OLD TOWN, Maine — A 17-year-old Old Town High School student narrowly avoided injury after darting out into the street on his bicycle and colliding into the rear of a car on Monday afternoon, police said.
No one was injured and the only damage that seemed to result from the collision were scrapes to the Honda sedan after the bicycle hit the rear tire of the car.
“He came out of the school entrance on his bike and cut in front of a car at the high school entrance. The car never saw him and he hit the back tire of the vehicle, which was a small sedan,” said Old Town Police Chief Steve O’Malley.
The accident occurred at 1:19 p.m.
O’Malley estimated that the bicycle, which was taken to the teenager’s home by Old Town firefighters, was at least 50 years old.
The teenager refused any medical treatment and was taken home by his mother. None of the three people in the car was injured.
“He apparently has been a little too daring with his bicycle and had been warned numerous times to be more careful by school officials and family members,” said O’Malley.
Old Town police responded along with an Old Town fire engine and an Orono ambulance.
Here’s your sign.
and was he ticketed I hope?
I would hope so.
Treat bike riders as you would any other vehicle on the road. License with a minimum age restriction, register their bikes, require them to stay out of the way of motorized traffic, and hold them accountable for not following the rules of the road.
Not all bicycle riders leave their brains in their shoes.
This kid in Old Town did — guess he is fortunate that his “apparently has been a little too daring with his bicycle and had been
warned numerous times to be more careful by school officials and family
members” hasn’t resulted in his death before now. You can’t fix STUPID!
You are right, you can’t fix stupid. Some learn too late or not at all. It’s the ones that do ride responsibly that you would like to see punished if, more rules were put into place. No one would be riding a bicycle.
Right. Make them wear helmets. Pass a road test and charge $50 to register bikes. Carry an inspection sticker like cars do.
*note sarcasm*
Well I left out some of the details but yes, all that you mention should be implemented. However I’d recommend that the registration fee be $100. Besides those important points bike riders should be held accountable for not following traffic laws and punished just as motorized vehicle drivers are when they do not. Minimum age for licensing is a big deal too and should be the same as it is for drivers of motorized vehicles and for the very same reason.
If you want to ride a bike free and easy, without concern for the health and well-being of others, then ride off-road on trails. Of course even there a bike rider must show adequate courtesy for pedestrians. The world has changed D Biggs and allowing underage and inexperienced children to ride on roads such as route 1 with 80,000 lb trucks going 50+ MPH isn’t sound thinking in 2012.
*note lack of sarcasm*
Wait, are we treating them any other vehicle on the road or not?
If they have to stay out of the way you are not advocating for them to be treating the same.