Bridge Bike Crashes Vex Planners

A rare downhill stretch along the Memorial Causeway Bridge may be a factor behind several bicycle crashes that concern safety officials.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that a task force has been formed to study ways to reduce accidents on the Clearwater bridge.

The Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization organized the task force of public safety officials and urban planners after two bike accidents that occurred 15 minutes apart in Jannuary.

(See Bicyclist Suffers Head Injury in Memorial Causeway Crash.)

Because the bridge is elevated it allows bicyclists to speed off the bridge at 45 mph. (See attached video of a bicyclist who posted a fast downhill ride on the Memorial Causeway Bridge.)

Officials say that inexperienced bike riders seeking a thrill often are the ones cruising on the bridge at unsafe speeds and getting hurt.

Here is an excerpt from a January press release on the two, back-to-back bike crashes on the bridge:

"An adult male was riding his bicycle westbound down the north sidewalk of the Memorial Causeway Bridge. Once off of the bridge it appears the subject lost control of his bicycle and traveled into the grass. At some point the subject became separated from his bicycle and traveled several feet before landing on the sidewalk. Although he was wearing a helmet the subject suffered head injuries and was flown to Bayfront Medical Center with what appear to be life-threatening injuries.
"Approximately 15 minutes later, a second bicyclist traveling westbound on the south sidewalk of the Memorial Causeway apparently crashed after picking up speed while traveling downhill and lost control. He suffered minor injuries (broken bone in arm) and was transported to Largo Medical Center for treatment."

To read the entire Tampa Bay Tomes article, see Bicycle Accidents on Memorial Causeway Bridge Stump Planners.

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