Key resident compiles bicycle crash data

Key resident Lenny Landau, an avid recumbent bicyclist who bikes daily, sifted through police reports of bicycle crashes dating back to 2007. He then compiled a report, including several conclusions and recommendations.

Police Chief Al Hogle and Commissioner Phillip Younger worked with Landau on the report, which revealed several statistics.

Overall, there have been 25 bicycle accidents on Longboat Key since January 2007.

Out of those 25 bicycle accidents, approximately half of the accidents involved bikers riding on the sidewalk.

The report, titled “LBK Biking Accident Observations,” states:

• Since many more people ride in the bike lane than on the sidewalk, the accident rate on the sidewalk is much higher than on the street.

• Most accidents occur at intersections, involving cars exiting on the side street or driveway.

• The majority of accidents occur on the east side of Gulf of Mexico Drive, probably because there are more street and driveway intersections on the west side of the street.

• Some intersections are more dangerous than others, because the bikers’ and drivers’ views are obstructed by vegetation and/or structures.

• Riding in the opposite direction from car traffic increases rider risk, because drivers approaching the road are looking left, as bicyclists approach from the right.

• Two out of 25 accidents resulted from a driver not yielding to a biker in the bike lane going in the same direction at an intersection.

• Drivers on Gulf of Mexico Drive don’t necessarily see bikers on the sidewalk.

• The average age of drivers and riders involved in the accident data is 61 years old.

• Most accidents occurred on Saturdays, and 72% of all accidents occurred in the morning.

• Less than 50% of those involved in the accidents were wearing bike helmets.

In a list of recommendations to improve bike safety on Longboat Key, the report makes the following recommendations:

• Although it is legal to bike on the sidewalk, it must be recognized that the sidewalk is not a bike lane.

• The bike lane is, for the most part, continuous, while side streets and driveways interrupt the sidewalk.

• Bikes traveling above walking speed on the sidewalk are at risk when going through intersections.

• The majority of bike accidents on Longboat Key could be avoided if people riding on the sidewalk slowed down and checked for cross traffic at blind intersections. Riders should also be aware of cars turning into intersections from both directions, particularly at major intersections.

• Drivers need to be aware that as they approach Gulf of Mexico Drive, they need to cross the sidewalk and check for pedestrians and bike riders in both directions before proceeding.

Landau told the Longboat Observer that he was simply compiling the data and wasn’t drawing any determinations in relation to a group of bicyclists who are upset about the potential removal of 32 bicycle-safety signs along Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“We don’t have any data to indicate accidents that didn’t happen because of the signs and the impact of taking them down,” Landau said. “This data is only on the events that occurred and the incident reports that were written.”

Hogle, also an avid bicyclist, said he also wouldn’t comment specifically on the sign issue.

“But I can say that four or less accidents per year, I believe, makes this Key a great, safe bicycle destination,” Hogle said.

SIGN SHOWDOWN
A Tuesday, Feb. 15 Gulf of Mexico Drive Signage Committee meeting, which was called to enter some meeting notes into the record to avoid a Sunshine Law violation between two committee members, turned into a debate with two Key bicyclists.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Simpson told Key residents Joe Moccia, the town-appointed bicycle pedestrian representative to the Sarasota Bicycle Advisory Board, and Paul Skversky that the meeting was not intended to debate the issue that they and some other bicyclists have with the Florida Department of Transportation’s recommendation to remove 32 bicycle-safety signs along Gulf of Mexico Drive.

But Moccia interrupted the meeting several times to tell the committee he believes he wasn’t involved in the process that led to FDOT’s recommendation.

“I ask that you declare this process over and start over,” Moccia said.

Simpson, however, explained that it’s up to the Town Commission to decide what to do with the sign issue at its 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 regular workshop.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]