FABB Blog

 

Ghost bike placed at site of recent bicycle fatality

Today FABB placed a ghost bike near the intersection of Ashwood Place and Columbia Pike. Elizabeth Shattuck was killed when she was hit by a motorist driving a pickup truck. The motorist was headed westbound. Elizabeth was likely crossing Columbia Pike to reach Barcroft Plaza Shopping Center.

At this location Colubmia Pike is a high speed arterial with no bike facilities. There are service roads on either side of the main road but at this intersection there is no crosswalk or traffic control device to assist anyone trying to cross the Pike to reach the shopping center. The speed limit appears to be 45 mph. The crash occurred at around 2pm. Sight distance should not have been a problem, and the motorist should have been able to see the cyclist. Since police are seeking eyewitnesses, there were likely no witnesses at the scene. The motorist has not been charged.

This is the first bicycle fatality in Fairfax County this year.

Elizabeth is memorialized at the website Every Bicyclist Counts, which was established in May of this year by the League of American Bicyclists. For more information on Every Bicyclist Counts see the LAB blog. Our condolences go out to Elizabeth's family.

Labels: elizabeth shattuck, Fairfax County, fatality

posted by Bruce Wright at 1:32 PM permalink