Kurt Erlenbach

A friend of mine came across this scene this morning. The cyclist died.





Note the handicapped plate on the car.

Here's the story in the Cincy paper:


The most ridiculous quote from the article: "It was not clear why Gast [the victim] was riding on the road instead of the bike path on the side of the road."

I-Like-To-Bike

Just as ridiculous as someone else who wrote, "Note the handicapped plate on the car."

EsoxLucius

I didn't know trolls looked like cheshire cats.

10 Wheels

Ridiculous Death....

I-Like-To-Bike

OK Smart Guy. Do you KNOW something about this accident other than what is in that picture or the news story? If so, explain the relevance to the death of the cyclist in pointing out that the license plate indicated the car owner is entitled to handicaped parking privileges. Or as I expect, you are like the OP just casting aspersions/speculating in order to support your personal prejudices.

genec

The article also goes on to say:

genec

No matter how you look at it, the driver failed one of the basic rules of driving... Don't hit things that are right in front of you.

That is pretty much RULE#1.

Kurt Erlenbach

ILTB - You're probably right. My comment about the driver's handicapped plate likely is improper, and is irrelevent.

Paul Barnard

My brother lives and rides a red Roubaix just like that in Northern OH.

On the topic of the handicap plate, in this part of the country, a lot of elderly people have handicap plates, and they are responsible for more of the buzzes than an other group. I didn't read any article associated with the crash, but my guess would be the operator was elderly and will be free to continue driving and not seeing things tomorrow.

Paul Barnard

I just read the article and I was wrong about the age.

rumrunn6

27 yrs old, terrible. he had his whole life ahead of him

Digital_Cowboy

Paul,

According to the article the driver was 40, hardly "elderly."

Edit: Apparently the mobile app won't allow one to delete a post. I didn't see your second post.

I-Like-To-Bike

We are now both in agreement about waiting for the investigation before jumping to conclusions.
I suspect the time of day and potential visibility issues (to include sunrise glare in eyes of driver, bicycle/motorist lighting and/or both) may be involved. Or it may turn out that driver's "handicap" may be relevant after the facts are known. What is not in doubt is that this is a tragic loss of life of a brother bicyclist

flipped4bikes

Looking at the one photograph with the police in the background, that is some nice bike "path". I see plenty of dirt and rocks, not pavement and a puddle of water too. Of course he's not in the bike "path"!

Reading the article, its a multi-use and multi-directional path. Not something I would want to ride in.

I-Like-To-Bike

On the other hand, looking at the results of riding on that road doesn't look that appealing either.

Hoshnasi

You really should have "The Devils Advocate" under your user name.

Paul Barnard

I don't know if it is a regional thing or not, but old folks seem to live in utter fear of venturing into the oncoming lane to effect a pass. I have been buzzed by more old folks than any other category...even the Bubbas. Do you get that in your area too?

Digital_Cowboy

Agreed, if that's there idea of a "bike path" it's no wonder that cyclists aren't using it. Hell I don't see how walkers would want to use it.

Digital_Cowboy

I have to admit that I haven't really paid too much attention to the close passers. I'll try to do so.

B. Carfree

If it's regional, then I guess the West Coast is part of your region. The most problematic passes I have seem to involve elderly folks and members of what some of my friends call "The Lost Generation", the folks who are too young to have experienced the second bike boom of the '60s-'70s, and are too old to jump in with the youngsters who are creating the third boom today. In fairness, it is only a small minority of either group who are causing problems and it seems to be mostly done from ignorance.

Back on topic: I'm always amazed when people run into things that are right in front of them. I doubt if the disabled sticker is relevant, but I'd sure like to see the driver's cell phone log. (I know, ILTB, this is nothing but conjecture, but there are only so many reasons for running into someone who is right in front of you, and not looking is right up there.)

Kactus

While working as a surveyor long ago I noticed the same thing. You could stand at the edge of the road and they would just miss you. Funny thing though... if you put a traffic cone on the side of the road, they gave it a wide berth!

Hoshnasi

100% AGREE. I have had elderly pass within an inch traveling as slow and precise as possible to do it without going into the next lane. Like they are threading a needle.

That is pretty funny in a really sad way.

mtbikerinpa

Considering the point of impact it looks like the bike was in proper posture and the car failed to adjust speed,which appears high by that force. A friend of mine has a bad right eye(blind in it) which I am not saying is a cause for a handicap plate or an accident, it could account for a depth perception or field of view issue.

rm -rf

The bike path is a 5 mile loop around the airport. That section of the path, 1.1 miles, is basically a wide sidewalk, with driveways and very uneven pavement. The road is smooth and wide enough for cars to pass by just barely crossing the center line. I always ride on the road there. The speed limit is 40 mph.

Here's the bike rider's route, going northeast: ridewithgps.com/routes/1646786 Pull down the Map at the top right and select OSM Cycle or Satellite to see the road conditions.

I wouldn't have expected a bike collision on that road, given the sight lines, and all the common bike and walker traffic in the area. It was dark, 6:15 am, sunrise is 7:03.

gmt13

I had the same thought. There appear to be lights on the bars - probably in the rear too.

-G