Cyclist Struck by car - Erie,Pa
State police reports indicate there were no lights on his bike.
Bicyclist Struck By Car - YourErie.com - Powered by JET 24 and FOX 66 Erie PA |
Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet
(Post 17588032)
State police reports indicate there were no lights on his bike.
Bicyclist Struck By Car - YourErie.com - Powered by JET 24 and FOX 66 Erie PA -mr. bill |
48 year old David Gabriel was riding his bicycle along Route 20 in Northeast Township around 4:45 A.M.
Off season, sub-freezing temperatures, pre-dawn hours, no rear lights. If anyone is charged in that accident... no jury would ever convict (even if I was on the jury). It is very sad that Mr Gabriel passed but it is not surprising. |
Originally Posted by mr_bill
(Post 17588390)
Were all the motorist's rear lights functional? (Let alone were all the motorist's front lights functional?)
-mr. bill |
Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17588424)
48 year old David Gabriel was riding his bicycle along Route 20 in Northeast Township around 4:45 A.M.
Off season, sub-freezing temperatures, pre-dawn hours, no rear lights. If anyone is charged in that accident... no jury would ever convict (even if I was on the jury). It is very sad that Mr Gabriel passed but it is not surprising. |
Originally Posted by Chris516
(Post 17588501)
Temperature notwithstanding, I agree with you on everything else.
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Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17588517)
The only reason I mentioned the temperature is that most cyclist abandon the roads in the coldest part of winter. I have always felt (no stats to support my feelings) that motorist don't expect cyclist to be on the roads this time of year.
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I'm sure there were no longer any lights on the victim's bike AFTER he was plowed by the the motorist. It would be interesting to know if there were any lights or reflectors (western states only require rear red reflectors during the hours of darkness) BEFORE the impact.
What ever happened to the notion that one should be able to drive without hitting things that are right in front of the vehicle? |
Originally Posted by B. Carfree
(Post 17588531)
...... What ever happened to the notion that one should be able to drive without hitting things that are right in front of the vehicle?
One day while cycling I saw a car stopped in the middle of the road. As I carefully passed I tried to make eye contact with the driver. That's when I noticed he was watching a large buck in a yard not 50 feet away. I had lived in this same area for many years and had seen only a couple deer... but not a buck. And because I live in a city I was shocked at the huge size of this "city buck". On that ride I actively looked for deer... near the hedges in the side-yards and in shady areas. I think I saw three that day. In the following days I saw deer every time I cycled. I saw deer when driving. I saw deer in the neighbors yard.. while I was eating on my deck. Because I looked for them I saw them. Deer were everywhere. People see what they look for or what they expect to see. It would we great if peoples brains processed data at the speed and efficiency that would allow people to see, identify, and properly react to every obstacle they might encounter while traveling at speeds their bodies weren't designed for. But sadly... it doesn't work that way. There is inherent risks in life... and at best life is always only temporary. |
Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17588517)
The only reason I mentioned the temperature is that most cyclist abandon the roads in the coldest part of winter. I have always felt (no stats to support my feelings) that motorist don't expect cyclist to be on the roads this time of year.
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Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17588588)
I don't recall that notion. If that is a popular notion.... why do all cars have bumpers?
One day while cycling I saw a car stopped in the middle of the road. As I carefully passed I tried to make eye contact with the driver. That's when I noticed he was watching a large buck in a yard not 50 feet away. I had lived in this same area for many years and had seen only a couple deer... but not a buck. And because I live in a city I was shocked at the huge size of this "city buck". On that ride I actively looked for deer... near the hedges in the side-yards and in shady areas. I think I saw three that day. In the following days I saw deer every time I cycled. I saw deer when driving. I saw deer in the neighbors yard.. while I was eating on my deck. Because I looked for them I saw them. Deer were everywhere. People see what they look for or what they expect to see. It would we great if peoples brains processed data at the speed and efficiency that would allow people to see, identify, and properly react to every obstacle they might encounter while traveling at speeds their bodies weren't designed for. But sadly... it doesn't work that way. There is inherent risks in life... and at best life is always only temporary. |
I don't really like reading news like this! I commute to work everyday, and each day I keep thinking ' What if today is the last day' So reading stuff like this just increases the anxieties and disturbs my thoughts. Now I suspects the media and the News corporation that sell news like in a retail store publish stuff like that to bring fear to the audience.
Being realistic accidents like this happens everyday, and it is unfortunate. but the way the media put it out there doesn't really informs anything other than a cyclists being struck by a car. That really doesn't help much. R.I.P David Gabrie, I never met you but I am so sorry to hear about your misfortune like this. |
Originally Posted by TroN0074
(Post 17589369)
I don't really like reading news like this! I commute to work everyday, and each day I keep thinking ' What if today is the last day' So reading stuff like this just increases the anxieties and disturbs my thoughts. Now I suspects the media and the News corporation that sell news like in a retail store publish stuff like that to bring fear to the audience.
Being realistic accidents like this happens everyday, and it is unfortunate. but the way the media put it out there doesn't really informs anything other than a cyclists being struck by a car. That really doesn't help much. R.I.P David Gabrie, I never met you but I am so sorry to hear about your misfortune like this. |
Originally Posted by TroN0074
(Post 17589369)
I don't really like reading news like this! .
Originally Posted by TroN0074
(Post 17589369)
I commute to work everyday, and each day I keep thinking ' What if today is the last day' So reading stuff like this just increases the anxieties and disturbs my thoughts..
Originally Posted by TroN0074
(Post 17589369)
Being realistic accidents like this happens everyday, .
Chances of severe and/or disabling injuries are much greater though IMHO. |
Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17589563)
No. Actually bicycle fatalities like Mr Gabrie's don't happen everyday. About half the (approx. American 700 annual) cycling deaths involve children. And as many as 3/4 of the remaining accidents may involve youthful playfulness and often late night drinking. Cycling deaths are not rare. There are inherent danger on the roadways. But it isn't particularly deadly to ride a bike. |
Originally Posted by TroN0074
(Post 17589727)
We still need to minimized the accidents with children and young crazy kids though. If they would just listen.
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Originally Posted by TroN0074
(Post 17589727)
Thank you that is the kind of stuff I like to read. We still need to minimized the accidents with children and young crazy kids though. If they would just listen.
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Latest reports are he was in Hamot Medical Center. No updates on his condition yet.
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Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet
(Post 17590993)
Latest reports are he was in Hamot Medical Center. No updates on his condition yet.
|
Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17588588)
I don't recall that notion.
I'm not saying there has ever been any golden age when cars weren't running into things. However, up until we got all permissive in the '70s and removed criminal sanctions from moving violations, at least there was a generally accepted idea that the person behind the wheel was responsible for where the car went. Now it's more like, "I kept the rubber side down and stayed between the curbs. What more should I be expected to do?" Also, the lack of air bags, mandatory seat belt laws, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns and such did tend to mete out some punishment to motorists who didn't pay attention. Now they can drive into walls and walk away with only bruises. |
Originally Posted by B. Carfree
(Post 17593085)
........ I'm not saying there has ever been any golden age when cars weren't running into things. ........... air bags, mandatory seat belt laws, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns and such did tend to mete out some punishment to motorists who didn't pay attention. Now they can drive into walls and walk away with only bruises.
Otherwise the joy of cycling is accompanied with the inherent risk or accidental injury. Fatal injury isn't likely but is always possible. Threads like this one should serve as a reminder to us. |
Originally Posted by Dave Cutter
(Post 17588424)
48 year old David Gabriel was riding his bicycle along Route 20 in Northeast Township around 4:45 A.M.
Off season, sub-freezing temperatures, pre-dawn hours, no rear lights. If anyone is charged in that accident... no jury would ever convict (even if I was on the jury). It is very sad that Mr Gabriel passed but it is not surprising. Had he had lights. Bikes should come with lights. |
Originally Posted by CrankyOne
(Post 17588521)
I ride all winter in MN as do quite a few others. Then again, I'm on segregated paths the entire time and fortunately drivers here are used to seeing bicycle riders at crossings.
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Originally Posted by katsrevenge
(Post 17593136)
PA law states that any car who rear ends another car is instantly at fault.... (PA law also requires a red light at night.)
First, there is a strong presumption that the car who rear ends another car is at fault, but the car in front *may* be found at fault. For example - if the car in front had an inoperative license plate lamp - such a technical violation *WILL* *NOT* effect assignment of fault. But if a car pulls directly into the path of a car who can not reasonably yield - the car in front may be found at fault. (This finding is far more common now.) But in PA a car who rear ends a bicycle is instantly, uh.... (I think we know who is too often found at fault, don't we?) On bicycle equipment. PA law does *NOT* require a rear lamp on a bicycle. What is *REQUIRED*:
Originally Posted by § 3507. Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles.
(a) Lamps and reflectors.--Every pedalcycle when in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped on the front with a lamp which emits a beam of white light intended to illuminate the pedalcycle operator's path and visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, a red reflector facing to the rear which shall be visible at least 500 feet to the rear and an amber reflector on each side.
Originally Posted by § 3507. Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles.
Operators of pedalcycles may supplement the required front lamp with a white flashing lamp, light-emitting diode or similar device to enhance their visibility to other traffic and with a lamp emitting a red flashing lamp, light-emitting diode or similar device visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.
Originally Posted by § 3507. Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles.
A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a pedalcycle shall comply with the requirements of this subsection if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the distances specified.
-mr. bill |
I feel that riding without some sort of rear light is really a dumb move, especially at night. I am to the point I leave my blinky light on in the day and am moving to hi-viz shirts.
I feel for this guy's family. I ride at night and it is tense on roads that wind and twist around here in WV. I quit commuting because of the traffic on the road I had to ride with no shoulder and a bend just prior to where I made a left turn. There is a point when you wonder if it is worth it. |
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