Bicycle safety advocates in Denver say there is a public health crisis in the city.
As of July, 2018, 29 people have been killed navigating the city either as pedestrians or as bicyclists this year. There are improvements that need to be made, but concerned citizens say that nothing is getting done. One of the biggest reasons that people are being injured or killed in Denver, say those advocates, is the poor design of the streets. Fortunately, repairs and improvements can make it safer for people to cycle around Denver and to walk down the street without getting hurt.
Paint and poles can really make a difference
At the five-lane intersection of Franklin and Colfax, for example, flex posts and safety paint created a clearer understanding of where the paths for walkers and cyclists are. Unfortunately, similar makeovers have not been done at other intersections. While intersections can often be dangerous, other locations are also putting people at risk.
As of 2018, Denver is spending around five million dollars per year on making things easier and safer for bicyclists. As a comparison, the bike-friendly city of Seattle, WA spends around $30 million per year protecting and improving infrastructure for cyclists, while Oklahoma City spends around $25 million.
Sharing (and improving) the road is important
It isn’t difficult to get around Denver in a car, whether a person is alone or traveling with others. But for those who enjoy biking around the city, it is a struggle to navigate the streets and remain safe.
Unfortunately, sometimes people lose that struggle due to an accident between them and a vehicle. In most of the cases, the driver of the vehicle is at fault.
Injured in Denver? What should you do?
For people who ride bicycles in Denver, the chance of injury is always there. If you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence on the part of a driver and/or on the part of the City of Denver’s lack of effort to make the city safer for bicyclists, working with a personal injury attorney may be the right choice. You can have the facts of your case properly evaluated, and learn what you need to know about moving your case forward to receive adequate and fair compensation.