This afternoon there was a bad accident on North Peoria St between a bicyclist and an auto. As expected the injury was to the person riding the bike and details are not available as to how it happened.
This road and 251 have been an accident waiting to happen for anyone riding a bicycle or walking. Others may remember this but I believe going back to the D. Baker administration there was talk of establishing some type of #bicycle/walking path toward the Mall and do not remember any details. I hope the city reopens the possibility of establishing a path with signs telling how to reach and travel on it. We spent several thousand dollars for Chamlin to draw up a map for a #bike path within the city but don't believe a direct route toward the Mall area was ever mapped out.
#bicycling
#bicycle route
#bicycle car accidents
28 comments:
It was reported that the people driving the auto were from out of town and stopped for lunch or shopping. I bet they were trying to figure out how to get back to Route 80 from the infamous DQ intersection, and ended up going too far south on North Peoria.
It is probably to early, but oh well. I have seen - on at least ten different occasions this spring and summer - bicyclists on North Peoria Street driving through the "3-Way" Stop at Midtown Road without stopping. I almost hit one myself not to long ago. Since there is no shoulder, the bikes also need to be in the traffic lane.
On the news last night, Washington illinois fire chiefs contract not renewed. Wonder why? No explanation reported. A bicycle with a motor. Was this bike registered? Can we ride mini bikes on roadways? Gold carts? Battery operated cars for kids. This is a terrible accident. I have personally had a problem with bicycles on busy roads. I personally ride a bike on the side of the road where there is gravel and have lost control/balance, and I try to avoid high traffic areas. I also don't believe the city needs to invest in a bike path, I haven't seen an abundance of bicyclist. I do have a friend who rides a bike that thinks he/she owns the road. Which is wrong. It's also known that there are many people who ride bikes who do not have a drivers license due to several Dui's. I've always wondered how many people who are riding bikes are under the influence. Prayers to both family's of this accident.
Way too much traffic being pushed onto Peoria Street. Narrow road gravel shoulder, visitors trying to find their way back to 251. This has been an accident waiting to happen. Prayers to both families involved in this tragedy.
So tragic. So very sad. All of us who drive I think fear hitting a pedestrian, biker, motorcyclyst. They share many of the exact same rights as cars, but are so much more vulnerable.
Helmets and flags are not cool, but we need to use them. And we need to pray for both families and friends.
That's exactly what happened , I was listening to scanner last nite about 6 pm and they were getting a warrant to confiscate van drivers phone because she was using navigation on phone to get back to 251 because they got lost due to Adventure Dr. This will be a good lawsuit naming City of Peru as "at fault" !
5:42 What a sad and pathetic comment you have made. Have a little respect for those involved. Playing games?
Hold On! There was two adults and three children in the van and the driver is using the navigation on the phone. Why do you think this is the City of Peru's fault when the driver was breaking the law by using the phone while driving? I travel and have to utilize detours all the time but I am still responsible for my driving.
10:55 PM
I was in the car while my daughter used her phone through the gps and it is not necessary to hold the phone. It was put on the car seat and then hooked to the speakers of the car and it talked her through the maze of roads to get where she wanted to be by using the satellites relaying info to her. No need to have the phone in hand. This lady also had another adult in the car to use the phone and relay info to her. Lots of possibilities.
There is no way that the City can be blamed for this in any way. This was an accident caused by the people involved. Accidents happen. People bring on much of their own problems - and I am tired of people blaming everything but themselves for their misery. If you stub your toe in the dark, do you blame the dark? I think some people in our new "culture of blame" would.
I hate adventure drive, but people get lost. I have driven dristracted, many of you, even those who say they never do, have done so. This one is simply heartbreakingly sad for ALL involved.
Lawsuits and lawyers will not be a part of this tragedy, nor will the city be blamed.
I am sure the attorneys (only ones who win in these types of situations) will put blame on everything and everyone for years. It was a horrible accident and both families are suffering. I have read many comments on social media today and there seems to be much discussion on the rules of bike riding in traffic. While there may be rules established, i still have to hope that common sense is utilized too. I would be very fearful of riding a small 100 lb bike in traffic with 1 ton vehicles traveling at higher speeds within a foot or 2 from me. Also, i would probably not be riding during busier traffic when most people are going or coming to/from work, at lunch hour, or other times when traffic is known to be heavier. Laws cant protect us from everything that could accidentally go wrong.
There is one legal point that MAY come up. If the road change was permanent,not a conctruction detour, and the city failed in anyway to properly report the change to IDOT in reasonable amount of time, so GPS mapping services could update it, it is POSSIBLE their might be some liability. There have been cases of people running out of gas, driving into swamps etc from incorrect government road maps being supplied, but they are few and far between. And I have no idea how successful they might be.
No matter what distractions are in a car, the driver has strict liability to remain focused on driving conditions. Many of us have had the experience of coming up on a stalled or stopped car and the person ahead of us blocked the view and swerved , hardly giving you a chance to follow suit. Or coming up over the crest of a hill and finding a slow moving or stopped vehicle. It can happen, period. You can question the wisdom of riding bikes, or even cycles, but they have the same right of way.the law is clear
What a group of either misinformed or people with less than average intelligence. The blog credibility is near the end. Really, these comments are shockingly evil and void of accuracies. I am really sorry for Lois after all of her hard work all these years to have such ludicrous post on this and most other topics. The forum is almost done! What a shame.It is becoming the joke in Peru.
We were driving back from the mall last night and I noticed that there are no signs on Peoria street from the Goodwill store and south that direct you back to the highway. If you were coming out of the DQ area headed west, you wouldn't know how to get back. Also noticed that the road markers are all busted up and I assume people are just driving right over them to get back to the highway. It's so confusing up there.
8:33 PM
And some times I post your blogs for entertainment also.
Not liking that people are knowledgable what's really going on in the city! 8:33, nice way of you trying to belittle this town forum blogsite. I'd say most comments are very accurate. And common sense tell you that certain people don't like this forum because they know it's true. .
And "common sense" also tells a person if i just went one block west if i go to the first crossroad and go one block east i could find the missing highway. Or at least thats how my vision of common sense works.
I too want a bike path in town. Where was this blog several months ago when the City was going to apply for a bike path grant? I'll tell you where. This blog was vehemently against. You have no integrity! It is so obvious you are against everything the City is for, and if the City is against it you will be for it. That's why no one listens to you or cares what you say anymore. I bet this won't get posted. Just like all the supportive comments about the concerts or fireworks I'm sure that you also refuse to post. But thanks for letting me share. People need to know your true intentions which are NOT POSITIVE but NEGATIVE in every way.
8:52 PM
Wherever you are getting your information about me is not correct. I have favored a bike path with a purpose and that would be one that enables the residents of Peru to safely ride a bicycle, motorized w/c's or simply walk to the areas to the north as to Hyvee and up to the Peru Mall, in fact as far as Rte 80. This should have been done years ago.
The bike path which I did not favor was once that was promoted to link La Salle and Peru and spend a great deal of money for Peru residents to ride upon the streets south of Shooting Park Road from east to west to north to south and included some traffic up to Marquette Manor 2 and crossed Rte 251 around Culver Restaurant. People are riding their bikes safely in these areas and have been for many years. My husband and I and children used to ride about Peru safely, sometimes with a child or 2 on our bikes with child seats. There is nowhere in Peru south of Shooting Park Rd with the exception of Rte 6 that has the traffic that has increased by leaps and bounds as North Peoria and north is where all the retail has grown. We have no bus or minivan service to get people to these areas and if walking or bike riding is their only choice they have no way to get there safely without being next to heavy traffic.
Get your facts straight before you start blaming for something you pulled out of the thin air.
Trying to find fault with road signs, etc. is really lame. The driver is the one at fault. The driver, where ever they are driving, is responsible for traffic in front of them.
This is in response to 3:31 July 12th who stated that if you go one block west you simply go to the next crossroad and return one block east. This comment may be true in most instances but not in the case of the infamous Adventure Drive intersection. In this case you either turn right and go up and around Target and back down Peoria Street and then left on 38th and then 2 blocks to 251. Or you can turn left and go right on the road in front of the mall and then right by Goodwill to get back on 38th street and then right 2 blocks until you return to 251. Not so simple is it?
Yes it really is that simple to get back to the road. Its not brain surgery If people cannot navigate themselves a few blocks whats the world coming to? Whether i agree ir disagree with the routing (which i do not agree) lets get back to what matters and stop the point counterpoint for common sense comments. Lets figure out how to possibly widen the road to make it safer for all instead of finding fault and placing blame.
8:48 AM, July 11, 2014 -
I could use some strong language regarding IQ, but I will refrain. We need to swing the pendulum. For many years, our society has taken to blaming others for our inadequacies. If a person heading west on 38th Street cannot figure out how to get back to 251 - then maybe that person should not be behind the wheel of an automobile. I'm not saying that it is not true that a sign would be nice at that location, there is one for the southbound traffic on Peoria Street. What I am saying is that we need to take a turn on who we allow to drive and increase the insurance requirements to about ten million dollars for liability. Some people today are just to distracted or genuinely incapable of operating an automobile and we need to prevent these people from endangering the population at large.
How often does somebody drive on the wrong side of the Interstate? We see news stories about people driving through crowds on the sidewalk more frequently. We are constantly seeing news stories of people mistaking the accelerator for the brake and driving through the front of stores.
We really need to increase the requirements to get and maintain a drivers license. People should be required to attend refresher driving schools every year. People should be required to be medically evaluated every year. That is the only way we are going to be able to stop tragedies like this. The answer is not more signs, the answer is professional drivers. We also need to increase the license fee. People need to have skin in the game to make them think more when they are driving. We also need to revoke licenses more frequently. Running a stop sign should be a revocable offense - not a slap on the wrist.
Please lois. When alderman Mertel proposed this very thing you and your group went on attack. Being very disingenuous I think. IMO.
11:40 AM
Since this happened 5 years ago, when Jamie was Alderman Mertel was a part of the Recreation Committee, I hardly think it is pertinent to the recent attempt to develop it. Surprised you think I have that much clout. I do remember going to 1 mtg at which Jamie and perhaps Ferrari along with a Chamlin rep and few other volunteer board members were present. The only thing that came from that mtg was to have Chamlin draw up a map at the cost of $3000. After the map nothing further was done by the city council and it is available for a foia if you are interested.
Grand Illinois Trail
www.dnr.illinois.gov/.../greenwaysandtrails/.../gitusersguide.pdf
10:21
You must not get out much. And I think you have some anger management issues that might need addressing if you got that worked up over a simple comment about inadequate signage.
9:35 - I think the point is that people need to take personal responsibility. Our society has become narcissistic - unfortunately, we are running out of people to blame for our everyday problems.
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