vol

7-time world champion, 17-time U.S. national champion, oldest woman to have won a triathlon when she was 58.

Iconic Michigan triathlete Karen McKeachie killed in bike crash

CliffordK

Once every couple of months, I get passed by a car passing another coming towards me.

I find it is extremely annoying, and rather scary. I'm normally riding on a wide enough shoulder that I have some buffer. But, any little swerve by either car or cyclist spells lights-out.

I think there needs to be more emphasis on passing alternative road users with drivers education and testing.

And somehow we need more patience in society as a whole.

canklecat

A couple of weeks ago, riding a new-to-me bike home, I lost count of the number of vehicles that passed me unsafely across the double yellow line, including at least two near-collisions with oncoming traffic. I'd like to attribute it to Friday afternoon impatience, but most of the passes didn't accomplish anything. I caught up with most of 'em at the next stop sign.

Reminds me, I need to update my wall of shame video and animated GIF postings for Facebook and YouTube. What's the point of recording video of my boring rides without a little public humiliation for the unguided missile occupants?

Equinox

Even the headline makes my blood boil. She did not die in a bike crash. She was murdered by a negligent driver.

Chris0516

Yesterday, I was passed insanely close on a two-lane blacktop in the local business section. By an on-duty county police officer driving one of the department's SUV's. Who was not on a call. No lights, siren, or gunned engine(w/ speed) to indicate they were on an emergency call.

Near the end of the ride, I was on a busy two-lane blacktop right outside of town. An insolent driver, two cars back was honking their horn. I was thinking to myself:

'Mr. Myopic Moron, here are my options to get back into town:

1. I can slow you down momentarily for a small hill, but make the right turn into town at speed
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wa...755059!6m1!1e1
2. I can slow you down by trying to make a right turn off the bridge
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ra...298!4d-77.1779
then a sudden left turn where not only would I have to deal with oncoming traffic. I would also have to deal with traffic that wouldn't see me, when they are speeding over the hill.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ra...784035!6m1!1e1

or

by making a left turn where the oncoming traffic can't see me.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ra...774781!6m1!1e1
3. I can slow you down exponentially by trying to make a right turn up a hill and across the railroad tracks at the same time
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oa...760784!6m1!1e1

Maybe you(not anyone here, just referring to stupid motorists') would like me to get killed by a commuter, passenger, or commercial train. All because you don't want a cyclist in front of you.

So take your pick Mr Horn Beater, Mr. Engine Abuser, Mr. I Need To Get There Yesterday, Mr. Get The F*** Off The Road

ItsJustMe

I actually ride that road from work and back every day (live in Chelsea, work in Dexter). I haven't been on it for a couple of months due to construction changing my route, but I got back on it last night and this morning. It's very lightly travelled and is popular among cyclists, but the general incidence of cyclists in the area is quite low. Drivers are not that used to cyclists and do not look for them. So cyclists have to take extraordinary measures here to make their presence known.

I have video of cars pulling out to pass and narrowly missing me in the oncoming lane, multiple times. I've always seen them coming and moved to the side (and laid on the AirZound and posted an "idiot of the day" video on youtube). This is why I now ride with a very bright flashing front light in the day, and a bright steady with slight strobe at night. I have not had anyone try that in the 2 years since I started doing that. I have had friends who happened to see me on that road comment that it is effective.

Cycling in the area has gotten to be more prevalent than it was when I started 12 years ago (I think I went my first 3 years of cycling, 12 miles one way, every day, without seeing a SINGLE other cyclist on the road), but it's still a bit rare when out in the roads between towns. Most cyclists that you see are within a town, not outside them. And when you do see them, it's on weekends. Weekday commuters are seeing drivers that may not have ever seen a cyclist going to work at 6AM out 5 miles outside of town.

Chris0516

Rip

ypsetihw

and the headline reads "killed in a bike crash" wtf?!

she was killed in an automobile collision, and it was not an accident, it was the fault of the driver. she was killed by another person driving a car. there is no "bike crash" about this. the media is totally effed

vol

That article was not the only one calling it "bike crash":
World champion triathlete from metro Detroit, Karen McKeachie, dies in bicycle crash - WXYZ.com
USA Triathlon Hall-of-Famer Karen McKeachie Dies in Bike Crash

It makes it sound as if it's the consequence of a risky sport, like "Olympic champion dies in training accident", "Pilot dies in test flight".

Here is another article with a bit more details: Driver who struck, killed Ann Arbor triathlete was passing vehicle | MLive.com

genec

Everybody is in a F'n hurry... always some excuse... gotta get somewhere, risk is thrown out the window... schedule is more important.

79pmooney

What color jersey was she wearing? I have stopped wearing jerseys that are 1) not yellow or very bright orange and 2) have patterns based on my experience, both as a rider and a driver. As a driver, I know there are light situations where red is almost invisible, even in broad daylight and patterns in mottled sunlight (like through trees) can be great camouflage.

As rider, I have had fewer close calls that were not intentional since I started this and quite a few drivers slowing and thanking me for being visible.

To me, responsible reporting would note what colors the bike rider was wearing and any other visibility gear used. Then we might get to learn from others' misfortunes about what does and doesn't work in the real word.

Ben

mr_bill

Imagine if the investigation determined that the man driving the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche westbound had just passed a vehicle, but before he could get back into the westbound lane he struck someone driving a car in the eastbound lane.

Imagine that the investigation would still be ongoing.

Imagine that some people would ask what color was the car struck and if their daytime running lights were on.

Imagine.


Too sad and angry right now....

-mr. bill

jefnvk

What color was the car? Should we only sell them in hi-viz colors? Maybe everything on the road should be required to be the same bright green.

Equinox

This is getting too close to victim -blaming. How about, "Where was the driver going?" "How fast was the driver going?""Was the driver in a passing zone?" "Was the driver in compliance with any restrictions on his license(eyeglasses)?" "How could the driver NOT see the bicyclist?" "Why did the driver not take emergency evasive action such as slamming on his brakes to avoid hitting a vulnerable user?"

howsteepisit

This is the only thing that really really pisses me off when riding. Used to happen often in Bozeman when I lived there. To me it's an attempt to either kill me or devalue my life to the point of insignificance. Both really piss me off.

On the topic, I am so sorry for the loss of life.

genec

fify

40 hours of classroom with an emphasis on not slowing others down, is NOT driver training.

Roughstuff

The pathetic reporting of accidents of all kinds just dovetails with the decline in the quality of reporting overall. Most of what I read in local rags is available on the internet one, even two days before, if the news cycle is right. Thirty years after the advent of word processors, misspelled words are still prevalent in newspaper articles. Usage---and I am no Shakespeare myself---was dumbed down to 3rd grade level decades ago.

Accident reports---and yes, I agree they should be called crashes in many cases because it was not an accident, it was sheer neglect---are written by "journalists" who drive their cars to work. Conflict of interest at least!

I temper my outrage because I suspect many cyclists, when they are driving their own cars, commit many of the offenses they bark about in these forums.

CliffordK

I rarely find the need to pass a vehicle on a 2 lane road. And, when I do, I always make sure the coast is clear. I have to wonder why a 70 yr old guy was in such a hurry???

And, as far as another recent accident report, I also never take "handfulls of pills"... then jump in a car and speed off at 60+ MPH.

But, yes, it is a valid point. We are all getting older. I've experienced fatigue behind the wheel before. And at the speed that cars go, a lapse of attention for one second can be HUGE.

We all make mistakes... and those that don't are lying to themselves.

Roughstuff

One thing that is never made clear to drivers is if you can't pass and you are closing in on the car in front of you...or the BIKE in front of you, there this thing called the BRAKE PEDAL that can come into use. This is one reason why motorcyclists ride to the left and right in a lane...so they don't get rear ended and crushed. It can be quite intimidating when an oncoming car goes into the right (his left) lane to pass when you are on the shoulder.

As for me I find having to pass a vehicle on a two lane road to be quite frequent. Oddly what I mean by this is many people pass me...not that I am always a slave to the speed limit, but if it is a residential area (even in the country, with big yards and barns, etc) I AM . The people behind me wouldn't want me going so quickly in their neighborhood so I ask them to respect the one I am in. Most of the passes, if really pretty unproductive, are pretty safe.

To me it constantly comes down to the fact that riding on a 2 wheeled bicycle in a roadway full of vehicles weighing forty times more, means you are taking a lot if risk. You either accept that risk or you don't ride.

CliffordK

I suppose one thing about passing is that I feel it is safer for cars to be spread out, rather than tailgating each other.

I'm frequently surprised when I'm expecting one car coming up behind me, and there is a second one following closely behind (often so close that their forward view would have been impaired).

ItsJustMe

This concerns me as well. It's the reason why, before I start my longer commute into denser traffic in a couple of weeks, I plan to build a rig for elevating my taillights up high enough so they can be seen through the car behind me by the guy behind him.

bobwysiwyg

I too ride this road fairly often between Ann Arbor and Chelsea. There really are only two routes, the other, Jackson Rd has a, in my opinion, dangerous section towards Chelsea. Dexter-Chelsea Rd on the other hand, though a two lane, rural road, good condition and good visibility and a much better view of surroundings. When I read the first report a couple of days ago I was a bit surprised and felt there had to more details to explain it.

As for the reporting, MLive isn't as top notch as some news outlets.

CliffordK

A couple of helmets have built in taillights. Some better than others.

I've got a Bell helmet with little button cell powered lights. Two independent lights, I usually just use one at a time. And the cells will last a week or so, but are cheap to replace.

No doubt there are better systems.

I do have a headlamp mounted to my helmet, but I don't really like a lot of non-standard equipment hanging off of my helmet for fear it will reduce the effectiveness of the helmet.

FullGas

please.

a worthwhile accident analysis would initially focus on factors related to the driver, vehicle, site conditions...

your comment that intends place blame on the victim's attire is pitifully shameless.

on thurs, I was riding in a dedicated bike lane and was struck from behind by a car that neither slowed before nor stopped after impact.

do you need to know the color of my jersey to determine if I contributed to the situation?

genec

Were you wearing a helmet? (that always seems to be a key factor in news stories... while having very little relevance... )