Fatal Bicycle Accident on St. Claude Raises Safety Concerns
In just five years, seven cyclists have died along St. Claude Avenue
Just a few weeks after making his long-planned move to New Orleans, 36-year-old Michael Milam was settling into a new chapter of life he had dreamed about. Charismatic, compassionate, and full of energy, he had already made his mark as an award-winning bartender in Houston, and now he was quickly becoming part of the French Quarter community.
He had landed a job at Cafe Lafitte in Exile on Bourbon Street. Along with his dog, Diesel, and two close friends who were also bartenders, Milam was living in the 9th Ward while the trio worked to renovate a house. But in the early hours of July 12, while riding his bicycle home from work, his life was tragically cut short.
Bicycle accident results in tragic death
According to NOLA.com, police say a 19-year-old St. Bernard Parish resident struck Milam on St. Claude Avenue as he turned onto Alvar Street and then kept driving. Milam was thrown from his bike onto the asphalt and pronounced dead about 15 minutes later.
Unfortunately, Milam’s tragic death is not an isolated incident. St. Claude Avenue has been deadly for cyclists, especially the stretch between St. Bernard Avenue and the Industrial Canal. In the last five years, seven cyclists have died there. Milam was the second person killed at the intersection of St. Claude and Alvar in less than 30 months.
Why is St. Claude so dangerous for cyclists?
Dangerous driving is a daily reality along the corridor and a leading cause of bicycle accidents. Residents and advocates say drivers often speed at more than 50 miles per hour, stop suddenly in traffic to pick up or drop off passengers, and park in bike lanes or on the neutral ground, blocking visibility. Just two days after Milam’s death, another cyclist was killed by an 18-wheeler at St. Claude and Franklin avenues.
Laura Harris, education and policy manager for the nonprofit BikeEasy, told the City Council’s transportation committee that the data proves the street is both heavily used and unsafe. “We need to really honor all the people who’ve lost their lives in this corridor and commit to not losing another life of a person biking in New Orleans,” she said.
What are city officials doing to address concerns?
The problem is complicated by jurisdiction. As Council Member Eugene Green explained, St. Claude is a state highway, which means that major changes fall under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), not the city.
But Green made it clear that funding isn’t the obstacle. “It’s not a matter of you don’t have the resources,” he said. “If you want to do a homeless transition center for the Super Bowl, you find $27 million to do it. If you want to put lights on the Crescent City Connection, you find $30 million to do it. Many times that’s just by executive order that that happens.”
Advocates are pushing for lower speed limits, protected bike lanes, and better enforcement against dangerous driving. Whether DOTD will take action remains to be seen.
Community responds to the tragedy
The New Orleans cycling community acted quickly to honor Milam’s memory and call for change. Two days after his death, riders gathered at the intersection of St. Claude and Alvar. They laid down in the street, dropped white flowers, and stood in silence. On July 26, a white-painted bicycle was chained at the site of a fatal crash in his memory.
It wasn’t the first ghost bike at that corner, and it likely won’t be the last unless the street becomes safer.
In Houston, where Milam had deep ties, a memorial took place on August 2. His family is accepting donations in his name at the Montrose Center.
His sister hopes that this tragedy will lead to improvements. She pointed out that New Orleans has one of the highest per capita rates of cyclist fatalities in the country, and that her brother hadn’t driven in 14 years.
“We have so many people, like Michael, that bike to work. He hadn’t driven a car in 14 years. That was his solitary mode of transportation to get to work,” she said. “I don’t know if any good could come out of it. Maybe it would be just taking a better look at those things, because it happens a lot here.”
How a New Orleans bicycle accident lawyer helps victims and their families
If you were injured or a loved one died in a bicycle accident, the aftermath can be emotionally, physically, and financially devastating. Insurance companies often make things more complicated. That’s why The Law Offices of John S. Williams, LLC is ready to advocate for you every step of the way.
When you choose us, you get a lawyer who personally handles every detail of your case from start to finish. We’ll investigate your bicycle accident, gather evidence, deal with the insurance companies on your behalf, and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost income, pain, and other damages.
Contact us online or call our New Orleans law office today to schedule a free consultation and explore your potential legal options. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence and building your case.
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