Ninety5rpm

This is horrific to watch, but it's important:

Bike advocates push for charges against trucker in cyclist’s death


I understand the inclination to charge the truck driver, but, honestly, to what end? Isn't killing a human being enough punishment? Will a charge really make a difference? Will other cyclists be any safer because of it?

If anyone is interested in making cyclists actually safer, then I would suggest helping make right hook avoidance practices better known.

All cyclists should know to never start passing a truck (or any vehicle for that matter, but especially a large articulating truck) on the right where it might turn right.

Too many cyclists are totally unfamiliar with this basic and simple safety principle, which should be commonly known.

Just stay behind it, or pass on the left.

tyrion

Looks to me like the truck driver wasn't at fault. Possibly the bicyclist stopped but didn't realize the way a truck's rear wheels cut inside the front wheels' turning radius.

People should learn from this instead of trying to manufacture blame and stoke outrage.

mr_bill

1 - The operator put on their turn signal only eight seconds before the turn. TOO late!
2 - The operator needs to KNOW THEIR NO ZONE.
3 - The operator made a textbook example of how NOT to turn right from near the CENTER of Mass Ave onto Beacon St.
4 - In all the years of riding on that stretch I have NEVER seen any large truck turn onto Beacon Street in such a manner. Beacon St. is a wide one-way street.
5 - Let me repeat that. There is no reason to make that right turn in that manner. NONE.
6 - The operator made that turn at a reckless speed.
7 - Beacon St. is not a truck route.

When a person operates a vehicle criminally, they need to be charged criminally. (Even though getting a grand jury in Boston to indict a driver is next to impossible.)


I’ll be honest. I don’t pass trucks on the right unless they are dead stopped and corked in traffic and I am certain I can be in a safe and visible location in front of the operator before they can move.

But I have passed a moving truck operating in the left lane or is moving to the left lane to prepare for a left turn. In my car. On my bike. If you are honest, so have you.

That operator was operating to endanger. He could have killed a pedestrian. He happend to kill a person on a bike.


I happen to be in Taipei right now. The large vehicles have turn beepers. They sound like backup beepers. I find them quite useful.

-mr. bill

Ninety5rpm

I hope that was what my OP conveyed, for it's certainly where I was aiming.

I've never driven a truck like that so I can't really judge, but I've heard both sides about that. What's remarkable is literally 2 seconds before the collision the truck is fully within the #2 (center) lane and still moving away from the curb, partially into the #1 (left) lane. Then, suddenly, within that 2-second reaction time, it swings right and cuts her off. It's easy to see how she might have never seen it coming, much less with enough time to do anything about it. That said, she arguably should not have been in that situation in the first place, and could have easily avoided it had she been in the practice of staying behind trucks like that rather than passing them on the right, no matter how far left they swing...

I wish all cyclists would take five minutes to study this, it could save a lot of lives:

https://cyclingsavvy.org/what-cyclist...-about-trucks/

CliffordK

What absolutely bizarre street markings. It looks like there have been some major upgrades since that incident.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3507...7i13312!8i6656

One question that I would ask is whether the truck was actually legal. It appears to me as if it is over-length, in which case it probably should have lead/tail vehicles, and signs indicating the length.

Speeds also appear to be excessive for the maneuver being performed, but there is also risk of cars cutting to the truck's right, so he can't leave the space open for long.

I haven't pulled a semi-trailer, but I was taught when pulling a 5th wheel camper to pull straight ahead as far as possible, then cut sharp which helps keep the trailer from running over curbs. It appears as if the driver did more of a wide swing and diagonal turn. I.E. not a safe turn. The cyclist still might have gotten in the way, but perhaps not had the trailer cutting through all of the space on the road, and the driver wouldn't have had to pull as far left to start the maneuver.

On a previous thread, I mentioned that log trucks use stinger-steering on the trailers. Yet, that hasn't been adopted by the freight industry. It isn't without issues, but would help trailers follow the trucks much better, especially in tight urban turns.

Lights? Perhaps even incorporate external beepers for turn signals on oversized rigs.

Nonetheless, it both should, and shouldn't have been obvious to the cyclist that the truck was making a turn into her lane when the truck started signalling (assuming the signals were visible), and pulling left for the right turn maneuver.

I have to agree with tyrion. I'm not in favor of extreme charges for accidents. Unless there was something illegal such as driving an oversized rig with out proper markings.

As a cycling community, truck drivers, and the government should all take this as a learning opportunity. And, it appears as if the city has done some major work to improve those bizarre street markings.

tyrion

Yeah I'd like to see what the turn signal looked like from the cyclists point of view. Poor visibility of the signal from that vantage might be the biggest flaw in the system. Or maybe allowing a truck like that on those streets might be the biggest flaw in the system.

CliffordK

Thinking about turn lights, what about adding low, very bright turn lights for trucks. Think about blinking high intensity amber spot lights.

CliffordK

Another option is to restrict hours for truck travel operation. I.E. restrict the trucks for hours between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM.

I believe certain fuel trucks around here are mandated for night hours only.

tyrion

That would impact developers and the big businesses that finance the mayor's campaign and the zoning commission's vacations.

Shimagnolo

The way that truck moved into the left lane prior to the right turn probably caused the cyclist to think it was changing lanes instead of turning, and so presented no hazard.

CliffordK

Dead cyclists and smashed cars don't affect them? I suppose the dead cyclists aren't voting anymore.

One would initially add the restriction to certain classes of vehicles such as the full length semi trailer. Allow box trucks and short trailers in. Allow a special permit system with perhaps lead/follow vehicles as necessary.

CliffordK

True. From the overhead (and in hindsight), it is a very common maneuver. But, even so, it should have had right turn lights activated. It may be harder to notice when one is in the middle of traffic. Ideally the truck should block all 3 lanes... somehow.

I'm thinking more about my idea of right turn strobes that would illuminate the pavement around the cyclists and vehicles. Enough to grab their attention, even in daylight.

Ninety5rpm

Yes, very likely.

I'll accept @mr_bill's assertion that this is a highly unusual way for a truck to turn there.

But I still don't see what good will come from charging this driver. It certainly won't do her, the truck driver, or his family any good. I suppose it would be cathartic for her family, friends and the cycling community, but It's not like he's evil, nor would it be nearly as satisfying as punishing someone who intentionally caused harm to someone. In all likelihood he feels terrible about it. Just not sure how much benefit, if any, will come from it.

I'm not necessarily against charging him, but I'd rather focus on responses to this tragedy that will help other cyclists from suffering a similar fate. The truck beepers, cameras, sensors, etc., are good technological responses. But I also think the importance of avoiding passing trucks on the right needs to be stressed. She spent 16 of her final seconds on earth riding where I, for one, would never be riding: on the right side of a truck, in the NO-ZONE. As soon as I see her appear to the truck's side I get a visceral reaction. It's that gut reaction that keeps me from riding there. I wish I knew how to get other cyclists develop a similar instinct. I wish she had. And it's not like I was born with it. I had to learn it too. So I know it can be done.

Maelochs

Seems simple. If someone breaks a law or two, charge them, try them, acquit or convict, release or punish.

Sometimes cyclists are held to a higher standard of observance of Darwin's laws .... but as far as the laws as written .... read them and act accordingly.

Justice shouldn't be about revenge. Mercy is great, but so is responsibility. Sometimes it doesn't look like anyone benefits ... but society as a whole benefits when the system is upheld.

So far I haven't heard what law the driver broke.

CliffordK

So if there is a NO ZONE in front, behind, and on both sides of the truck... Where, within 50 feet of the truck should one be?

And, look at all that wonderful drafting turbulence behind the truck

Part of the problem is that the truck passed the cyclist on the bridge, and should have seen her, then got snarled in traffic with the lights a block before Beacon Street while the cyclist caught up, and got halfway past the truck (passing him on the right).

Passing on the right, of course, is a dangerous maneuver around any vehicle, but we all do it to some extent when our lane is clear.

If matching the speed of traffic, perhaps the best place to be is in a slot to the right, behind the lead car's rear quarter panel, and in front of the trailing vehicle, allowing emergency maneuvering if necessary.

I believe the article above is incorrect:

My interpretation is that Dr. Kurmann was, in fact, going straight, and any movement to the right was part of a braking and avoidance maneuver, but she didn't get far enough out of the way, and the truck was moving far too quickly to safely negotiate that corner. Had she, in fact, turned right onto Beacon street, she likely would have kept from getting swept under the truck.

CliffordK

Anybody know what the truck was carrying? Weight?

That looks like a load that could have easily been carried on a truck half that size. However, if it is very dense/heavy, states often like to spread the load out as much as possible.

It would just seem a different configuration could have been better/safer in urban traffic.

mr_bill

OK, because so many people get this wrong, unless a vehicle has ALL WHEEL STEERING (and even then in some cases) the rear wheels track inside of the front wheels while turning. Period. (Frankly, the easiest way to verify this is on your bicycle.)

On a box truck, because of the long wheelbase, the rear wheels track much farther inside than the front wheels than a passenger car.

With a combination vehicle (tractor trailer), the trailer behaves VERY differently. And that difference is why the operator killed somebody by his lack of care.

During a portion of the turn, the trailer is moving TOWARD objects at relatively high speeds in a CONTRARY direction.

In the below animation, a truck is heading south and making a left turn east. The easiest way to see this is to look at the "scissor" between the western crosswalk line and the tractor trailer. Note that while the scissor is closing, the the scissor moves RAPIDLY quite a bit NORTH. (Magenta arrow below.)

She stopped. The trailer kept heading toward her. The excessive speed by the tractor trailer OPERATOR gave her NO CHANCE to get out of the way. That's why she was killed.




-mr. bill

CliffordK

I don't believe running over people is legal. And, the turn looks like it was driven too fast.

The video clip lists:
It is hard to say if this law applies as it was intended. The truck did apparently pass the cyclist on the bridge. Then the truck became stopped in traffic while the cyclist initiated a partial re-pass on the right side, prior to the truck initiating signaling.

Ninety5rpm

All this is why you should never get in that NO-ZONE to the right of a truck in the first place.

Ninety5rpm

Okay, the NO-ZONE in this image is where the driver can't see. It's not necessarily where you shouldn't be. And it's designed for motorists, not cyclists.

Obviously being in the NO-ZONE behind the truck is probably safer than the NO-ZONE to the right of the truck, if the truck might be turned right. But just know that your presence is unknown to the truck driver there.

I'm not too excited about the early pass of the cyclist on the bridge. Drivers pass cyclists all the time, usually without any consequence whatsoever - so easy to dismiss, if the cyclist is even noticed. It's unreasonable to require drivers to remember every time they pass a cyclist. It's certainly unwise to ride in a manner that depends on them remembering...

tyrion

The other important lesson is to look at their mirrors - if you can't see their eyes, they can't see you. Try to understand what drivers can and can't see.

Maelochs

Hard to tell from the video.

Truck driver was probably watching traffic, probably irritated he had missed his turn ... but he did have his blinker on .... can’t tell how far back he turned it on.

No idea where the blinkers were---as far as I know the cab as well as the trailer is lit.

Looks to me like she had her head down and was just riding. Trucks are big and loud and there is No way a truck should be able to sneak up on a cyclist. If she was looking anywhere but down ro tunnel-vision ahead why didn’t she see the truck sooner?

I also agree with CliffordK that she never intended to turn ... not at the speed she was traveling. I confess I do not know.

It looks to me that the blinker was on before the cyclist passed the back of the cab so she should have been able to see that—maybe.

I can pretty much rest secure that this would never happen to me because I never take trucks lightly. I speak from at least 15 years of daily commuting, thousands of miles of touring, and countless pleasure rides. I am Not blaming the cyclist nor the truck driver.

I do know truck drivers have big blind spots, and I know truck drivers are just humans and like myself, do dumb things ... survival dictates that I be smart enough to compensate ... like don’t try to pass a truck with its blinker on.

I can see where, if she saw the truck, she might have thought it was pulling left. However (and it is impossible to really tell form the video) it doesn’t look like she much looks. It seems as if she is content that the truck is over there and she is over here and then forgets it.

Around 1:23 the truck is visibly turning, and between 1:24 and 1:25 it crosses her lane. I don’t see her even react. Where was her attention? Maybe given the circumstances it was already too late by then ... but how in the heck did a truck get there without her noticing?

I also notice that she is going faster than the truck. if I were approaching n intersection next to a truck which was slowing, I would be extra alert, no matter what it seemed like it might do ... I would want to know.

As for the truck driver ... depends a lot on when he started signaling. If he checked his right mirror and didn’t see anything coming up on him and decided to make the maneuver, hit the signal, and proceeded .... I can see where he would have been looking ahead and to the right for cars and pedestrians and anything moving into his path of travel.

(The article cites a series of complaints from MassBuike, which say that the cyclist was in the lane for 16 seconds and the blinkers were on for eight. I don’t know where these numbers come from. it looks to me like the cyclist is level with the rear of the truck at 1:02, and at 1:04 the blinker first flashes ... but it could have earlier, it is grainy video.)

It makes sense that he would assume that nobody would see his blinker and make a high-speed run to beat him to the corner.

It is impossible to know if he simply did not see her, or misjudged her speed (I have had a truck driver do that to me on a straightway---he pulled left to pass with safe space and came back a little too soon----back in my slim and speedy days.) Could have happened here. or the truck driver could have done the “car search”—no cars coming so, nothing is coming.

It is equally possible that neither was paying sufficient attention. The truck driver had already missed his turn ... On the other hand, it looks to me like the cyclist is oblivious, lost in thought and riding, which is simply not okay in pretty much any urban setting.

It also seems that possibly she was intent on catching the light. Maybe she was thinking ahead more than around .... of course no one will ever know.

Maybe it was semi-distracted driving meets semi-distracted riding.

In any case ... he signaled. That much I know.

This is like an NFL replay—I don’t think there is enough solid evidence to overturn the call on the field.

It has nothing to do with laws and liability, but when I saw the video, even knowing what I was going to see, I thought “No! What are you doing there?”

I realize that this is a dead human being. I am not unaware that her friends and family are rent internally by this. As I cyclist, also, I tend to want to side with like vs. unlike.

However ....

Also I notice that the people who made the video are accusing the truck driver of a “hit and run.” it looks to me that she might actually have hit him, hit the trailer with her head and gone down.

I have had a semi run over my leg. The driver didn’t know. This guy might have run her over and never known. He might not even have run her over. I don’t really need to know the details, there. I see no reason to think the driver didn’t care. When shown driving later, he doesn’t seem to be hurrying to escape of anything ... again, I cannot tell and will never know.

It occurs to me that if I had been driving a car at the same speed an manner in which the cyclist was riding ... pretty sure people wouldn’t be after the truck driver’s scalp.

mr_bill

Since trucks sometimes pass me, I've yet to figure out how to teleport out of the NO-ZONE *THEY* placed me in.

-mr. bill

canklecat

Looked like the truck was pulling left to change lanes and clear the sharrow. I'd bet many cyclists in exactly that same position would have assumed the truck intended to go straight through the intersection. The truck executed a turn unsafely at too fast a speed. The cyclist had no time to react. The same thing could have happened to any of us.

I've investigated similar workplace accidents as a federal OSHA inspector. If this had occurred on property controlled by the employer I'd have recommended citations and penalties, and have done so in similar scenarios.

I'm surprised the police didn't see it that way. But their training and enforcement priorities are different. Ours were primarily about protecting employees, not advocating on behalf of employers.

But as a consequence of having seen similar driving by large trucks in my area, as a cyclist I assume they're all terrible drivers and give them plenty of room. That way I'm pleasantly relieved more often than not that most drivers are competent. But I've seen too many run across curbs, crowd into parked cars, etc. In some instances I've jumped off my bike and darted over to the sidewalk to get away from incompetent truck and large bus drivers. That should never be necessary when any vehicle, including a bicycle, is operating correctly within that inside lane.

CliffordK

True...

But, not all steering is equal.

For small vehicles, bumper pull trailers pull much better than 5th wheel trailers because the bumper and hitch stick out behind the wheels, so when the vehicle turns right, the hitch stays further left, pulling the trailer wheels in a wider arc. Plus a shorter wheelbase for bumper pull trailers (more about that later), also giving a wider arc.

Whereas 5th wheel trailers move the hitch right with the movement of the vehicle, thus exacerbating the inside cut of tires, and axles are usually near the rear of the trailers, for a maximally large arc.

As mentioned, pulling forward and doing a square turn still pulls the trailer to the right, but gets the wheels further forward before initiating the turn, thus cutting less to the right. Although, I suppose one still woudn't want to be standing next to it as the trailer is pulled to the side.

Here are some notes about "spread tandems" that apparently don't like sharp turns, requiring essentially skidding one axle, and potentially changing the way the driver in the accident chose to make his turn, and thus may have cut the corner more than if he had been driving standard axles.

Trailer Report: Making Sense of Spread Tandems - Articles - Equipment - Articles - TruckingInfo.com

As mentioned, log trucks use essentially a hybrid of bumper pull/5th wheel called "stinger steering". The load rests on the bunks that turn, and I believe actually hold the trailer in place, giving it good load distribution like a 5th wheel. The trailer axles are attached to a stinger that extends significantly behind the truck's rear wheels, and I presume the stinger is free floating as geometry will obviously change when making turns.


Stinger steering

Anyway, this in effect simply guides the wheels to the left when the truck turns to the right, and the wheels trail behind the truck much better.

I suppose the problem with bumper pull trailers and the advantage of 5th wheel trailers can be illustrated by my bicycle



However, also note the difference in trailer design. For 5th wheel trailers, the trailer wheels are placed to the rear because weight is shared between the truck and trailer. For bumper trailers, the axles are placed more centrally, and thus more weight is generally borne by the trailer axles.

This, of course, also has the advantage of a shorter overall wheelbase, and again steering improvements. But, unfortunately, less overall weight because of not distributing weight, and perhaps even less control of the tow vehicle because it is often less loaded.

The other issue is lighting. And we don't have a good enough description of the truck involved in the accident.

Many cars have what I call "kill zone turn signals", with lights pointing forward and back, but not to the side. So, if a person gets to the right of a vehicle with these signals without seeing the signals activated, then it is impossible to see that the vehicle is signalling. Many trucks have low side signal lights, and mirror signals, but I don't believe the laws are universal with respect to this. Nonetheless, a savvy cyclist still has to look for indications that the vehicle next to them is turning their direction, and react appropriately.

In the case with Dr. Kurmann, she apparently stopped her bike when she saw the truck coming towards her, but the wheels not trailing behind the truck, and the high speed turn caused her position to be maximally unsafe.

There have been proposals to mount side pedestrian/bicycle shields on the sides of trucks, in hopes to push the pedestrians and cyclists out of the way. But, to be effective, they have to be low and strong, which also means dealing with bumps.


After Cyclist Death, Brother Pushes For Truck Side Guards | Here & Now

I'm seeing quite a few wind shields on semi trucks now, but it is unclear whether they are substantial enough to actually protect people. But the concept could also be improved as a safety measure.



Data I'm seeing indicate around 600 cyclists, pedestrians, & motorcyclists are killed each year by trucks (not differentiating how many of each). Plus about 2000 to 3000 passenger car occupants.

Fatality Facts

Is this enough to actually take action, or does it fall under acceptable losses?