Biker hit by car, wants city to address bike safety
A Columbia man is asking the city to do something to make more roads in Columbia bike friendly.
Jay McCutcheon said he was hit by a car on June 10 while riding his bike down Paris Road. The area of Paris where McCutcheon was hit has shared bike lanes. McCutcheon said he usually rides on the sidewalks in these areas to stay out of traffic.
According to McCutcheon, he was riding south on Paris and was crossing Monroe Street when the crash happened.
“I look to my right as I’m riding and there’s a car coming at me,” McCutcheon said. “The next thing I know, I wake up and some dude is tapping me on the chest saying, ‘Hey, are you OK? Are you OK?'”
McCutcheon was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries after the crash.
“I’m getting through it,” McCutcheon said. “I’m alive. I’m happy for that. I don’t know why people don’t watch out. It’s supposed to be a bike friendly city.”
The city of Columbia is known to be a bike friendly city, with bike trails and bike lanes crisscrossing the city.
The city is also working on its Vision Zero plan, aimed at reducing traffic crash deaths to zero by the year 2030.
According to Heather Cole, assistant to the city manager and the Vision Zero program manager, teams for the plan will begin to meet in July and August.
“Teams have not specifically met yet to identify roads etc., but that’s not to say our Engineering staff doesn’t already have plans in place related to our initiatives,” Cole wrote in an email.
Cole also addressed the possibility for Paris Rd. to be a part of the plan and for any adjustments to be made for pedestrians and cyclists using the area for their commute.
“MoDOT has a project to mill and overlay a portion of Route B later this year and we are working with them to add bicycle lanes for most of Route B,” Cole said. “However, there will still be a period of time when a short section of Paris/Route B does not have bicycle lanes.”
The city of Columbia’s Public Works Department also has a survey for residents to take on bike markings at four intersections in the city. The survey closes July 5.
