Cycling article after death of 2 cyclists near Whistler
06-02-15, 06:27 AM
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06-02-15, 06:40 AM
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That is the same here in the U.S.. Because, In Maryland the law for passing a cyclist is 3ft.. But some drivers don't even know about the existence of the law five years after, it became part of the traffic code. Then there are those that do know. That could care less about the law. Then, There is law enforcement's ambivalent ignorance of the law. Saying that it is not a high priority for them.
It was a head-on collision. Allegedly the driver was on the wrong side of the road. The motor vehicle was not passing the cyclists.
Tragic story - yes, relevance of 3 foot law ranting - none.
06-02-15, 07:31 AM
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Laws will do little good. People who are killed or critically injured while riding (or walking) are nearly always the result of someone disobeying some law. A one meter (or 3') law won't help when someone is distracted and veers out of their lane in to a shoulder or bike lane. Or simply fails to slow enough when approaching a rider taking the lane.
Over 40% of cyclist fatalities in the U.S. are drivers plowing in to cyclists from behind. The cyclist is right in front of them but 'they didn't see them'. Another 13% are sideswipes. The cyclist had been right in front of them just a second beforehand.
Over 40% of cyclist fatalities in the U.S. are drivers plowing in to cyclists from behind. The cyclist is right in front of them but 'they didn't see them'. Another 13% are sideswipes. The cyclist had been right in front of them just a second beforehand.
Last edited by CrankyOne; 06-02-15 at 07:34 AM.
06-02-15, 07:35 AM
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Laws will do little good. People who are killed or critically injured while riding (or walking) are nearly always the result of someone disobeying some law. A one meter (or 3') law won't help when someone is distracted and veers out of their lane in to a shoulder or bike lane. Or simply fails to slow enough when approaching a rider taking the lane.
06-02-15, 03:38 PM
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Yup, fully 1/4 of the whole article was devoted to "3 foot law ranting."
Here is some of that "rant:"
Here is some of that "rant:"
Ontario member of the legislature Eleanor McMahon became a cycling advocate after a motorist with five convictions for driving while suspended struck and killed her husband, Greg Stobbart, during a training ride in 2006.
She spearheaded provincial legislation, set to be passed into law Tuesday, which will force motorists to give cyclists one metre of space when passing.
"Part of what makes us vulnerable when we're on a bicycle, in the country anyway, is the fact that we haven't had the infrastructure in place to create the kind of society that sees cycling as a benefit," she says.
She spearheaded provincial legislation, set to be passed into law Tuesday, which will force motorists to give cyclists one metre of space when passing.
"Part of what makes us vulnerable when we're on a bicycle, in the country anyway, is the fact that we haven't had the infrastructure in place to create the kind of society that sees cycling as a benefit," she says.
06-02-15, 06:51 PM
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I've had oncoming drivers pull out into my lane to pass several times, pushing me onto the gravel shoulder once or twice. It hasn't happened to me since I started running a bright (500+ lumen) front strobe.
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06-02-15, 06:56 PM
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Licensing in the US is pretty lax. Pretty much any idiot who manages to avoid a half dozen DUI convictions can get behind the wheel. It's a problem.
06-02-15, 07:03 PM
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I would say the most critical of those four is enforcement. We don't do it in the US any longer, but when I lived where it was done the infrastructure and education, or lack thereof, didn't seem to matter much. Persistent, annoying enforcement of traffic laws really makes for a safe riding environment, at least if you can put up with those same laws being enforced against cyclists. (I'm only now getting habituated to running stop signs and dead reds several decades after my last experience with a jurisdiction that took traffic law seriously.)
06-03-15, 05:49 AM
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My headlight is 600 lumens, and I have encountered a couple situations in the past, like that.
06-03-15, 12:31 PM
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It's no panacea, but I find that a flashing front draws MY attention when I'm driving. I feel like I have less close pullout incidents with a strobing front light but of course I can't know for sure without a controlled study and months of data, which I'm not interested in doing.
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