Young Michigan cyclist on bike path killed by semi

[Roody]

This poor kid was riding on a bike path and somehow lost control of his bike. He rode into the street rather than turning onto a sidewalk, and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig. One problem with bike paths is that their intersections with streets can be difficult for less experienced cyclists.

http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1151076020279220.xml&coll=7

[twahl]

We had two last year in a very short time span within a short distance of each other on the W&OD. Both blew stop signs on the path, one got hit by a truch, the other plowed into the side of a pickup. In the area, they had a reasonable expectation that there would be no traffic, since this far out there is generally very little traffic.

Always tragic when these accidents happen.

[Roody]

I imagine that many parents allow young kids to ride on bike trails because they believe that they are safe. After all, a facility that is specifically designed for bikes should be safe, shouldn't it?

[sbhikes]

It really depends upon the bike path. If it is adjacent to the road and has lots of intersections to cross, then yeah, it's less safe than one that is completely away from any roads.

[Pheard]

I think I'm beginning to understand why my mother was so paranoid to let me go away from the street we lived on when I was younger.