After car hits cyclist, many call for safety changes in Plaza Midwood
Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood is usually packed with people always walking, driving or cycling.
For that reason, neighbor Scott Morgan is always paying extra attention when he takes his daily walks.
“We all just have to be careful, more aware and be more respectful of people who are walking and riding their bikes every day,” Morgan said.
A dangerous encounter gave another reason for locals to be cautious after a cyclist was hit by a driver Thursday. It happened along the Plaza near Hamorton Place, according a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report. She was seriously hurt and was taken to the hospital. On Monday, CMPD reported that the cyclist had died from her injuries.
The car had extensive damage and the bike was mangled.
The driver isn’t facing any charges, Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura reported.
“The police report from CMPD cites this as (an accident,)” Kustura said.
However, the crash is prompting renewed calls for cyclists’ safety.
“It makes me both angry and upset,” said cyclist John Holmes.
Holmes rides his bike daily from east Charlotte into Uptown, but he has growing concerns about sharing the road.
“The biggest thing we can do is more infrastructure to make it so that the streets are safer,” Holmes said.
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Holmes mainly wants the city to prioritize protected bike lines and funding to implement raised intersections, which act as speed humps to encourage drivers to slow down.
Holmes also said these measures would help him return to his family safely every night.
If the measures are not taken, Holmes is worried car versus bike crashes would only become more common.
“I think the main thing is that we all recognize in Charlotte, that could be us at some point,” Holmes said.
Channel 9 has asked the City of Charlotte if there are any pending plans to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. We have not heard back.
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