Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist in Accident, prompts vitriol from locals

There was an article in my local paper about a cyclist who ran into the back of a street sweeper and is in critical condition. The papers forum board has a lot of people arguing that we bicyclists don't belong on the road and only one person is countering. I thought maybe someone would like to help argue for sharing the road. Here is a link to the article:

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081014/NEWS/810140324

This is an easier page to view the timeline of the forum posts

http://forums.mailtribune.com/mm-news/messages/?msg=6313

I thought maybe someone would like to help argue for sharing the road.

I wouldn't. They'll just drag you down to their level where they'll beat you to a pulp.

Seems the cyclist was at fault in this case; I would choose another case to argue about.

It is rare that newspaper comment sections feature any useful discussions.

Seems the cyclist was at fault in this case; I would choose another case to argue about.

That's still no reason to ban cyclists, or cars would've been banned years ago.

How the hell do you run into the back of a steetsweeper?
Fogged up glasses?

The road sweeper's operator, 52-year-old Charles Monday, of Phoenix, was uninjured.

no ****ing **** sherlock, god whoever wrote that article fails.

This accident is no different than a car rear ending another car....and if a car did this..they would not be talking about it. God I wish America can fall into "A Month without a car" ... sort of like "A day without a Mexican" except instead of realizing they need them, people might realize that they really do not need to use their cars...

The comments to these accidents are all the same "that queer guy in spandex should not have been on the road" pretty much sums up all of the responses you will get....

That's still no reason to ban cyclists, or cars would've been banned years ago.Agreed, just saying there are better places to make the point than attached to an article where the cyclist caused his own injuries. I am sure that the cyclist learned a lesson, and hopefully will fully heal.

The irony of it. A cyclist crashes into the one motorized vehicle that I wish there was a lot more of on the roads.

The comments to these types of articles are really very revealing of how people really feel about cyclists and the huge prejudice that there is against us out there. The anonymity of the web really makes people honest.

In Miami, even when there is an article where the driver was clearly at fault, you should see some of the absolutely hateful comments blaming the cyclist and actually revelling in the cyclist ionjury or death.

no ****ing **** sherlock, god whoever wrote that article fails.

This accident is no different than a car rear ending another car....and if a car did this..they would not be talking about it. God I wish America can fall into "A Month without a car" ... sort of like "A day without a Mexican" except instead of realizing they need them, people might realize that they really do not need to use their cars...

The comments to these accidents are all the same "that queer guy in spandex should not have been on the road" pretty much sums up all of the responses you will get....

Your point?

That's still no reason to ban cyclists, or cars would've been banned years ago.

+1 It sounds like a cyclists running into an other vehicle is just plain bad "luck" for the cyclists. What ever the cause, the cyclists paid the price.

We've had some realy bad accidents lately on our roads, yet no one is talking about banning cars. We've had one drive on the highway driving the wrong way and killing both himself and a person he hit. He must have been drunk or how else do you continue to drive for a better part of 10 miles past other cars and not realize that you are going the WRONG way. Sadly an other peson paid the price for his stupidity. My co-worker is a fireman and had was at the scene. If the wrong way driver had worn his seat belt he might have lived... I don't feel bad that he killed himself, but the other young lady was about to get married the following weekend... he definitely caused a lot of poeple a lifetime of emotional pain.

There have been 5 lane closures on our major highways just in the last few days. There was a jacknived tractor trailer yesterday (so far no one died from that). There was a motor cyclists that rear ended a car on one of the bridges (he died). As a result of rubber necking there was a 5 car pileup on the other side (no one died). There were two separate accidents on on other streach of inter state (no one died).

Every day there are terrible wrecks on the road... but lets do everything we can to get more cars on the road. :(

The only consilation is that cycling is getting better in our region, and the comprehensive plan is going through it 3rd major over haul in 20 years, and it getting to look better and better with lots of emphasis on useful cycling roads and making bikes work with our existing infrastucture.

Ride safely,
André

Am I the only one who thinks that allowing the public to comment on news stories is moronic and short sighted? People write the stupidest, most insensitive, slanderous things when they know that they won't be held accountable for the mental damage they cause.

Am I the only one who thinks that allowing the public to comment on news stories is moronic and short sighted? People write the stupidest, most insensitive, slanderous things when they know that they won't be held accountable for the mental damage they cause.

It is right below reporters asking neighbors what they think of the mass murder in the house next door... It adds no real information, but for some reason, the media thinks that it is important for us to know what everyone thinks about the news story.

Well, take the anonymous comments for what they are worth.

As for this little gem,
Have you seen what a 200 pound bicycle can do to a new car? An impact of such can dent-in and break the glass of a car door.

First off, I haven't seen a 200 pound bicycle short of a recumbent. but I can say that whatever damage that would do is insignificant to the damage a 2000 pound car can do to a 200 pound bike. it sounds like the bicyclist was at fault, but that doesn't excuse the "get orf mah ruds" attitude of a lot of the comments on that article. Still I agree; it's probably better to pick another battle.

It is right below reporters asking neighbors what they think of the mass murder in the house next door... It adds no real information, but for some reason, the media thinks that it is important for us to know what everyone thinks about the news story.

The media doesn't think it's important; they think it'll get people to tune in (which means more ad revenue), and as long as people continue to do so, they'll be right. Beat the system. Stop watching TV news.

Am I the only one who thinks that allowing the public to comment on news stories is moronic and short sighted? People write the stupidest, most insensitive, slanderous things when they know that they won't be held accountable for the mental damage they cause.

I think they do it just to get web hits. There are ads all over the site and you usually have to sign up with an email address to post responses. Spam spam spam. They know that incendiary remarks will be made, which only drives more traffic to their website.

Reminds of a show I watched recently covering the history of the KKK. KKK shows up to some town and holds a rally. A large crowd shows up to protest, which brings along news stations and giving the KKK wide spread coverage. If people truly wanted to protest the KKK, they should have stayed home. I would love to see them give a speech to an empty sidewalk considering there were no KKK supporters in the crowd.

How the hell do you run into the back of a steetsweeper?
Fogged up glasses?

The same way you run into a parked car: You aren't paying attention to where you are going.

Am I the only one who thinks that allowing the public to comment on news stories is moronic and short sighted? People write the stupidest, most insensitive, slanderous things when they know that they won't be held accountable for the mental damage they cause.

Yes you are. Many papers fill their letters section using online forum posts. You'll notice, in the papers where this is done, that a few writers use the same tone they'd use if they were writing a reply letter.

Lack of user content is what's wrong with our media system. That and fear of losing contacts. Lately, much of the investigative journalism has been done by bloggers who happened upon local accounts and videos.

Millions of readers then filter the quality material up to the stratosphere of good blogging and a lucky journalist spots it and reports. Then it's mainstream. It's the largest functioning peer review system around and it functions shockingly well given that it has no overarching design!

Besides, when you want to point out how stupid one of these arguments is you can just point them to one of these brilliantly worded internet posts: If the person doesn't recognize that he agrees with a moron than he's not worth convincing. That doesn't mean he has to change his mind. He does have to find a better argument!