NORTH NAPLES — A Naples man is in serious condition after he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle along U.S. 41 North, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.
Edgar Lopez, 28, was riding south on the sidewalk on the west side of the road near 95th Avenue North when he tried to cross the road and rode into the path of a Ford Mustang driven by Jaqueline Lista, 22, of Naples.
Lista tried to stop but hit the left side of the bicycle, sending Lopez onto the hood and into the car's windshield, the Highway Patrol report said.
Lopez was taken by medical helicopter to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers and was charged with failing to cross at a crosswalk.
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Comments » 30
BigOrangeKitty writes:
This story isn't very clear. It sounds like the guy tried to cross 41, but the story just says "road."
ArrowII writes:
The Bicyclist was going south on the sidewalk parallel to US 41 and got hit at the 95th Avenue intersection --- hope Lopez is ok but glad he was cited, enough of the cyclists trying to own the road.
phasthutch writes:
He should not ride on the sidewalk. Every driveway is dangerous because no car stops before the sidewalk.
If he was riding in the road the rules would be the same as for cars. He could change lanes and cross the road wherever it was safe to do so.
if he rides again he should get a rearview mirror and wear a helmet.
swampbuggy writes:
Does he have insurance? Will Lista be compensated for the damage to her car? If cyclists have the same rights on the road shouldn't they have the same liabilities?
puckdog writes:
The idiot crossed 41 in front of traffic......the red mustang only had slight front end damage....the bike had a damaged rear wheel.......sorry he was hurt.....but you can't fix stupid.........
jbt26 writes:
get the blasted bikes off the road and on the sidewalks like the rest of the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Naples, you have gone way down hill since i moved here in 73 when it WAS PARIDISE!!!!!!!!!!!
jbt26 writes:
dON'T EDIT MY COMENTS!!!!!!!!!NAPLES STINKS NOW
jbt26 writes:
AND NDN SUCKS
MrsCalcium writes:
Heartless....
LosBombero writes:
Helicopter ? Why ?
QueBonita writes:
woman of allegedly ill repute!
PMC_Rider writes:
Hope the guy recovers. Pathetic to see people wishing harm to cyclists here. Not surprising, just sad. Bunch of self-loathing cowards.
PMC_Rider writes:
Btw, bicycles *are* permitted on sidewalks in FL, which is pretty much bass-ackwards from "the rest of the world."
We get a small slice of this paradise back every time a bitter old bag expires. Ahem.
naplesres writes:
I feel sorry for the young girl who hit him... She tried to stop ... I've had many close calls myself ... People on bikes just disregarding the rules of the road ... I hope he's ok though
Naples71 writes:
It looks to me, based on the article that he was riding on the sidewalk. If riding on the sidewalk he must follow the rules for pedestrians and that is why he got a ticket for not using the crosswalk.
Unfortunately for those of you who don't like it FL state law allows bicyclists to us the road but you must follow the rules when doing so. I don't understand the open hostility shown to those who chose to exercise their right under FL law. I too have been here a long time and at one time it was more of a friendly with less hostility and don't mean to just bikers.
fungui writes:
I feel sorry for both victims in this case, but anger towards law enforcement. This is one of the times where they gave a ticket to someone who is already very injured and has paid a price. I understand the ticket is probably so if this bicylist sues the car driver the driver has some defense (because you know a lwasuit is pending). However, it will do nothing to change the habits of local bicylists. If they were to actually enforce the law and ticket bicylists for doing stupid things on a regular basis, maybe we would be able to change the habits of these morons and we might get two results:
1) people here wont hate them so much.
2) We might actually change their habits and prevent future idiots from breaking the law and hurting themselves and others.
That sounds too easy to think that government might actually do their job and enforce laws already on their books. Instead, we will end up spending millions of dollars building them new pathways and such to cater to the bicylclists. If we can afford millions of dollars for a study to determine if it is feasable to build a bike path across the everglades, we could afford 100K for a full time bike nazi officer.
SCHLLC (Inactive) writes:
Ironic, because I commented on this very topic yesterday morning in another article.
I say ironic because I actually drove by the scene of this accident yesterday at the same time that SMS and the police were responding. The guy was nowhere near a sidewalk he got hit trying to cross the street right square dab in the middle of 41. He got hit right next to a median and turn lane. If he had gone a block in either direction there would have been an intersection and a signal. When bicycle meets car, bicycle always loses. With or without right of way.
Anniecam writes:
Sad that the bike rider rode into oncoming traffic. That poor judgement suggests that he might have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Just sayin'. People who lose their drivers' licenses for DUI are left needing to get around on bicycles.
Max_Headroom writes:
......and a democrat.
Jaimee writes:
Many areas have 6 ft hedges along the sidewalks right up to the driveways & 10 feet away from the road. One has to pull up past the hedges to see both directions before entering the road. I can't guess how often I've almost hit some dufus on a bicyle riding up against the bushes on the sidwalk w/ a deserted road within arms reach. The sidewalks are pedestrian walkways. These same terrorists on the road are just as careless on the sidewalks. Someone needs to make a decision and enforce it.
Klaatu writes:
And yet the Naples Police officer who struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk remains uncharged !
How can this be?
zumachris writes:
When bicycles ride on the sidewalk they need to obey the laws of a pedestrian, in other words use the crosswalk and obey any traffic control device. When the bike rider is going 15 MPH down the side walk and decides to cross the street in the path of a car, this is what happens. Even worse is when a bike rider is using the sidewalk and going against the vehcile traffic. Cars pulling out from driveways or cross streets don't expect a fast moving ped or bike coming the wrong way. One minute it is clear and half a second later there is a bike in front of you. Only if your are very fast can you hit the brake fast enough. This is why children are taught to cross the street by walking their bicycle when it is legal to cross. Most cities don't allow biclcle riding on sidewalks for these saftey reasons. However, bike riders on the roadway need to operate their bike the same as a motorcycle. That means obey all trafic control devices, signs and signals. Most don't. How many times have you had a bicycle rider zoom through the intersection on a red light or through a stop sign. We all know why. Nobody wants to slow down and loose speed and then have to use more energy to get back up to speed. But when bicycles don't obey the laws they can cause accidents which they usually come out as the looser. It is very rare to ever see a bicycle rider getting a ticket. I've even see violations occur in front of law enforcement without any action taken.
holtonfb writes:
rest of the world?.. in most of the world, bikers drive on the road, street, hiway, thorofare .. WHATEVER!!
BillBrasky writes:
The best policy when riding a bike is to assume none of the drivers can see you and ride accordingly. Common sense goes a long way.
BillBrasky writes:
Wow every one of your posts is about gays, me thinks thou protest too much.
QueBonita writes:
Naples should organize a charity event to raise money for stricken bikers.
All the spandex boys could dance the can-can on a stage awash with white carnations, then finish with a Conga line dance since they're so used to that position in their ridiculous Sunday morning "buddy" parades
erock writes:
Bikers are cooler than you.
Doubtful1 writes:
Maybe so, or at least their leotards are (or spanx or whatever they are). Do cyclists have a law against stopping at stop signs, or is it just the unwritten code of the peloton? Or is it because their helmets are too tight? Still, irritating as cyclists are, I'm sorry, not surprised, just sorry, to hear about somebody getting hurt.
RaginCajunn writes:
Might be worth considering that although someone might be riding a bicycle, that does not put them in the category of "cyclist" that many of you old timers are griping about when they are riding on the sidewalk. Cyclists ride on the road and are supposed to do so with due regard for the traffic laws.
QueBonita writes:
I wrote :"PETA!" but with a "U" insted of the "E". Which is what most cyclists say as they're falling...
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