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11-25-08, 02:24 AM
A Martinez, California, bicyclist has been killed by a hit-and-run driver, Monday evening November 24th between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. At this hour, twilight and dusk is currently descending in northern California:
San Francisco Chronicle
Martinez bicyclist killed in hit and run (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/24/BAT014BRHL.DTL&tsp=1)
Contra Costa Times
Cyclist killed in Port Costa hit-and-run (http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_11065592)
49-year-old Mark Pendleton was hit head-on by a driver who left the scene. He was found later by an off-duty fireman. He is believed to have been an experienced cyclist, riding a well-equipped road bike (except for a light or reflectors). At this time, it's unclear what Mark's condition was immediately after he was hit, whether he could have been saved by prompt medical attention.
The motorist fled the scene leaving debris from front end damage to his dark colored vehicle, including a broken light or turn signal. Let's hope he is caught!
McEwen Road is a two-lane, rural road with narrow shoulders near to a built-up urban area. Comments so far acknowledge that although the cyclist didn't have a light, the lack of a light did not made the driver blameless. The driver clearly crossed over the center line. McEwen Road has several sharp, blind corners, but it's not clear exactly where on the road this happened. Perhaps a local can report for us here. I'll be watching for information at the San Francisco Bike Coalition (http://www.sfbike.org/).
Martinez is an older city of about 40K that is situtated on an auto commuter route between the Diablo Valley cities and the Sacramento Valley cities, because it has a major bridge over the Carquinez Strait, an inland extension of San Francisco Bay. Martinez is only a few miles north of the Pleasant Hill and Concord stations of BART. Bicyclists from San Francisco or Oakland can reach the area in less than an hour via BART. Since the opening of BART more than 30 year ago, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Concord have become suburban bedroom communities with small downtowns and considerable local employment. Martinez itself still maintains the feel of an older city in the center, with an old downtown area of shopping and cafes, including some landmark buildings. It has little poverty, but is not particularly an affluent city.
Hills above the Carquinez Strait are hugely popular for cyclists, and the parkland contains hiking trails. The cyclist could have been riding one of any number of beautiful scenic loop rides in the area between Martinez and Crockett. There is very little development near McEwen Road. I have explored the area myself several times on BART-to-BART rides, but I cannot remember McEwen Road very well. The Road is sometimes used for scheduled time trials.
If there is a memorial ride this weekend for the cyclist (which are common in the Bay Area, and always well attended) I will make sure it is posted here. I am in the Bay Area right now, but unfortunately, I may have to miss such a memorial due to Thanksgiving obligations.
Howard
San Francisco Chronicle
Martinez bicyclist killed in hit and run (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/24/BAT014BRHL.DTL&tsp=1)
Contra Costa Times
Cyclist killed in Port Costa hit-and-run (http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_11065592)
49-year-old Mark Pendleton was hit head-on by a driver who left the scene. He was found later by an off-duty fireman. He is believed to have been an experienced cyclist, riding a well-equipped road bike (except for a light or reflectors). At this time, it's unclear what Mark's condition was immediately after he was hit, whether he could have been saved by prompt medical attention.
The motorist fled the scene leaving debris from front end damage to his dark colored vehicle, including a broken light or turn signal. Let's hope he is caught!
McEwen Road is a two-lane, rural road with narrow shoulders near to a built-up urban area. Comments so far acknowledge that although the cyclist didn't have a light, the lack of a light did not made the driver blameless. The driver clearly crossed over the center line. McEwen Road has several sharp, blind corners, but it's not clear exactly where on the road this happened. Perhaps a local can report for us here. I'll be watching for information at the San Francisco Bike Coalition (http://www.sfbike.org/).
Martinez is an older city of about 40K that is situtated on an auto commuter route between the Diablo Valley cities and the Sacramento Valley cities, because it has a major bridge over the Carquinez Strait, an inland extension of San Francisco Bay. Martinez is only a few miles north of the Pleasant Hill and Concord stations of BART. Bicyclists from San Francisco or Oakland can reach the area in less than an hour via BART. Since the opening of BART more than 30 year ago, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Concord have become suburban bedroom communities with small downtowns and considerable local employment. Martinez itself still maintains the feel of an older city in the center, with an old downtown area of shopping and cafes, including some landmark buildings. It has little poverty, but is not particularly an affluent city.
Hills above the Carquinez Strait are hugely popular for cyclists, and the parkland contains hiking trails. The cyclist could have been riding one of any number of beautiful scenic loop rides in the area between Martinez and Crockett. There is very little development near McEwen Road. I have explored the area myself several times on BART-to-BART rides, but I cannot remember McEwen Road very well. The Road is sometimes used for scheduled time trials.
If there is a memorial ride this weekend for the cyclist (which are common in the Bay Area, and always well attended) I will make sure it is posted here. I am in the Bay Area right now, but unfortunately, I may have to miss such a memorial due to Thanksgiving obligations.
Howard