Advocacy & Safety - bike cop hit by motorist

details are sketchy, but a cop on a bike was in the lane and got hit by a motorist in Tacoma.

was the bike cop at fault? did the driver fail to yield? or was the policeman just not conspicious enough? perhaps an electronic distraction device used by the driver at the time of the collision prevented the driver from noticing the policeman.

further evidence as to the fallacy of lane position as traffic cure-all, regardless of lane position.

With "sketchy details" as you mention, how can any such conclusion be made regarding the "fallacy of lane position?"

For all you have presented... the cop may have been on a sidewalk crossing a driveway.

oh, he was reported as being in the lane and hit by cross traffic.

oh, he was reported as being in the lane and hit by cross traffic.Yeah, but was he POWERWEAVING™? Was he using a steely-eyed Alpha Dog stare? Did he anticipate that he would get hit?

Is there ANY way at all we could blame this on the cyclist?

According to Lord Master Forester and his little dog HH, the cop probably caused it due to his own error.

Definately the bike cops fault!!
He failed to make sure the road was completely clear of people, the pastures completely clear of cows, and that no meteorites were falling from the skies.

Definately the bike cops fault!!
He failed to make sure the road was completely clear of people, the pastures completely clear of cows, and that no meteorites were falling from the skies.And the text-messaging driver who hit him was involved in a useful economic activity. ;)

dude, the bike cop likely overlooked the meteorites! but it was definetly his fault, his lane position just wasn't exactly right, even though the driver violated right of way rules.

seems like some drivers are not paying attention, and if that's what some drivers do, we as bikers should be cognizant of that, and prepare for it.

how could it be a drivers fault for failing to notice the bike cop? the cop should have noticed the car, and premptively avoided the collision. since he did not, it was his fault for failing to adjust for a distracted driver on a cross street.

how could it be a drivers fault for failing to notice the bike cop? the cop should have noticed the car, and premptively avoided the collision. since he did not, it was his fault for failing to adjust for a distracted driver on a cross street.
It was the cop's fault because he wasn't left-handed. If he were, all the motorists would have noticed him due to the conspicuity of his firearm.

All smart-aleck remarks aside, that's really sad to hear, Bek. My personal experiences with bike cops are among the most positive I've had with law enforcement. :( Will you keep us apprised of the details as you learn them?

yes, donna. it is always tragic to hear of injuries from traffic accidents. i shouldn't be making such levity of a serious situation, but wanted to use this accident to illustrate the failure of lane position to protect against distracted drivers.

According to Lord Master Forester and his little dog HH...

:roflmao:

yes, donna. it is always tragic to hear of injuries from traffic accidents. i shouldn't be making such levity of a serious situation, but wanted to use this accident to illustrate the failure of lane position to protect against distracted drivers.
Yeah, if a on-duty (I presume?) police officer took the lane and it didn't matter, I can't help but wonder what that means for the rest of us. I can't speak for the Tacoma area, but our bike cops look pretty darn cop-like. If you don't notice that, you're driving in a coma.

Some pretty sick comments here.

Some pretty sick comments here.

You got that right.

you guys haven't heard of traffic accidents? they happen often, hawaii dudes.

my post #8 mirrors the comments by the A&S rezident bike blamer helemt head as to why bikes are at fault even when distracted drivers are factored into the accident scenario.

Oh, it was a cop on a motorbike, BTW.

Yeah, if a on-duty (I presume?) police officer took the lane and it didn't matter, I can't help but wonder what that means for the rest of us. I can't speak for the Tacoma area, but our bike cops look pretty darn cop-like. If you don't notice that, you're driving in a coma.

But golly so many drivers are in a "coma..." somewhere in their climate controlled environment, with the built in multi speaker entertainment center, behind their tinted glass windows, tending to business on cell phones and text messaging while perched on fine Corinthean leather; I am surprised they find time to even tend to the coffee and donuts they pick up at the local drive thru window. Driving??? what is that? Oh and where are those cigarettes... and golly don't forget to primp the hair. :rolleyes:

I am under no illusion, despite the Taser, Glock, helmet and radio that I am recognized as a bike cop...at least by motorist. One of the local thugs we got last summer actually saw our approach but did not realize who we were until it was to late.:D He complained that he thought we were "those f!!!!!!g Mormons".:eek: I also got attitude from a first responder at a motorcycle crash until he realized there was a reason two of us were dressed alike and packing heat. I think as our program continues more people will get use to recognizing us but would still not think that the bike cop status would make me car proof/resistant.

He complained that he thought we were "those f!!!!!!g Mormons".:eek:

:beer: :roflmao:

I am under no illusion, despite the Taser, Glock, helmet and radio that I am recognized as a bike cop...at least by motorist. One of the local thugs we got last summer actually saw our approach but did not realize who we were until it was to late.:D He complained that he thought we were "those f!!!!!!g Mormons".:eek: I also got attitude from a first responder at a motorcycle crash until he realized there was a reason two of us were dressed alike and packing heat. I think as our program continues more people will get use to recognizing us but would still not think that the bike cop status would make me car proof/resistant.
Ah, here where I live, the police issue bike raingear is so like the typical bike commuter's raingear, many men get treated very, very well on the roads because the motorists mistake them for police. Of course, with my red, girly, step-through bike and my purple raincoat, I can't get away with that. :)

you guys haven't heard of traffic accidents? they happen often, hawaii dudes.

my post #8 mirrors the comments by the A&S rezident bike blamer helemt head as to why bikes are at fault even when distracted drivers are factored into the accident scenario.

Oh, it was a cop on a motorbike, BTW.
So, your comments are still sick.
A motorcycle cop recently lost his life in an accident during a Presidentil escort here in Hawaii. We did not joke about it.

So, your comments are still sick.
A motorcycle cop recently lost his life in an accident during a Presidentil escort here in Hawaii. We did not joke about it.

Having done the job myself, I'm not offended. Nobody is making a joke about the cop's death, but rather making fun of the usual 'the cyclist was wrong' crap that usually comes with these threads. But it seems we've committed the same offense by doing our poking in this thread.

You think I have no compassion? plueaze, i've volunteered hundreds, likely thousands of hours of my life in the service of others in life threatening situations requiring rescue and evacuation. I hope the policeman makes a speedy and complete recovery.

i was using an accident just echoing and parodying the comments often made in A&S by the esteemed armchair cyclist that always blames the cyclist.

According to Lord Master Forester and his little dog HH, the cop probably caused it due to his own error.

Putting Bekologist and Forester in agreement.

RFM

Putting Bekologist and Forester in agreement.

RFM


With the exception that one is only agreeing by satire.

i was using an accident just echoing and parodying the comments often made in A&S by the esteemed armchair cyclist that always blames the cyclist.

You also wrote:
further evidence as to the fallacy of lane position as traffic cure-all, regardless of lane position. In other words, because the cop was in the lane, he was at fault? That's how I read it.

People in the lane get hit, sure, but so do cyclists on the path crossing the road, cyclists in the gutter, cyclists in the bike lane, and cyclists on sidewalk. If getting rear-ended is a fatal shortcoming of taking the lane, then so is any kind of riding style or engineering short of creating a complete network of fully segregated paths. I don't hold that view, but that's how I'm reading you. If complete safety is what you want, go buy the biggest truck money can buy.

Is there ANY way at all we could blame this on the cyclist?
For those who must assign blame in a situation where they don't know what actually happened, yes.

If we have no details other than that he was in a lane and hit by cross traffic, it is possible he ran a light or stop sign and was hit. I suspect that neither of these are the case

For those who must assign blame in a situation where they don't know what actually happened, yes.Speaking of Helmet Head, he sure hasn't risen to take the bait... :D