Mayor of San Jose Struck by Driver While Biking, Hospitalized

Matt Hamilton reports that "San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was hit by a car on New Year’s Day while riding his bicycle in the city, and he remained in the hospital Tuesday night."

"The 48-year-old suffered unspecified 'minor fractures' and was expected to remain at Regional Medical Center in San Jose for up to two more days with injuries that 'are not considered overly serious,'" adds Hamilton.

The collision recalls a similar episode with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was struck by the driver of a taxi while biking, shattering the mayor's elbow and inspiring a series of bike infrastructure improvements in that city.

Liccardo is already considered a champion of biking infrastructure in the mostly auto-oriented city. Streetsblog SF reported in 2012 that Liccardo, then a councilmember, rode his bike to work three times a week. "As part of his successful 2018 reelection campaign, he noted his efforts to add 'buffered and colored bike lanes … for San Jose’s rapidly-growing cycling community,'" adds Hamilton.