teddywookie

Bicyclist was killed a a couple of hours ago, a couple of blocks away from my work, right where I ride on the way in. There's still a bike lane at that that point, which merges into car traffic closer to the rotary, so I figure he either got hooked by someone coming up behind him and turning right, or got t-boned by an oncoming vehicle turning left. If there were tall vehicles lined up at that point alongside the rider, and they didn't block the intersection, left-turning traffic wouldn't see the guy at all before hitting him.

So as far as I'm concerned, I'm re-vowing to myself to take care if I don't have good visibility, but I'm also really hoping the news doesn't lose sight of the likelihood that the bicyclist's lane was clear, and he did nothing wrong or illegal -- either got killed by someone trying to beat him to the corner, or someone who didn't check all three lanes before turning across them.

(Bicyclist killed in Charlestown - News Local Massachusetts - Boston.com)

Update: https://www.whdh.com/story/25155893/c...in-charlestown

Collision occurred when truck turned right onto the side street. Unclear if the rider was hooked on the main street, or was hit while riding on the side street. Turns out I gave the driver too much credit. So he's been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.

teddywookie

update

rumrunn6

thanks for sharing. sad news though. urban cycling has it's hazards.

teddywookie

Truck driver who fled fatal crash not charged « Boston Cyclists Union

Update: Driver got off before it went to trial, though there was good evidence that he (carelessly? maliciously?) hooked the bicyclist when turning right. A representative from the district attorney's office told me they really thought they could make this case work, but the grand jury didn't agree. I am extremely disappointed, though not very surprised. Feh.

John Redcorn

I almost tagged one sunday, wouldn't have been a fatality but he sure was being a dunderhead and a "cyclist killed" article likely will be in his future. My 1st bad experience with a cyclist in 20 years driving. Taking my 10yo daughter to a bday party we passed the bike trail I ride to work as it crosses the road, I told her "see that's the hill I come down and when I get to the intersection I have to follow all the lights just like the cars do." 2 miles later we're at another intersection 1st in line, I see the guy on the bike, 18-20, no helmet, stopped on sidewalk to my right wanting to go perpendicular to me, light goes green, I go and that's when this guy decides is his best chance to run his red light right across my path. Hit the brakes hard with a kid whining about the seatbelt hurting. The next few miles to the party were just absolutely full of dad-talk "when you get old enough for big intersections...blah blah. YOU WILL FOLLOW THE LIGHTS!!!"

All happened so quick and he was gone so quick didn't even have a chance to honk or anything.

Roopull

Getting hit a couple of times & have some very close calls is precisely why I rarely ride in the street much anymore. It isn't really even an issue of wearing high visibility clothes, reflective gear or lights, either. If the driver isn't looking at the road, it doesn't matter what you're doing. You're going to get hit.


I'm a driver for UPS... we recently had one of our package cars get rear ended. This package car was 7 feet wide and 11 feet tall. The person who hit it was going fast enough for their car to enter the center rear of the package car & exit out the front passenger side. The UPS driver has serious injuries, but the other driver died. Exactly how fast, I wonder, does one have to be driving to drive THROUGH a vehicle designed to back into docks all day?

My point being, if people don't pay enough attention to see 77 square feet of truck, it's clearly too much to ask them to see me on a bike.


I do still ride in the streets, but am blessed enough to live in an area where there are plenty of cycling trails... one nice enough for high speed runs and another that is a climber's paradise.

Chris516

Just as you won't ride in the street anymore. I stopped long ago, riding the curb. That is how I was hit several times. Now, Taking the lane, I have been much safer.

no1mad 

Moved from General Cycling.

Rollfast

Should be in the obituaries Tom created and one post.