Caress Law Group | Personal Injury Attorney | Indianapolis

Origination of the Idea

After a recent news article was published in late December, many Indiana bicyclists have questioned whether there will ever be a tax on bike usage in Indiana. The talk of possible bicycle taxes stems from the extreme growth of bicycle use among city dwellers across the United States. Cities like Chicago, New York, and Portland have documented spikes in the amount of citizens using bicycles for transportation. Indianapolis and other cities and towns across the State of Indiana are no different – people have begun to rely more and more on bikes as an alternative to driving a car, resulting in better health, better air quality, and less money spent on gas.

Due to this increase in biking across the country, local governments, like Indianapolis and other Hoosier cities, have started accommodating to cyclists on public roadways by adding bicycle lanes, bike sharing systems, bike boxes, and even mini snow plows purchased for the sole purpose of clearing bike lanes. Because of this, a select group of folks across the United States are questioning why local legislatures have not yet required a tax on bicycle usage and/or a bicycle registration fee to help cover the costs of these bicycle-accommodating initiatives. Currently, the State of Hawaii and the City of Colorado Spring, Colorado are the only governments we know of that have instituted a bicycle registration fee; no state or local government has started to tax bicycle users yet.

Will it Happen in Indiana?

Like many other municipalities across the country, Indiana cities like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Lafayette, Bloomington, and South Bend have noted a substantial spike in residents’ use of bicycles. While there has been no talk of instituting a bicycle registration fee or a bicycle-use tax anywhere in the State of Indiana, it will be interesting to see how this issue pans out across the country. Most Indiana bikers also own cars and therefore pay fuel taxes, as well as the property taxes paid by homeowners, which partly pays for road improvements, causing many bicycle users to question whether they should have to pay an additional tax for riding bikes. Talk of Indiana bike taxes and the like led one bicycle blogger to sarcastically wonder why pedestrians aren’t charged a shoe tax to use the sidewalks.

Indiana Bicycle Lawyers

The Indiana bicycle accident lawyers at Caress Law Group want to wish all Indiana cyclists an exciting and happy 2014. We look forward to making sure all Hoosier riders are aware of all Indiana bicycle updates that occur this year. We will continue to take great pride in acting as the premier Indiana bike accidents attorneys and promise to passionately represent injured bicyclists across Indiana. If you have any questions about Indiana bicycle law or if you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle crash, other personal injury matter, or medical malpractice incident, please Contact Us by clicking here or give us a call for a free and easy initial consultation at 317-255-5400. We look forward to speaking with you – and remember to ride safe this New Year!

This past year, the City of Bloomington, Indiana has remained committed to installing more than 23 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails within the college town. Although many of these new bike pathways are still under construction and will be finished in the near future, Bloomington residents are filled with anticipation and excited at the opportunity to utilize these new trails. Most of these new bicycle and pedestrian pathways connect the Indiana University campus with the more outer rim of the City of Bloomington, leaving commuting IU students with much to look forward to.

Bloomington officials are not just satisfied with the approximately 23 miles of new bike trails installed in 2013; in fact, the City of Bloomington is planning to create at least an additional 7 miles of new bike lanes in 2014, which will include about 2 miles of shared use bike lanes and about one mile of new multiuse paths and completely reconstructed sidewalks. Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan has stated that the City is ahead of plan in its pursuit of a premier rating from the League of American Bicyclists. Should Bloomington officials remain committed to the introduction of new bicycle trails and bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and bus islands, the City will likely earn a platinum rating, a true honor for a place like Bloomington with many cyclists commuting in and out of the Indiana University campus.

Whenever we hear news of an updated infrastructure that aims at improving bicycle usage, we want to make sure that our readers are aware. Particularly in college towns like Bloomington, we know that students often have a difficult time riding their bikes to class, whether there is a lack of available pathways or an inadequate amount of bike racks. However, efforts like the ones made by Bloomington and Mayor Kruzan make the bicycle lawyers at Caress Law Group proud. As Indiana University graduates and cyclists ourselves, we have experienced firsthand how crowded the campus streets can be and how tough it can be to try and navigate the campus. The City’s most recent efforts will undoubtedly improve these conditions.

With increased bicycle use and new trails also comes a higher probability of a bicycle accident occurring, particularly in towns like Bloomington where thousands of students are contained within a small area with limited amounts of pathways. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bike accident, please do not hesitate to contact our Indiana bicycle accident lawyers. We are available at any time, every day of the week and we are happy to discuss your case with anyone throughout the entire State of Indiana free of charge. Contact Us online or give us a call at 317-255-5400 if you have any questions whatsoever regarding Indiana bicycle law.

There was another hit-and-run accident in Indianapolis: this one taking place on September 17, 2013 around 1 p.m. and involving a pedestrian victim. Although police have not taken the driver of the hit-and-run motor vehicle into custody, witnesses informed police that the vehicle was a green Chevrolet Malibu. The driver struck a pedestrian who was walking near the 1700 block of Sheldon Street, near the intersection of Sheldon Street and 18^th Street not far from downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

The good news is that police have identified the registered owner of the green Chevy Malibu as Felicia Moss (30 years old), but they have not yet made any arrests because it is not yet known who was driving the vehicle at the time of the collision.

The pedestrian’s name is Michael Robertson (59 years old), and Emergency Medical Services reported that Mr. Robertson was thrown 30 – 50 feet as a result of the pedestrian accident. Upon arrival, medical personnel transferred Michael Robertson to Wishard Hospital, where he is in critical condition.

The Indiana Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Caress Law Group send our thoughts and prayers to Michael Robertson, his family, and loved ones. Dedicating our law practice to assisting injured victims of bicycle crashes, pedestrian accidents, and other accidents, we have seen an increase in the amount of collisions involving bicycles in Indiana this summer. Even more apparent this summer has been the tendency for at-fault drivers to flee the scene after causing a crash. If you are curious as to your hit-and-run insurance rights in Indiana, please be sure to check our prior post here.

We look forward to assisting you in any we can. Feel free to contact us at 317-255-5400 or by submitting online inquiry. Ride safe!

The Indiana bicycle lawyers at Caress Law Group are saddened to echo reports of two serious bicycle accidents that left two Indianapolis teens severely injured – both occurring less than 24 hours of each other.

On an otherwise beautiful August day in Indiana, Hoosiers woke up to the news on August 17, 2013 that a 12 year-old Indianapolis boy had been struck by a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle near the intersection of Southeastern Avenue and Shortridge Drive in Indianapolis around 9 p.m. on August 16, 2013. It has been reported that emergency personnel arrived to the scene to find the young boy unconscious. As a result, he was immediately taken to Riley Hospital in critical condition. The 12 year-old boy sustained severe head trauma and doctors were doing their best to try to save one of the boy’s legs from having to be amputated.

To make matters worse, a second Indianapolis boy, this one 15 years-old, was struck by a motor vehicle near the intersection of Fall Creek Parkway and 30^th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana around 3 p.m. on August 17, 2013. This boy was also unconscious when emergency personnel arrived on the scene, and he was also taken to Riley Hospital with multiple injuries, including head injuries. The vehicle that struck the 15 year-old bicyclist was a blue Volkswagen, but no other details have been released.

The Indianapolis bicycle accident lawyers at Caress Law Group send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to the young men severely injured in these bicycle crashes, as well as their family members and friends. Fortunately, the medical providers at Riley Hospital are some of the best in the nation and will certainly do all they can to mitigate these injuries so that these young adults can recover properly.

As Indiana’s premier bicycle lawyers, we at Caress Law Group have observed bicycle accident injuries in Indiana skyrocket this spring and summer. We urge all bicyclists and motor vehicles to be cautious on the roadways, particularly when crossing intersections. We will provide any updates on these boys’ injuries and will continue to do our best in advocating for victims of bicycle collisions throughout the State of Indiana. If you have any questions or if we can help you in any way, feel free to call 317-255-5400 or Contact Us for a free and easy conversation.

Ride safely!