Bicyclist Ticketed After Collision With Car

It's said that "dog bites man" isn't news, but "man bites dog" qualifies.

In a similar way, when a car hits a bicyclist, the usual result is a ticket—and maybe a lawsuit—against the driver of the motor vehicle. An unusual case found in this week's Geneva police reports is closer to the "man bites dog" variety, because police say the injured bicyclist was the one at fault.

And the cyclist admits it.

According to Geneva reports, the left side of a Trek 7500 mountain bicycle riden by Kelleen Bodine, 46, of Geneva was struck by a Toyota Corolla driven by Idy Spezzano, 42, of Geneva around 8:40 a.m. July 26 at the intersection of Batavia Avenue (Route 31) and Fargo Boulevard.

Bodine was riding north along the east side of Batavia Avenue, south of Fargo Boulevard, and Spezzano was driving on Fargo Boulevard in the eastbound lane, approaching Batavia Avenue, when Bodine began crossing four lanes of traffic on Batavia Avenue to turn left (west) onto Fargo.

Bodine admitted to police—and witnesses concurred—that she cut the corner prematurely. Spezzano proceeded to turn right and did not see the bike approaching as it cut across the four lanes, reports said.

Bodine sustained an abrasion on her left elbow after falling from her bicycle, reports said.

She was issued a warning notice for an improper lane turn.