Fatal Micromobility Accidents in San Francisco
September has already been a dangerous month for people using alternative forms of transportation around San Francisco. Over the course of a scary week on local streets, a cyclist was hit, a child on a scooter was struck by a car and a skateboarder was also hit by a vehicle.
Deadly San Francisco Bicycle Collision
The frightening week began on Thursday evening. A 38-year-old man was crossing the intersection of Ninth and Division streets when he was struck by a car.
The San Francisco Examiner reported the accident happened just before 7 p.m. on September 3, 2020. The driver remained on the scene for the investigation.
The accident took place in an intersection that is part of the City’s Vision Zero High Injury Network. These intersections have been upgraded in an effort to make spots that see high accident numbers safer for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Scooter Rider and Skateboarder Struck by Vehicles
The Examiner also reported on a little boy that was injured after getting struck while on a stand-up scooter on Sunday, September 6, 2020. It happened around 8:30 in the morning. San Francisco police say a driver turning left at Madrid Street and Brazil Avenue hit the 3-year-old. The driver stayed on the scene of the accident.
Another tragic collision took place later that day. A skateboarder traveling through the Judah and 20th Avenue intersection Sunday afternoon was hit by a car. San Francisco Police responded to the scene and said the skateboarder refused medical treatment. Social media reports later suggested the victim was taken to the hospital by friends.
San Francisco Safety for Cyclists and Boarders
The Bay Area has been slowly making improvements for those that travel by foot, pedal power, and small-wheeled boards, but after such a tragic week it’s obvious more needs to be done.
The deadly bicycle accident last Thursday occurred in an intersection that in recent years the city has aspired to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. In fact, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) created its first “protected intersection” back in 2016 where Ninth Street, Division Street, and San Bruno Avenue intersect.
The project added bike lanes, raised crosswalks, and laid down newly marked safety zones. Prior to improvements, SFMTA data showed that from 2011 to 2016 106 collisions took place along the Division Street corridor resulting in two fatalities.
The 20th Avenue area where the skateboarding victim was hit, is also slated for safety upgrades that are currently delayed. The 20th Avenue Neighborway project would make the corridor from Stern Grove to Golden Gate Park a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians. Currently, the approved plan is stuck in the detailed design stage.
Bicyclists and other non-motorized transportation riders should feel welcomed across the Bay Area. But sadly, until better safeguards are in place the rider will always be at elevated risk from the constant flow of vehicles around San Francisco and Oakland. Bike lanes and crosswalk improvement projects should be fast-tracked and new proposals should be considered more frequently. Each upgrade can save lives.
We are Bay Area Bicycle Law
Bay Area Bicycle Law has spent years advocating for the bicycle community. Our attorneys are cyclists themselves and we want safer rides for every cyclist and anyone else who uses alternative modes of transportation. In the event of an accident, we also want to help protect the victim. We concentrate our practice solely on bicyclists and other riders who have been injured as a result of the carelessness and negligence of others. If you were injured in a bicycle accident in or around San Franciso or anywhere around the bay area, contact us right away for a confidential free consultation and case review.