Community Corner

Cyclist Deaths Spur Questions on Sharing the Road: Blogger Spotlight

There have been too many bike-related tragedies this summer, writes Elkridge Patch blogger Christine Barton.

 

Barton, who said that she has logged more than 2,000 miles on her bike this year, is referring to the death of Patricia Cunningham, 50, from Annapolis, who collided with a minivan in August. Police said the cause of that crash was driver error.

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  

She also mentioned the death this summer of Thomas Heslin, a teacher from Severna Park. He was killed when his bicycle collided with a dump truck on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard. Police said Heslin, 57, failed to stop at a stop sign.

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

“Two different accidents, one with the motorist alleged to be at fault, one with the cyclist alleged to be at fault,” Barton writes.

 

Want to hear more about cycling from Barton? Get email updates from her blog here, so you don’t miss any.


Barton highlighted efforts going on around the region to promote safety between motorists and cyclists.

 

“Motorists are required to give cyclists a 3 foot clearance when passing,” she writes. “This is very important because the vehicle's wind-effect can knock a bike off track and into danger, and also, bike-riders may need extra clearance to avoid road hazards.”

 

The cyclist deaths have attracted blogger attention elsewhere on Patch.

 

Blogger Jim Titus is on the board of directors of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and wrote about a "new crime of vehicular negligent homicide in Maryland, which allows prosecutors to seek criminal penalties when a sober-but-aggressive driver causes an accident that kills someone."

 

Got something to share with the community? Write your own blog. Email lisa.rossi@patch.com for help getting started.

 

 

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here