Why is it important to think about bicycle Safety in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica must take the lead in preventing tragic needless fatalities of bicyclists. The picture to the right is of a poster attached to a telephone pole November 2001 on Santa Monica Blvd in Santa Monica Calif. Santa Monica can improve bicycling safety conditions. See: Bicycle Friendly Community certification | Santa Monica "Share The Road" campaign | Why Santa Monica Needs A Bicycle Master Plan campaign
Bus kills falling bicyclist
By Joe Spurr and Jack Healy, Globe Correspondents, 7/3/2002,
CAMBRIDGE - A bicyclist was killed yesterday afteeeer she struck an opening car door on Massachusetts Avenue and was run over by a passing MBTA bus, the Cambridge Police Department said.
The woman, 36, whose identity was not released last night, was biking north near 485 Massachusetts Ave. at about 3:45 p.m. when the driver of a parked SUV opened his door, said Frank Pasquarello, spokesman for the Cambridge Police Department.
The woman tried to swerve, but hit the door and fell underneath the passing northbound bus. The bus's rear wheels ran over her, said Brian Pedro, spokesman for the MBTA. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
''I felt a little vibration, I just heard something hit the side of the bus,'' said Dan Cole, 19, of Dorchester, a passenger on the bus who said he and others did not immediately realize what happened.
At about 6 p.m., officers issued a ticket to the driver of the black SUV, who choked back tears and declined to comment or be identified. The man's lawyer, John Salsberg, arrived after the man called from the scene of the accident.
''This was a tragic accident,'' Salsberg said. ''He has not committed any crime.''
07/01/2002
Car Hits Tandem Bike; Dad Killed, Son Hurt
IN BRIEF / HUNTINGTON BEACH
From Times Staff Reports
A car whose driver apparently fell asleep struck a tandem bicycle early Sunday, killing a man
and seriously injuring his son, authorities said.
Jay A. Buckbinder, 69, of Huntington Beach, who was on the rear seat of the bike, was dead at the scene.
Greg D. Buckbinder, 49, of Long Beach suffered a broken neck, cuts and abrasions and was taken to Long
Beach Memorial Medical Center. The Buckbinders were riding east on Pacific Coast Highway near Warner Avenue
about 6:20 a.m. when they were struck from behind by a 1989 blue Toyota Cressida, police said.
Both bicyclists were wearing helmets.
The driver of the Toyota was not injured and has not been cited or arrested, police said.