tragic, as is this case closer to my home:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...5-2862,00.html
A CORONER has criticised "high risk" behaviour of Hell Ride cyclists after the death of an elderly man struck on a pedestrian crossing.
State Coroner Graeme Johnstone said the weekly Hell Ride, with hundreds of cyclists travelling at speed along Beach Rd, was not a suitable event for suburban streets or main roads.
The Hell Ride is an informal Saturday morning ride from Black Rock to Mt Eliza and back.
Mr Johnstone found a failure by cyclists to heed police safety messages and appoint responsible leaders had contributed to the death of James Gould.
He said Mr Gould's death after he was hit by cyclist William Raisin-Shaw as he crossed Beach Rd on a green pedestrian signal at Mentone on August 26 last year was "unnecessary and preventable".
Mr Gould, 77, died in the Alfred hospital the next day from head injuries.
Mr Raisin-Shaw, of East St Kilda, has been charged with failing to stop at traffic lights.
In his inquest finding delivered yesterday, Mr Johnstone highlighted a police submission which said the Hell Ride had "degenerated into a disorganised race".
He recommended speed and "bunching" be better managed so cycling groups would stop at red lights.
"With the running of red lights it is only a matter of time before we see a catastrophe when a car proceeding through an intersection with a green light strikes a group of cyclists," Mr Johnstone said.
"It is troubling that the safety measures, delivered over a number of years by Victoria Police . . . do not appear to have been heeded.
"The behaviour of this large group, as was evidenced by the incident where Mr Gould died, is indicative of a high risk event . . . that is not suitable for either suburban streets or main roads where the public frequent."
Mr Johnstone said 220 cyclists had died on Australian roads since 2000, compared with two pedestrians hit and killed by cyclists.
The coroner found a group of cyclists, riding about 50km/h, appeared to ignore a red light and continued through.
Mr Raisin-Shaw also ran a red light, under pressure from cyclists behind him calling out "rolling, rolling".
He said Mr Raisin-Shaw did not see Mr Gould as he stepped on to the road.
Mr Raisin-Shaw did not comment outside the Coroner's Court.
CycleSport Victoria president Klaus Mueller said outside court that cyclists should face tougher penalties for breaking road laws. He said most Hell Riders were not members of his organisation.
"Every rider out there has to recognise they have to follow the rules," Mr Mueller said.
"In statistical terms it is an extremely rare event for a cyclist to kill or hurt another road user; cyclists are by far and away the most vulnerable when they break the road rules."
Mr Raisin-Shaw will appear in court next month.