May 24—TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Commissioner Mitch Treadwell knows what it’s like to feel unsafe while biking around town.
Last week, on his way to Monday’s city commissioners meeting, Treadwell was hit by a car while riding his bicycle at the intersection of Seventh and Union streets. He said this is right next to his hometown, and it’s a route he’s taken before.
According to the accident report, witnesses told police that Treadwell was standing in the crosswalk when the car hit him. He was taken to Munson Medical Center and was later diagnosed with a severe concussion and sore neck and back after the crash.
“It did raise the issue of there being no stop sign or traffic light for pedestrians or bicycles, and an issue of visibility,” he said. “So I started looking at other routes, but I can say there is no perfect solution, and what works for me may not work for someone else.”
Treadwell said his bicycle — his main mode of transportation around the city — was totaled.
“That crash and subsequent reevaluation of how I get from point A to point B helped reveal several issues that even I, as someone who gets around primarily on foot or by bike, might not have realized “, he said. “It has made me look more closely at the potential dangers that pedestrians and cyclists may face as they navigate the city.”
The car was deemed to be at fault for the accident and a report was drawn up.
Traverse City Police Department Road Patrol Capt. Adam Gray said that in the summer months, as the population around the city increases, so do the number of traffic incidents.
According to Michigan State Police traffic data, that increase is happening everywhere.
Since last week, 14 people have died on Michigan roads, for a total of 332 this year, MSP said. More than 120 were seriously injured, resulting in a total of 1,537 people being injured in 2024.
“It’s important to always remember to obey traffic lights, walk in the crosswalk and wear a helmet when riding a bike,” Gray said. “If you ride at night, remember to wear reflective strips and/or have a head and tail light so cars can see you.”
For Treadwell, Monday’s crash serves as a catalyst to remind people to stay safe as pedestrians and cyclists, and to make Traverse City’s streets safer.
As a member of the Master Plan Leadership Team for the city, and working on their Mobility Action Plan, Treadwell said he has been part of discussions about how to maintain the city’s reputation as a biking and walking friendly place.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t still make progress,” he said. “Much of the discussion has taken place in places where there is no bike lane or where there are gaps in our sidewalk network, or where they may be busy intersections without a crosswalk or other safe way for pedestrians to cross.”
Drafts of the plan show that some possible improvements include adding more HAWK signals, which act like a traffic light, to allow pedestrians to cross a busy street. Other suggestions include flashing lights, such as those along Front, Eighth and Woodmere streets, that warn motorists of pedestrians crossing but don’t necessarily stop traffic, according to the plan.
Looking ahead, Treadwell said he and others on those committees hope to resolve this and create a safe transportation plan for Traverse City.
In the near future, he said he wanted to share his story to warn people on either side of the roadway — drivers or cyclists and walkers — about what can happen if someone travels carelessly.
