Driver looking at phone kills NYC teacher on cross-country trip
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Driver looking at phone kills NYC teacher on cross-country trip
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This is exactly why I have hung up my panniers for good. After cycling to every corner of the USofA from New Orleans, and then some, with plenty of risk BEFORE the cell phone phenomenon. This phone thing has changed the whole game. Motorists are no longer looking through their windshields. And I wouldn't wander into the Bike Touring Forum preaching this, but at A&S it seems appropriate.
When you decide to mix it up with highway traffic on your bicycle, you are literally putting your life in the hands of every distracted driver - which at times seems to be every gahdam one of them.
This is not the same thing as a conversation with a passenger, or changing radio stations (although this has killed people too). As every one of you knows, staring into a computer/phone screen sends your brain into a time warp. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours almost instantly. And the brain shuts off everything else to get it's fix of phone time for frightening amounts of time.
Bike touring is my favorite way to drop out the rat race for 3 to 6 months at a time. But no more. I never dreamed it would end THIS way. Always thought I would wear out my knees and hips or just get too old and frail to do it any more. No way would I believe I would quit because it was "too dangerous" out there.
Sucks for this kid and his family. Unfortunately, there is no solution to this problem other than minimizing our exposure to the phone addicted killers. A bitter pill to swallow for sure. Sad for all of us who love the peace and freedom bike touring could give us.
When you decide to mix it up with highway traffic on your bicycle, you are literally putting your life in the hands of every distracted driver - which at times seems to be every gahdam one of them.
This is not the same thing as a conversation with a passenger, or changing radio stations (although this has killed people too). As every one of you knows, staring into a computer/phone screen sends your brain into a time warp. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours almost instantly. And the brain shuts off everything else to get it's fix of phone time for frightening amounts of time.
Bike touring is my favorite way to drop out the rat race for 3 to 6 months at a time. But no more. I never dreamed it would end THIS way. Always thought I would wear out my knees and hips or just get too old and frail to do it any more. No way would I believe I would quit because it was "too dangerous" out there.
Sucks for this kid and his family. Unfortunately, there is no solution to this problem other than minimizing our exposure to the phone addicted killers. A bitter pill to swallow for sure. Sad for all of us who love the peace and freedom bike touring could give us.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 08-03-15 at 12:15 AM.
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This is exactly why I have hung up my panniers for good. After cycling to every corner of the USofA from New Orleans, and then some, with plenty of risk BEFORE the cell phone phenomenon. This phone thing has changed the whole game. Motorists are no longer looking through their windshields. And I wouldn't wander into the Bike Touring Forum preaching this, but at A&S it seems appropriate.
When you decide to mix it up with highway traffic on your bicycle, you are literally putting your life in the hands of every distracted driver - which at times seems to be every gahdam one of them.
This is not the same thing as a conversation with a passenger, or changing radio stations (although this has killed people too). As every one of you knows, staring into a computer/phone screen sends your brain into a time warp. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours almost instantly. And the brain shuts off everything else to get it's fix of phone time for frightening amounts of time.
Bike touring is my favorite way to drop out the rat race for 3 to 6 months at a time. But no more. I never dreamed it would end THIS way. Always thought I would wear out my knees and hips or just get too old and frail to do it any more. No way would I believe I would quit because it was "too dangerous" out there.
Sucks for this kid and his family. Unfortunately, there is no solution to this problem other than minimizing our exposure to the phone addicted killers. A bitter pill to swallow for sure. Sad for all of us who love the peace and freedom bike touring could give us.
When you decide to mix it up with highway traffic on your bicycle, you are literally putting your life in the hands of every distracted driver - which at times seems to be every gahdam one of them.
This is not the same thing as a conversation with a passenger, or changing radio stations (although this has killed people too). As every one of you knows, staring into a computer/phone screen sends your brain into a time warp. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours almost instantly. And the brain shuts off everything else to get it's fix of phone time for frightening amounts of time.
Bike touring is my favorite way to drop out the rat race for 3 to 6 months at a time. But no more. I never dreamed it would end THIS way. Always thought I would wear out my knees and hips or just get too old and frail to do it any more. No way would I believe I would quit because it was "too dangerous" out there.
Sucks for this kid and his family. Unfortunately, there is no solution to this problem other than minimizing our exposure to the phone addicted killers. A bitter pill to swallow for sure. Sad for all of us who love the peace and freedom bike touring could give us.
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According to the article it was a group ride and the driver hit two cyclists. To me that suggests they may have taken the lane already and they were probably plenty noticeable. There is no safe place from a driver buried in a cell phone.*
*Around here there are several houses known for being driven through on a fairly regular basis by drivers who are always either drunk or buried in a cell phone. Those folks aren't even safe in their own living rooms!
*Around here there are several houses known for being driven through on a fairly regular basis by drivers who are always either drunk or buried in a cell phone. Those folks aren't even safe in their own living rooms!
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And yet there are still those amoung us that will say, "show me the stats," while denying that cell phone us is a hazard to other road users, like cyclists.
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The driver should spend a minimum of 35 years in jail. No matter what device you use, you are a killer and must pay for your actions.
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Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed the Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015 on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.
It makes composing, sending or reading an electronic text message (which is defined as text-based message, instant message, electronic message, photo, video or electronic mail) with a hand-held device while driving a moving vehicle a violation with fine of not more than $100.00 with no points on your license.
It goes into effect November 1, 2015.
-mr. bill
It makes composing, sending or reading an electronic text message (which is defined as text-based message, instant message, electronic message, photo, video or electronic mail) with a hand-held device while driving a moving vehicle a violation with fine of not more than $100.00 with no points on your license.
It goes into effect November 1, 2015.
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 08-03-15 at 07:30 AM.
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If I had done THIS^ on any of my cross country bike tours with regularity, I would have been killed a thousand times.
One account I will relive for you and everyone who thinks taking the freaking lane is an answer to everything:
I was cycling a back road in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Two lanes, relatively narrow, ZERO shoulder - not even one blade of grass wide leading to a ditch and trees beyond that. Horrible lines of sight. Speed limits to match the conditions. Trouble is, the locals know every twist and turn of that road and drive it like it's Monte Carlo. I was rounding a gradual turn on this mountain road that is veering to my right when a flatbed truck roars up behind me with a large rolled-up style bail of hay in the back making it top heavy and likely affecting his steering - as seen in my helmet mirror for about 3 seconds . At the "moment of truth" when beginning his pass a car pops out from around the curve speeding the opposite direction. All the truck driver could do to avoid a head-on was to kill the cyclist. So he yanks the steering wheel back my way and misses me by a few inches. I didn't have time to do anything but stay on the fog line two tire widths from oblivion in either direction. The truck went up on two wheels TWICE and by some miracle stayed upright and on the road. I really expected him to wait for me at the bottom of the hill swinging a tire tool.
Had I been "taking the effing lane" I would have been DEAD. Had anyone been looking at their phone I would have been dead anyway.
I know better than to call someone out here as ignorant without backing it up lest I will be getting the moderators spanking me. I have all the stories you care to hear as I have nearly 50,000 miles of cycle touring in the USA and Canada. How many times would I be dead if everyone was looking at a phone, who knows. It just takes ONCE.
Do not give ignorant advice. You could get someone who does not know better KILLED.
One account I will relive for you and everyone who thinks taking the freaking lane is an answer to everything:
I was cycling a back road in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Two lanes, relatively narrow, ZERO shoulder - not even one blade of grass wide leading to a ditch and trees beyond that. Horrible lines of sight. Speed limits to match the conditions. Trouble is, the locals know every twist and turn of that road and drive it like it's Monte Carlo. I was rounding a gradual turn on this mountain road that is veering to my right when a flatbed truck roars up behind me with a large rolled-up style bail of hay in the back making it top heavy and likely affecting his steering - as seen in my helmet mirror for about 3 seconds . At the "moment of truth" when beginning his pass a car pops out from around the curve speeding the opposite direction. All the truck driver could do to avoid a head-on was to kill the cyclist. So he yanks the steering wheel back my way and misses me by a few inches. I didn't have time to do anything but stay on the fog line two tire widths from oblivion in either direction. The truck went up on two wheels TWICE and by some miracle stayed upright and on the road. I really expected him to wait for me at the bottom of the hill swinging a tire tool.
Had I been "taking the effing lane" I would have been DEAD. Had anyone been looking at their phone I would have been dead anyway.
I know better than to call someone out here as ignorant without backing it up lest I will be getting the moderators spanking me. I have all the stories you care to hear as I have nearly 50,000 miles of cycle touring in the USA and Canada. How many times would I be dead if everyone was looking at a phone, who knows. It just takes ONCE.
Do not give ignorant advice. You could get someone who does not know better KILLED.
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$100 and no points?!
That's sure to send a strong message to cell phone addicted drivers. What a joke.
That's sure to send a strong message to cell phone addicted drivers. What a joke.
#11
incazzare.
You must be kidding. Take the lane on a highway? And this will somehow prevent a texting driver from killing you? That's ridiculous. That advice could easily lead to someone's death.
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It seems almost like there's some funeral crashing with personal agenda going on here. I suppose that's ok on A&S though.
#13
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Be careful about focusing blame on cell phones. Distracted driving was a major problem before cell phones and the advent of cell phones and of texting does not appear to have increased the rates of crashes or of fatalities. Both have actually steadily decreased since before cell phones were generally available.
If every cell phone disappeared today we'd likely not see much change. So long as they have wide lanes and shoulders to weave around and wide radius turns drivers will continue to drive without paying adequate attention.
I don't know that anything short of a cement curb provides any worthwhile protection as that curb is what drivers focus on for the limits of their inattention.
If every cell phone disappeared today we'd likely not see much change. So long as they have wide lanes and shoulders to weave around and wide radius turns drivers will continue to drive without paying adequate attention.
I don't know that anything short of a cement curb provides any worthwhile protection as that curb is what drivers focus on for the limits of their inattention.
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In any case, I don't see how you can argue for or against "the advent of cell phones and of texting does not appear to have increased the rates of crashes" based on the 'aggregate' rate moving in either direction (surely not to the point of "If every cell phone disappeared today we'd likely not see much change", anyway). My bank balance is higher now than it was a week ago, but that doesn't mean that my going to the bar on Saturday night had no effect on it.
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Its bad advice that will eventually get somebody killed.
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If I had done THIS^ on any of my cross country bike tours with regularity, I would have been killed a thousand times.
One account I will relive for you and everyone who thinks taking the freaking lane is an answer to everything:
I was cycling a back road in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Two lanes, relatively narrow, ZERO shoulder - not even one blade of grass wide leading to a ditch and trees beyond that. Horrible lines of sight. Speed limits to match the conditions. Trouble is, the locals know every twist and turn of that road and drive it like it's Monte Carlo. I was rounding a gradual turn on this mountain road that is veering to my right when a flatbed truck roars up behind me with a large rolled-up style bail of hay in the back making it top heavy and likely affecting his steering - as seen in my helmet mirror for about 3 seconds . At the "moment of truth" when beginning his pass a car pops out from around the curve speeding the opposite direction. All the truck driver could do to avoid a head-on was to kill the cyclist. So he yanks the steering wheel back my way and misses me by a few inches. I didn't have time to do anything but stay on the fog line two tire widths from oblivion in either direction. The truck went up on two wheels TWICE and by some miracle stayed upright and on the road. I really expected him to wait for me at the bottom of the hill swinging a tire tool.
Had I been "taking the effing lane" I would have been DEAD. Had anyone been looking at their phone I would have been dead anyway.
I know better than to call someone out here as ignorant without backing it up lest I will be getting the moderators spanking me. I have all the stories you care to hear as I have nearly 50,000 miles of cycle touring in the USA and Canada. How many times would I be dead if everyone was looking at a phone, who knows. It just takes ONCE.
Do not give ignorant advice. You could get someone who does not know better KILLED.
One account I will relive for you and everyone who thinks taking the freaking lane is an answer to everything:
I was cycling a back road in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Two lanes, relatively narrow, ZERO shoulder - not even one blade of grass wide leading to a ditch and trees beyond that. Horrible lines of sight. Speed limits to match the conditions. Trouble is, the locals know every twist and turn of that road and drive it like it's Monte Carlo. I was rounding a gradual turn on this mountain road that is veering to my right when a flatbed truck roars up behind me with a large rolled-up style bail of hay in the back making it top heavy and likely affecting his steering - as seen in my helmet mirror for about 3 seconds . At the "moment of truth" when beginning his pass a car pops out from around the curve speeding the opposite direction. All the truck driver could do to avoid a head-on was to kill the cyclist. So he yanks the steering wheel back my way and misses me by a few inches. I didn't have time to do anything but stay on the fog line two tire widths from oblivion in either direction. The truck went up on two wheels TWICE and by some miracle stayed upright and on the road. I really expected him to wait for me at the bottom of the hill swinging a tire tool.
Had I been "taking the effing lane" I would have been DEAD. Had anyone been looking at their phone I would have been dead anyway.
I know better than to call someone out here as ignorant without backing it up lest I will be getting the moderators spanking me. I have all the stories you care to hear as I have nearly 50,000 miles of cycle touring in the USA and Canada. How many times would I be dead if everyone was looking at a phone, who knows. It just takes ONCE.
Do not give ignorant advice. You could get someone who does not know better KILLED.
You gave a perfect example of why it is not ignorant advice. Because, In your example, by the flatbed rig trying to pass you on the curve of a two-lane road, was patently ignorant on the part of the truck driver. Regardless of motorist or cyclist. It is common knowledge to never try to pass someone on the blind curve of a two-lane road.
No, I am not kidding.
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Because, In your example, by the flatbed rig trying to pass you on the curve of a two-lane road, was patently ignorant on the part of the truck driver. Regardless of motorist or cyclist. It is common knowledge to never try to pass someone on the blind curve of a two-lane road.
So taking the lane is sheer suicide under many common cycling scenarios.
Suggestions that this is not true belong in Trolldom.
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed the Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015 on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.
fine of not more than $100.00 with no points on your license.
-mr. bill
fine of not more than $100.00 with no points on your license.
-mr. bill
Be careful about focusing blame on cell phones. Distracted driving was a major problem before cell phones and the advent of cell phones and of texting does not appear to have increased the rates of crashes or of fatalities. Both have actually steadily decreased since before cell phones were generally available.
If every cell phone disappeared today we'd likely not see much change.
If every cell phone disappeared today we'd likely not see much change.
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Still not getting it. There was no choice for the truck BUT TO PASS ME or steamroll me, because at 40mph going downhill overloaded with 3 seconds notice of a bicycle rider he never in a million years expected to see on that road as I was practically in his grill by the time he saw me.
The basic speed law is that even when you're rounding a blind curve in a snowstorm, you should be going at a speed that even if someone is standing still in the middle of the road, you should be able to stop before hitting them. If you can't, you're driving too fast for conditions, by definition.
If you're carrying a heavy load and this increases your stopping distance, then you reduce speed to compensate. This is what the law requires.
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#25
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Maybe: since you are in the middle of the road where distracted driver should be, and since being distracted means they are not where they should be, they will miss you? Along the lines of: aim for where something in motion is, and when you get there, it will be somewhere else?