N_C

https://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/...sp?NewsID=1909

https://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/...sp?NewsID=1913

There are no clear details right now. It is unknown whether or not Brown was riding as a VC or on the sidewalk & using the pedestrian walkway, etc.

But I am familiar with this intersection. A very busy one that requires a lot of attention & care when crossing. Even though I ride VC, there had been times where it was so busy I dismounted my bike & crossed as a pedestrian using the crosswalk & the crosswalk signal, then remounted my bike & continued on as a VC. It is not the safest intersection in Des Moines & is one of the busiest in the area.

vrkelley

Gads...Sorry to hear that N_C. Around here, if you're a ped or bike trying to cross at a crosswalk, good luck! Is there a traffic cam on that corner so we can see what you're talking about?

N_C

There used to not be a traffic cam. I do not know if there is now, not sure if Des Moines is starting to add them & if they are where. It has been a long time since I have ridden across this intersection, no longer live in Des Moines.

She was travelling west. This is the busier side of SE 14th, untill you get past the commercial are & into the residential area.

About a block to the east it is really nice to ride. Residential streets & low traffic volume, 25 mph, etc.

SE 14ths is 4 lanes, ranges from 45 mph to 35 mph depending on where you're at on it. Park Ave. in thsi area is 35 mph, I think. At this intersection , on SE 14th, there are right turn lanes on both sides, that end so far up after it passes through the intersection. It is not uncommon for traffic to use these as right passing lanes with out any intention of turning right, then cut traffic off when they have to merge left as the lane is ending.

N_C

The caught the bastard. You can run but you can't hide. Hope he gets life with out parole.

https://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/...sp?NewsID=1916

cat4ever

11pm at a busy intersection.

The driver is an ass for driving away, but sometimes the cyclist should be responsible (and smart) enough to NOT ride in certain situations.

joejack951

Well, it certainly could have helped if they were riding legally, with more than just reflectors (article does not say if they had a rear reflector or not) on their bike. Riding late at night is not asking to die. Is there a reason why you believe cyclists should be "smarter" than to use busy roads at night?

John E

With proper lights, reflectors, and clothing, a bicyclist can be MORE visible at night than during the day.

chipcom 

Maybe if you're a Cat 3.

vrkelley

Awesome! That's pretty rare.

cat4ever

I don't ride at night. People don't expect to see cyclists during the day, let well enough alone at night. I take my chances on the road, but I try and minimize my own stupidity (no night riding, wearing bright clothing, not riding where traffic is high, etc).

cat4ever

Yeah, so they don't get run over in Iowa and N_C has to post about it on bikeforums.net.

chipcom 

People don't expect to see pink elephants either, but does that stop them does it?

Seriously, I like riding at night...motorists can see me better and I can see them better.

chipcom 

Oh me, oh my, how have I survived all of these years? Maybe I didn't? OMG, am I dead? Please, don't f__k with me like this!!

JohnBrooking

I was complimented not once but twice recently on my night visibility. (Although, to be fair, those are the only times ever.) I was wearing a flourescent yellow jacket with a reflective stripe, using a side bag with reflective piping (and maybe another on the other side, but I don't remember), a rear reflector, a red blinkie on the seat post, a larger red blinky clipped to my belt behind me, one plain reflective leg band and one blinking reflective leg band, and a 12W headlight. One compliment was from the person behind me while stopped for a light, as I was taking the lane. The other was from a vehicle going the other way on my street just as I was about to turn into my driveway.

So I think there's no reason not to ride at night if you are prepared visibility-wise.

Still, to flee the scene is just reprehensible. He must have known he hit her, if he bumped her rear tire.

Carusoswi

Maybe you think it stupid for you to ride at night, but I don't think it stupid for me. I right at night every single day. Hell, by the time I leave my office at the end of the work day, it's always dark. I turn on my red tail light, my bright white headlight, keep an eye on traffic passing me from the rear (through my recently purchased third eye . . . woopeee! I love it!), and I feel every bit as safe if not more so than when riding at mid day.

If you don't feel comfortable riding at night, then, that's fine. Why must you characterize it as stupid, I wonder. Some of us actually use our bikes to get to and fro, not just for recreational riding (although I find all riding to be fun). I don't feel stupid, and I don't feel I have to stay off the roads just because some drivers may be impaired or incompetent.

We cannot do much to avoid impaired drivers - they may be encountered at any time of day. For that matter, there isn't much to be done about incompetent drivers, either.

Statistically, I feel safe riding, whether at night or during the day.

You do what feels safe (or should say "smart") for you.

Caruso

joejack951

I honestly don't give a ***** if people expect me to be cycling at night. I do care that they see me though and so far, with at least a few thousand miles of riding at night on country roads and busy suburban arterials where the last thing someone expects to see is a cyclist, I've been fine. How could that ever be you say? Well for one, people aren't blind. If you are positioned where they expect to see traffic, they will see you (no ninja sidewalk riding for me). Bright lights and clothing will do nothing for you if you come out of nowhere across the path of a motorist. Two, I use a headlight (and always (except once) have a backup) and two taillights (in case one gets low) and a rear reflector in case both fail. I'm usually commuting somewhere and my bags have plenty of reflective strips and so do some of my clothes. I, too, have had a few very positive comments about my night visibility, and I don't even try as hard as some of the guys on this forum.

If you feel riding at night makes you stupid, then I suggest you don't ride at night either. Riding at night gets me places I want to go after the sun has gone down so I do it.