noisebeam

What I don't understand is how can one not know they hit a cyclist, even if it is dark and the cyclist has not lights. Once they are within 30ft (probably more) or so the cyclist would be fully lit up by your headlights. Certainly not enough time to stop, but enough time to register as a cyclist before hitting them.

Al

Raiyn

Not really, all you need is an ID with even a former address. I had jobs back when I didn't had a fixed address. It can be done.

ArtM

Deer weigh about the same or less than a human - 100 to 150 lbs. And I'm not sure they saw this guy until they hit him. Maybe their fender glanced off him. Its not clear they hit him head-on.

noisebeam

Headlights don't only shine directly to the front, but quite a bit off to the sides as well. I just don't see how one can not know what they hit (if a person or other large object) unless they were not paying attention at all.

Al

ArtM

Someone earlier said this was a busy highway during commuting time. I'm normally watching directly in front of me for several cars to make sure nobody hits the brakes. I'm NOT paying attention to the right or left of me, but straight ahead. Next time you're driving in heavy highway traffic (if you ever do that), note if you really know what is happening at a 45 degree angle.

I'm not trying to justify this act, but I think I can understand it.

timmhaan

i got temp jobs very easily when i was living out of a cheap hotel. it's even easier these days since most people (even really poor people) have cell phones and can be in touch whenever. hell, i can even go to burger king now and use email\internet if i want.

dobber

Let's not confuse a "cyclist" with "someone riding on a bike". This one was obvious the latter and has no one to blame but himself, tragic as any death may be.

I still find it amazing that nobody stopped.

dobber

A one ton deer? Maybe, if they've got the thicker rubber strip in place.

noisebeam

Of course. I was not arguing with you, but instead just thinking this out. But I do notice more that what is just ahead of me, even on a busy highway at night.
It was me that said it was busy, often high speed even though near bumper to bumper with an abnormal number of agressive drivers weaving in and out. There are lots of 18 wheelers on this highway too. A very unpleasant stretch of highway to drive let alone cycle on.

Al

Raiyn

That would have to be a conveyer belt size rubber strip. I wonder if the deer had to ask the company for it because it wasn't in the package.

noisebeam

Anyone on a bike is a cyclist to me - defining it any way else is just creating an elitist grey line between different grades of cyclists.
I do suspect when all the facts are in (which they may never be) it is likely to be a good part if not all due to the poor judgement and actions of the cyclist. But until all those facts are in it is wrong to say that it is the cyclists fault.

But an indirect contributor may also be that no considerations have ever been made to accomidate cyclists in this area. Maybe this was the ONLY way (either crossing or riding down a stretch of I10) a cyclist could get from pt. A to B.

Al

dobber

I respectfully disagree. A cyclist follows the rules of the road. A cyclist knows the limitations and doesn't push the envelope.

I don't consider the punk BMX'ers that jump thier bikes out into the street, without regards to traffic, as cyclists. And regardless of the consideration of accomodating cyclists in the area, nothing would justify riding in the dark, with dark clothing on an interstate.

Raiyn

I share your respectful disagreement. Being a cyclist isn't about the bike itself but the attitude of the person ON the bike.

Laika

I've seen you make some thoughtless statements but this one absolutely takes the cake.

dobber

Exactly how? Riding in the dark, darkly clothed and on an interstate highway would be the biking equivalent of holding a loaded gun to ones head. Just plain stupid.

I'll reserve commentary on your obvious leanings.

bkrownd

More like 20 to 500 pounds. There are many kinds of "deer".

This is nothing compared to the woman who drove home and parked in her garage with the half-dead guy lodged in her windshield.

gpsblake

First of all, to the poster that says Huffy riders are idiots..... This shows a real problem we have in bicycling, the riders of more expensive bikes looking upon others like they are superior or something...... I find the most friendliest and respectful riders to usually ride Huffys/Roadmasters while the roadies riding $2,000 bikes with $300 dollar clothing are too busy looking at their cyclometers to even wave hello to you. Or they talk down to you.

Now after venting....

Followup Article
https://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2694645

I googled websites and it appears that bicycling on the interstate between Tucson and Arizona on I-10 is prohibited. That still doesn't excuse this hit and run and it appears that the cyclist was on the shoulder of the interstate. This is really sad and I hope they nail the people responsible.

Cheers,
GPSBlake

gpsblake

Wrong. They are every bit the cyclist you are regardless if they are riding a $50 Huffy or a $2,000 Trek. This attitude among people who buy and ride expensive bicycles really has got to stop. I find the friendiest cyclist to ride the cheaper bikes, the ones riding the $2,000 Treks are too busy looking at their cyclometers to even wave a friendly hello. Sorry if that pisses some people off but I am sick and tired of that attitude among some roadies. We are all in this together and all are cyclist, totally equal.

Cheers,
GPSBlake

Laika

Your original statement was the worst sort of obnoxious cycling elitism. I stand by my original assesment of it.

I don't even know what you think that means, but it is obnoxious.

mtbikerinpa

I will have to take a side on the two types of riders debate.
While the typical rider on a more expensive bike is usually more involved in the 'cyclist lifestyle', there are some who ride cheap that are in that category as well. I myself ride 2 1900 dollar race mountain bikes(that i built for under 100 and race continually), but you can find me rebuilding walmart and junkyard units all the time. In order for me to sell them with a clean conscience I have to road/trail test them. So thus I would be a Cyclist and avid racer, on a huffy(or whatever). Even when I am testing them, I still have light equipment(tail lights are 99 cents for cryin out loud), a reflective backpack and wheel reflectors.
What does seal my perception of him being a 'normal person' is the context, description and attire. A person who was merely using the bike as a conveyance, not as a means unto itself.

brokenrobot

Stopping after an accident is the law - and frankly, whoever stopped at the exit and pulled a bike out of his grill without surrendering himself to the law is an animal deserving of being put down. Whether the death itself was an accident or not, nobody who shows that level of disrespect for other human beings deserves to live amongst them.

-chris

free_pizza

Have you ever seen a deer?!

Rex

THUD! THUD!

Somebody, or more likely, a bunch of people hit that poor guy after he pretty much disintegrated and were probably wondering WTF. Then, they turn on the 10 o'clock news and watch the news segment going, "oh ****! we ran over the human remains of some guy!"

Have they caught the person who hit him yet?

cyclezealot

This is a story I find hard to believe..Told to me by couple I work with...They were driving back from Las Vegas to Los Angeles...In the desert, just east of Baker, California on Interstate 15- there was an accident...Couple cars toppled over...Cars in road...She told me, bodies were lying on the road...With bodies strewn about, traffic refused to stop...Not until the police showed up...
Must have been a path way about car debris and bodies...But, cars whizzed by before bodies could be removed...Jerri said some good samaratian types who knew first aide tried to help...
Felt intimidated by cars whizzing by...
Incredible hah...Jerri seems like an honest person to me..
Believe it or not..

seely

I've got news for you, my girlfriend's dog weighs about 110lbs, and its probably 1/3 the size of a moderately sized Doe. There is a buck in my neighborhood that has to have its shoulder close to level with mine.