BikeDC

Looking for witnesses: “sustained multiple injuries and my bicycle was totaled”


via google maps

Ed. Note: If you have any info please email me at [email protected] and I’ll put you in touch with OP.

“Dear PoPville,

On Thursday, February 23rd at 5:59-6:00pm (It was the unusually warm 80 degree February day) I was biking north on 14th St NW in the bike lane between S and T streets NW (right in front of Gypsy Kitchen) when I approached a rideshare driver who was idling illegally in the bike lane, blocking it entirely and forcing me over between the bike lane and parked vehicles. A passenger of that ride share then ‘doored’ me (flung his door open without looking and hit me) as I was going by.

I sustained multiple injuries and my bicycle was totaled. I briefly spoke with the passenger who assured me he would “take care of any damages,” but I was in an immense amount of pain from the impact, which crushed my hand, so I stepped into Bar Pilar, which was ~20 feet away, to grab ice while we exchanged information.

To my utter shock, in the 30 seconds that it took me to grab ice, both the rideshare car and passengers had fled the scene (before I was able to obtain their information). I have been pleading with local businesses to obtain security footage, which could help me identify the driver via license plate, but in the meantime, am hoping that if the passengers see this, they might be willing to connect and share the driver’s information so Uber can cover my medical bills and bicycle damages. I have a witness who approached me after the incident, however he didn’t get the driver’s license plate either.”

Ed. Note: If you have any info please email me at [email protected] and I’ll put you in touch with OP.