Digital_Cowboy

I hadn't noticed/thought of that, but presumably all things be equal and judging by where the bike was wedged into the car. It looks as if he was just left of the right tire track.

So unless the driver was distracted by something more "important" than driving. Theres no reason he shouldn't have seen the cyclist.

And I agree in that it would be nice to see the drivers cell phone/OnStar records. As well as their driving record.

Digital_Cowboy

There does appear to be something (presumably a taillight) clap tongue seat post just above the seat post clamp.

I-Like-To-Bike

How old is old to you? At what age does one qualify to fit your stereotyping of "old folks?" Does a 40 year old driver qualify? If not WTF does your observation have to do with this accident?

BTW, How do you guesstimate drivers' age while riding your bike? Blue/gray/no hair, driving a Buick, anybody who looks older than you, or what?

Dchiefransom

Is it legal in Ohio to cross that double yellow line?

CharlesZ

For my part I'd be on the "path." You will never win with a car. Ride to survive. My deepest sympathy to the cyclists family.

Paul Barnard

My observation has nothing to do with this accident. It was an aside. That happens on internet forums sometimes. To answer your question, I don't need to guesstimate their age. Look up the definition of elderly. The people that buzz me often have the physical characteristics of elderly people.

Paul Barnard

There is language in most state's laws that do allow it in certain circumstances. Even if not, I doubt you'd find too many cops who'd take issue with a careful pass of a mail truck, bicycle, tractor, broken down vehicle, etc. that involved crossing a double yellow.

Aceldama

It sounds like it's time to give up that driver's license.

I-Like-To-Bike

Got it, your "observations" about elderly folks has nothing to do with the thread and is just OT unsubstantiated jabber.

Unlike your speculation (msg#9) about an elderly person being responsible for this accident – “but my guess would be the operator was elderly and will be free to continue driving and not seeing things tomorrow.” That post was about this accident but also unsubstantiated and in fact inaccurate.

But what difference does accuracy make when you have already made up your mind due to your preconceived bias, eh?

eja_ bottecchia

This story is depressing.

I ride on the streets and two of my daughters live, and commute by bike, in San Francisco.

Thge back and forth bickering here is just as depressing.

For G's sake, one of our brothers lost his life, doing exactly what we love to do. Let's focus on that.

Sad....

RoadTire 

From the images, does it look like there was only a car-length or 2 from where he was struck to where the car stopped? Looks like an officer holding a marker by the puddle so would that be where it happened? No skid marks or anything - so the car must have been traveling at city-street speed when they struck the bike? Right?

This kind of thing reinforced my thoughts of using a good blinkie anytime I'm on the road so the awareness of drivers is heightened before they get close. But for all we know, there was traffic distractions, plus the dangling thing from the cars RV mirror contributing to the accident.

Prayers are in order for all the parties affected by the accident, including the driver. Nothing less than a tragedy for both the victim, the driver, and their families.

longbeachgary

My prayers go out to the family.
Gary

SteamDonkey74

The bike path thing always seems a bit irrelevant to me, but maybe that's because the one time I actually was hit by a motor vehicle (a tow truck, interestingly) I WAS in the flippin' bike lane and traveling with a green light, whereas he was running a red.

My heart goes out to this guy's family and friends. I was relatively lucky, being left with a boogered up fingertip (sewed up but still feels weird) and a broken leg.

SteamDonkey74

Agreed.

Paul Barnard

This has nothing to do with the thread and is just OT idle jabber. Now back on topic I-Love-To-Immerse-Myself-In-Inconsequential-Minutia-In-The-Interest-Of Self-Aggrandization

skye

I agree, random speculation. The only way in which a handicapped plate might be of interest is that raises the possibility that the driver was on a prescription drug which interfered with their functioning. It happens, and not just with handicapped people. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256838/

njkayaker

That's funny (see following).

You contradict yourself: you first say the handicap plate is "of interest" and then say it's irrelevant. To make a "random speculation" (after agreeing with I-like-to-bike that that isn't a good thing!). Good job!

delcrossv

Or vision restricted, or,or,or......There's a lot of reasons people get handicapped plates, any number of which may be relevant. And no, there's nothng in the article as to why the driver was issued one, but it still may be relevant to the case.

B. Carfree

I find it interesting that the reporter mentioned the poor-condition bike path in a way that seemed to come awfully close to blaming the victim, but couldn't be bothered to investigate the nature of the motorist's disability. The existence of a sidepath really not relevant to the wreck, the existence of some physical limitation on the part of the motorist MAY be important in explaining what happened.

enigmaT120

"I didn't see him!" is a perfectly legitimate excuse. It needs no explanation, but you can always say the sun was in your eyes or something like that. You will keep your license.

delcrossv

+1. Doesn't matter if it were a perfectly paved bike path or none at all. The cyclist was where he had a right to be and the path and its condition is irrelevant.

delcrossv

Then that person shouldn't be driving. I wonder what he'll not see next?

Digital_Cowboy

Agreed that the driver had handicapped plates may or may not be relevant.

I-Like-To-Bike

This thread is rife with speculation and club house forensic investigators lobbying against their "usual suspects" of preference: elderly folks, cell phone users, bike lane-take the lane debate, etc.

I recommend that the moderators transfer most if not all similar threads of fatal accident guesswork to the memorium thread; the outpourings of grief and sorrow are a whole lot more tasteful then the ghouls riding their conjuring hobbyhorses to make points about their favorite issues no matter if it is relevant to the accident or not.

Doohickie

Ironically, my grandma was once pulled over for going through a rough, pot-hole-filled section of road; the cop told her to cross over the double yellow to avoid the bumps if the oncoming lane is clear.