No. 1227 Description:
2006-11-6
   I was crossing 7th Street at Russell. Opposite me, and turning left onto Russell was a car, without its signal light on. At a break in traffic, we both went, and the car turned left and struck me.
   
   My bike and I both went flying, but neither of us were damaged. A passenger in the car tried to give me $100. I refused. (What was I thinking?)

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 1205 Description:
2007-11-12
   10:20 am. Cycling north on Bancroft. White van east bound stopped on Strand at Bancroft. Van driver proceeded to cross Bancroft failure to yield to me as through traffic requiring me to brake to avoid hitting side of van.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 1204 Description:
2007-11-10
   9:35pm. Hit by egg thrown from east bound vehicle while cycling west on South Ave. Unable to identify vehicle.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 981 Description:
2007-10-14
   I was crossing the street within the crsswalk, and i thought I had made eye contact with the driver who was waiting to get into traffic. He didnt see me, gunned his engine, and knocked me over on my bike.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 854 Description:
2007-spring
   Woman was biking home from work and was run over from behind by a drunk driver.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 849 Description:
2007-09-04
   While in bike lane on madison, heading to stop sign, a car 3 cars back from the stop sign, pulled out into bike lane to pass the two cars stopped in front of her. she hit me gently, i banged on her window to know she was pushing me off the road. she smiled and said she was on the phone.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 833 Description:
2007-09-07
   truck crossed over the whole road, i was hit on my bike, my children in the cart were grazed. driver stopped helped me up, told me he was reading a sign and not watching the road.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 743 Description:
2007-09-18
   Heard a scream and looked up to see a red SUV (southbound on Higgins) stopped with a bike partially crushed under the right front tire. Bicyclist was heading west. It was roughly 3:30pm. Woman was driving SUV alone- she looked very distraught. Bicyclist looked badly injured and had been thrown about 20 feet. I did not approach- many people were trying to help and 911 was immediately called.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 654 Description:
2007-08-09
   ridind east on broadway, icrossed behind a car at the orange and b-way i-section. the woman thinking she was too far into the crosswalk backed suddenly knocking me from my bike.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 513 Description:
2007-04-13
   Faceplant on asphalt. Coma, 24 day hospital stay, 4 titanium plates in the head/jaw/face, lots of broken bones, TBI, and more

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 398 Description:
2007-05-02
   11:45 a.m. - Cycling northbound on Bancroft when passed by red SUV which then immediately turned East onto Hastings. I successfully braked in time to avoid physical contact.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 393 Description:
2007-02-15
   Roy Smith was bicycling to work at night. He had lights. He was at a red light waiting to turn south onto Reserve St. from Mullan (coming from the east). No one knows what happened for sure, but he some how went under the wheels of the tractor trailer next to him.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 358 Description:
2007-04-29
   I was riding slowly going east on the sidewalk north of Knowles Hall. Someone came out of the north exit of Knowles, and was obscured by the brick wall there. When someone exiting Knowles passes that brick wall, they are on the sidewalk, so they appear suddenly in front of you. The pedestrian and I reached the corner of the brick wall at the same instant -- no time to stop. I was going so slowly (about walking speed) that neither of us was hurt. But if a bicyclist is going faster, could be bad.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 355 Description:
2007-04-26
   Collision between bike rider and skateboarder. We entered a short sidewalk behind a campus building, one that is rarely used by pedestrians. Because of the hedge, we didn\'t see one another and crashed.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 354 Description:
2007-04-20
   Riding in bike lane alongside a van Southbound on Russell. Both van and myself signal left turn onto Phillips. I pull back during turn allowing van to go ahead so I can keep an eye on him, but driver is moving very, very slow. I take a few pedal strokes to pass and the vans throws a right into me and my bike. Driver must have decided last minute to pull in to get some gas. Driver was informed of his duty to pay attention, check his mirrors and maintain safe, steady speeds, especially when driving alongside cyclists.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 352 Description:
2007-04-27
   Timing of lights is very sketchy. I was riding westbound on South, in excess of 20 MPH. The light turned yellow right after I completely crossed the stop line. Despite my relatively high speed, it turned red a 4 or 5 bike lengths before I was completely on the other side. If someone was riding at a more leisurely pace, it could have been very bad.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 337 Description:
2007-04-24
   My wife and I were riding into town on Higgins. As we approached East Front Street, we were in the lane to go straight (not the right turn-only lane) when a motorist attempted to pass us on our left, striking my wife in the elborw and shoulder with his rear-view mirror. The motorist then made a right turn on to East Front, not using the right turn lane and cutting both of us off. He then made a left across East Front and parked at Macy\'s. He appeared to be an older gentleman and was not aware that he had hitmy wife. The low speed of the collision mitigated its severity, but it could have been much worse.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 251 Description:
2007-10-05
   Was turing right (I made a hand signal) into the good food store parking lot and a vehicle forced me into the curb and we colided. I flew off and landed on the sidewalk.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 250 Description:
2007-03-12
   Riding in the bike lane heading north on Orange Street when the driver of a large delivery box-truck failed to signal that he was turning right on West Front St. The truck made a hard right turn in front of me as I was passing it and nearly ran me down. Luckily I anticipated the possibility that the truck would make such a maneuver so I gave myself room to bail out and avoid a collision. The truck driver never saw me, never looked in his mirror (I could see him in his right side mirror).

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 249 Description:
2006-12-5
   I was riding down Reserve on my way to work. The bike lane was filthy with ice, dirt, crud, debres, and mud. I deemed the bicycle lane as unsafe, therfore I rode in the street. I started riding on the right white line between the bicycle lane and the road when I was almost hit by a pickup pulling a large trailer.
   
   I remembered my training and an old bicycle magazine article titled Not in the Gutter, where the arguement was made that the number one way cyclests are killed is riding too far to the right.
   
   I took the center of the lane thus commanding the lane as my own and forcing traffic to slow down and change to the left lane to pass me, as they would pass a tractor or slow car.
   
   A black car with 2 men in it started honking at me. I waved for the car to pass me, and the driver kept agressively honking and shouting at me. I was under the impression that I was being followed by someone with road rage for several miles, feeling emotions of fear for my safety.
   
   I kept my space until the person honking pulled a police badge. An off duty officer pulled a badge on me for \"faulure to ride to the right of the road.\"
   
   Now I have to go to court for a trial by jurry about this ticket. The trial is tenitively set for March 14th in the court at city hall.
   
   Brad

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 237 Description:
2007/01/11
   As I approached a police vehicle pulled over in the bike lane, I moved to the left and was well out of the way of danger. However, when I passed the car, Officer Trollope kicked his door open without looking (apparently he was pissed since he didn\'t have any tickets left and had to give only a warning to the car he had pulled over). So I politely reminded him to \"becareful opening your door into traffic\" as I passed. He must have thought I said something else, or perhaps as an officer he didn\'t like to be reminded of proper safety, so he got back in his car, put on his siren and ran the red light at Orange Street to chase me down. He pulled me over and agressively asked what I had said. Conversation was controlled for a bit, until, when asked for my Identification, I asked if I was required to present it since he had unlawfully pulled me over... That didn\'t help - and in seconds Officer Trollope had me down on the ground, face in the snow, and arms behind my back in handcuffs. I was under arrest for \"obstructing a peace officer\" and I spent the next 4 hours in prison without a phone call while my wife was home worried that I\'d been abducted!
   
   Lesson?

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 193 Description:
2006-12-22
   Many vehicles pass cyclists from behind at the same time an oncoming vehicle is in the adjacent lane. They pass without slowing down, even when there is a curve.
   Since there is no shoulder on this narrow
   road, an unsafe situation is created.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 192 Description:
2006-09-15
   Was going straight in the bike lane on the Orange Street Bridge, headed into town. A large maroon pickup passed me as I was starting across Front Street. The pickup turned left, forcing me to the curb. I tried to steer away as best I could but the side of the truck pushed me off my bike and into the curb.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 191 Description:
2006-12-21
   Cars coming down Rattlesnake drive continue turning onto Madison or cars making a right hand turn heading east on Spruce turning onto Madison pay no attention to pedestrians trying to cross Madison. I've had numerous close calls every morning and evening at this cross walk.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 190 Description:
2006-09-28
   During rush hour traffic, I was headed south on Higgins. A car was making a right hand turn. I stopped to allow it to do so. The driver flagged me on. There was a driver trying to make a left hand turn from Blaine on to Higgins. I thought the driver saw me, but when I was directly in front of the car, she pulled out and hit me.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 188 Description:
2006-03-07
   A car did not stop while turning off of Richard (eastbound) onto Rattlesnake (southbound). I believe that they were trying to beat a car that was coming behind me and did not see me. They hit my rear tire with their fender knocking me down and did not stop. My rear wheel was bent and had to be replaced. It was lightly raining, but I had on bright clothing, but being daytime did not have my headlight on.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 187 Description:
2006-05-05
   My daugther hit a vehicle whose driver was turning from the eastbound exit off of I-90 and pulled out in front of her onto Van Buren. She went over the car and into the curb and grass.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 185 Description:
2006-11-15
   Hit a HUGE pothole on California Street (at about Montana Street intersection) at night (I had a bright headlamp on) and crashed hard on my bike.
   
   California Street has numerous pedestrians and bikers between the river and the bike path, but there are no bike lanes and no sidewalks. Very dangerous to walk or bike on this street, especially at night.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 184 Description:
2006-11-14
   I was going to cross Arthur, coming from University, to go to class. There was no car on the left and the car on the right came to a complete stop because of a pedestrian crodding. I started crossing on my bike but that car accelerated as soon as the pedestrian had crossed. He saw me, slowed down a little, then accelerated again and hit me. The guy got pulled over that same morning for speeding. The police officer told him to slow down and wrote ME a ticket fpr "failing to yield the right of way to a motor vehicle"

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 183 Description:
2006-10-07
   I was biking north on Madison (near Pine Street) in the bike lane when a woman opened her door into my path. Luckily, I was almost past the door. I exclaimed "be careful" and kept riding.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 182 Description:
2005-06-13
   The crash took place on Mullan, between Broadway and Reserve.
   
   I consider that I was obeying traffic laws, because I had to swerve out of the bike lane to avoid a truck that I thought was backing out. The police told me that I needed to either stop or signal that I was changing lanes; however, I did not have time to do either.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 181 Description:
2006-10-03
   Details are unknown. It is thought that a Chevy Avalanche took a quick left turn into 14 yr. old cyclist. Happened at 9:30pm.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 180 Description:
2006-09-08
   The car made a left hand turn right into me. I was in the road where I was suppose to be, a little to the right but no where near being where a crosswalk would be.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 179 Description:
2001-08
   A woman was pulling out of the alley in her car by the Sinclair on Madison St. She looked at me and slowed down, then pulled out fast to cut in front. Luckily, I had slowed down but still hit the hood of her car with my leg. I was able to walk to the side of the road but she took off. She didn't even ask if I was ok.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 178 Description:
1979
   Adult cyclist (woman) killed on Orange St. Bridge. A large truck was coming up from behind and the driver used the jake brakes to "let her know he was there" or some such nonsense. She swerved right, bounced her pedal on the (then) 2-step curb and was launched under the wheels of the truck. She died a few days later in hospital.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 177 Description:
about 1984
   A young developmentally-delayed boy was riding in the vicinity of Flynn Lane and Mullan Rd. If memory serves, he rode out onto Mullan (from Flynn?) and was hit by a passing car. This one may have taken place in the morning.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 176 Description:
about 1983
   a 7-year old boy was riding home on South Ave. from wrestling practice at Target Range School (I believe). He was in the vicinity of Big Sky High heading east and swerved across the road and into the side of a westbound pickup truck. Time of day was dusk.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 175 Description:
2006-10-13
   I was biking through the neighborhood intersection near Food For Thought. There are no stop signs- it is 'uncontrolled'. As I approached and looked, I saw a car coming from the south which was slowing down. I thought for sure the driver saw me, and since I arrived at the intersection before he did, I proceeded biking through. Just as I got into the middle of the intersection, the driver sped up! I looked through his windshield and he was looking down at his radio or coffee or something. I expected to be hit and swerved hard towards the curb. Somehow he missed me but I still crashed into the curb. He was very sorry and shaken up and said he never saw me, even though he said he looked left in my direction as he approached the intersection. He also said he was only really looking for large objects like cars. Safety was even fresh in his mind, as he was a good friend of the family that had their son die from being hit by a car on his bike the week before.
   
   A traffic circle would likely solve the problem, and a campaign to get drivers to slow down and see bicycles.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 174 Description:
1998
   student cyclist tried to take left turn and was hit.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 173 Description:
2006-10-17
   I did not crash, but I swerved and missed a door- barely. It was right out in front of the Wilma with a bunch of people that gasped as I swerved.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 172 Description:
2005-10-10
   

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 171 Description:
2004-10-01
   I was hit by an opening car door while I was traveling southbound on Higgins between Spruce and Pine. There was no Bike Lane, but two lanes of traffic, and the driver of the car didn't see me as he opened his door. My front end of my bike was damaged, but luckily I was uninjured.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 170 Description:
1972-09-01
   coming out of alley fast and got nailed by a college girl. road rash, a concussion and a trip in an ambulance.

• Lawful: no
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 169 Description:
1979
   Adult female cyclist killed on Orange St. Bridge. A large truck was coming up from behind and the driver used the jake brakes to "let her know he was there". She swerved right, bounced her pedal on the (then) 2-step curb and was launched under the wheels of the truck. She died a few days later in hospital.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 168 Description:
2006-10-19
   heading north on Higgins. Bike lane off bridge ends. DOORED by a lady, knocking my right break handle off. spokes broken, handle bars bent from collision to ground. luckily no cars behind to smack me on higgins

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 167 Description:
2006-10-19
   heading north on Higgins. Bike lane off bridge ends. DOORED by a lady, knocking my right break handle off. spokes broken, handle bars bent from collision to ground. luckily no cars behind to smack me on higgins

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 166 Description:
04-22-05
   Hit and Run, Driver came across mid line and hit biker head on.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 165 Description:
2002-04-15
   I was riding out Brooks st (away from town) at night with a headlight on, and as I entered the intersection a speeding car turned left (to head north) on Stephens. I breaked hard and the car took out my front wheel, narrowly missing my leg. It was a hit and run.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 164 Description:
2005-9-30
   I was riding in what I thought to be a bike lane (though where I was, the bike lane disappears unitl it picks back up at South). I was riding along with traffic, and a car next to me stopped to wave another car (a soccer player) through going to Dormblazer fields parking lot. Incidentally, the soccer player driver and I collided. I flew up on the hood of the car, shattered the windshield. Luckily I only had some deep abrasioins an contusions on my lower back. I needed stitches, but it could have been a lot worse!

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 163 Description:
2006-9-??
   The one night I drove in over a month I nearly hit a cyclist as I was pulling out on Brooks from Central at 9:45 p.m. The cyclist had no lights and was dressed in dark clothing, and made a left in front of me at a place I often make a left on my bike, too. It was very frightening for both of us, and I lectured him about the improtance of lights, helmet, & light clothing at night.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 162 Description:
2006-10-17
   Driver backing out of driveway didn't see me. Didn't stop at the point where one normally stops and re-checks. Finally heard me holler and saw my yellow coat & apparently braked so the impact was not hard but enough to knock me down & give me a good scrape on my leg.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 161 Description:
1999-09
   I was riding north on Aurther and the vehicle that hit me was traveling south on Aurther. Just as I entered the intersection the vehicle made a left hand turn onto Beckwith and hit me. The front bumper hit the bike first and propelled me into the windshield of the vehicle. My left shoulder smashed the windshield and I rolled to the ground.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 160 Description:
2006-9-1
   I was at a stoplight behind a car on 6th and Orange. That car was turning a right onto Orange from 6th street. They did not turn on there blinker, so I presumed the were going straight. They turned directly in front of me and I hit the car multiple times

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 159 Description:
2005-07-15
   Riding south on Reserve Street wearing a bright yellow jersey. I was on my way out of town and up the Bitterroot Valley. It was about 4pm in mid July, sun was very high in sky. I was in the bike lane that runs the length of south Reserve. I was travelling at about 25 mph, cars were consistently passing me on my left. A car passed me and then immediately turned right across the bike lane I was in and made its turn directly in front of me on West Central (about a block north of South). I slammed into the side of the car as it crossed into the bike lane. Road rash, sprained wrist, bruises, sore neck and leg. Hospital was close. Bike was damaged.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 158 Description:
2003-06-??
   waiting for light to turn green and when it did, a driver coming in the opposite direction sped in front of oncoming traffic to make a left hand turn. didnt hit any cars, but hit me and knocked me into the crosswalk.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 157 Description:
2003
   A car turning a corner while I was crossing at the crosswalk but on my bicycle failed to look and see me, and ran over my front wheel.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 156 Description:
2006-10-20
   Broadway and Russell intersection; swerved and crashed to avoid oncoming car.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 155 Description:
2006-10-05 05:05
   At 5:05 PM last Thursday I was traveling south down N. Higgins in the right lane (between traffic and the construction cones on the N. half of the west side of the 100 block). A car opened their passenger door with no warning to let someone out and the door struck my left handlebar, throwing me into the end of their door, the air and ground. I was separated at some point from my bike and momentarily lost consciousness.
   
   After a few of the cobwebs from my head cleared, I traded insurance information with the owner of the vehicle and put my chain back on the bike and proceeded home. After consulting with my roommate (a nurse), my sister (a judge), and my girlfriend (a nursing student), I got a ride to the emergency room at St. Patrick Hospital where I was treated for several significant bruises and a possible slight concussion. My bike is still getting a repair estimate compiled.
   
   I then reported the incident with the Missoula Police Department and was shocked to hear the officer found us to be both partially at fault. I have since learned from my insurance company and the auto driver's insurance that I was not at fault according to them. I have also consulted with an attorney in town who is an avid cyclist and learned his belief was in line with the insurance companies as well.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 154 Description:
2006-09-09
   I was traveling north on Higgins at approximately 1:15 pm, I signaled and proceeded to move over into the left lane so I could take a left onto Main, right as I moved into the lane a gold Honda Mini-Van honked at me, I looked back and continued signaling, I then started to make my turn onto Main and as I did this the man driving this Mini-Van pulled up next to me told me to get a car and shouted several profanities at me, I was shocked that this guy would feel so threatened by a bicycle.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 153 Description:
Spring 2005
   I was riding my cross bike back from the Rattle Snake, late to a meeting in town. While passing the Apple Orchard(?) development, a cement truck turned left in front of me. I was peadling over 30mph and with the sidewalks torn up, there was no where to go. I skidded into his bumper and grill, then hit the deck. Cracked my pelvis, injured shoulder and some good road rash.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: yes
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 152 Description:
2006-04-25
   I was doored on Higgins. I moved over to let a truck get past, but my handlebars clipped a suddenly opened door. I flew and tumbled, rolling with it, and was not harmed. I talked with the driver, straightened my handlebars, and then proceeded to a meeting.
   (in front of Liquid Planet)

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity:

No. 151 Description:
Fall of 2004
   I passed through the red light at Higgins and Brooks after coming to a stop. A newer pickup truck then followed me and yelled from their vehicle. It was intimidating to have the truck swerve close while biking and I don't think the traffic offense put anyone in danger.

• Lawful: no
• Reported: no
• Helmet: yes
• Severity:

No. 150 Description:
2001-06-03
   I was heading down the Madison St. Bridge and was almost squashed by a big truck as we both went around the bend heading west on 5th.

• Lawful: yes
• Reported: no
• Helmet: no
• Severity: