WINDSOR, CA (September 12, 2016) – A a 55-year-old Sebastopol resident, was on a bicycle ride west of Windsor in the morning of Saturday, September 10, 2016, when she was tragically killed after apparently colliding with an oncoming, passing vehicle. The crash occurred on Eastside Road near Windsor River Road after 11 a.m.
Tamika from the Lower Haight asks, “Who is responsible when a bicyclist is killed by a car in a hit and run?”
Tamika, I assume your question is triggered by the shocking and senseless deaths last Wednesday in San Francisco of Heather Miller and Katherine Slattery. Both cyclists were observing and obeying the traffic laws when they were struck and killed. I offer my condolences to their families and friends.
Two different forms of liability exist for the offending drivers: criminal and civil. Criminal charges can result in a sentence of prison time while a civil case can lead to a monetary judgment imposed against the defendant.
Today is Bike to Work Day in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a proud sponsor of the Marin, San Francisco, and East Bay bicycle coalitions, I want to take a moment to remind everyone about bicycle laws and the rights and responsibilities of car drivers and bicyclists on our roadways.
Bike lanes are just that: lanes designed for bikes. Many are painted with a solid white line; some are green with a solid white boundary. California Vehicle Code Section 21209 restricts motor vehicles from driving in a bike lane except to: a) park where permitted, b) enter or leave the roadway or c) to prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from an intersection.
Every year about 30 people lose their lives and over 200 more are seriously injured while traveling on San Francisco streets. Yet, San Francisco is determined to be a safe place for walkers and bikers. The City’s Vision Zero initiative carries with it the goal to eliminate all fatal traffic accidents by 2024, including those involving pedestrians and bicyclists.