San Diego Suicides
Araceli Jeng
1234 Vista Dr
San Diego, CA 92042
November 15, 2009
Councilmember Marti Emerald
City Administration Bldg.
202 C Street, MS #10A
San Diego, CA 92101
Attn. Marti Emerald:
The city of San Diego is a safe neighborhood filled with young families, a high concentration of senior citizens, and people of all ages in between; however, when it comes to riding bicycles San Diego is completely the opposite. Riding a bicycle in areas that have no bike lanes can be a nightmare. As a former bike commuter in San Diego, I wanted to bring to your attention that many unreported bike accidents have occurred close to San Diego State University. While riding my bicycle to school, I have seen other bicyclists get hit by cars. I also heard …show more content…
There were many cases when cars did not see me and almost hit my bicycle. Because motorists dislike sharing the road, bicyclists are harassed by some motorists who get desperate and start yelling, honking, and insulting riders. Some motorists believe that bike riders, when there are no bike lanes, should ride on the sidewalks and that the roads belong to vehicles. According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, road rage is a common experience among motorists and especially when on congested streets. Just two weeks ago, in the LA Times, “a physician was accused of deliberately injuring two cyclists by slamming on his car's brakes on a narrow Brentwood road and was convicted Monday of mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon and other serious criminal charges.” It is shocking how a physician whose job it is to take care of people can have road rage against bicyclists. Scared of the same violence, some of the international students at SDSU told me they now ride their bikes on the sidewalk. To their surprise, some received a fine of $250 for doing so. Most of these students were aware that what they were doing was illegal, but said they were too afraid to ride in the street. They also did not expect an expensive fine. I have to admit, I was also shocked. Motorists usually receive lesser fines for moving violations that are far more …show more content…
Having painted bike lanes on streets and roads help both bicyclists and motorists stay in safer, more central positions in their respective lanes. Bicyclists are also less likely to ride on sidewalks when on street bike lanes exist. When they ride on sidewalks, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission studies have shown that it increases their accident risk 25 times more. This occurs primarily because motorists pulling onto roadways tend to focus on street traffic. As a result, a driver may fail to see sidewalk bicyclists and collide with them when the cyclists cross a driveway where motorists are merging into roadway
1234 Vista Dr
San Diego, CA 92042
November 15, 2009
Councilmember Marti Emerald
City Administration Bldg.
202 C Street, MS #10A
San Diego, CA 92101
Attn. Marti Emerald:
The city of San Diego is a safe neighborhood filled with young families, a high concentration of senior citizens, and people of all ages in between; however, when it comes to riding bicycles San Diego is completely the opposite. Riding a bicycle in areas that have no bike lanes can be a nightmare. As a former bike commuter in San Diego, I wanted to bring to your attention that many unreported bike accidents have occurred close to San Diego State University. While riding my bicycle to school, I have seen other bicyclists get hit by cars. I also heard …show more content…
There were many cases when cars did not see me and almost hit my bicycle. Because motorists dislike sharing the road, bicyclists are harassed by some motorists who get desperate and start yelling, honking, and insulting riders. Some motorists believe that bike riders, when there are no bike lanes, should ride on the sidewalks and that the roads belong to vehicles. According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, road rage is a common experience among motorists and especially when on congested streets. Just two weeks ago, in the LA Times, “a physician was accused of deliberately injuring two cyclists by slamming on his car's brakes on a narrow Brentwood road and was convicted Monday of mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon and other serious criminal charges.” It is shocking how a physician whose job it is to take care of people can have road rage against bicyclists. Scared of the same violence, some of the international students at SDSU told me they now ride their bikes on the sidewalk. To their surprise, some received a fine of $250 for doing so. Most of these students were aware that what they were doing was illegal, but said they were too afraid to ride in the street. They also did not expect an expensive fine. I have to admit, I was also shocked. Motorists usually receive lesser fines for moving violations that are far more …show more content…
Having painted bike lanes on streets and roads help both bicyclists and motorists stay in safer, more central positions in their respective lanes. Bicyclists are also less likely to ride on sidewalks when on street bike lanes exist. When they ride on sidewalks, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission studies have shown that it increases their accident risk 25 times more. This occurs primarily because motorists pulling onto roadways tend to focus on street traffic. As a result, a driver may fail to see sidewalk bicyclists and collide with them when the cyclists cross a driveway where motorists are merging into roadway