Norfolk, Virginia – A female cyclist was recording her travels along the bike lane of the pedestrian crossing over the Elizabeth River when she met a car head on. The vehicle approached her so fast that there was no time to avoid the accident. The video shows her being thrown off the bicycle.
She recovered and questioned the driver as to what he was doing driving in the pedestrian lane, but the driver ignored the question. After she and the driver exchanged personal information, she filed a police report, but was told they would not be pursuing the matter. The fact that she had video recorded the accident did not dissuade police from doing that they wanted. Rather, they accused her of provoking the accident.
One officer from the Norfolk Police Department explained that had police been called to the scene, it would have been an entirely different matter. As luck would have it, neither she nor the driver had cell phones which could be used to contact police. She’s not buying their explanation and turned to the local TV station for help. They suggested she take up the matter with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Complicating the problem is the absence of any signs stating that vehicles are prohibited from making use of the lane. The bicyclist isn’t looking for any big payday. What she wants is for the driver to give her an explanation of what it was he was intending to do by driving on the bike lane.