Maryland State troopers are investigating Monday night's crash, but accoring to University Police spokesman Capt. MarcLimansky the cyclist is the one who'll be found at fault.
"The bike didn't have any reflectors on, and the student was not riding in the crosswalk and was wearing dark clothing."
Reflectors are required, but not if one has ligts - and they don't mention whether or not he was riding with lights on. Wearing dark clothes, while perhaps unwise, is legal.
There's no requirement that he ride in the crosswalk - and it doesn't match with the description of him riding on the sidewalk and crossing Rossborough "Lane" (I assume they mean Drive). What they're saying is that he rode off the sidewalk, and then either moved onto Route 1 (which would be legal) or moved to the right and crossed the street outside the crosswalk - which is so bizarre as to be suspicious. I suspect he was either never on the sidewalk, or crossed in the crosswalk and was dragged or pushed out of it.
What is not mentioned is who had the right-of-way. This is a signalized intersection. Did the cyclist have the green light? That, along with his lights, seems relevant.
The good news is it appears that his injuries are not as bad as first expected and he should recover, which is the most important thing.
The relevance of the crosswalk might have been that in MD bikes in crosswalk with the green have same right of way as a pedestrian in towns where riding bike is legal. Maybe police think it is legal.
But College Park Ordinance says:
Sec. 19-29. - Bicycles; speed, passing pedestrian.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on any sidewalk in the city.
Very likely: Both had a green, so bike would have had right of way by virtue of going straight regardless of the crosswalk if he was right-hooked. Except with no reflector or light, he was not clearly visible.
Had cyclist run a red light, that would have been mentioned several times.
Posted by: Jim T | September 21, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Oh look, cops jumping through hoops to blame the victim.
Was he black? They should mention that too, because black skin is harder to see at night, right?
Posted by: JJJJJ | September 21, 2011 at 04:11 PM