My wife & I rode the 50 mile loop. It's our 5th or 6th time (we also do the Patriot Ride in Oct.). This isn't a race, it's a charity ride for the local area. There are several routes from a 10 mile family-oriented cruise to the 100 miler. The cyclists hit were on the 100 mile loop which went south of Indio on very rural roads (Dillon Road) mostly traveled by local farmers hence the high speed of the car. Any other day of the year he would most likely have just spun off into the sand.
The ride is very well organized and most major intersections are fully or partially controlled by CHP or local Police. They also cruise the route regularly to maintain as much safety as possible. On major streets often the right lane is coned off for cyclists. Most of the route is on very wide, minimally travelled streets which often have a bike lane. We never felt unsafe or nervous during the ride.
Short of closing the entire route there was NO WAY to prevent this tragedy. Maybe if the driver was charged with 2nd degree murder and given 20 years mandatory instead of vehicular manslaughter the next idiot might think twice.
West