06-08-2016, 09:13 AM | #1 |
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5 Cyclists Killed
I have been a cyclist for 32 years and love the sport, and apologize on behalf of my fellow cyclists who behave like asshats on the road. My town is a training venue for many professionals due to the elevation and terrain. During Spring/Summer/Fall I see many other cyclists on the road, and for the most part, everyone behaves according to the rules of the road. There are always exceptions to the latter, tourists are plentiful here, and sometimes they rent a bike to ride many of the trails in and around town, this is where it gets interesting, and very dangerous. As passionate drivers visiting this board, please take a moment when you do see a cyclist, to drive as defensively as possible around someone on a bicycle. After all, is it worth killing someone to make up a nanosecond of time? As to distracted driving, I see at least 6/10 drivers texting as they pass by me, it has truly made me reconsider cycling altogether. The situation where the five cyclists were killed by a motorist in Michigan is random, I suspect the driver was intoxicated, but still, 5 people lost their lives and several remain in critical condition. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...alamazoo-mich/
Be aware, that a competent and fit cyclist can ride at the speed limit on urban roads (25 -30 MPH), so be aware of this when making right turns at intersections after you have just passed a cyclist. This situation caused me to collide with a vehicle where, clearly, the driver had not anticipated my speed and decided to turn directly in front of me. Thanks for your time! |
06-08-2016, 09:33 AM | #2 |
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Thanks for posting.
Just read about this incident this morning. Very sad. Check the link below and stop in. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...2#post20068502
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06-08-2016, 09:47 AM | #3 | |
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06-08-2016, 09:48 AM | #4 |
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If someone turned right across the lane you were in and you hit them, would that be on you?
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06-08-2016, 09:56 AM | #5 |
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If we are talking 4 lane road and I turn right from the left lane, then yes, absolutely on me. If we are talking two lane, and I've passed him, then no. On him.
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06-08-2016, 09:56 AM | #6 | |
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This is one of those situations where both parties need to be aware and thinking. But as the biker is the one who is most likely to be injured in a collision, the smart move for him/her is to yield. That said, the driver of the car needs to ensure sufficient distance and signal well before turning. If there won't be enough room for that, then slow down and turn behind the biker. It's really just common sense, although way too many drivers have no such thing.
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06-08-2016, 09:56 AM | #7 | ||
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Your hypothetical is the same as you traveling in the far right lane behind another car going 10mph slower than you. You going round that car and then turning right in front of it forcing it to emergency brake or crash into you. This is part of the problem with cars and bicycles sharing the road. Most of the problem is lack of knowledge. And that goes for both motor vehicle drivers and cyclists. Like G.I. Joe, knowing is half the battle.
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06-08-2016, 09:58 AM | #8 | |
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06-08-2016, 09:59 AM | #9 | ||
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Like you said, treat a bike as a car and you're good.
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06-08-2016, 10:00 AM | #10 |
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That's very sad and as both a car driver and a recreational cyclist, I really wish cars and bikes did not have to share roads.
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06-08-2016, 10:02 AM | #11 |
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I've noticed cyclists like to have it any way that benefits them. Which makes it hard for car drivers. When it serves them to be treated as pedestrians, they want to be treated as such. When it serves them to be treated as cars, they want to be treated as such. And of course, when they want to be treated as cyclists. It gives them an out if there is an altercation, regardless of the situation. It can get confusing for a driver. And it's really not fair.
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06-08-2016, 10:02 AM | #12 | |
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That said, I've been in situations where a long string of bikers were riding in a line and wouldn't make room for cars to make turns. Or they ride 2 or 3 across and force cars to go much slower than the speed limit. Car drivers are not the only ones guilty of hogging the road. If you really want to see aggressive and irresponsible bike riders, go drive around a large university. You won't believe some of the careless stupidity you see.
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06-08-2016, 10:13 AM | #13 | ||
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As the OP said, look at it in the scope of your life. Being held up 10 to 20 seconds, hell even 1 to 2 minutes because of a cyclist is nothing. Certainly not worth endangering someones life, no matter how big of douche bag they are. Quote:
In either case, the car would have to give 3' according to the law which on roads with no shoulder forces them into the oncoming lane. Would you rather have to travel into the oncoming lane to pass something 15' long or something 40' long?
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06-08-2016, 10:16 AM | #14 | |
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I try to split my time on the bike trails and road. I figure that lowers my odds of being hit.....by a car, bottle, brick, paintballs, water jug, Burger King bags of trash, etc... Good times.
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06-08-2016, 10:19 AM | #15 |
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I personally dont have an issue with cyclists on the open road like the situation in the story but I do have a problem with them in a congested city area. Lately here cops have been cracking down them for running lights and making illegal turns. It's 1 point on your license if caught and from what I've heard you pretty much cannot contest it in court. My old crossfit coach and her husband were stopped right by my place and issued tickets then found guilty in court lol.
In larger metro areas like NY I fucking hate the bike shares when tourists get on them. They have absolutely ZERO idea of rules of the road and will ride out in the middle of traffic and not give af. Then when some 13yo splits a lane going through an intersection and gets hit...acts like they werent at fault bc he/she was on a bike. Give me a break. But if it's like a typical county road outside of the city... I have zero problem driving really slow behind them or moving over to pass. |
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06-08-2016, 10:33 AM | #16 | |
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Then the sheriff began patrolling the area more closely on Saturday and Sunday mornings. They began citing motorist and cyclist alike for disregarding the traffic laws. This got everyone kind of in line. The cyclists began making their rides more organized and splitting up the groups to manageable sizes on more heavily traveled roads. It was also pointed out that even though the law says that if the lane is too narrow to share the lane, a cyclist should "take the lane" by riding in the middle, that when a motorist is being held up cyclists should move as far to the right as possible to allow the motorist to pass. There are still those imbeciles who throw shit at us and nearly clip us with mirrors, but those incidents are on the decline. I think the advent of helmet and bike cams have got people behaving a little better. But San Ann is still the best place to ride due to the long exposure to sharing the road with cyclists. It's a small town and there is no way any person living there hasn't been exposed to swarms of cyclists on the weekends. That said, just 2 weekends ago, a cyclist was struck and killed on my normal riding route. A 50 year old local resident who rides out there everyday was hit by a 20 year old girl. Your point about university cyclists probably has more to do with liberal entitlement than anything else. haha. But you're right, it's scary driving a car on university campuses. It's almost as if people are trying to commit suicide by jumping in front of your car.
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Last edited by Mr Tonka; 06-08-2016 at 12:05 PM.. |
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06-08-2016, 10:42 AM | #17 | |
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06-08-2016, 10:43 AM | #18 | |
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The problem with a group ride is that it's safer for the cyclist to cross a stop sign intersection as a group rather than each individual making a complete stop. That was one of the points cops focused on several years ago in San Ann. There would be a group of 20 guys roll up to a stop sign. The guy in front would yell clear and they'd all move through the intersection. Then the cops would stop the last 18 riders and give them a ticket for running a stop sign. That's where the concept of the group being a single vehicle came from. I'm lucky to have that place only a short 30 min drive away from me. This is the typical road out there. Out of 3 hours of riding out there, i probably spend about 15 to 20 min on a busy road with no shoulder. Scariest part of my week.
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06-08-2016, 10:49 AM | #19 | |
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That said, I hope they throw that asshole in jail for life. |
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06-08-2016, 10:54 AM | #20 | |
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A few years ago a student was killed at the university where I worked when she literally walked right in front of a bus. The onboard video from the bus showed her walking right up to the crosswalk and without looking or stopping, she stepped out in front the bus. She was talking to her mother on her cellphone. Unbelievably the parents sued the university and the bus line.
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06-08-2016, 11:06 AM | #21 | |
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I used to do that in college too, but that's because I went to Virginia Tech and for whatever reason, cars always insisted on stopping for students. Even then I used to joke about how if we tried doing this in any other place, we'd of died long ago. Blacksburg was/is just a friendly place. |
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06-08-2016, 11:21 AM | #22 |
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I have had a lot of close calls with cars passing me and turning right, more that I can remember with many close calls! Thats why I take up the lane when I ride now
Drivers just flat out are not paying attention or dont understand how fast cyclists can go. If drivers take more than a second too see us and see how quick we are going it will help. Same problem that drivers have when your on the freeway going 80 and they merge in your lane going 65, if they look at the mirror for more that a second and thing to themselves "Hey that car is coming up to me at a fast rate of speed, let me just let it pass before I turn into his lane." But sadly that will never happen. Ride and drive safe everyone!
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