Recent bike accidents highlight
problems on MU campus
By Kyle Spradley

Two bicycle accidents in the past month have prompted questions about bicycle safety and where it is actually safe to ride in Columbia.

Last month on Aug. 19, Krysten Chambrot, a 19-year-old journalism student at MU, was struck by a car and knocked into the intersection at College Avenue and Rollins Road. A city utility truck crossing the intersection then hit her and eventually dragged her for a short distance. Neither driver was injured, but Chambrot received serious injuries.

Bikers enjoy a safe ride on a quiet road outside Columbia. Photo by: Kyle Spradley

Chambrot underwent surgery at University Hospital, where doctors repaired her injured right leg, broken jaw and amputated a part of her left leg. 

The next day, a second student was struck by a car while traveling on a bike at Rollins and Maryland Avenue, just a block away from Chambrot’s accident. Thankfully, the girl, whom authorities would not identify, only received a few minor scrapes and bruises. 

The city of Columbia is looking into the cause of these accidents and trying to come up with solutions to prevent further bike accidents. City officials are worried about the trend of bike accidents so early this year. In the past four years, there are usually only one to two bike accidents per year. 

“It is very hard to ride your bike on campus with all the cars and students without getting hit or run into. You see close-call accidents all the time,” MU freshman Andrew Ronshausen said.

City officials always suggest wearing a bike helmet that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. 

It is also important to remember that when traveling on a road, a bicyclist has to follow the same rules as motorized vehicles. All city, state and MU ordinances, traffic signs/signals and regulations all apply to a bicyclist. 

One important ordinance states that no person shall ride a cycle upon a sidewalk within a business district. 

The city also has set guidelines for bikes, just like an inspection list for automobiles. The requirements state that the bicycles must have working brakes and lights/reflectors. The city also requires that one-half-hour after sunset to one-half-hour before sunrise all bikes must have some type of lamp or reflector to alert drivers and others traveling along roadways of a rider’s presence.

Recently Columbia was selected to receive a $25 million federal grant from Congress as part of a four-city study on non-motorized transportation. Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman said the primary spending of the money would be to reduce traffic congestion. This means that in the future, newer and safer bike paths will be available across Columbia.

As of right now, there are several places for people to ride bikes around town.

Just south of town is the famous Katy Trail that spans across mid-Missouri from Clinton to St. Charles, Mo. It can be reached via the nearly 9-mile MKT pedestrian trail. Riders can pick up the MKT trail in downtown Columbia at Flat Branch Park at the intersection of Locust and Fourth streets.

“The MKT trail is probably the best choice for bikers out there. You get to experience great countryside that is only a few minutes from our dorms,” MU freshman Shari El Neklawy said.

For more of an “off-road” ride, travel to the 530-acre Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area and bike the Rhett’s Run Trail. This trail, built for mountain bikers, is perfect for riders who want to get a little dirty. The park is located just off Interstate 70 at Stadium Boulevard.  

At Cosmo Park, as it is commonly known by the locals, bicyclists also can pick up the Bear Creek Trail. This 4.8-mile, 10-foot-wide trail connects Cosmo Park to Oakland Park. This trail is for any level of experience and is an easy way to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbia.

Another easy way to bike the outdoors is to travel on the Hinkson Creek Trail. This 4.25-mile trail can either be picked up at Grindstone Nature Area or at the new Student Recreation Center at MU. The plus about this trail is that it travels through the MU campus and over the creeks and through the forest of Grindstone Nature Area all the way to the MKT trail. 

For more information about trails around Columbia and bike regulations, visit gocolumbiamo.com.  

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