lopez, 22, was killed in a Lake County car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in The Lake County Record-Bee, the fatal bicycle accident occurred on Old Highway 53 in Clearlake the early morning of April 9, 2011. Lopez was riding a bicycle alongside Charles Farlow, 21, on the shoulder of the roadway when a Geo Prism driven by 34-year-old Angelo Short struck him. Lopez was critically injured and died shortly afterward. Short left the scene of the accident but was later arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run causing death and vehicular manslaughter. It is not clear at this time if Farlow was injured in this incident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Gustavo Lopez following this tragic hit-and-run car accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. Read the rest »

In Spanish, ciclovia means "bicycle path," but in Los Angeles, CicLAvia means "move aside automobiles." Last Sunday, thousands of Los Angelinos participated in an event that allows bicyclists, skateboarders, pedestrians, and rollerbladers free reign on nearly eight miles of Los Angeles' streets. Ciclovia began in Bogota, Columbia, decades ago as a way to combat city congestion and overwhelming pollution. Hopefully, this wonderful event, which attracted around 100,000 people in October during its first running, could become a staple event for the city and all southern Californians.

In essence, the city's residents were invited to use the streets as their own personal playground. The idea for CicLAvia was put forth by avid cyclists and transportation experts in the ongoing effort to turn Los Angeles into a greener city. Read the rest »

Two bicyclists were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, involved an underage drunk driver. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, the injury bicycle accident occurred on Camino de Encanto in Torrance the morning of April 3, 2011. A 19-year-old female driver, who is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time, crashed into a group of 10 to 12 bicyclists who were riding downhill. One bicyclist was listed in critical condition after suffering major injuries. Another bicyclist sustained broken bones. The teen driver was arrested on suspicion of felony driving the influence.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this Los Angeles County DUI collision. I wish them all a complete and speedy recovery. Read the rest »

Leonardo Antonio Florez, 56, was killed in a Long Beach car accident after he was rear-ended by a van. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the fatal bicycle accident occurred early morning on March 18, 2011 on Carson Street. Police say Florez was riding his bike eastbound on Carson. A 2009 Ford van, which was also going east, struck the bicycle from behind. Both the bicycle and van were in the number two lane and there was no bike lane on that street. The driver of the van, a 57-year-old Huntington Park resident, stopped and called for help. Anyone with more information about this incident is asked to contact Long Beach police at 562-570-7355.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Leonardo Antonio Florez for their tragic and sudden loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 181 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Long Beach. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 33 people died and 3,315 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year. Read the rest »

A 15-year-old girl was injured in an Orange County car accident when her bicycle was hit by another vehicle. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury bicycle accident occurred on University Drive near Yale Avenue in Irvine the morning of March 10, 2011. A car was heading east on University when it struck the bicyclist. The girl was wearing a helmet, but she did sustain injuries, including a broken bone. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

I am relieved to hear that the injuries suffered in this Orange County bicycle accident were non-life-threatening. I wish the young victim a complete and speedy recovery.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 64 people were injured in Irvine bicycle accidents. During that same year, there were 10 fatalities and 1,087 injuries reported involving bicycle accidents in Orange County. Read the rest »

Ignacio Manriques Sanchez , 73, was killed in a San Diego car accident when a minivan veered out of control and struck his bicycle the morning of March 6, 2011. According to a news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal bicycle accident occurred on Skyline Drive near Bowie Street in the Skyline area of San Diego. A Dodge minivan, driven by a 47-year-old woman, struck a curb and crashed into Sanchez's bicycle. Sanchez hit the windshield of the vehicle and was thrown on to the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation into the cause of this fatal bicycle accident is underway.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Ignacio Manriques Sanchez, for their tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

San Diego Bicycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), three people were killed and 512 were injured in San Diego bicycle accidents. During that same year, there were seven fatalities and 959 injuries reported involving bicycle accidents in San Diego County. Read the rest »

A 50-year-old man was killed in an Orange County car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred the evening of February 16, 2011 at the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Niagara River Avenue in Fountain Valley.

Officials say the man was either walking or pedaling his bike across Brookhurst when he was hit by a Volkswagen Beetle traveling north on the roadway. The man was thrown about 50 feet from the point of impact and died at the scene. The driver of the Volkswagen sustained relatively minor injuries. Police say there are no lights or crosswalk at that intersection. The driver has not been cited or arrested pending an official investigation.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Read the rest »

A fifth-grader heading to school on a bicycle was seriously injured in an Irvine car accident after he was struck by an SUV and trapped underneath the vehicle. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury car accident occurred at the intersection of Portola Parkway and Culver Drive the morning of January 18, 2011. Authorities say the boy's injuries were severe, but he is expected to survive. The boy was wearing a helmet at the time.

My heart goes out to this boy and his family for what they are going through at this time. It is indeed fortunate that his injuries are not life-threatening. I pray that this child makes a quick and complete recovery.

Bicycle Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 64 injuries reported as a result of bicycle accidents in Irvine. In Orange County as a whole, 10 people died and 1,087 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents in 2008. Read the rest »