Pantagraph.com | News | Bicyclist hits car at trail crossing

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Which wrote on Sep 10, 2007 9:37 AM:

" crossing did this occur at. The trail crosses Vernon at 2 different places. "

Bicyclist's sister wrote on Sep 2, 2007 1:55 PM:

" My brother was the bicyclist who was involved in this particular accident. The information in the story is incorrect. He was NOT given a ticket. My family and I are so grateful that his injuries were minor. According to the doctor who treated him in the ER, several other people have been injured at the exact same crossing. No, crossing the street isn't rocket science. My brother just didn't see the car, and the car didn't see him until it was too late. My brother has been an avid bicyclist for years and is experienced in riding in high traffic areas. Unfortunately, accidents happen even to those who use caution. "

Or maybe... wrote on Sep 1, 2007 4:30 PM:

" People on the trail could be smarter about crossing a major street. Its not rocket science folks. Bloomington built an underpass under Washington street... but which would you rather do, look both ways before you cross, or whine and complain when Vernon is closed for a year while they dig it up to make a pedestrian underpass? "

Fix Things wrote on Sep 1, 2007 2:12 PM:

" According to an old article in the Pantagraph, Normal has some federal funding coming in a few years to fix the curve on Vernon (where people keep going into people's yards) and do some work on the trail. "

Now is the time wrote on Sep 1, 2007 12:59 PM:

" "Necessity is the mother of invention" so the saying goes. Now maybe the Town of Normal will see how important a crosswalk-light is to this particular trail crossing. Let's not read about anymore injuries, please. "

Since When... wrote on Sep 1, 2007 11:07 AM:

" Did cars have the right of way on a pedestrian cross walk??? In Canada where my mother lives, all cross walks have yeild signs, even on busy streets... I think there needs to be a crosswalk light at every one so pedestrians can press a button and have a better chance at stopping traffic so they can get across safely. "

To Need to do something wrote on Sep 1, 2007 9:08 AM:

" I asked some of our local government about a bridge there once. And it would cost millions to put a bridge in apparently because of the height that that would be required to make it. I do not want them to spend that much on it. Pedestrians and cyclists just need to be careful there. We seem to live in a world where everyone wants their responsibilities taken care of for them. "

Driver Not Pedestrian wrote on Sep 1, 2007 8:42 AM:

" I am also surprised no one has been killed at this intersection. I'd hate to see the expense of a stoplight, bridge, or overpass. I wonder if stop signs for Vernon would be an option. If the pass is clear of pedestrians, it's a couple of seconds to stop and go. Well worth it if it saves lives. "

A thought wrote on Sep 1, 2007 8:38 AM:

" Just did a google search and checked a few sites - most say pedestrians do have the right of way but also everything mentions that the pedestrians need to have a brain or two. That seems to be the issue here. People using the trail think they have an invisible shield around them and just zip out across a busy street. When will common sense be taught again at home and in schools? Vehicles are bigger than people. People break, bruise and scrape. Vehicles usually don't in a confrontation with a person. Vehicles can kill people, people don't kill vehicles. Easiest way to deal with this is teach youngsters of all ages to use their brains for something other than video games, cell phones and keeping their heads from being empty. "

To: Fix Things wrote on Sep 1, 2007 8:19 AM:

" You must be mistaken. Cars don't speed. Traffic flows very well everywhere in town. It is completely safe to walk or ride bicycles anywhere in this community. It is also safe to shop at the Jewell-Osco on Cotage after 8:00 p.m., and even walk around on west Jefferson at night. "

To Need To Do Something wrote on Sep 1, 2007 6:00 AM:

" What would you suggest? Are we talking about making autos have a stoplight for the cyclists? For a minute there that is what it sounded like you were talking about. Here is a bit of news for you, the trail is not the main concern of taxpayers, getting to and from work is the priority here. So if an impatient student or a senior who has nothing to do all day but walk the trail can not wait for traffic to clear, then they should change the times of the day the use the trail. If students are running late for class they should use the sidewalks that have safe crosswalks to use. "

Need To Do Something wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:48 PM:

" I use the trail frequently, and I am suprised that nobody has been killed yet at the Vernon crossing. At busy times of the day it can be almost impossible to cross. I have seen many cases where trail users either grow impatient or feel pressured by all the people lining up behind them and take risky chances. I am not excusing the cyclist, but maybe before we spend money building additional miles of trail, we should improve the safety of some of the existing crossings. This could be done by either installing signals or builidng a pedestrian bridge over dangerous crossings. "

Fix Things wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:43 PM:

" I wonder if the plans to fix the curve there on Vernon will include a bridge or underpass for the trail. The Trail and Vernon are too busy to have them cross the way they currently do. The biker here may be at fault, but next time it could be one of the speeding cars that go by all the time. "

Big Brother wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:25 PM:

" We don't have enough stop lights yet. Lets put stop lights and walking push buttons at every place the constitution trail crosses a street. "

Trail User wrote on Aug 31, 2007 10:53 PM:

" Vernon sucks, I avoid it like the plague while on the trail. Figures this happened at rush hour. And, yeah, kudos to ticketing the cyclist instead of the driver. "

APPLAUSE wrote on Aug 31, 2007 9:47 PM:

" for ticketing the bicyclist. I"m sick of the 'pedestrians have the right of way' law that makes it ok to step in front of my car at any moment and make it my fault. "

My biggest fear... wrote on Aug 31, 2007 7:49 PM:

" ...while driving on this part of Vernon, is what happened to this driver today. I always make it a point to drive very slowly while in this area, so I can brake quickly enough to avoid hitting the joggers, cyclists, bladers, who seem to insist on taking chances while crossing this busy street. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt. And I am glad some responsibility is being asserted upon the cyclist...who should have known better to take such chances. "

Lucky wrote on Aug 31, 2007 6:22 PM:

" That bicyclist is lucky he got away with scrapes and bruises, and I'm sure the driver is very shaken up. I drive through there regularly and probably 50% of the time, a jogger, rollerblader or bicyclist comes darting across the road right in front of traffic. I'm glad the bicyclist got a ticket in this situation. Maybe he, and others, will think twice before darting across traffic and expecting everyone to stop for him in the future. "

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