jimmuter

https://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/11280677/

I'm interested to see the later details that come out, because it's hard to tell what actually happened. The whole story is really sad, and I should not put myself through reading the reader comments because they make me want to stop riding my bike to work. There are a lot of ignorant, impatient, spiteful people out there wielding 2 ton+ vehicles at ungodly speeds with careless attitudes.

dynodonn 

The truck driver was 28 years old, and the article also stated that charges are pending. If the truck driver was being paid by the load, chances are that he was driving to fast for the conditions, as many of today's log truck drivers do locally.

Chris516

+1

mjsocal

Very sad. Sounds like a man that gave a lot to people in need.

Im going to show my age, but truck drivers (at least in my area) are not as safe as they used to be.

WPeabody 

Logging trucks are freaking scary. I've come around corners along 101 on the Olympic peninsula, driving a big sedan, and have met a fully loaded truck halfway into my lane and I pull over as fast as I can in case he doesn't get back over into his lane again. The cars behind me pull over, too, and we're all skidding into the gravel shoulder. Nobody wants to argue with a loaded rig like that... I've driven the straight sections at 65-70, and the trucks catch up so fast they have to be going 85 or more. When the highway gets narrow, I just cannot drive that fast, so they tailgate.

At the same time I see a lot of touring cyclists struggling along this route with no shoulder, and I'm cringing to see the truck passing them and they're all struggling to stay upright from the bow wave of air the truck is pushing, even if they give 5-8 ft of passing room. The logging trucks also go along SR 702 in WA, the speed limit is 70, and its a narrow, two lane country road with rolling blind hills, no shoulders, and deep ditches on either side. This is also a popular cycling route to Mt. Rainier NP.

Zaneluke

I don't know if I googled the area correctly. Looks like a 3 lane each way , no shoulder 50MPH speed limit? I would not ride on that road. Too dangerous.

Sad story. I feel bad for his family.

Scrabbler

You're correct, that's a super dangerous road IMO. The right lane is narrow, with a concrete gutter, so even moving over into gutter, if necessary, can be dangerous. I wouldnt ride there either. Condolences to the family, he sounded like a great guy that gave to the community.

Chris516

I Googled the intersection and it looks like it only requires paying extra attention. I say that because a road near my house is six-lane divided state road. Whenever I travel this road, I pay extra attention to the traffic because a small hill with a bend in the road, that obscures the sight of both, the eastbound and westbound traffic. Since I have to make a left off of this road when going south, I make double n' triple sure I have an opening where I can get over to the left-turn lane for the turn southbound. When I am going northbound and have to make a right-turn on this road to go east, I still have to watch out for speeders since they love zooming over this small hill. Then I have to cut across two lanes to get into the left-turn lane for a left turn.

WolfpackFan

Here's an update on this story with more details. Trucker is being charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. He didn't shift far enough into another lane to pass the bicyclist.

https://www.wral.com/news/local/story/11282733/

Just a sad story. I try to avoid these types of roads at all costs.

dynodonn 

The bad part in this situation is that I see that there are really no close by side roads for a cyclist to use as an alternate means of travel, autocentricity at it's best. Plenty of ignoramus comments by a number people in wanting to remove bicyclists completely off of all roads in the update article.

Paul Barnard

Those comments can be hard to read. Some seem to be trolls, but others come from some truly unenlightened idiots.

jimlamb

Lots of discussion on the local paper's website:
https://www.newsobserver.com/2012/07/...or-killed.html

dynodonn 

Looking at North Carolina's 2010 bicyclist fatality numbers, in having 3 percent of the US population and 9 percent of the US cyclist deaths, leads one to believe that N.C. needs to take better measures in improving road infrastructure to accommodate non motorized road users.

jimmuter

Those stats are not correct. I'm not sure where the 56 number comes from that the spokesperson gave in the article, but the NHTSA statistics show that NC has 23 of the total 618 US cyclists deaths in 2010 (3.7%). Of course I'm sure you know that you can't base assumptions on one facet of the total statistical picture either. Infrastructure isn't going to help a lot with a drunk driver (or drunk cyclist). It also won't do much if the cyclist is riding on the wrong side of the road. I see a lot of utility cyclists around here without lights, wearing non-reflective clothing, going against traffic in the dark, etc. That was obviously not the case with this tragedy, but it has contributed to some of NC's other deaths.

Zaneluke

I take this factor in to account when I choose where to ride. Most drivers hate cyclists. Sad? Yes. Can you do somethign about it? Yes, pick where you ride with that bit of info in the back of your head.

curbtender

I'd put the blame on the trucking company that has sent a driver out unprepared to deal with the hazard that caused this. I'm not sayiing bikes don't belong on the road with a 50mph speedlimit, but they are a hazard when they are going 25mph or slower than the traffic flow. As a driver of a commercial vehicle, you should know your limits.

adamhenry

There were plenty of comments making excuses for the truck driver that stated that it wasn't possible to slow down a loaded truck in a short distance but the story stated that the truck was not loaded.

unterhausen

off-topic discussion was moved to here

CB HI

Too many motorist do not seem to know that their vehicles have brakes for slowing down.

unterhausen

they also seem to have some sort of problem speeding up if that will help them pass a cyclist safely. I'm stumped about this.

The bottom line is they don't feel any responsibility for controlling their vehicle. Just a crazy way to drive, I couldn't do it.

GamblerGORD53

So maybe the trucker should explain how he didn't see what was happening ahead and why he wasn't in the center lane
as they are supposed to be if not turning soon.

Apparently the truck's horn also doesn't work and the cyclists ears don't work either.
So the cyclist was "in the 50 mph lane" .... I have to presume not FRAP.
If this happened close to the intersection, the the cyclist should certainly have been ON the dotted line by the turn lane.
50 mph lanes are at least 12' wide, maybe 13.
I was riding the between line for 5 miles yesterday, no problem. HWY 16 west.

jpr1379

This is a tragedy but must point out that there are way to many cyclists out there who ride to far out into the actual road even though they have three to four feet of sholder to ride on. Yes you should follow the rules of the road but you are not a vehicle and you can not compete with them in a fight.

unterhausen

The map of the scene is available if you go to the story. There is no shoulder, and I imagine the cyclist was actually more than FRAP if anything. I'd be a little ashamed to be riding my own personal hobby horse when blaming the deceased victim for the results of someone else's incompetence. People need to drive in such a way that they don't kill others, it's a simple fact that some of us have lost sight of. If you couldn't handle a baby crawling into your path, you're driving wrong.

dynodonn 

It all depends on what condition that 3 to 4 foot shoulder is in, and on occasion the roadway is the better option. On a 50 mph road, my option would have included a fairly robust taillight system to help alert motorists to my presence at the farthest distance possible.

curbtender

Empty trucks accelerate much faster, but, sometimes, lock and stop much slower, even with anti-lock...