bikinglife

Regardless of who's at fault, the cyclist bears the blame of simply riding through a seemingly busy intersection (there are dozens of cars in sight) without stopping at the corner to get an idea of what is going on around her.

Tragic.

JoeyBike

Because....some people don't do much thinking and/or have a misguided sense of entitlement and/or think their Guardian Angel is going to deflect trouble.

One of the kids at work got bike-jacked while out with his girlfriend at 11:00PM at the corner of Canal Street and Bourbon Street (most likely place to get **jacked 24-7 in New Orleans). Surprisingly, he asked my opinion re how I would have handled the situation. He asked: "What would you have done?" and I answered "I wouldn't have been there in the first place".

I know some here hate this thought, but if you knowingly put yourself in a dangerous position, whatever happens to you is somewhat your fault. If you put yourself in a position of danger, and DON'T EVEN KNOW what you are doing is dangerous, this is still partly your fault. If you are sleeping in your bed and a truck careens off the highway, through your fence, hits your bedroom, and crushes you....NOT your fault.

Personal responsibility folks. Use it or lose it.
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northernlights

That seems to be the attitude of a lot of cyclists. It's rather bizarre.
They expect the cruise ship to yield to a rowboat, when in reality it can't even see it.


So just plow right on through every intersection without ever stopping?



Blame the truck driver all you want. Knowing, or believing you were not at fault might be some cold comfort to you
as you are resting in your grave. Because being "right" is more important than being alive.

JoeyBike

Ignoring the facts on the ground and behaving in a manner that depends on other road users being perfect and motivated/capable of looking out for you is a recipe for disaster.
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CliffordK

That appears to be too narrow to be a full driving lane. Perhaps a parking lane?

Unfortunately no lane markers are visible from the side of the video clip.

Anybody have a Google Maps link?

prj71

Cyclist critically injured after being hit in Freetown | FOX25

GamblerGORD53

I just edited my last post. I now see that there is likely no side lane, on the camera side at least. Around the corner it shows just bushes. Maybe the lanes are just narrowed for the 2 turnouts. The curb lane on the other side is quite wide, not stopping the mopeds from wandering all over of course. It really isn't that hard to get used to and expecting mayhem like this from all sides.

CB HI

Some folks do commute by bicycle and make utility rides. Their routes are often limited. Do you really believe bicycle are only for recreational use? How many cars are you willing to buy for cyclist in China like this woman?

JoeyBike

I see utility cyclists riding on some HEINOUS roads in New Orleans when there are quiet, parallel streets in good neighborhoods aplenty. These cyclists are riding along whistling Zip-a-de-do-da without a care in the world all the while passing through a hundred door zones with traffic either held up behind them or whizzing past inches from them. Magazine Street comes to mind because the wife and I frequently dine on that street where I can look out the window and CRINGE at the clueless nimrods cycling past completely unaware or undaunted by the obvious (to me) dangers.

Then of course somebody gets smacked and it's all on the motorist involved, a ghost bike goes up with much to-do and media coverage, and someone's mom or dad is dead needlessly. Death by stupidity. Not to mention some motorist's life is ruined as well, assuming everybody is sober and off the phones.
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CB HI

^^
So which road should the OP cyclist have been riding on?

Utility cyclist do need to go on some bad roads to get mid-block destinations. Not all cyclist want to double their mileage for a utility run, just to pick a few different items up.

JoeyBike

I don't pretend to know that person's situation. I only know what I see locally that looks the same.

And there is your answer! Cyclists in a rush, motorists in a rush, all to save a few minutes. Little regard for their own, or other people's safety.
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vol

Sometimes the alternatives to bike commuting are not necessarily safer. The subway system is crime ridden, plus crazies spitting and pushing strangers onto the tracks, contagious diseases, ...not to mention it's the likely target for terrorism. And the delays... I'm talking about NYC.

TheLibrarian

Dont ride in peoples blindspot and not watch them when they turn.

CB HI

Why do you assume alternate routes are just a few minutes of extra time? Many of my alternate choices add an hour to my utility runs.

CB HI

So your such a fast rider, you never let a car, van or truck pass you, thus putting you in their blind spot as they pass. Amazing how you would have known this truck would turn even though it was illegal.

PS - the woman did try to turn away from the truck.

JoeyBike

You are twisting what I wrote, or you simply misread.

1. I don't know anything about that poor, crushed person's route situation in the video.

2. I see cyclists in my city, a city I know very well, cycling on roads from Hell when there are safe alternatives one block away in either direction. Sure, they will have to deal with some stop signs and some one-way streets that may cause them to go TWO (*gasp*) blocks out of the way I admit. But they continue on the nasty route getting doored or steam-rolled like bowling pins.

I made zero assumptions, so I can not answer your question.

CB HI

^^
Your words that I responded to. You clearly claim alternate routes only take a few minutes. I refute that claim.

JoeyBike

I was referring to observations made in my home town by me. Most of New Orleans is a grid. There are a few tough spots but the vast majority are easily bypassed in a few minutes. Refute that all you want and it will still be true.

CB HI

^^
Then such comments should be left in the regional forum or in a new thread about New Orleans A&S, vice a thread about a Chinese woman that got run over for which your comments have no relavence.

vol

How about this idea?

After Cyclist Death, Brother Pushes For Truck Side Guards | Here & Now

CliffordK

It might help.

It has to be strong and low enough to keep a slender body out, but also be able to withstand speed bumps, and abrupt road transitions such as entering raised parking lots.

vol

What Cyclists Need To Know About Trucks - i am traffic

What Cyclists Need to Know about Trucks (full article with diagram)





(IMO the No-Zone should also include the entire areas between front and rear wheels, even if they are not blind spots)

dynodonn 

All the warnings about large truck blind spots and bicyclist no zone are a moot point if the large truck driver decides to operate their vehicle in a negligent, unsafe, and uncaring manner as shown in the OP video link.

vol

I agree. The driver may not even look at the mirror when they should, may be texting, etc. (that's why, don't be close to the space between the front and rear wheels). Another danger that I often see is big sanitation trucks flying on the street at night with cyclists dangerously close, not something the cyclist could control.

Another thing I pay attention is to make sure not to have something on my clothing or on the rear rack that could get caught by a truck. There were fatal accidents involving raincoat being caught by truck.

FBinNY 

Sort of, but not quite.

We need to be realistic and honest with ourselves. To an extent, cycling in mixed traffic is like being a soldier under artillery fire, or living in one of the world's hot spots (though with incomparably better odds).

Bad stuff happens that is beyond your control or ability to anticipate, and you have to accept the risks without letting them dominate your thinking. OTOH - that doesn't excuse taking reasonable care to manage your exposure or mitigate consequences.

With REASONABLE care and situational awareness cycling in traffic is extremely safe, though there's no assurance that somewhere out there there isn't a truck or car with your name on it's bumper.

So do what you can to keep yourself safer, but don't let fear keep you from enjoying life.