I guess the police base the charges they file on public opinion. Cyclists have no rights or protection from insane city drivers and cops are no exception. This a classic case of outright negligence by the 83 year old woman. Just because she is elderly doesn't mean she is exempt from the law. Enforce bike laws and protect riders from this kind of incident.

"Frankly, they need some help from witnesses."

Just based on her apparent testimony alone, this is a clear case of negligence on the part of the driver, but whatever.

What cyclists fail to do is, acknowledge that they aren't driving a car.. I've seen cyclists riding bikes and they are the weirdest people, "THEY DON'T LOOK FOR CARS, ALL THEY DO IS LOOK AHEAD".. The street belongs to vehicles, not bikes, so you have too lookout for cars and trucks like everybody else!!!!

Does anyone know whether the bicyclist was wearing a helmet?
I am not asking to cast any blame; I bike and I know the dangers (and prevalence) of idiot drivers.
I am earnestly curious to know whether he was wearing a helmet.
If so, did the helmet help; is Nathan in better condition because of the helmet?
If not, would Nathan be in better condition had he been wearing a helmet?

would you please stop repeating the lie that he was struck in the intersection with 39th and instead confirm with BCPD (as I did) that the crash occured at the entrance to an apartment complex in the NE 100 block of W.Univ.Pway ?! ABC2News got it right!

They need the public to do their job for them while they sit at dunkin donuts. They need that time to think of another crooked scam to run of the public.

I almost hit someone on a bicycle last week while I was making a right turn in my car. I had my right turn signal on, and was looking around to turn right off of Light St. onto Lombard St. when a bicycle whizzed past the right side (passenger side) of my car. If I had not been turning slowly I would have hit him. I do not know why he was passing me on the right when I was clearly about to turn right (in a marked right turn only lane with my turn signal on). Bike lanes are almost always on the right side of the road - so my guess is that situations like this are quite common! I don't know what law applies to bicycles in these situations - but I think he should have waited for me to turn right before he proceeded straight!

Steve, just because the woman is 83 doesn't automatically mean that she was negligent. Would you say the same thing if the driver were, say, 30?

Yes, Nathan was wearing a helmet.

To WhySoSerious--The portion of the street where Nathan was riding, a clearly marked bike lane, belongs to bikes. Sounds like Nathan is a responsible cyclist so please stop blaming the victim here.

Let's all hope that he fully recovers.

Here is the link to the bike ride in support of Nathan:
http://www.meetup.com/Biking-in-Bmore/events/16774816/?a=mc1_lnm&rv=mc1

Kathleen, he was wearing a bicycle helmet, but there is absolutely no way for anyone to say with any certainty whether it helped him or not. No doctor would have any idea. All we can do is look at the statistics for the effectiveness of bicycle helmets at mitigating serious head traumas for adults, which leave us with no solid conclusions. This is the main reason the media is pulling away from reporting on whether cyclist are wearing helmets when they report collisions.

Beth, in your case the cyclist was most certainly in the wrong, and made a dangerously stupid maneuver. This is not the case with the Nathan Krasnopoler collision. He was riding in a clearly marked bicycle lane, and Maryland law is explicit that a motorist is not permitted to turn right and cross a bike lane that is not clear of traffic. The motorist is required to either wait for the cyclist to pass, or merge into the bike lane before turning right.

@whysoserious "they are the weirdest people" Pretty big generalization. He was in a BIKE LANE for BIKES. Also, @Iana you are very right! I passed by the accident scene and where the old lady's car was up on the sidewalk on the grass in front of the Apartment complex "The Carolina" which is almost half a block BEFORE the 39th street intersection. If she was going to make a right @ 39th she must have been riding in the bike lane. I can see why they need help from witnesses because there it is not cut and dry at 39th. I'd like to know the whole story. Unfortunately, the elderly must follow the law too and be held accountable when wrong.

Riding a bike in a marked bike lane is no different than driving a car in a designated auto lane. If a driver wishs to change lanes or make a right turn it is the drivers responsibility to insure that the lane they are entering is clear of traffic. They cannot just put on their turn signal and move over. The driver also has to make sure that there are no pedestrians on the sidewalk that are about to enter the spot where they are turning--before they turn. So why should a cyclist be treated any different than either a car or a pedistration that might be in the way of the driver's intended route.

That being said, any cyclist riding in urban traffic has to follow one cardinal rule - always assume you are invisible. For 28 years I was a bike commuter in Washington DC and the inner MD & VA suburbs. During that time I logged about 70,000 miles on just about every road and street between Silver Spring and Arlington. I rode in the dark, and often in the rain or snow, without any serious mishap.

If you ride in heavy traffic you also need a rearview mirror. And when you encounter someone who might encroach on your space make sure you have established eye contact with the driver before you enter their space.

Has anyone yet to inquire whether there was an video surveillance cameras in this area? Witnesses are good, video even better.

I drive on University Pkwy. past JHU several times each day. I am constantly amazed (as I was when I lived near the University of Colorado) at students using crosswalks who do not look as they prepare to and then cross very busy intersections. I have also seen pedestrians on the phone and with earphones crossing busy streets without double-checking before they cross. We must never blame victims, but every driver and cyclist and pedestrian must always look and look again before driving, riding or walking in this busy area. As a driver, I always look before I go on a green light--people run red lights frequently and fast in this area. Everyone needs to be alert and aware as they walk, ride and drive.

Maryland law now requires motorists to “pass safely at a distance of not less than three feet”
Cyclists have ROAD RIGHTS READ/UNDERSTAND THE LAW PEOPLE!!!

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39890

Steve, you don't NEED a rear view mirror. In fact, many cycling safety groups recommend against using a rear view mirror out of concern that it will lead to cyclists neglecting to turn around to look behind them before turning. I have no opinion one way or the other other than cyclists need to be careful and make sure the lane is clear before turning.

Justin Fenton,

I'd like to urge you to please check into the facts and then report to us on where this accident really occurred! Despite your stating that the accident occurred at the intersection of University and 39th, multiple other news sources have now cited the police in stating the accident occurred NOT at an intersection but instead at a small driveway entrance half a block earlier on University (which significantly alters the picture of what happened!).

See http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2011/03/01/after-saturday-crash-baltimore-bicyclists-ask-why-motorist-wasnt-charged/ for photos of the driveway location.

They give round block numbers (100, 200) and closest cross streets when describing incident locations. It's not an attempt to mislead.

only charge that should be filled is on the system that allows someone who isn't physically able to keep driving to stay on the roads with their car aka weapon

Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for your inquiry and concern about this tragic accident. In response, Bicycle Coordinator Nate Evans, representatives of the Mayor’s Bicycle Task Force and I met on Thursday, March 3, with Traffic Division Police to determine the status of the investigation. The police investigation is ongoing. Any witnesses should immediately contact the Baltimore Police Public Relations Office at 410-396-2012 so that their testimony can be incorporated into the report. Once complete, the police report is forwarded to the States Attorney’s Office where decisions will be made and made known to all parties. Below is the Police Department status summary coming out of the March 3 meeting.

Thanks,
Mary Pat


Thank you for your concern for the welfare of bicyclists within the city of Baltimore. As the largest law enforcement agency in Maryland, and one that is truly committed to serving professionally, we too share your desire for increased awareness on bicycle safety.

As it pertains to the accident investigation of Nathan Krasnopoler, a second-year Johns Hopkins student who was involved in a tragic vehicular collision this past Saturday, Baltimore Police crash team investigators are still conducting an extensive investigation into the incident.

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

Once the police investigation and incident reconstruction is completed, crash team investigators will confer with city prosecutors to determine if any criminal charges are to be filed. Charging decisions are based completely on the facts of the incident, physical evidence from the scene and whether any laws were violated during the collision. Depending on the results of the investigation, additional steps may be taken with the state Motor Vehicle Administration.

We will be sure to communicate the results of this investigation once investigators and prosecutors have completed their review. Should you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the Baltimore Police Public Affairs Office at 410-396-2012.

Again, thank you for your concern and enthusiasm.


Anthony J. Guglielmi
Director, Public Affairs Section
Office of the Police Commissioner
Baltimore Police Department
242 W. 29th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211

Telephone: 410-396-2012
www.baltimorepolice.org

It was in the middle of the block in front of the Broadview Apartments. I was driving on University and turned onto 39th that day and saw the police tape up and the car on the sidewalk! Didn't know what happened at the time, obviously.

I don't think anyone is saying the author is attempting to mislead the reader, but that is the effect. If the issue is that the police use round numbers to denote which block something happened in, then just say that it happened in that block. To say it happened at the interesection draws an assumption (either yours or ours) that it happened where cars would regularly be turning.

Gotcha.

I walked by shortly after the accident (about 12:30) and saw the car in the driveway about 15 yards before the intersection and the bike with a bent front wheel, but otherwise looking intact. Nathan and the driver were gone by then.

I agree that the location is important to the investigation. The driveway is near the intersection, and I am afraid that Nathan assumed the turn signal meant that the driver was planning to turn up ahead at 39th street, and thought it was safe to drive alongside. He may have been taken by surprise when the driver turned into the bike lane.

This does not negate the driver's responsibility to slow down and look for oncoming bike traffic, but it makes me sad, because he might have been more defensive in approaching the car if he realized she might turn in to the driveway..

Vanessa's comment is a very sensible guess at what might have happened, given our lack of information. I agree with Steve that when biking, you have to assume that you are invisible (and that cars are rhinoceroses run amok). On the other hand, when driving, I now always imagine that I am driving through a preschool playground and that a toddler could lurch into my path at any time. Those of us who drive need to pay for the comfort and convenience by keeping an extra special watch out for those who are more vulnerable on the roads and crosswalks.

Amid all of the fuss here, though, think that even if the driver is charged with negligence, the law is currently pretty toothless when it comes to punishment and deterrence. There is a bill pending in the MD house (HB 363) that would increase the penalties for negligence and maybe make it easier to charge. So contact your state rep. if you would like to see this bill pass.

I wasn't there, but too many times I've slowed at an intersection, only to have a bicycle come flying by me on the right. The cyclist you thought you had safely passed now becomes a small danger in your blind spot. For drivers turning right, the challenge then becomes one of looking where you're turning, or watching behind you to be sure that the cyclist sees your turn signal and doesn't try to beat you past the point of your turn. I feel very sorry for the young man and hope that he has a complete recovery, but I also think that cyclists need to understand that there are times when championing their right of way is a dangerous mistake. Having been seriously injured years ago when hit while walking down a sidewalk, I can tell you from sad experience that the pedestrian/bicyclist will always lose in an interaction with a car. In my case, I spent a month in the hospital and have never walked properly since. The woman who hit me was fined $15.