Fatal Bus Crash with Cyclist Spotlights That Cyclists Should Be Extra Careful Near Buses - Experienced Pennsylvania Bicycle Accident Lawyer and Cyclist Weighs In
A fatal cycling crash involving a bus in Boston has struck an outpouring of sympathy and frustration from cyclists but also underscores that bicyclists should be extra careful when attempting to pass buses. The recent tragic incident in Boston involved the death of 22-year old Michael Hunt who hit the rear left section of the bus when he attempted to pass the bus, causing him to lose control of his bike and fall under the 60 ft. long vehicle. Hunt was not wearing a helmet and suffered severe trauma and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Many years ago, this experienced Philadelphia bicycle lawyer was driving up the West River Drive on a Sunday afternoon when I hit a stone on the street, lost control of my bike causing the handlebars to fall, and missed death by approximately 2 inches as a SEPTA bus passed me. Frankly, it was one of the most shocking and scary incidents of my life. I also used to ride my bike in areas where trolley tracks existed which was also traveled by buses and I have lost control of my bike on more than one occasion suffering fairly severe injuries. Often bicyclists can attest that many times bus drivers and car drivers ignore them while they are on the road, particularly if they might be in their blind spot. Many cities have taken recent strides to reduce the risk of accidents by adding bike lanes. However, there are a lot of vehicles competing for the use of the streets and we all have to be careful and respect each other.
