Commuting - Biker killed on my commute route Wednesday.

Listening to the raido at the office today, found out that a 53 year old bike rider was killed - then I was shocked to find out it was on my daily route. The area was a road that goes over the interstate with four on off ramps. The biker was looking behind to make sure cars were not going to cut him off going off onto the interstate while he went straight. Well, he hit a curb and went right out into traffic to his left and was run over by a truck! I take that same pass and also say to myself "safety over speed" over and over. Its hard to image this happening, with careful riding, I never have a problem - always making sure Im seen, eye contact preferably. Wow, it wont be an easy ride tonight.

:(

No matter how prepared you think you are, there is always that one mistake that could end it all. At least he was doing what he loved when his time came (well, lets at least hope so).
Slainte:beer:

:(

There was a RAGBRAIer killed two years ago in the same manner. He got too close to a curb, caught a pedal and it threw him left in front of a truck.

Another good reason to be assertive with your lane. Stay away from the curb.

Originally posted by Gus Riley
:(

There was a RAGBRAIer killed two years ago in the same manner. He got too close to a curb, caught a pedal and it threw him left in front of a truck.

Another good reason to be assertive with your lane. Stay away from the curb.
This is too bad!

I agree with Gus, and I would also add how important it is to stay focused on where you are going, more than what is going on behind you.

This is so sad! (I hate to use another cyclist's death to make a point, but it could save others, couldn't it?)

I guess in one way it makes you focus even harder on what needs to be done in those busy areas. Reading the article on the accident, the biker was on the wrong side of the flow of traffic and on the sidewalk - cutting across the exit ramp onto the interstate? No skull protection either - not sure that would have saved him, but I cant believe people dont wear them. I remember when it looked "out of style" wearing one, now its the other way around.

This one sends goose bumps up and down my spine, as this is the type of problem I had in my accident last May. I'm wearing a mirror now, to better keep my eyes ahead of me. Did he wear a helmet (not that it would matter too much with this kind of accident)?

John

Actually, I scraped my pedal on the curb in traffic once. I was impatient to pass traffic on the right. Luckily it did not turn out like this did.

But Ken Kifer's recent accident involved being thrown out into the lane due to an uneven "seam" between the pavement and the gutter. He was on an unfamiliar bike and he lost concentration, winding up in the gutter. He tried to move back onto the pavement but the difference in height caused him to be bucked right off into the street.

"As far to the right as is practicable," as the law says cyclists should ride, is a poor choice of words, putting motorists' convenience above cyclists' safety. Sometimes I will ride down the middle of the lane if I know it's filled with hazards like potholes or parked cars. That gives me room to maneuver, even swerve if I have to.

However, I usually ride either near the fog line or in the right tire track, or if there is a good shoulder (no debris) I ride on the shoulder, very close to the fog line.

Originally posted by nikos
Reading the article on the accident, the biker was on the wrong side of the flow of traffic and on the sidewalk - cutting across the exit ramp onto the interstate? No skull protection either

It is sad when anyone has an accident, especially a fatal one. I find it quite discouraging that readers will now be able to shrug it off as just another person not doing thier best in terms of following rules and wearing proper equipment. Sad.

Carl

Freeway interchanges is one place where I also get a little nervous..On my work commute I can follow a route over the freeway or another without.
Seems especially difficult when two lanes of heavy traffic flow unhindered onto the on-ramp.. If wait for red lights seems traffic slows enough to safely creep over two lanes.Maybe I would prefer to avoid freeway interchanges- whenever possible.
Of course my minor scrap last week was in a parking lot with vehicles moving at 5 miles an hour..

I hate to see posts like this. My sympathy goes out to this fellow's family.

My nine year old asked me for a mirror for her bike the other day. She says she bumps into things while looking backwards sometimes. I think I'll stop on the way home and pick her one up.

Well, went right over the spot this morning where the biker was killed. It was a very strange feeling, every car or truck that passes me now in that area - gets me all tight and maybe to overly alert. I just remind myself that following the rules of the road and thinking about safety first over speed will hopefully keep me out of harms way.

We all hate to hear about bikers getting killed.

Remember, though, that people get killed in cars every day two.

The problem is those heavy motorcars traveling at high speeds. Whatever get's in the way gets killed.

Originally posted by LittleBigMan
"As far to the right as is practicable," as the law says cyclists should ride, is a poor choice of words, putting motorists' convenience above cyclists' safety.

It depends how one interprets those words. I think a good lawyer would argue that it simply isn't practical to ride through potholes, storm drains etc etc.

Re: Mirrors. I tried one a couple of years ago and found it completely useless. I found that I was still looking over my shoulder to see what was behind me anyway because the view it gave me was crap. The only time I really noticed it was when the sun was behind me and it nearly blinded me with the reflection.

As a pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist, I hate free nearside turns and merges, which are all too common at freeway access ramps. Fortunately, CALTRANS finally recognizes the problem and no longer builds new ramps in this fashion. The existing ones can be intimidating at best, deadly at worst, even without the stupidity of cycling contraflow and bareheaded.

Originally posted by John E
As a pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist, I hate free nearside turns and merges, which are all too common at freeway access ramps....
"Free nearside turns". I'm not familiar with this term. Please educate me. Thx.

I think a good lawyer would argue that it simply isn't practical to ride through potholes, storm drains etc etc.

Thankfully, we don't need good lawyers. We have good road rules instead.:)

This if from the Transport SA web site on road safety.

"Ride in a straight line and far enough from the curb to avoid parked cars, gravel, broken glass, potholes, and other road hazards. Don't weave in and out around parked cars."

CHEERS.

Mark

Free nearside turns". I'm not familiar with this term. Please educate me. Thx

I'm no expert, but I'm guessing they refer to "on ramp" type of interchanges where vehicles merge into traffic, no slowing or stopping required. New interchanges from freeways to arterial roads around here have "T" intersections, usually with traffic lights. Right turners (left turners across the pond) don't get a "free nearside turn"