On Tuesday afternoon, San Jose Police reported the city’s first fatality of a person riding a bicycle.
SJPD currently investigating a fatal collision involving a vehicle vs. bicyclist at Leigh Ave and Coit Dr. Please expect traffic delays.
— San Jose Police Dept (@SanJosePD) March 21, 2017
According to the Mercury News, the crash occurred at 2:52 PM, police are investigating, the driver is cooperating.
This portion of Leigh Avenue is an important North-South connector between the central part of San Jose and Los Gatos across South San Jose. I travel here somewhat frequently, and the Strava global heatmap also signals the popularity of this bike-laned road.
In spite of the 35 MPH speed limit and the presence of children from nearby schools (class dismissed from Fanmatre Elementary School 500 feet from the collision site a mere 10 minutes before the collision happened, so children undoubtedly witnessed this crash), people speed like maniacs down Leigh Avenue. The street looks like a freeway, after all.
From 2006 through 2013, nine people on bikes and another nine people on foot have been injured after they were hit by a car within half a mile of this intersection.
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition San Jose Team meets tonight at the bike coalition office. I’ve requested a moment for the unidentified victim of yesterday’s traffic violence.
Other items on tonight’s agenda:
- Automated Speed Enforcement legislation
- Protected bike lanes in San Jose – candidate corridors/network
- Complete streets and bike/ped projects in Santa Clara County Measure B
- Announcements: Silicon Valley Bikes! Fest, Bike to Work Day, volunteer opportunities, SPUR panel(s)