Uc davis students demand safer cycling after fatal crash

A fatal cycling accident at UC Davis has sparked a renewed push for improved safety measures on campus. Lincoln Sabini, a 20-year-old student, was killed when struck by a car while biking to work along Hutchison Drive on April 13.

Sabini remembered as vibrant, passionate cyclist

Friends and cycling advocates describe Sabini as a vibrant, full-of-life individual who loved people and was an avid cyclist. He was known for building his own bikes from scratch at the Davis Bike Collective, a nonprofit that teaches bike enthusiasts to repair and even build their own vehicles.

According to volunteer Aaron Shaw, a local fixture known as the 'Davis bike doctor', the stretch of Hutchison Drive where Sabini's life was taken is perilous. Shaw believes that the university's decision to build housing before pedestrian paths has contributed to the tragic accident.

Along Hutchison Drive, speeds frequently exceed the posted 45-mile-per-hour limit, leaving cyclists with only a thin white line separating them from speeding vehicles. Many choose not to ride on this route due to the perceived danger.

In response to Sabini's death, students and cycling advocates have launched a petition calling for, at the very least, protected bike lanes. They also aim to create the 'Lincoln Loop', a pedestrian and bicycle corridor connecting West Village to Putah Creek, providing access to students and the community to this natural resource.

This marks the second fatal crash in four years along Hutchison Drive. Trisha Yasay, another UC Davis student, was hit and killed by a garbage truck while biking to class in 2022, while a 60-year-old woman was recently killed in a collision involving an e-bike on a Davis bike path.

As the investigation into Sabini's death continues, university officials say they will evaluate whether safety changes are needed. A town hall is scheduled for April 29 to discuss potential improvements on the West Campus.