Passed by accident where a biker got killed :/

[ki11a]

Guy was traveling in the bike lane that I usually travel too...pretty scary stuff.

I passed by it yesterday and the officer stopped me and told me to stay safe and if it were him he would ride on the sidewalk, there was a cylist who just got killed by a car. I saw what was left of the bike...was pretty twisted up :/

Orlando cyclist, 42, dies in east Orange crash, FHP says

A 42-year-old cyclist died Thursday afternoon after he was hit by a SUV in east Orange County, according to Florida Highway Patrol. The unidentified Orlando man was riding in the bicycle lane on Co…

www.orlandosentinel.com

 

[theemartymac]

I like to vary my commuting route up to keep things fresh and interesting, but if I'm riding during any real traffic I make point to try and stick to the median separated bike lanes and non motorized trails. Can't even begin to describe the s*it I've seen in the "white line" bike lanes. Sad for this fellow and his family... :-(

 

[retiredNH]

Two things to note: Rider had no helmet; the article felt it important to note that the driver was not injured, as if that was necessary. How could the driver have hit someone in a bike lane? Cell phone?

 

[6zfshdb]

Sad story. Too bad you had to be involved. I know what it's like. Years ago, I witnessed a biker run over & killed by a pickup truck. It's something I'll never forget.
This is one of the reasons I gave up road riding and now ride only trails.

 

[theemartymac]

I have seen so many drivers drift across the bike lane like it's not even there. Usually to make a right turn, but often just because they don't recognize what it is (or that it is a legal additional lane of traffic). Apparently we need to add to the motor vehicle test some instruction that you don't cross a bike lane in any manner that you wouldn't do in another lane of traffic.

 

[AHicks]

Maybe they could set something up in new cars that would start making a REALLY annoying noise in the car when the car crossed over that white line marking a bike lane....

I have always found it interesting (yes, understatement) when the press cover something like this, that rather than tell us the car driver wasn't injured, tell us the lady was charged with manslaughter or something. Tell us he/she's being held responsible for killing somebody!!!!

Exact same thing happens regarding motorcycle accidents. Plenty of details regarding the poor guy that got hit, including what hospital he was taken to, but NO COVERAGE regarding the person responsible. It's like the responsible driver comes up with a really dumb a$$ reason for the accident (I didn't see him?) and everyone says "OOPS" and moves on. There's no coverage indicating if the driver causing the accident has been/will be charge. At BEST, they'll say the accident is "being investigated", yet the results of that supposed investigation are never released/publicized.....

My feeling is, if people knew for sure, beyond any doubt, that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for such ignorance, MAYBE people would pay more attention! Maybe a second look prior to making that left turn in front of a motorcyclist or bike rider would happen more frequently?

 

[retiredNH]

yes, we're invisible to drivers, I think. Just yesterday, coming from a medical appointment, and wearing a bright yellow jacket, some *** started backing into my lane as I was coming down a hill. Didn't even slow down. I yelled at him and swerved around. These idiots backing out are the biggest reason I don't go down hills very fast. Our hills are curvy, and you never know what's beyond the next curve. And we riders are invisible...

 

[Mr. Coffee]

You don't even have to do that.

Change the rules so someone who hits a cyclist or pedestrian automatically loses their license until they can prove they weren't at fault. Put all of the burden of proof on the motorist.

Also, "not being at fault" should be defined as the cyclist or pedestrian doing something explicitly unlawful.

 

[Bubba zanetti]

i ride motorcycles and ebikes and have adopted a defensive approach in traffic and use a formal scan to try and identify risks. i travel on my Triumph Sprint ST1050 with headlight on, wear a Hit-Air inflating, air bag jacket and work at being as conspicuous as possible. Same on my Yamaha WR250. On my Rize I ride with strobes front and rear and wear fluorescent helmet and vest.

Recently, was the victim of a distracted driver in our 1995 VW Westfalia. Texting driver failed to negotiate a corner and fully came into our lane. I swerved into oncoming lane and prepared to drive into Orchard to miss. At last second he swerved violently back into his lane. I trird to head into the orchard But he hit our right front on passenger side. Nothing more I could have done.
My wife and I ended up with broken ribs from seatbelts and lots of soft tissue damage. He was shaken but uninjured and found 100% to blame and charged. If the impact was less glancing and more directly head on, we would be dead.

It’s been hard getting back to highway driving, let alone back on my motorcycle and Rize. But I have. I am hyper aware of distracted drivers and distracted pedestrians. I have to accept that there is no defence against them. You might get lucky and have time for evasive action. Maybe. All you can do is be aware and take what enjoyment you can from these activities. If you chose to drive, ride in traffic you must realize they are out there.

Oh, the 24 year old driver was fined $685, his insurance bears the costs of our injuries and vehicle. We, on the other hand have lost our irreplaceable, dream retirement vehicle and a good portion of our summer, pain, suffering and have to cope with the residual fears. But we are thankful as it could have been so much worse.


The AquaVan in happier days and it’s indignity of being placed nose to nose, at the towing compound, with the asshole that killed her.

 

[Blake Cheetah]

yes, we're invisible to drivers, I think. Just yesterday, coming from a medical appointment, and wearing a bright yellow jacket, some *** started backing into my lane as I was coming down a hill. Didn't even slow down. I yelled at him and swerved around. These idiots backing out are the biggest reason I don't go down hills very fast. Our hills are curvy, and you never know what's beyond the next curve. And we riders are invisible...

Gots me a cheap generic LOUD bike horn,which I’ve had to use only twice so far,for reasons you mentioned. I don’t use it on pedestrians-it’s just too harsh-unless they ‘re blocking the bike path and ignoring/not hearing my humble bell.

 

[JRA]

On the other hand just now on the way back home on the two lane country type road entering a small village close to me some idiot was riding into traffic wearing all dark clothing and although I am a pretty aware driver I almost didn't see him in time.......as bad as riding with the flow of traffic can be I would much rather ride that way than into it. Many people I see walking do so against traffic and I suppose that is alright as they can easily step aside if they see danger whereas on a bicycle it will probably be too late.

Also the Pacific Coast bicycle route has a spur that goes right by my house. There are a few options as to how to approach it but all involve narrow two lane road with big truck traffic, due to a very active gravel pit and logging. I cringe every time I see a fully loaded touring bike hugging the side of the road that has no shoulder for the most part and it reminds me every time why I never attempted long distance touring as I would be a nervous wreck.

 

[theemartymac]

On the other hand just now on the way back home on the two lane country type road entering a small village close to me some idiot was riding into traffic wearing all dark clothing and although I am a pretty aware driver I almost didn't see him in time.......as bad as riding with the flow of traffic can be I would much rather ride that way than into it. Many people I see walking do so against traffic and I suppose that is alright as they can easily step aside if they see danger whereas on a bicycle it will probably be too late.

Also the Pacific Coast bicycle route has a spur that goes right by my house. There are a few options as to how to approach it but all involve narrow two lane road with big truck traffic, due to a very active gravel pit and logging. I cringe every time I see a fully loaded touring bike hugging the side of the road that has no shoulder for the most part and it reminds me every time why I never attempted long distance touring as I would be a nervous wreck.

Fun fact - Here in BC it is the law that if there is no sidewalk or adequate shoulder present on the road (e.g. outside the white line), pedestrians must walk on the extreme left facing traffic.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Fun fact - Here in BC it is the law that if there is no sidewalk or adequate shoulder present on the road (e.g. outside the white line), pedestrians must walk on the extreme left facing traffic.

I was not aware of that. Thanks. Walking/riding either direction along 200th Street here in Langley is taking you life in your hands, although some of the less busy streets are sometimes even more dangerous. CN

 

[Mulezen]

Maybe they could set something up in new cars that would start making a REALLY annoying noise in the car when the car crossed over that white line marking a bike lane....

I have always found it interesting (yes, understatement) when the press cover something like this, that rather than tell us the car driver wasn't injured, tell us the lady was charged with manslaughter or something. Tell us he/she's being held responsible for killing somebody!!!!

Exact same thing happens regarding motorcycle accidents. Plenty of details regarding the poor guy that got hit, including what hospital he was taken to, but NO COVERAGE regarding the person responsible. It's like the responsible driver comes up with a really dumb a$$ reason for the accident (I didn't see him?) and everyone says "OOPS" and moves on. There's no coverage indicating if the driver causing the accident has been/will be charge. At BEST, they'll say the accident is "being investigated", yet the results of that supposed investigation are never released/publicized.....

My feeling is, if people knew for sure, beyond any doubt, that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for such ignorance, MAYBE people would pay more attention! Maybe a second look prior to making that left turn in front of a motorcyclist or bike rider would happen more frequently?

Don’t most new vehicles have warnings now about lane drift…audible and haptic…my recent Honda does…though it can be turned off

 

[6zfshdb]

Where I live anyway, for safety reasons, pedestrians are advised to walk against the flow of traffic. Put that pedestrian on a 40 pound bicycle and he becomes a vehicle who then is supposed to obey traffic laws and ride with the flow of traffic. Under certain circumstances, mainly on open roads, this isn't safe. Riding a bike with the flow of traffic means the cyclist, unless his eyes are glued to his rear view mirror, can't see and react to avoid a collision. Countless cyclists have been killed or injured by a vehicle they never saw. It seems to me, a great number of accidents could be avoided by riding against the flow of traffic instead of with it.

Yes, I know, it's against the law. The theory is, motorists are supposed to treat bicycles as other vehicles and react accordingly. Most of the time it seems they either don't see cyclists or just choose to ignore them. So what difference does it make? Why does a light weight bicycle turn a pedestrian into a vehicle? I think a cyclist would be more visible to a motorist if it were coming at him. This is certainly the case when a parked motorist opens a door into the path of an oncoming bike. Rarely do they check their mirror before doing so and are far more likely to see an approaching bike through the windshield.

I realize the speed factor comes into play. If both vehicles are travelling in the same direction, the force of an impact would be lessened due to the reduced speed difference. But when a 4000 pound vehicle runs over a 40 pound bicycle, you're just as dead whether the speed difference was 20 or 40. Personally, I'd rather have the opportunity to react and possibly avoid a collision rather than be blindsided.

If traffic laws are designed to protect us, considering the alarmingly high accident rate, are the bicycle laws really working??

 

[Bikeknit]

Maybe they could set something up in new cars that would start making a REALLY annoying noise in the car when the car crossed over that white line marking a bike lane....

I have a car that does something like this, perhaps not REALLY annoying BUT definitely annoying, it beeps at me if I cross a lane line without my turn signal on. The technology isn't perfect as it doesn't work if the stripe is dirty or excessively worn. I think there is a camera "seeing" the fluorescence in the paint.

But so sorry for the poster and the person in this accident. Since many ebikes are used for commuting we need much work on routes that are safer.

 

[retiredNH]

My car has lane alerts. Unfortunately, all sorts of things get interpreted as lane stripes. It's very common in winter, for example, for the system to interpret a stripe from plowing as a lane marker.

 

[billmeek]

It seems to me, a great number of accidents could be avoided by riding against the flow of traffic instead of with it.

Cyclist riding against the flow of traffic are 3.6 times more likely to be in an accident:

Why We Bike With (Not Against) Traffic

Don't be a bike salmon.

www.triathlete.com

 

[harryS]

THat's sad. There's a rusting white bike still standing on the road outside my old office building. SOme poor woman got run over commuting six years ago. The flowers are fresh.

I saw some stats. Bike miles are lower in the USA, but compared to Europe, deaths per mile are an order of magnitude higher. Hardly surprrsing when a good percentage of the adult driving population think it's fun to roll coal.

 

[indianajo]

Save the planet from CO2 emissions. Get killed riding a bicycle. Corpses consume no oxygen, gallons of gasoline, kilowatt-hours.