Category: Biking in Baltimore

Nate just uploaded an old video from one of the Mayor’s Rides (I am in the purple shirt.)

Complaint alleges driver who hit Hopkins student violated multiple laws

By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun

The family of a comatose college student who was struck by a car while riding his bicycle near the Johns Hopkins University is suing the 83-year-old driver for $10 million, claiming she made an abrupt right turn into his path.

In a suit filed Monday, lawyers for Nathan Krasnopoler charged that Jeanette Marie Walke violated multiple traffic laws on Feb. 26 when she collided with the 20-year-old bicyclist as she turned into her apartment building on University Parkway.

According to his lawyers, Krasnopoler has remained unconscious at Johns Hopkins Hospital since the crash, which has stoked outrage among bicycling advocates over the Baltimore Police Department’s handling of the case.

Walke has not been charged in the case, though an investigation is continuing. A police spokesman initially said the driver would not be charged, but the department has since backed off that position, saying that decision would be made in consultation with the city state’s attorney’s office.

Anthony J. Guglielmi, director of the police public affairs office, said members of the department’s crash team have been meeting periodically with the state’s attorney’s office to discuss the case.

According to the lawsuit, filed by Baltimore lawyer Andrew G. Slutkin, Krasnopoler was riding in a marked bike lane at the intersection of University and W. 39th Street when Walke made a right turn across the bike lane and into the Johns Hopkins University student’s path.

The suit says that Krasnopoler was unable to stop the bicycle and struck the passenger side of Walke’s car, which then ran over him and pinned him on his back. According to the suit, Krasnopoler suffered severe burns because the driver left the engine running while the vehicle was on top of the victim.

Krasnopoler suffered two collapsed lungs, broken ribs and collarbone, facial fractures, eye damage and a traumatic brain injury, according to the complaint in Baltimore Circuit Court. The suit said Krasnopoler went into cardiac arrest when he was being transported to the hospital in an ambulance, and has remained in a coma since the crash.

Slutkin said that since the crash Krasnopoler has undergone extensive facial surgery. He said physicians will not know the true extent of Krasnopoler’s injuries until he comes out of the coma.

The lawsuit alleges that Walke violated a state law adopted last year requiring drivers to keep a 3-foot distance between their vehicles and bicycles when passing them. It also accuses her of negligent and reckless driving and other traffic violations.

Slutkin, of the firm Silverman Thompson Slutkin & White, was the lead attorney in a similar suit filed by the family of cyclist John "Jack" Yates, who was struck and killed by a truck driver in 2009. The plaintiffs and defendant reached a settlement in that case last year despite an initial police finding that the bicyclist was at fault.

In that case, Slutkin said, the plaintiffs were able to overturn the police investigation through video analysis, crash reconstruction and deposition of witnesses.

In the Krasnopoler case, Slutkin said, the family decided after the initial police statement that they wanted an independent investigation. The lawyer said his firm interviewed witnesses and has learned that police have since spoken with some of the same people.

Slutkin said his firm is hoping additional witnesses will come forward. [See: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20110309130612695 ]

The attorney noted that the crash, like the Yates case before it, has received a great deal of attention from bicycling advocates. "The bicycling community feels the police are not sensitive to the laws that exist in Maryland to protect bicyclists," he said.

Carol Silldorff, executive director of Bike Maryland, said Baltimore police either rule a bicyclist at fault or decline to make a report in a disproportionate number of bicycle-vehicle collisions. "I think there’s a perception that too many times accidents go unreported and it’s a struggle to get a report written up that the motorist is at fault," she said. [Ref: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=2011030523251899 ]

After hearing protests from Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and others early this month, the Police Department apologized for the statement issued by its public affairs office.

"At this point in time, no charged have been filed and it is premature to speculate on potential next steps as this case is still very much open," the department said.

Guglielmi said a spokesman in his office has been "misinformed" when making the original statement that the driver would not be charged.

Walke could not be reached to comment.

Baltimore Sun reporter Tricia Bishop contributed to this article.

Continue reading “Comatose bicyclist’s family sues 83-year-old driver for $10 million”

The failure of city and state transportation officials and Baltimore police to provide motorists with guidance on how to safely make right turns when bicyclists are present has been a key reason why bicyclist John Yates was killed and Hopkins student Nathan Krasnopoler remains in a coma ("Student in coma after bicycle accident" Feb. 28).

Both bicyclists followed Maryland’s instructions to ride right and were hit by right-turning vehicles that failed to yield. Both tragedies were compounded by failures of city police to cite the respective drivers. In the case of John Yates, the police misapplied Maryland’s motorcycle laws, which prohibit lane sharing, to bicycles, saying that the bicyclist was illegally riding in Maryland Avenue’s parking lane.

Since Mr. Krasnopoler was riding safely in University Parkway’s bike lane, the police had to find some other reason for saying the motorist wasn’t at fault. Consequently, the police said that Mr. Krasnopoler ran into the front of the car that passed him and turned right. But how is a bicyclist traveling in a downhill bike lane around 25mph supposed to know that after passing him, the motorist will slow down and abruptly turn right across his lane into the Broadview Apartments private driveway? Other than disobeying the law and not using the bike lane, I don’t see how Mr. Krasnopoler could have avoided the crash.

But the motorist could have easily slowed down, safely merged into the downhill bike lane behind the cyclist, and waited for the cyclist to clear her driveway before turning right. And even if she choose not to do so, after passing the cyclist the motorist could have stopped and yielded before crossing the bike lane to turn right into her driveway — as Maryland’s three foot law requires. And the police compounded the tragedy and lost a teachable moment by failing to ticket the driver.

Bicyclists want to be courteous and share the road. But most importantly, we want to be able to arrive without injury. Being polite and riding far right and using the bike lane to make it easier for motorists to pass has cost one bicyclist his life and put another in a coma. Without the police and media willing to provide guidance to stop these tragic "right hooks" from happening again, bicyclists need to put safety first, even if it slows down motorists.

This means not riding in the door zone and avoiding bike lanes in areas where right turns are authorized — especially if riding fast. Perhaps the day will come when Baltimore City adds motorist education, police training and impartial law enforcement to its bicycle program. That will enable bicyclists to ride far right and use bike lanes without injury.

Jeffrey H. Marks, Baltimore
Continue reading “Stopping tragic ‘right hooks’ that kill and injure cyclists”

Nathan is still in a coma, but the doctors feel his overall condition has improved. So, Nathan has been moved out of the ICU into a regular hospital room. Good job Nathan!
–Mitchell

On behalf of my colleagues, I send best wishes for a speedy recovery to 20-year-old Nathan Krasnopoler, the bicyclist who is recovering from a coma after being hit by a motorist on February 26th. Mr. Krasnopoler was safely riding his bike in a marked bike lane on University Parkway in Baltimore when he was hit by a motorist who failed to yield.

Mr. Krasnopoler’s injury is disturbing, but it is made even more disturbing because there will be no reckoning. That is to say, the driver who hit Mr. Krasnopoler will face no criminal charges despite the apparent violation of the law. Just last year, the legislature passed and the governor signed the "three foot rule" with the specific intent of preventing this type of accident. The "three foot rule" requires motorists to yield the right-of-way to the cyclist lawfully riding in the designated bike lane or on the right-most side of the road and to give a 3-foot buffer when attempting to pass. Therefore, the motorist’s action, while possibly accidental, was nonetheless illegal. We cannot hope to deter this type of horrible accident unless the police enforce the three foot rule and other laws which both protect the lawful cyclists and cite bicyclists when they violate the rules of the road.

Legislation such as the "three foot rule" is not intended to punish drivers but to preserve the right of cyclists to ride safely. More and more people are using their bikes for commuting, recreation and other reasons. As cyclists merely want to ride from place to place safely, drivers need to be made aware of the increasing number of cyclists and their right to arrive without injury.

Del. Jon S. Cardin, Annapolis

The writer, a Democrat, represents District 11 in Baltimore County.

Continue reading “No accountability for driver who hit bicyclist”

A recent comment inspired me to write this article to make it clear that the purpose of this site is TO INVOKE CHANGE AND TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE BUILT WORLD AROUND US! I would hope that if I did get accused of taking illegal drugs that they would be of the mind altering kind to allow me to see the world differently then some opiate that induces mental lethargy and is commonly used to dull the pain of the status quo. I guess I failed in that regards, so to make my point more clear:

In respect to the senseless death of a 5 year-old on a residential street…

How many would support the following statement?

>>> I want to live on a street where instantaneous death is almost guaranteed for myself and loved ones if we venture forth in something other then a steel cage, otherwise known as a automobile.

Not to many takers on that one is there? Think differently!

In respect to the duty of most police departments to "improve public safety" what statement by police do you think would do the most good to improve to improve public safety?

A) We would like to remind all drivers to exercise extra caution when driving through residential neighborhoods as kids are outside and to share the street safely.

B) We would to remind drivers that if they accidentally kill someone, no harm done as far as we are concerned. Please carry on as if nothing serious happened.

My point here and elsewhere is not to "throw the book" at the driver nor is it to excuse why the child was on the road in the first place. My point is the missed opportunity for an improved safety message. In this I believe the police and the media are equally culpable. But unfortunately the police, media and my dear commenter seem to all accept needless traffic deaths as simple collateral damage necessary for the fast and efficient travel of the ever superior automobile over that of human life itself.

Think differently … Think change!
Continue reading “The purpose of this site”

Nathan was quiet today. He was back on the tracheal collar so he has been breathing on his own for seven hours and has been doing great! He was back on the vent previously, because of his surgery and recovery from the anesthetic.

March 10 Update
Yesterday, March 10, Nathan had his first of probably many surgeries to reconstruct part of the right side of his face. This surgery was to remove the dead burned skin and prepare his face to accept a skin graft. The plastic surgeon said the surgery went well.

…
“The City of Baltimore is proud to have contributed to NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide,” said Khalil Zaied, Director of Transportation for the City of Baltimore. “Having implemented our Bicycle Master Plan over the past 4 years has helped us learn what bike facilities work and what’s needed to get more citizens to choose cycling over driving. Baltimore’s Department of Transportation looks forward to utilizing this design guide as we move continue to promote cycling and alternative transportation.”
…
Continue reading “Cities release Bikeway Design Guide”

CBS (WJZ)

A Johns Hopkins University student is in a coma, injured after he was hit by a car while riding his bike.
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Krasnopoler is in a coma after being hit on his bike, but family and friends are devoting all of their prayers and energy to his recovery.
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“There’s really no way to predict what the outcome will be for him and brain injury is very variable,” said his mother, Susan Cohen.

Krasnopoler survived, but remains in a coma at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He sustained brain injuries, bone fractures, cuts and bruises. He was trapped under the vehicle when paramedics arrived and received third-degree burns on his face and torso.

City police say an 83-year-old woman trying to make a right turn in her car hit Krasnopoler.

“If you see a bicycle, you really need to pay attention to where it is and if you need to wait a few seconds, wait a few seconds,” said his father, Mitchell Krasnopoler. “Our life has been turned upside down.”
…
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But the video says the police do not anticipate filing charges, at least at this time. I find that statement a bit disconcerting, is CBS just modifying previous coverage or is the the new and "improved" version after MBAC meeting with the police?
https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/03/09/vigil-held-for-seriously-injured-hopkins-student/

Baltimore Brew
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Krasnopoler urged the cyclists to “please be safe on today’s ride and always.” He urged government officials, police, the news media and “you in the biking community” to use the opportunity afforded by the tragedy “to do some good.”

“We hope everyone will work even harder to educate drivers about their legal obligations to give the right of way to a bicyclist in a bike lane.”

He noted that, despite the reported comments by some Baltimore police officials suggesting that no charges would be filed against the driver of the car, the case remains open. “Please be patient, and please join us in thanking the police officers involved for doing a very thorough job,” he said.
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This is not a protest ride. Not this ride, not today,” Penny Troutner told the assembled crowd. The owner of Light Street Cycles, Troutner organizes the Meetup group “Biking in B’more.”
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“We are coming together to comfort each other and to vent our frustration to people who understand,” she said, “and to reach out to Nathan and his family – to embrace Nathan and his family.”

But those frustrations were being vented freely yesterday by clearly emotional cyclists, who said the Feb. 26 incident is a grim reminder of the dangers they face from unsafe road design and motorists who are either oblivious to their presence or downright hostile.
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I’m outraged by it, when they say that the car is not at fault,” Campbell said. “We have a driving culture here that just does not recognize bikes.”
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She said Nathan, who was trapped under the vehicle and stopped breathing for a time following the crash, remains in stable condition at the Hopkins ICU, but has still not emerged from the coma. He also sustained 3rd degree burns on his face and torso, as well as bone fractures and bruises.

“The doctors cannot tell us when he will come out of it and they’ve also told us he might not,” she said.

Mitchell Krasnopoler returned often to the idea that his son’s injury should be a reminder to motorists to be more cautious around bikes.

“If you see a bicycle, you need to really pay attention to where it is and if you need to wait a few seconds, just wait the few seconds,” he said. “Because our life has been turned upside down.”
…
They mishandled it. I think definitely at the very least, they failed to cite the woman who should have gotten some kind of ticket,” said Adam Zeldin, president of a student organization, Hopkins Cycling. “The streets around campus are really bad. I hope Baltimore and the school do something about it.”
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Others agreed that the bike lanes offer no protection for cyclists if drivers don’t respect them.

“I don’t think the bike lanes are safe,” said Campbell, describing close-calls he’s had on city streets and county roads with careless or antagonistic drivers.

Despite the fact that he is careful to bike lawfully, he said, motorists have frequently swerved around dangerously in front of him “and yelled at me to obey the rules of the road.”
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Cyclist Justin Winokur, a 23-year-old graduate student in engineering at Hopkins, said he has had similar experiences, including one memorable incident with a Baltimore police car.

“The cop came up behind me and honked,” Winokur said. “He said, ‘You’re not allowed to be on the road because there’s no ‘Share-the-road’ sign.” [This is an an unlawful order. Do not confront the officer with this fact! (You can get into more trouble if you do.) just get some sort of ID (car number at least) and report here, with Nate, MBAC and/or police HQ.]
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https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2011/03/10/baltimore-cyclists-hold-vigil-and-ride-to-support-critically-injured-biker/
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I am disappointed that more attention has not been drawn to "Bicycle Safety: It’s a Two-Way Street," by SHA. An excerpt
• Be Careful in Intersections – … yield to them [bicycles] as you would to any other vehicle. Do not turn left or right in front of bicyclists unless you can do so safely. You can be fined $1000 and receive 3 points if you injure a bicyclist by violating their right-of-way:
https://www.choosesafetyforlife.com/pdfs/Bicycle_Booklet.pdf

More attention has been given to not charging the diver and "the cyclists did hit the car." then getting this safety message out. And what’s the safety message for cyclists at this point? "Don’t ride in bike lanes" seems to be what it is coming down to. Seriously this is what the City wants?

Gathering by the hospital where Nathan is still in a coma.

By Jeffery Marks on the BBC forum

Over 100 people attended the cyclists’ gathering and to pray for a speedy and full recovery for Nathan Krasnopoler. Nathan’s father spoke at the scene of the crash – Broadview Apts near Univ Pkwy and 39th street. Then our large group; including Nathan’s father, friends, and family; bicycled over to Johns Hopkins hospital, where Nathan who is still in a coma, is being treated. The family and others read a prayer and psalms for Nathan’s recovery. We then bicycled back to the crash site.

While I wish it were a happier occassion, I was encouraged by the large outpouring of support for Nathan. This included City Planners, Nate Evans city bicycle coordinator, advocates, Hopkins students, and professionals. I was thrilled by the many young people who came. These students and recent graduates are well educated and use their bicycles for transportation, physical fitness, and recreation.

Words and thoughts for Nathan’s healing.
Continue reading “Cyclists in support of Nathan, over a hundred strong”