Advocacy & Safety - Another one down

This is a local story about a bicyclist who died from injuries he received after being hit by a truck. I've ridden on that road a few times. I'm glad I didn't die.

Edit: http://www.channel3000.com/news/10955665/detail.html

Now with link!

You forgot the link.

Quite so.
Doh!

Is this stuff for real?

Hit and run, call later "umm I think I hit something"

-D

Is this stuff for real?

Hit and run, call later "umm I think I hit something"

-D
My grandpa told my grandma one time he thought he might have hit someone while he was out. Sure enough, he clipped a pedestrian. He didn't drive after than, but i don't think he was charged with anything. Luckily, he's dead now.

My grandpa told my grandma one time he thought he might have hit someone while he was out. Sure enough, he clipped a pedestrian. He didn't drive after than, but i don't think he was charged with anything. Luckily, he's dead now.
That is a very strange post :(


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My guess is that anyone who leaves the scene is trying to hide something but who knows it's just another poorly written news article.

That is a very strange post :(


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My guess is that anyone who leaves the scene is trying to hide something but who knows it's just another poorly written news article.


Strange post indeed.


And to your other point. I think some people are trying to hide something. Others are simply clueless, too drunk, too incoherent, too stupid, or otherwise out of it to realize they hit something or hit something more important than a rock.

My condolences to the family and loved ones of Dale Connors.

The article says the crash occurred inside an underpass after dark (7:45 pm). I wonder if he had lights/reflectors, or whether he was riding "dark"?

My condolences to the family and loved ones of Dale Connors.

The article says the crash occurred inside an underpass after dark (7:45 pm). I wonder if he had lights/reflectors, or whether he was riding "dark"?

I wondered that too. I don't ride over there, but the idea of getting hit from behind is so frightening that I'd like to think he was riding dark. At the same time, anyone riding at this time of year with conditions the way they are right now is likely well prepared for the conditions, so I find it hard to believe he would not have lights. Either way this is a sad day for cyclists, and a good reminder to everyone to be aware and to take all precautions necessary to be seen.

Sorry but I just dont buy it. I have come close to hitting cyclists dressed all in black and see them at the last minute, usually see something shiny on the bike. To hit a cyclist and still not see anything, not to mention the amount of noise there would be hitting someone, and to not stop. She may not be completely at fault for hitting him (not enough evidence to tell) but there should be something from leaving the scene. I can't believe anyone would hit something and keep driving unless they knew they were guilty of something.

That is a very strange post :(


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My guess is that anyone who leaves the scene is trying to hide something but who knows it's just another poorly written news article.
Derath asked, Is this for real?
In response, I shared a similar anecdote that this kind of stuff is for real. I thought the conclusion would be drawn.
To clarify, my grandpa is dead, not the pedestrian.

I extend my condolences to the family as well.

I am somewhat confused how a driver could not realize she was approaching a vehicle and (possibly) overtaking the vehicle. Know what I mean? The driver said she thought ice had fallen off the overpass and that the ice had caused the damage but upon looking further realized there was more damage. Now, I appreciate one can experience a glancing blow and sometimes during winter weather there is a great deal more noise and shaking as we drive over snow and ice, but did the driver not connect the fact that she was (I presume) passing a cyclist and hearing noises or realizing there was damage to her vehicle? I've heard loud bangs where snow and ice have been caught under the frame of the car and stopped to see if I'd hit something hidden beneath the snow or done any damage. I just don't get it. Sigh.

Sorry but I just dont buy it. I have come close to hitting cyclists dressed all in black and see them at the last minute, usually see something shiny on the bike. To hit a cyclist and still not see anything, not to mention the amount of noise there would be hitting someone, and to not stop. She may not be completely at fault for hitting him (not enough evidence to tell) but there should be something from leaving the scene. I can't believe anyone would hit something and keep driving unless they knew they were guilty of something.


+1

this was the crux of my other post. Granted there may be occasional times where someone really doesn't notice hitting something. But I don't buy this constant BS of hit and runs only to call later and explain you "thought you might have hit something"

It seems that especially with cyclist collisions this has been a somewhat common scenario.

-D

We had a case a year or two ago where someone ran over someone lying in the road at didn't stopped. In the end, they weren't charged with hit and run because they determine the someone was already dead when the drive in question hit him - somebody else had him first - that blow killed him.

I wonder if something similar might have happened here, where the driver in question hit the cyclist after he was already down for one reason or another.

Strange post indeed.


And to your other point. I think some people are trying to hide something. Others are simply clueless, too drunk, too incoherent, too stupid, or otherwise out of it to realize they hit something or hit something more important than a rock.
Did you ever stop to think that maybe the "offender" could also maybe just be shook up & scared there geneyus?

Did you ever stop to think that maybe the "offender" could also maybe just be shook up & scared there geneyus?


Just shook up and scared would usually be cause for a pull over and "OMG" call. Similar to last week when my wife hit a deer.

-D

Derath asked, Is this for real?
In response, I shared a similar anecdote that this kind of stuff is for real. I thought the conclusion would be drawn.
To clarify, my grandpa is dead, not the pedestrian.
Dude! I have to ask this i just can't resist:D . Now in your sig , you state that if you hate your job the thing to do is drink yourself to death ?:rolleyes:

Just shook up and scared would usually be cause for a pull over and "OMG" call. Similar to last week when my wife hit a deer.

-D
VERY nice:rolleyes: BUT we don't live in a perfect world now do we?:rolleyes:

Derath asked, Is this for real?
In response, I shared a similar anecdote that this kind of stuff is for real. I thought the conclusion would be drawn.
To clarify, my grandpa is dead, not the pedestrian.


Yes, I figured that. I have just never heard of someone talk about a loved one as being luckily dead. Weird.

Dude! I have to ask this i just can't resist:D . Now in your sig , you state that if you hate your job the thing to do is drink yourself to death ?:rolleyes:
No, I only support self medication thru alcohol consumption.


Yes, I figured that. I have just never heard of someone talk about a loved one as being luckily dead. Weird.
I didn't say he was loved.


Try to stay on topic guys, we don't need a thread hi-jack.

VERY nice:rolleyes: BUT we don't live in a perfect world now do we?:rolleyes:

All cyclists should do everything they can to be visible at night. That being said there is still no excuse for hitting a cyclist while overtaking them, even if they are not covered in lights. If you are paying attention and have decent eyesight it should not happen. And there is certainly no excuse for hitting a cyclist hard enough to kill them and leaving the scene of the accident. I'm sure it was panic but it's no excuse.

VERY nice:rolleyes: BUT we don't live in a perfect world now do we?:rolleyes:


Ok, we could go round and round with this all day. What I am trying to get at is this.

In the last couple of years especially, it seems there has been this rise in hit and runs that end up with the person calling in later to report they "thought they might have hit something"

I find it hard to believe this is actually the case. Personally I think people have found a loophole to the traditional hit and run.

That isn't to say there are still times when someone actually doesn't realize they hit someone. But there are too many occurances of this these days IMO.

-D

No, I only support self medication thru alcohol consumption.
lol

All cyclists should do everything they can to be visible at night.
Agreed.
there is certainly no excuse for hitting a cyclist hard enough to kill them and leaving the scene of the accident. I'm sure it was panic but it's no excuse.
No, i don't think it is right myself. Things are the way they are but when someone smashes into a "biker" (or any one else as far as that goes) & as they flip over the car & see them do a face plant on the tarmac in their rear view mirror that may change a view or 2.
You sure do use the term "excuse" alot.:rolleyes:
well as far as i can "see" i am only here on earth for a brief visit.
"Being said that", as one once said, "I don't wanna change the world & i don't want it to change me."
go head on with your fanatical ideals & see if you make a difference.:rolleyes: :p
I believe not to long ago, there was an aggressive fanatical right wing advocate of safety & biking rights here in the area & he was struck & killed on the way to a city council meeting.

I didn't say he was loved.



LOL

Ok, we could go round and round with this all day.
Yes exactly, everyone reacts differently to various situations.Not everyone has been to urban bootcam to be properly prepared for urban warfare.:rolleyes:

-D[/quote]

Agreed.
No, i don't think it is right myself. Things are the way they are but when someone smashes into a "biker" (or any one else as far as that goes) & as they flip over the car & see them do a face plant on the tarmac in their rear view mirror that may change a view or 2.
You sure do use the term "excuse" alot.:rolleyes:
well as far as i can "see" i am only here on earth for a brief visit.
"Being said that", as one once said, "I don't wanna change the world & i don't want it to change me."
go head on with your fanatical ideals & see if you make a difference.:rolleyes: :p
I believe not to long ago, there was an aggressive fanatical right wing advocate of safety & biking rights here in the area & he was struck & killed on the way to a city council meeting.

Usually 'right wing' and 'advocate of safety & biking rights' do not coincide. Either way its too bad he was killed by a car.
All I'm saying is that when you get behind the wheel of a car, you have inherent responsibilities at the helm of 2000+ pounds of steel, and striking cyclists and pedestrians is not acceptable.

Usually 'right wing' and 'advocate of safety & biking rights' do not coincide. Either way its too bad he was killed by a car.
All I'm saying is that when you get behind the wheel of a car, you have inherent responsibilities at the helm of 2000+ pounds of steel, and striking cyclists and pedestrians is not acceptable.
Those "inherent responsibilies" are the rules of the game for all players & the bicycle/pedestrian is always going to lose the game, if there is a slip from either player.
In other words.... The 3,000+ lb battering ram is always going to win out in the field.
Acceptable or not, if one can't deal with the hazards & happenings of the game one has no business playing.

Regards,
Mr. knob

I'm a bit confused, as I usually am since I am almost always in a drunken stuper.
But I know one thing for sure. I can drive a car in the middle of the night with no lighting other than my fog lamps, and still see a dog in the middle of the road. I'm sure almost all of you can! So how could I even begin to convince myself that I wouldn't see a person on a bike, who is just a wee bit taller than a dog.

If this person really didn't see the cyclist and thought ice hit her SUV, then she needs to be driving something that allows her to actually see the road.

I'm a bit confused, as I usually am since I am almost always in a drunken stuper.
But I know one thing for sure. I can drive a car in the middle of the night with no lighting other than my fog lamps, and still see a dog in the middle of the road. I'm sure almost all of you can! So how could I even begin to convince myself that I wouldn't see a person on a bike, who is just a wee bit taller than a dog.
You are confusing "ability to see" with "notice".

Google for "inattentional blindness".

You're right.
It is a very uneven playing field between cars and bicycles, so there needs to be real consequences for cars hitting cyclists to discourage it.

You are confusing "ability to see" with "notice".

Google for "inattentional blindness".

What are you going on about now?
I didn't confuse anything, I said "see" and I meant "see"

However, I did confuse this budweiser crap for beer, ugh!

Google for "kiss my..." nevermind

Allow me to elaborate!

I grew up in the country. The only thing there was to do when I was a kid was to get ****ed up and do ****ed up stuff.
I'd be sloshed on whatever the old man brewed up, driving my truck 60mph on roads that were so curvey they'd make a rollercoaster look like a runway, and all of this in the middle of gods country... deer, turkey, bobcats, you name it, all over the place.
No matter how drunk I was or if I was getting a hummer while high on dope, I never hit anything due to "inattentional blindness".
One time I did take out a few hundred feet of fenceline when I passed out.
I'm a different man now though. I drink more but rarely drive, and only sober. And NO, I never got a DUI or any of that ****, I just grew up...some.

Dude. After this morning, I can vouch for driver obliviousness to having hit something at all.

I'll write a full post on this later, but I got hit today in the classic right-hook. While I was trying to evade the car turning across my path, I put out my hand and pushed off the vehicle, and I think my hip also may have brushed the vehicle, and possibly my front wheel was also turned askew by the back panel. Anyway, the contact was enough to make me fly off my bike.

The driver insisted that I'd fallen off by myself. She said she didn't feel anything, and her car wasn't scratched, so therefore, she didn't hit me. No major damage to my bike, either. I guess the soft flesh of my body absorbing the impact didn't count in her book.

Yes, the cops came and filed a report. I'm pissed because the officer asked me repeatedly if any part of my bike had hit the car, and I said "I honestly can't tell, but my hand definitely did." Now I'm feeling paranoid that it doesn't count as a crash for liability reasons unless the actual vehicle (bike) made an impact. I guess I should have just slammed into her instead of trying to not get hit. Yay, free bike, right? (never mind the neck brace, it will heal in a few months)

But the point is, I definitely got hit. And she honestly thought she was just being a good samaritan by stopping to help the cyclist who had magically been thrown off a bike for no reason. And she was surprised when I informed her that, yes, she had hit me. Hello, big vehicle? You're not necessarily gonna feel a 150lb shock-absorbent payload when it hits you at the same angle you're turning.

Just a personal anecdote, there.

Dude. After this morning, I can vouch for driver obliviousness to having hit something at all.

I'll write a full post on this later, but I got hit today in the classic right-hook. While I was trying to evade the car turning across my path, I put out my hand and pushed off the vehicle, and I think my hip also may have brushed the vehicle, and possibly my front wheel was also turned askew by the back panel. Anyway, the contact was enough to make me fly off my bike.

The driver insisted that I'd fallen off by myself. She said she didn't feel anything, and her car wasn't scratched, so therefore, she didn't hit me. No major damage to my bike, either. I guess the soft flesh of my body absorbing the impact didn't count in her book.

Yes, the cops came and filed a report. I'm pissed because the officer asked me repeatedly if any part of my bike had hit the car, and I said "I honestly can't tell, but my hand definitely did." Now I'm feeling paranoid that it doesn't count as a crash for liability reasons unless the actual vehicle (bike) made an impact. I guess I should have just slammed into her instead of trying to not get hit. Yay, free bike, right? (never mind the neck brace, it will heal in a few months)

But the point is, I definitely got hit. And she honestly thought she was just being a good samaritan by stopping to help the cyclist who had magically been thrown off a bike for no reason. And she was surprised when I informed her that, yes, she had hit me. Hello, big vehicle? You're not necessarily gonna feel a 150lb shock-absorbent payload when it hits you at the same angle you're turning.

Just a personal anecdote, there.

But she didn't topple you over from the front, which is what I was trying to convey.
And in all honesty, she probably knew she hit you and was just doing what she could to prove to you that she didn't, as odd as it sounds.

Oh, totally. That comment wasn't directed at you. Just a general "Hey, sometimes they really truly don't know" story.

I turned right to evade, so I hit her at an angle where she might not feel my body bouncing off her vehicle from the back right panel. Honestly, it was just therapeutic to type the story. :)

We had a priest claim the same thing. He got probation is all.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bishopobrien1.html

I wish I could find the picture of the car.

Yay, free bike, right? (never mind the neck brace, it will heal in a few months)
Good luck:beer:
"Innocent til proven guilty"...lol

You're right.
It is a very uneven playing field between cars and bicycles, so there needs to be real consequences for cars hitting cyclists to discourage it.
Let's not turn this into a "Death race 2000" scenario....lol

Yes exactly, everyone reacts differently to various situations.Not everyone has been to urban bootcam to be properly prepared for urban warfare.:rolleyes:


Still doesn't make it right. If you hit something, panic and runaway it is still fleeing the scene of an accident and should be punished.

Still doesn't make it right.
Right? i nearly fell out my chair laughing at that one.

If you hit something, panic and runaway it is still fleeing the scene of an accident and should be punished.
Yes, you're right.
It would be wonderful if we lived in a perfect society ,wouldn't it?:rolleyes:
Even with all the political correctness & whatnot going around these days, still not perfect as of yet.:o

From a local email list:


I talked with someone from the Sheriff's Department this morning and got a little more information about the cyclist who was killed recently on Femrite Rd.

It was pitch dark out, he didn't have any lights or even a reflector. They think the driver may have had a diabetic reaction tho alcohol is a possibility. They are awaiting lab reports before deciding what to do next.

Just a sad situation overall.

strangely, that makes me feel better.