Seattle is among the greatest places to walk or cycle around in, thanks to its excellent climate the majority of the time and a populace that values wellness. However, whereas the community has made significant efforts to keep pedestrians and cyclists secure, it is evident that more effort is still to be performed. Seattle is still a ways away from the city’s stated goal of no bicycle fatalities and incidents in 2015.
About 4,500 pedestrians have been struck by automobiles in Seattle during the last decade. Some lead to the pedestrian’s life, but the vast proportion suffered from serious injuries.
Which areas have the most accidents?
The volume of pedestrian movement and road infrastructure are two elements that lead to increased pedestrian and bike deaths. South of University Crossing, for example, has the highest number of bicycle-vehicle collisions, owing partly to poor street layout. As well as Pike Street, where people congregate, experiences a high proportion of pedestrian-vehicle incidents.
What are the dangerous intersections for bicyclists?
Due to the sheer speeds associated, riding a bicycle may be equally as risky as walking, if not more so. According to the Seattle Times, the below locations have witnessed the highest bicycle injuries:
- Fuhrman Avenue East and Eastlake Avenue East (14 injuries).
- University and Second Streets (12 injuries and 1 fatality).
- North 34th Street and Troll Avenue (12 injuries).
- 45th Street in the vicinity of First Avenue in the northeast (12 injuries).
- Pine Street and Melrose Avenue (12 injuries).
- East Pine Street and Boylston Avenue (12 injuries).
- Union came in second, followed by Pike (12 injuries).
- 15th Avenue Northeast and Pacific Street Northeast (12 injuries).
- North Dexter Avenue near Ward Street (10 injuries).
- University comes in second, followed by Union (10 injuries).
Whereas the city strives to make streets and walkways as secure as desirable for walkers, this is not often apparent who is responsible for this. The modern $139 million ferry port in Mukilteo, for instance, was pitched as a means to improve pedestrian safety. However, the strategy may end up making the passage riskier.
Pedestrians must now pass two directions of cars on a relatively small walkway. Walkers will have to walk four traffic lanes under the proposed proposal. While the corporation has offered a $5 million footbridge, Seattle does not willing to invest in it. Rather, the city feels that expanding the existing walkway over the bridge would accomplish the same thing, but citizens will remain to be up the line for the cost.
In comparison to other nations, like the Netherlands, Seattle bicycle connectivity has a long path to go. Almost every street in the Netherlands contains distinct bicycle lanes. These severe steps may not be required for Seattle residents. All they actually need is to make their bicycle lanes secure. Some critics claimed that the sections were created as an accident.
However, this is not only the bike lanes that need to be improved for Seattle’s bikers. Others believe that the real city streets should be improved as well. Sinkholes, patches, and fractures make roadways dangerous for both motorists and bikers. While automobiles may easily slide over holes, this can be dangerous for cyclists, particularly when they are catapulted next to traffic.
Final thoughts:
Whereas the new security stop regulation allows bicycles to go over stop signals in some circumstances, the key criteria of no other vehicles imply that this is rare in becoming applicable to a bicycle accident inquiry.
Cyclists must obey the traffic rules like everybody else, and though certain regulations, such as the recent Idaho stop statute, may pertain specifically for bicyclists, a bicyclist is likely to be at blame whether they are engaged in an incident while maybe not maintaining the traffic rules, as any car.
Nevertheless, if you are unable to escape an accident, assistance will be provided. Based on the facts, you may be able to sue the negligent motorist or maybe even the County of Seattle if bad road design contributed to the incident. Please contact any Seattle bicycle accident lawyer for a complimentary discussion about your law and protection alternatives. They will assist in providing no-obligation initial case assessments to injured persons and their loved ones.
