A shocking video captured by a bicyclist in mid-July shows a car striking another bicyclist on Natchez Trace Parkway. The hit-and-run accident left the victim with serious injuries. According to police, the driver of the car either ignored, dismissed or even targeted the bicyclist.
The potential criminal aspects of the case are being sorted out, but this incident highlights an antipathy toward non-motorists on roads. How many times have you been frustrated when a pedestrian crosses in front of you, despite not having a walk signal? Have you ever felt that a bicyclist was taking up your lane and going too slowly? These feelings are more common than you think and have led to many senseless deaths in the last few years.
ACCIDENT STATISTICS FROM THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY
Between 2007 and June 2017, there have been 1,238 pedestrian accidents and 373 bicycle accidents on statewide roads. Shelby County led the pack in accidents with Davidson County following up closely.
The president of Bike Walk TN recently expressed worries that victims are too often vilified for these accidents.
What can we do to solve this problem? With 100 people moving to Nashville every day, commute times and accident rates are rising. And as these go up, so, too, does animosity and hostility toward cyclists and pedestrians. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry has made protected bike lanes a transportation priority and several plans are underway to address the needs of all road users, such as the Nashville WalknBike Plan.
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”