Houston Initiatives seek to promote Safety and Awareness of Bicyclists

In recent years, Texas cities have been seeing a sharp increase in motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrian and bicyclist accident fatalities. The increase has prompted Austin to survey those who use its roads in an attempt to learn how to enhance safety for those who walk and cycle in the capital. Trying to discover common themes that it can use to promote safety and awareness, the city has begun developing the Safe Walk, Safe Bike campaign. In 2012, the number of bicyclists and pedestrians killed in car collisions in Austin rose to twice the amount of previous years.

Houston Bicyclist Safety Initiatives

Houston, where serious hit and run crashes are a regular news item and where a number of bicyclists died in car collisions over the past year, has just announced an initiative to close off certain streets on Sundays to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the city’s offerings without having to dodge motor vehicle traffic. Houston has also just started an undercover enforcement initiative to catch motorists who threaten bicyclists’ safety, intentionally or otherwise.

Houston has a Safe Passing ordinance designed to protect cyclists. The ordinance requires that motor vehicles passing a bicyclist must leave at least three feet between the vehicle and the bike. And that drivers must leave 6 feet between their vehicle and any bicycle they’re following behind.

So some Houston plainclothes policemen are out on bikes, pedaling through high traffic areas. And if you’re a motorist who fails to obey the Houston Safe Passing ordinance, you’ll get a ticket. And a needed lesson in bicyclist safety awareness.

The undercover enforcement effort should broaden drivers’ awareness regarding cyclist safety. It’s part of the Houston Mayor’s overall plan to enhance bicycle safety in her city. In addition to the Sunday Streets imitative that temporarily closes routes to motor vehicles, the administration is dedicating $50,000 to help fund a bicycle master plan for the city as the Houston’s network of walking and cycling trails expands. (Doug Miller, KHOU 11 and KENS 5 News, 3/26/14)

The new Austin and Houston initiatives are good news for cyclists and pedestrians alike. But we fear that in thriving Texas cities increasingly congested by motor vehicle traffic, drivers are likely to become even more impatient and possibly take even greater risks with others’ safety as they try to cope with gridlock and delays.

Cyclists and Pedestrians face Distinct Disadvantages in Collisions with a Motor Vehicle

In a collision with a motor vehicle, a pedestrian or bicyclist is at a serious disadvantage. The deadly rampage of an intoxicated driver through a crowd of pedestrians and cyclists at this year’s SXSW music festival in Austin amply demonstrated the dangers. When a car collides with a pedestrian or cyclist, the victim might suffer severe head trauma, neck and spinal injuries, internal organ trauma, broken bones, amputations, and/or deep lacerations. The collision could easily be fatal. Yet the driver of the motor vehicle might sustain little or no injury.

But the crash victim on foot or on a bike is likely to need immediate emergency medical treatment, a long recovery period, or possibly even lifelong care for the resulting injuries. A collision with a motor vehicle could change their lives forever. Victims need to be able to build strong compensation claims to make the financial recoveries they need and deserve after such serious accidents. But that’s not always easy, especially in a hit and run situation. Occasionally video surveillance tapes might help the bicycle accident victim, but often there are no witnesses, even electronic ones. And when there are witnesses, sometimes everything happens so quickly that no one gets a license plate number or a good description of the vehicle or driver.

It could be critical to your future to get an experienced accident attorney who knows how to conduct a thorough accident investigation on your case immediately. Videotapes are often recycled and taped over within a matter of days. Witnesses disappear from the scene and begin to forget what they saw and heard. Those who caused the crash might try to hide, destroy, or cover up important evidence. You need to make sure you get the evidence you need before it disappears or goes stale.

Contact the Experienced Houston Bicycle Accident Injury Attorneys at Denena Points, PC to learn How

We offer a free initial legal consultation to discuss your accident and injuries and evaluate your eligibility for a fair financial recovery. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. Reach us anytime through our online contact form or call us direct at 713-807-9500. Put our more than 12 years of solid experience winning successful recoveries fir injured victims and their families to work for your benefit. Call today.