Southern California - Woman dies after hit by bike.

That's the headline in the local section of the OC Register today. Looks like an older lady (68), walking on the San Diego Creek trail in Irvine near the 18000 block of Harvard Ave, made a quick turn to cross the trail and was hit by a 46 year old HB resident (no name given). The article states that she fell back and hit her head and died the next day. He wasn't charged or ticketed for the accident and an officer states that there is no speed limit on the county-owned trail, just normal caution to be observed.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/irvine-walking-handfield-1823001-police-woman

Sad for the woman and her family and sad for the cyclist. No-win, and definitely an "accident." :(

Sad for the woman and her family and sad for the cyclist. No-win, and definitely an "accident." :(

Yeah, from the description, we've all seen it happen; you're coming up on someone and they do a quick stop, cross the trail to go the other way and don't even look back. I guess I can understand that to an extent, some of our bikes are VERY quiet. I'm not saying that's what happened, but who knows. The paper also gives a number for any witnesses to call. The article says the guy was riding a "Giant TCR road bicycle worth several thousand dollars"...whatever that had to do with anything.

Oh no. How awful! I really feel for her family and the cyclist as well. I bet he feels awful! My prayers are out to both families.

I ride that trail all the time and have often wondered if there have been any serious cyclist v. pedestrian accidents. I'm guilty at times of probably traveling too fast on the bike trail. Geez I hope they don't close the trail down. So many other trails in Irvine have already been closed due to repairs and construction.

BTW, FYI there is a statute that says if a person is injured on a bike path maintained by an city, the City is protected from liability. ie, you can't sue them. Just something for us all to consider while out riding.

u lock justice for whoever rides a giant tcr road bicycle worth several thousand dollars.

u lock justice for whoever rides a giant tcr road bicycle worth several thousand dollars.

Huh?

Sad.

In college I was hit while running on that trail, near the Ralphs shopping center (Harvard and Main). Four or five guys riding abreast. One caught my arm and I went down. Skinned knees and hands for me, and the cyclists never stopped. I hated cyclists for a long time after that.

Ten years later and I was riding there frequently, and always gave pedestrians a lot of room.

That's really too bad. I'm sure some legislator will look for an opportunity to require some additional safety devices, like proximity alarms.
Unfortunately this only proves that life is very random.

It seems to me that one of these incidents pops up every couple years, and they usually involve an elderly ped.

Just an FYI for anyone - if you ride the San Diego Creek trail often you know of the large Korean/Chinese church at the corner of Havard and University. On the weekends it is an extremely busy chuch and people use the bike trail to walk to church or walk after. Alot of the older men and women are small and frail, many I bet under 100 lbs. Please ride with caution and just know this is an area that need to be watched. I always slow down nearing the church. It is a multi-use trail that means walkers, joggers, skaters, old people, young, bicyclists, commuters - all sorts of beings are there using it. Not saying don't enjoy your ride but just be aware.

What a shame...that's happened right where I live......my thoughts are with the ladies family...and of course the Cyclist....

I know....they need to put a Fence up to prevent kids running out onto the trail...

Anyone who is riding at excessive speeds near elderly or very young individuals on foot or bicycle while on a MUP is a selfish and reckless fool.

Way back when, my driving instructor said, "If a meteor falls on your windshield and you crash, it's an accident. Anything else is human error."

Also for the record - the estimated speed of the cyclist was listed at 15 mph.

My heart goes out to the family and the cyclist. In addition, I rode off of hwy 138 coming out of Crestline last Friday and fell down down 150 foot hillside, after crashing through two pine trees. No road-side barriers to stop me; no call boxes; no one stopped to help me; I was going too fast for the hairpin left-hand turn. I crashed. Then I rode 30 miles back to the car. I'm not suing the county for the torn-up asphalt and debris on the road, or the lack of barriers; my torn jersey, bibs, and smashed computer and broken chain. Not to mention my injuries.

Wow, sorry to hear that Bill. Are you ok?

That's right Brian...that's why I always find it odd every time I see a Police vehicle with "Accident investigation unit " written on the side....an accident is the culmination of a sequence of events leading up to a crash...
I guess by accident they just mean someone didn't deliberately set out to do it??

Cuts and bruises on both legs, bruised kidney, theigh and shins are that weird shade of green. Scabs are coming off now. But thanks. Martial arts taught me how to fall.

Cuts and bruises on both legs, bruised kidney, theigh and shins are that weird shade of green. Scabs are coming off now. But thanks. Martial arts taught me how to fall.

Glad to hear that you came out somewhat okay...

I feel bad for both parties on the trail... I know that I ride down that path at 25+ at times, but I also have a bell to warn people I am coming... Hopefully they are not wearing ipods in both ears and can hear me...

I know that I ride down that path at 25+ at times, but I also have a bell to warn people I am coming... Hopefully they are not wearing ipods in both ears and can hear me...

Me too, good point.

Cuts and bruises on both legs, bruised kidney, theigh and shins are that weird shade of green. Scabs are coming off now. But thanks. Martial arts taught me how to fall.glad you're OK.

Didn't you have a crash last year?

Cuts and bruises on both legs, bruised kidney, theigh and shins are that weird shade of green. Scabs are coming off now. But thanks. Martial arts taught me how to fall.

Hmmm. Sir Isaac Newton taught me how to fall and his method hurts.

Martial arts taught me how to fall.

Just be glad I have fast reflexes...

http://www.survivinggrady.com/spicoli.jpg

OK am I the only one that thinks it's just wrong to go from some poor woman dying to Jeff Spigoli? Am just saying.... :(

OK am I the only one that thinks it's just wrong to go from some poor woman dying to Jeff Spigoli? Am just saying.... :(

Perhaps he was suggesting that his dad has an awesome set of tools and he can fix it. Or possibly he's suggesting that all he needs is a cool buzz and some tasty waves. I'm cool with whatever philosophy he's promoting since each one is basically saying, you never know when you're going to get run over crossing the path, so enjoy your bike rides while you can.

"DOOOOOD! That was my skull...I'm sooooo wasted!" ;)

Yeah, come to think about it - I was riding with the same bunch then too. except this time I was the one chasing.


glad you're OK.

Didn't you have a crash last year?

Ai yai yai. Another sad one for all concerned. :(

This detail from the article struck me as peculiar:

the man riding a several-thousand-dollar Giant TCR road bicycle

I guess I can see mentioning the bike make and model (as is done with auto make/model in some accident reports in the paper), but the cost of the bike? Odd.

Yeah, you never hear that a DUI Bike was in an accident and cost a whopping $10.

I thought that was strange, too.

Maybe the reporter is a cyclist familiar with bikes...

I thought that was strange, too.

Maybe the reporter is a cyclist familiar with bikes...

Or so unfamiliar that they thought that it was worth printing. I mean who in there right mind would purchase a bike worth over a thousand dollars?...... STOP it's rhetorical.

Ai yai yai. Another sad one for all concerned. :(

This detail from the article struck me as peculiar:

the man riding a several-thousand-dollar Giant TCR road bicycle
I guess I can see mentioning the bike make and model (as is done with auto make/model in some accident reports in the paper), but the cost of the bike? Odd.

Yeah, that's why I quoted it in my second post...I wasn't quite sure of the significants of that fact, maybe to make him sound like a racer.

I ride past the spot where this happened most days...yesterday the flowers placed to mark the spot had blown over so I stopped got off my bike and stood them up....its so sad...they deffinately need to erect a fence there with an access gate...
But anyway...the reason I'm resurecting this thread is because I was riding north on the same Trail today and under the Tunnel that goes below the 405 Freeway there were 3 or 4 Women and about 15 or more kids who all looked pre school age....they were running back and forth across the Trail and were having a good old time....I guess the stupid Women tgought they'd found a Fun shady spot for the kids to play...never mind the Cyclists who ride through there at 20 plus mph!!
The funny part is I stopped (It was too dangerous to ride even slowly) and I yelled at two of the women that it was dangerous and kida shouldn't be allowed to play down there and one of the Women said....wait for it...."I know"
Sure...I know its a MUP....we should all respect each other but that was beyond Flippin rediculous...

I rode that trail tonight, and Damn people go fast .... WAYYYY to fast. I was astonished how people think that it is safe to have a pace line going on a trail with that many pedestrians. Don't get me wrong I loooove getting a nice pace line going, but that trail seems a little unsafe.

Since the trail is less than a mile from my house I tend to ride it quite a bit. One thing that seems to have made it more dangerous is the number of Team in Training people running/walking on weekend mornings. I'm all for this organization but it seems that they do not teach safety. It's not uncommon for there to be 4 of them walking abreast and it seems that once I get close to them, cyclists are also coming the opposite way. It's just a matter of time before we'll hear about an incident having to do with them.

As an aside, I heard about a female triathlete who was training (for Kona) on the SART ran into a Team-in-Training COACH who pulled a similar move to what the lady in the article did. He was fine but the triathlete broke her shoulder.

Have you ever noticed how the Team in Training People never have the acronym written on the back of their T-Shirts??
But you're right about them being a good organization but lacking safety training...
Maybe someone should contact them...

Jaguar:

Thank you for stopping and "educating" those women. I do the same thing and I'm sure they wonder who the heck I am but I rather risk their anger then risk hitting a small child.

People just don't realize there are bicyclist out there. I can't tell you how many times people walking on a bike trail are startled and amazed when a bicyclist comes up on them. Multi-use trails like the Creek trail are a real problem. All I can say is us bicyclists need to always ride aware. Especially on bike trails, watch for others. Pedestrians just don't get it so we need to "get it" for them.

I rode by the Church on Monday and saw the cross and flowers. How sad was that? I don't want to see more of the same along the trail. There are times and places on the trail I can ride fast but there are others I know I have to slow down - at the Jamboree Bridge, near the Church, up by the Park and Skating Rink on Barranca, along the Shopping centers like Woodbridge, the senior citizen housing, etc. - just too much activity to go balls out so I do interval training - slow down when I need to and then excelerate when I can. It's good for me!

Pam....+1000 to your post..

If I see a hazard ahead such as a Family with little kids out for a Ride, a bunch of joggers/runners or someone standing at the edge of the trail I always plan on being able to stop before I reach them and unclip one foot and get close enough to say "coming through" or whatever without startling them etc.

I must have this down because 99% of the time they'll turn around and say "oops..sorry" I don't want to yell and startle them because then they'll start hating Cyclists....

Also, I've noticed that there seems to be a plethora of what seems to be UCI students? riding in groups by the golf course section, they ride 4+ abreast at 6mph weaving around etc, you must have noticed this..so again I just slow down ready to stop and say "scuse me..coming through"

Aparently, according to a Friend of mine, the Poor lady who was killed was waiting for a group of cyclists coming from the south to pass before stepping out, or maybe doing a U-turn on the path, they passed and she thought it was OK to make her move, unfortunately, she didn't look the OTHER way and was hit by the Guy going south...one doesn't have to be going very fast at all on a Bike to knock someone over who is not expecting it..even 3mph would do it...

I don't think I've seen one Church goer walking or near the path since that incident...even on a Sunday...which doesn't really surprise me...

As for the Kids I saw under the 405 yesterday, the only thing I can think of is that it was a Day care center taking the Kids for a walk or something..because there were only 4 women with at least 15 kids...If I see this again I'll deffinately call the Police, I think the Parents of the Kids need to know what is going on...it's easy for a Cyclist to reach 30mph down there....

Each month I participate in a bat count with one of the naturalist employed by the County of Orange. She uses mostly UCI students and other older folks like me. Each month I have to remind the folks not to just stand in the road (they count the bats coming out from under the Jamboree bridge at Back Bay). and each month someone almost gets hit by a cyclist trying to get in a dark ride. I just don't tell them anymore but I do try and warn the cyclist riding by to watch for people.

I believe the accident with the woman was just one of those unfortunate accidents that happen. No one was wrong and it was the set of circumstances that just happened, unfortunately with horrible results. In the meantime, I keep riding aware. If nothing else to protect myself.

I believe the accident with the woman was just one of those unfortunate accidents that happen. No one was wrong and it was the set of circumstances that just happened, unfortunately with horrible results.
I beg to differ, I believe most so-called "accidents" are preventable, and this one falls into that category. Either the cyclist was going too fast and the woman didn't see him, or the woman stepped into the cyclist's path without looking. One or both of them did something wrong for this tragedy to happen.

One problem is that you can never really ride slow enough to eliminate the risk of a pedestrian changing course and stepping into your line of travel. The only sure way is to stay a couple of steps away from them when passing, but that's often not possible if someone is walking in the middle of the path.

But it was still an accident. In my experience most of my accidents have been stupid preventable plunders if I just paid attention!

From what I understand the woman entered the trail, stopped to allow some cylcists to pass in one direction and just as they passed stepped out as cyclist coming in the other direction came upon her. I would bet the cyclist who hit her never saw her and vice versa. I'll not call either stupid as the result for both was tragic. All I can do is caution others to ride aware and carefully.

My story: Years ago I lived in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. In the summertime evenings I rode with a group from Hermosa Beach to Santa Monica and back on the "Strand". Just as we were coming back into Manhatten Beach, the group was travelling at about 20 - 22 mph. There was no one at the beach and we were pacelining back. Suddenly the riders in front of me parted and in a split second I realized a young child had ran onto the Strand and was right in front of me. I never saw the parent I never had the chance. Without hesitation I laid the bike down, crashed hard and fractured my left wrist and hip.

I really didn't know what had happened until later. My buddies told me that the woman and her child had walked down from the parking area and she allowed the child to run out ahead, across the Strand without even noticing 12 riders cruising down at the same time. 3 of us ended up crashing badly and being injured. The mother gathered up her child, got into her car and drove away.

Was it preventable? Of course, most accidents are. Was it foreseeable? No, never in a million years - it was just a split second of events that occurred and the results was bad. For 3 years I rode the Strand after work in the summer and never had anything like this ever happen. Why would I think some mother would be so stupid? I can't blame the child. It just happened.

But it's one reason why I ride bike trails cautiously. Even Back Bay which I love to zoom through during the evenings. I'm watching all the time.