Description

I wish to report an extremely unsafe hazard that caused me bodily injury and could have caused even more severe injury or death.On the night of Wednesday, May 18 at approximately 11 pm, I was biking in Alameda. I turned right from Lincoln heading NE on Park Street towards the Park St. Bridge. There were no cars parked along Park and I rode on the right hand side, near the sidewalk to be safe from traffic. I had a front and rear light and was wearing a helmet. Suddenly, my front wheel hit a curb – completely detached from the side walk and with no visible signs, markers, reflectors or any thing to make it visible to a cyclist. I flew over my handle bars, hit the back right side of my head, my back right shoulder and rolled over having done a complete flip onto the curb-median. Though I am bruised and beat up, with pain in my AC joint, head, neck, and shoulder, I did not break anything (I went to the doctor and got x-rays), and I will recover. My bicycle was totaled (bent rim, shattered front fork, bent frame and I broke my helmet).

This curb is invisible at night. As the attached photo shows, it also has extremely low visibility in broad day light. I was not the first to hit this obstruction. At Alameda Bicycle, the staff there said they have heard of the same thing happening to others. I am certain I won’t be the last to hit this.

I am shocked that the city would place a curb with absolutely no visibility in the middle of a through fare for traffic and cyclists. I respectfully request, for the safety of both cyclists and vehicles, that you immediately remove this extreme hazard.

I am also curious, what possible reason can there be for putting this obstruction there?
Ron Silberstein
2201 San Jose Ave.
415.307.1870