Originally Posted by
mmeiser
3) Think about using a camera. Cyclists with cameras are changing the game.
Right now in ohio a lady is trying to get the death of a touring cyclist she hit removed from her permanent record. She said the sun was in her eyes and got only a $1000 fine. The cyclist is dead. Gone. Never coming back. A 20 something riding across the US. I met her on the day she died and may even have been the last person to speak to her. Yet this lady after only five years wants her death expunged from her permanent record so she can get cheaper carinsurance... or maybe so she can hit and kill another cyclist with absolutely zero reprecussions due having hit and killed one already. I'm mad as hell. And though I don't carry a gun some driver some day may cross that line and I may have to defend myself by whatever means necessary. I do not find the political climate of deprioritizing cyclists lives for the sake of drivers convenience acceptable. The 3 feet laws are at least a start, but the reality is horrible, inexcuseable and unreconcileable.
If I were younger and had a family to take care of I would definitely seriously consider the use of video cameras. At my age I might want to consider just a better life insurance policy.
Your story about the lady cyclist being hit and killed is very sad. It seems every couple years I hear another story of some young person getting killed while riding on the road. Just breaks my heart. The fact that the lady who killed the cyclist in Ohio only got a $1000 fine I find reprehensible. Even if it turned out that the excuse was legitimate the person not only should have received a much larger fine ( if not jail time ) but also should have had her license revoked for at least 10 years. As a professional driver I encounter situations that hamper or limit my vision on a regular basis. It should make no difference if you have the sun in your eyes or bright car lights. You are still responsible for not running someone over. The judge in that case in my opinion should of been throw off the bench. This has me wondering now what happened to the lady who ran down my co-worker on his motorcycle.
In keeping with the subject of this conversation I had an interesting discussion a few years back with my family doctor. While we were discussing my health issues the fact that I was a cyclist came up in the discussion. My doctor told me that he would never ride a bike on the road. When I asked him why he would say that he said it was because of all the people out there driving that couldn't half see. When I asked him to elaborate more on why he felt that way he told me it was because he had personally treated so many people who really had such bad vision problems that they really shouldn't even have a drivers license. I have to admit although I knew it was just one person's opinion it did give me pause for thought.