Advocacy & Safety - killacyclist.com

Not what you think it is.

This is a brand-new website that advocates mandatory minimum fines and incarceration for killing a cyclist.

http://www.killacyclist.com/

I'd want to know more details. What's the current law on hitting a car and resulting in a fatality?
I don't think we want to make the punishment worse for killing a cyclist than killing a motorist. In fact, I'll bet the same punishments do apply. Its a question of enforcement. Too many cases are thrown out for stupid reasons, like "I didn't see him!' (Well, duhhhhh).
Also, manditory minimums are a bad thing. There can always be extenuating circumstances. Look how well they've worked in our criminal justice system.
Also, whats the ruling on true "accedents" where no blame can be assigned, or in cases where a sizable blame rests on both parties (Sidewalk biking, wrong way biking, night sans light, running lights, etc)?
This is how bad laws get passed, with the best intentions and no thoughts to how they actually will work. Everyone loses, joe motorist goes to jail for 10 years and everyone else wants bikes banned from the street to protect themselves. Only the lawyers win.
Hence why I'm going to law school :P
Anyhow, we lovge to punish, punish, punish, punish, which doesn't really do much. What we need is active education. A punitive punishment like this isn't going to work because of the "it'll never happen to me mentaility."

Just, FYI: I'm not necessarily advocating this, just putting it out there for discussion. IMO, even if these bills aren't a good idea / don't pass, just having a more public discussion on this issue will be good to raise the consciousness of motorists. If it goes to a majority vote in a legislative body anywhere, I think the chances are slim of it passing since motorists outnumber bicyclists by at least 9:1 out there in the real world.

Not a bad idea. But it does need some revising. Like no mandatory minimum & a stiffer then 10 years & a $7,500 fine.

... If it goes to a majority vote in a legislative body anywhere, I think the chances are slim of it passing since motorists outnumber bicyclists by at least 9:1 out there in the real world.

True story. We need to start voting and let our representitives know we are cyclists and we vote.

I RIDE A BICYCLE AND I VOTE.

Hey, what a great bumper sticker...it works for the NRA...

Thanks for posting randya...I got the wrong impression from your thread title too...:D

If nothing else, I would like to see a bill that gives cyclists in a Bike Lane stated ROW... a law that cyclists could have on their side when motorists do dumb things like right hooks or fail to merge before turning.

As far as the killacyclist thing... I strongly feel that if someone kills anyone an automobile related collision, they should lose their license. Sorry, you can't play with others... so outta the pool. Period. This would serve as a reminder that driving is a privilege not a right. Now obviously this would not apply in cases where the killed motorist or cyclist has themselves done something in violation of ROW such as running red lights, etc.

If nothing else, I would like to see a bill that gives cyclists in a Bike Lane stated ROW... a law that cyclists could have on their side when motorists do dumb things like right hooks or fail to merge before turning.

I believe we already have this in Oregon.


As far as the killacyclist thing... I strongly feel that if someone kills anyone an automobile related collision, they should lose their license. Sorry, you can't play with others... so outta the pool. Period. This would serve as a reminder that driving is a privilege not a right. Now obviously this would not apply in cases where the killed motorist or cyclist has themselves done something in violation of ROW such as running red lights, etc.

1+

That would change, dramatically, the composition of our roads.

1+

That would change, dramatically, the composition of our roads.

Would it? You can lose your license for quite a while just by going 25mph over (or something around that) yet I see people do it every day (granted they don't get caught so maybe you do have a point).

...granted they don't get caught so maybe you do have a point...
This has to do more with local enforcement policy than with what laws are or aren't on the books.

...
As far as the killacyclist thing... I strongly feel that if someone kills anyone an automobile related collision, they should lose their license. ... Now obviously this would not apply in cases where the killed motorist or cyclist has themselves done something in violation of ROW such as running red lights, etc.

I concur with your intent, Gene, but establishment of fault is tricky in many collisions. What I would like to see following every major injury or fatality collision is a review of each motor vehicle operator's physical, emotional, and mental fitness to continue to enjoy his/her driving privilege.

Kind of an unfortunate name for a website that is supposed to help cyclist.

-snip- I strongly feel that if someone kills anyone an automobile related collision, they should lose their license. Sorry, you can't play with others... so outta the pool. Period. This would serve as a reminder that driving is a privilege not a right. Now obviously this would not apply in cases where the killed motorist or cyclist has themselves done something in violation of ROW such as running red lights, etc.

Yea, the auto and oil industry would love that.
Don't kid yourself, all laws are based on $$$

This has to do more with local enforcement policy than with what laws are or aren't on the books.

Yea. Easy to get away with speeding since the cops can't be everywhere at once. Harder to get away from your responsibilities in an accident, since the guy you hit is right there and the police are summarily called.

One strike against this proposal is an almost certain increase in "hit and run" accidents.