On a recent weekday night, on my commute home to Battle Ground from Happy Valley, I saw a bicyclist get hit by a car at the intersection of Highway 503 and Northeast 119th Street. The young man appeared to be unhurt; he immediately got up and started yelling at the at-fault driver. Although I believe his bicycle was damaged, he was very lucky.
The next night when I drove through the same intersection I watched another driver — who did not have the right of way — fail to stop before the same crosswalk. The same accident could have happened again, perhaps with worse consequences.
While we are not Portland, we Clark County residents have many bicyclists on our roads, too. Please, please take the extra minute to stop properly before a crosswalk or check your mirrors before making a turn. It just might save someone’s life.
Kate Summers
Battle Ground
