A Safety-Related Request

While riding my bike on January 16^th I collided with the mailbox cluster shown in the photo. The result was a serious hip injury. A week later I’m still using a walker to get around. Yesterday, I reported this safety hazard to the City of Bremerton. It will be interesting to see if anything comes from my request.

I was cruising along the sidewalk on the east side of Marine Drive just before the intersection with Rocky Point Road. Intending to swerve back onto Marine Drive at the next sidewalk ramp, I looked over quickly to check for cars. That’s all it took. Bam! I hit the mailbox cluster going full speed and pitched forward over the front of the bike landing hard on my right side. Fortunately, my hip wasn’t broken or dislocated.

A couple driving by stopped to see if I was OK. When I said no, they weren’t sure what to do. Since I didn’t have obvious 9-1-1–type injuries, their response was to ask if there was anyone I could call. Bless them for that. But without my cell phone, calling anyone was out even if I had used their phone as the only number I’m sure of is my own. Note to self: no more bike rides without a cell phone.

In a few minutes I was able to get up and start trying to get home. I couldn’t walk on my right leg without support, but by leaning on the bike I was able to slowly push it to a parking lot where I could begin riding the mile back to my house. Sometimes you can perform difficult feats immediately after an accident that you wouldn’t try later when its full effects have set in. This was one of those times.  

Let’s be clear. The accident was caused by inattention and was primarily my fault. I mean, who rides into mailboxes? But to take the opposite position, since when are obstructions like mailboxes allowed in public sidewalks? I ride that section of Marine Drive almost daily, so I know the mailboxes are there, but I still wasn’t expecting them.

I hope my report on “bremerton1” was reasonable. It’s the portal on the Bremerton website designed for residents to inform city departments about various issues. I supplied a photo, explained what happened, and asked whether Public Works can coordinate with nearby homeowners to relocate the mailboxes.

Of course, for any real change to happen, a city employee will need to investigate the issue, work with the homeowners, and follow up. Change also means moving the mailbox cluster —probably the responsibility of the homeowners — followed by repairing the sidewalk. That will take work, money, and some creativity. Plus, the USPS carriers will need to change the way they deliver mail to the houses being served, most likely by parking their APVs and walking to the new mailboxes.

All that because of a safety-related request put in by a random bike rider who the affected people will possibly judge to be a moron who shouldn’t be allowed to ride on public roads. Not exactly a motivating force.

So, unless the current location of the mailbox cluster violates a city ordinance or USPS rule, it’s unlikely any changes will happen. If they do, I will be surprised. If not, at least I have relearned biking’s most important lessons: pay attention and stay alert.

Filing the report had one other benefit: closure for me on thinking about the accident.

I’m planning to start biking again as soon as I can.