A London cyclist is recovering from serious injuries after she was struck by a motorized off-road bike in an alleged hit-and-run, prompting renewed concerns about illegal vehicles using city pathways and sidewalks.
Christina Cook was cycling toward the Thames Valley Parkway this week when she says she was hit head-on by a modified motorized pit bike on the sidewalk near the Commissioners Road East overpass at Highbury Avenue. She had been using the sidewalk to avoid nearby construction.
Cook was taken to hospital after the crash and suffered a cracked vertebra, concussion, shoulder sprain, cuts, bruises and road rash. She said the collision happened so quickly that she had no opportunity to avoid the bike.
London Police Superintendent Bill Berg acknowledged there had been a delay and said police are working to identify the rider. He also said the type of motorized bike described by Cook would not be legal to operate in that manner.
The collision occurred in an active construction zone with heavy traffic, adding to concerns about how cyclists and other road users are navigating the area.
Cook, who is a triathlete and mother of two young children, said the crash has left her uncertain about whether she will return to cycling. She has not yet felt ready to even look at her damaged bicycle.