When kinesiology graduate student Zachariah Wood was struck and killed by a car while crossing Lee Drive on his bicycle Saturday, his death highlighted a larger issue that affects all of Louisiana.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s August report ranked Louisiana as the third highest in adult bicycle death rates in the continental United States.
Though there was an overall decrease of 34.4 percent for bicycle deaths in Louisiana between 1975 and 2012, the report attributes the decrease to a decline in children riding bikes.
The report points to the push for increased interest in physical activity and alternatives to automobile transportation as catalysts for more bicycle safety conversation.
More riders are using bicycles for commuting to work, going to the grocery store and recreation. In some cases, demand for bicycling outpaces a city’s ability to accommodate it.
“Over the past decade, per capita motor vehicle travel has decreased, and persons have used bicycles for more utilitarian trips,” the report states.
East Baton Rouge Parish has 13 streets with bike lanes, according to a City-Parish Planning Commission map. Lee Drive, the site of Wood’s collision, does not have a designated lane for cyclers.
Baton Rouge Police Department Spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said vehicle drivers and bicyclers must pay attention to their surroundings to keep the roads safe for everyone.
McKneely said drivers should respect designated lanes for cyclers and keep their eyes peeled on roads they have to share.
In addition to basic safety tips such as looking both ways and wearing a helmet when riding a bike, McKneely said cyclists can do other things to make themselves noticeable.
“Make sure you have the proper reflective gear and lighting on your bicycle. Pay attention to the vehicles in their lane of travel,” McKneely said. “Make sure the roadway is clear before crossing.”
While training four the Tour de France, LSU English professor Elisabeth “Lisi” Oliver died in June after she was struck by a pickup truck while walking her bike on the side of a road in East Feliciana Parish.
Though typically seen around campus, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is illegal in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to the Bike Baton Rouge website.
Bike Baton Rouge is an organization dedicated to promoting safe and enjoyable biking as a means of transportation and recreation in and around Baton Rouge.
The group’s website outlines many laws and safety tips for riders and drivers, including staying in your designated lane and maintaining at least three feet from bicycles when passing.

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Emily Brauner

Kinesiology graduate student Zachariah Wood was killed while riding his bicycle on Nov. 14, 2015 on Lee Drive.