I hit a child on the bike trail

[Mr. Bloom]

Rollie,

Don't feel guilt. Accidents happen. At least you're a bike and not a car...and that would have been a very different outcome.

Hopefully Dad knows that he should have kept her on the "inside" particularly since there was other traffic coming the opposite direction.

I've often had this same fear on local MUP's...but it's usually with the UNLEASHED dogs...now I have something else to ponder in my contingency planning...

[channlluv]

The leashed dogs on my favorite MUP drive me nuts. Their owners let their leashes run out all the way, so there's a walking human on the right, but a darting-back-and-forth yap yap on a 20-foot lead running all over the road. Even if it's far to the left, I can't get around the leash safely. I try to yell "LEASH!" when I'm coming up on them, and most of the time they reel them back in in time, but I usually have to slow way down.

I've been known to say something like, "Lady, I'm the slow cyclist out here. There's a bunch of big guys doing about 20 coming up fast behind me, and they don't call out," as I pass. There are a lot of really fast cyclists who work out around the lake, and they're not all observing the 15 mph speed limit.

And young mothers who let their toddlers out of the jogging stroller to run around while they're talking on the phone. One of them got a panicked "Watch the baby!" from me when I was coming around a sharp curve and there she was, there her stroller was, and there this little boy was, about twenty feet farther around the curve in the middle of the path. I had to screech to a halt -- luckily I was on my mtb at the time. I wouldn't have had that kind of traction or control on my Ruby. I hope whomever she was talking to heard me scream.

Foot traffic is just one of the hazards we have to learn to deal with. I wish sometimes that we could post our own Rules of the Road for people who seem to miss those giant signs at the beginning of the pathway.

Roxy

Roxy

[Bike Chick]

I'm glad you and the little girl are both okay. If it was that congested, dad should have been holding her hand and keeping an eye out IMO.

[jenniferh]

As the parent of a 5 yr old I can say the Dad probably understood that you did everything you could. Accidents just happen and kids can be unpredictable. The good news is the little girl didn't get hurt and she probably learned a valuable lesson and will be more aware next time. It could have saved her from a worse collision down the road.

[loopybunny]

Let me guess... was this on the American River Bike Trail? I've almost hit so many people out there... all of which walked out in front of me suddenly switching sides on the trail and most of which were probably drunk.

Sounds like the dad was trying to teach the girl a lesson about safety as well. Kids are unpredictable, I'm sure he understood that accidents happen. Just hope she learned her lesson so next time it's not a car that hits her.

[tctrek]

I had my most serious crash (broken wrist) on a MUP when someone stepped out in front of me. I actually feel safer riding on the road then on a trail where there are pedestrians, skaters, dogs on long leashes, etc. You take your life in your hands on those trails!!

[JennK13]

Glad everyone is okay. Im really surprised it doesnt happen more often. Saturday I was leading a group ride up a MUP and we came upon a section that was part of the route for a cancer walk. Note, the trail was NOT closed for other traffic, but these people were ALL across the path as though it were, and were giving all the cyclists the evil eye as they passed. The section of trail we were on is primarily used by cyclists on any other day but yesterday, and people fly up and down it. At least we were riding against ped traffic (not that even half saw us coming towards them) I really felt bad for the cyclist heading the same direction as the peds.
People need to pay attention and understand they are not the only ones on the trail - parents need to keep their kids close, and their dogs on short leashes. Our city has a 6ft leash law, but it doesnt stop people from using those retractable ones, all out, across the trail. Im just waiting for someone to get clotheslined on one of those.

[RolliePollie]

Let me guess... was this on the American River Bike Trail?

Why yes, as a matter of fact, it was!!!

This is not my first close encounter on that trail with children, dogs, oblivious pedestrians, and cyclists suddenly turning left or stopping in front of me...not to mention the 10 gazillion suicidal squirrels who scare me to death. I try to go down there when it won't be too crowded and I really do love riding there. It's just the nature of MUPs I guess.

Today I feel less guilty and even more thankful that the girl was ok. Plus I think I got my come-uppance because on today's ride I had a little rock stuck in my cleat and I couldn't unclip so I tipped over and fell in a driveway. Just like the girl, I'm fine...just a bruise or two.

[bcipam]

I am not going to pass blame - just happy everything turned out OK.

One reason why I generally don't ride tails, paths etc. People just aren't paying attention. Children are unpredictable and squirrelly; parents are unattentive; its dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists both.

Many years ago I had a very serious accident (fx's hip, wrist, arm,collarbone) when a young child ran across the bike path in front of me. I was going fairly fast (about 20mph) and knew if I hit the child, would most likely kill him. I laid the bike down and paid the price. The child's mother was laying (on a blanket, asleep) some way down from the trail totally oblivious her child had run off. Thank goodness my friends were with me to deal with the situation. They gave the mom a lecture. Of course, that didn't help me... so if I'm on a trail I go slow and cautiously assuming everyone out there is an idiot and doesn't see me.

Glad you are OK, but I know how you feel.