Crime & Safety
Cycling Toddler, Dad Sent to Hospital After Getting "Doored" by Driver
The driver was cited by police after the incident on Masonic on Wednesday. A local alternative transportation advocacy group says it's working to improve safety in the area.
A 49-year-old driver from Los Angeles received a ticket last week in Albany after sending a cyclist and his son to the hospital; authorities said Monday that he struck the pair with his car door.
Wednesday, just before 9 a.m., a cyclist with an attached child trailer was traveling south on Masonic Avenue, at Solano Avenue, when the driver of a Prius, who was parked along the right-hand curb, opened his door into them, said Lt. John Geissberger of the .
The door struck the bicycle trailer, sending the cyclist off the bike, said Geissberger. A 3-year-old boy in the trailer suffered a laceration to the face from the impact. The cyclist suffered minor abrasions, and both were transported by ambulance to the hospital.
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The Prius driver was cited in connection with section 22517 of the Vehicle Code, said Geissberger. The code dictates that drivers shall not open their doors unless it is safe to do so, and it "can be done without interfering with the movement of such traffic." The code continues, "nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers."
Lesly Flynn Ibser commented Monday on Facebook that it was her child and husband who were in the accident.
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"They were on Masonic instead of the BART tracks . My son was taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital where he ended up having plastic surgery on his face. My husband is still suffering from a concussion."
(The BART path is ; read more on Albany Patch .)
Amy Smolens, of the , responded online to Ibser that the cycling and pedestrian advocacy group "is working on solving the problem on Masonic ASAP so accidents like this don't happen again. We realize that cyclists who usually ride the are now using Masonic, and will be for the next year or so."
She continued: "We are working with the City to create awareness by motorists that more cyclists than usual will be sharing Masonic, and to ensure safer conditions for cyclists.
"Also, one of our members has designed clings for cars asking motorists to 'Check for Bikes.' We will be unveiling them soon, and they will create greater awareness of cyclists by motorists and thus, safer cycling."
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