Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Police Bias in Car-Bike Collisions? Los Altos, CA May Take the Cake

10:38 AM EDT on September 21, 2012

Not that there is any doubt that cyclists face an uphill climb when it comes to winning justice after a traffic collision, but police in Los Altos, California, really seem to be betraying an auto-centric bias.

Richard Masoner at Network blog Cyclelicio.us found this gem in a new local bike plan, produced by Alta. Take a look at the top row, which reflects how often Los Altos police cited speed as a factor in collisions between cyclists and motorists. Masoner had this to say:

Of 77 collisions where police identified fault, 57 of them — or fully 74% — were caused by the cyclist. Compare to the entire Bay Area, where police reports show cyclists are supposedly responsible for 60% of accidents.

It gets even sillier when you look at the most common violation: “unsafe speed.” While 28% of cyclists were found to be riding at an “unsafe speed” when they caused the wreck, only a single motorist from 2004 to 2009 was driving at an unsafe speed when he struck a cyclist.

The report shows most collisions in Los Altos occur on Foothill Expressway, with real hotspots on Foothill at each of Homestead, Fremont Avenue / Miramonte, and Springer Road. A third of reported collisions occurred at these three intersections.

Masoner adds that the data came from initial police reports, so the conclusions may have been revised at some stage in the legal process, but still!

Elsewhere on the Network today: Twin City Sidewalks wonders if the greater Minneapolis area is prepared for a new generation whose transportation preferences are vastly different from their predecessors. Mobilizing the Region points out that New Jersey has developed a pernicious habit of spending more and more money on new roads and less and less money on cycling. And Streets.mn asks why U.S. cities don't give more consideration to the concept of "shared space" at intersections.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Police Brass Gets Booed During E-Vehicle Safety Alliance Meeting for Applauding Deliveristas

Attendees of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance's latest meeting castigated a Transportation Bureau deputy inspector for saying that delivery workers are responsive to safety issues.

September 28, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines: Unsafe School Streets Edition

A school crossing guard was injured by a drunk driver on Tuesday. Plus more news.

September 28, 2023

EYES ON THE STREET: Drivers Dominate Former W. 22nd Open Street

Meh. The barriers are gone and the cars are back on W. 22nd, but some spaces for people remain.

September 28, 2023

‘Not Grieving Alone’: A Father’s Artistic Journey After Losing Two Kids to Road Violence

Colin Campbell and his wife Gail Lerner lost both their children in a car crash with impaired driver. Now, it's a show.

September 28, 2023

Opinion: Bring Back ‘Give Respect/Get Respect’ Campaign

If cyclists don't throw their own bad apples under the bus, we won't get safer streets, argues this West Side advocate.

September 27, 2023
See all posts