bicycles were never an issue in Nola until recently, but bicycle traffic has surged the past year or 2. I can easily see how this could become an issue at this rate.
I actually struck a cyclist in 2006, when cyclist were rarely seen on the road. It sucked. I felt horrible about it. I was turning right onto a divided two way boulevard when i hit a cyclist riding wrong way. I didn't see him, except a blur at impact. A large oak had obscured my view. I felt and heard the impact, then hit the brakes. I was accelerating into the turn, so wasn't as quick to the brake as usual. Had I gotten to the brake pedal a little sooner, it would've been minor, but I rode over his leg and bike with my front passenger tire. His bike was caught under my car, and got totally mauled when the cop and I removed it. This guy's leg was badly hurt. He was writhing in pain. He worked in construction, so you know he lost wages. Just a f*cked up deal.