Originally Posted by GrouchoWretch

I don't know any more than what the news has said about the exact circumstances of the crash. I will say that I've seen a rider on a BMX bike riding down the middle left turn or "suicide" lane of a similar road just a few miles from there. He wasn't just clowning around in the road during a break in traffic. He was headed somewhere in a straight line and using the turn lane as a through lane, as if it were the bike lane.

At least one of the stories stated that this cyclist was in the "left lane" when he was hit. Whether that means the left turn or suicide lane, or the left through lane, it's not a good choice.

If young cyclists are making this kind of mistake, one way to reduce the number of crashes might be an education push. I mean, I don't understand why anyone would think it makes sense to ride that way, but it seems that some people do, for some damned reason. So maybe we need to put some money and time and work into telling people something we believe to be obvious.

At the same time, I have become convinced that too many drivers are gunnng it down the road while assuming the way is clear, and anything in their way, such as a vehicle that is slowing to make a turn, is an aberration and not supposed to be there. It's as if they're conditioned to think of surface roads and even parking lots as freeways. Just aim the nose at Point B and hit the gas, like going into hyperspace. That's not driving! There must be a way to communicate this to drivers.