TomD77

There are a couple of posters here on the 50+ forum from Decatur (a part of Atlanta metro).

link to story https://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bicyclist-dies-after-being-1428310.html

I'm from Atlanta but didn't start riding until I moved to my current semi-rural location. I swear that I don't know how so many of you go out and mix it up with dense traffic. I don't want anything to do with it.

BluesDawg

teachme

Sad.

Phil85207

No details of the incident, but my prayers go out to his loved ones.
We never know when the bell will toll for us.

genec

I'm seeing more reports of older cyclists being killed on the road by motorists... makes me wonder... the last couple of reports detailed the cyclists as being long time riders... Are drivers just becoming more stupid or what?

John_V 

This is getting rediculous! Two cyclist were killed last week in Florida. I was going to post about it, but I have posted several stories about cyclists getting killed in Florida and didn't want to make it sound like that is all I post. This is why I only ride on the roadways in groups of five or more riders as more riders make you more visible.

Bikey Mikey

Hopefully I won't be a victim. I wear hi-viz jerseys, use a Radbot 1000 in the rear(the blitz setting), and a use blinking MagicShine 808e in the front.

RonH

I've ridden on that stretch of N. Decatur Rd. SCARY!!!! I don't know why the cyclist didn't take Desmond or some other side street with slow moving, light traffic that runs parallel to N. Decatur.
I wish every cyclist in the Atlanta area would take the Confident City Cycling classes. Maybe this kind of tragedy could be avoided.

Terex

Good choices. That and riding with others. A group of 5-7 is usually safer due to 1) higher visibility, 2) belief on the part of crazies that 5-7 people may beat the crap out of you/record license number/take photo/testify in court and 3) is a lot less irritating than 15-20 people taking up big portions of the road.

I was driving in the opposite direction of a cyclist tonight that had a blinking front light that that could be seen from Mars. Much better than driving up on a guy in a 'bent with little or no visibility.

Also saw a guy ride down my road with red and white barber pole'ish kit. He looked very strong, and very visible.

As for me - allergies here in NJ are incredibly bad. I rode 30 on Fri. and 50 on Sat. On Sat., my eyes were watering so much that I could barely see to ride. On Sunday, my whole face hurt. I hope it rains tonight.

Dudelsack 

Probably.

Cyclists are becoming pretty dumb, too.

At the busiest intersection of town, I frequently see a Sengali ride on the wrong side of the street at rush hour. Not wearing a helmet is the least of his problems.

I see folks ride on streets I don't like to drive on.

Was this a factor for this gentleman? I don't know. Its a tragedy no matter how you look at it.

bikegeek57

I totally avoid N. Decatur Road on bike don't even like driving a car on it. Extremely narrow 4 lane road and absolutely overwhelmed with dense traffic, cars, trucks, buses and bikes . There are far better bike routes through this area. I commute down Desmond to avoid N. Decatur Road.

I am so sorry to hear about this rider.

As for older riders getting into trouble. I am an older rider. Age of cyclists has nothing to do with it. Car drivers are simply not engaged in the task. Too busy on phone talking, playing music, texting, etc. We all have seen this on every road, every day. Please put the toys down and drive your 3000 pound weapon carefully.

qcpmsame 

I've driven that stretch many times and my daughter lives somewhat close by, now. He could be dressed in every bright, neon color known and had lights going and he might well have been still hit and killed as fast as this stretch can be. Not anything horrific in speed but the physics say the bicyclist looses big time when the speed goes up with that mass involved and it gets pretty quick in that area.

Saddened to read this and prayers for his family.

Bill

JanMM

It's been 25+ years since I rode on N. Decatur Road - I'm sure that like the rest of Atlanta, the traffic is much worse now than then. Bicycle South is on that road, isn't it?

More older cyclists hit by cars? Pretty sure there are a lot more older cyclists (including JanMM) on the streets now than ever before.

bikegeek57

Paul Taylor was a PA with the Emory University School of Medicine. Tragic loss. He also coached girls soccer. I did not know him but the news is passing through and everyone has been asking all day about this. Thoughts go with his family.

John_V 

Unfortunately, being lit up like a Christmas tree doesn't always help. The two guys from Florida, killed last week, were wearing reflective clothing and had more than proper lighting on their bikes when they were hit by a driver that claimed he didn't see them. A third rider was injured and sent to the hospital and thankfully will live.

Link to story

Bikey Mikey

That's just sad and shows the driver of the vehicle was not paying attention. I know that I'm at risk every time I ride. But, what I do hopefully reduces my risk--I had a driver once tell me that I have one really bright headlight and it got his attention. I do ride on back streets and not the main roads(especially the 4 and 6 lane roads in Newport News). The roads I do ride on, for most of the route, have signs identifying them as bike routes. Anyway, I try to be diligent and ride defensively. I don't trust many behind the wheel--heck, I don't trust many other cyclists(especially the college kids around me). Today, some kid from the college campus, not wearing a helmet, crossed the road right in front of me with one car turning left, other cars turning right on the other side and some cars going straight, and me going straight about 19mph. I slowed a tad and swerved to ensure there wasn't a problem--but, I also I exclaimed, "Geez, Dude!" He responded with a "Sorry."

Dellphinus

What really POs me is the use of the term "accident". A mechanical failure causing the collision would be an accident. A deer running into the road causing the collision would be an accident. "Not seeing" the rider, adjusting the radio, using a phone, putting on makeup, not paying attention are not accidents, they are negligence (and can be on either the cyclists or drivers part). "A driver killed a cyclist, how sad, but accidents happen." Grrrrrr. We've got to figure out a way to change that attitude.

Yeah, I know, but it POs me...