Mark Christopher (“McGillivray concerns are ignored,” Our Readers’ Views, July 22) fails to appreciate the significance of the addition of 5 feet to the bike lanes in reducing the likelihood of a bike accident resulting in death or serious injury.
In October 2021, while bicycling in the bike lane near the intersection of Southeast 125th and McGillivray Boulevard, I was “doored” by an inattentive motorist who opened his car door into the bike lane without checking for oncoming bicyclists as required by law. The accident left me with two pelvic fractures, a concussion, a cracked helmet and a nasty case of road rash. The motorist at fault was not cited by police.
Had I been traveling at the 20-30 mph speed of e-bikes or not wearing a helmet as many school-age riders are prone to do, this accident might have been fatal.
Car doors typically extend more than 3½ feet into the bike lane and force cyclists to veer into traffic to avoid the hazard. A 10-foot lane eliminates this hazard.
