So Cal Cyclist killed

[LisaS]

this is kind of old(er) news - local to So Cal. This location is just a couple of miles from where I live - and is a road I drive often - and Sat & Sun AM group rides are ubiquitous in the area.

It happened the weekend before last and got very little play in the news. I've found 3 articles that tell parts of the story - some seem to indicate he was alone, some that he was in a group still - certainly other cyclists were there as they flagged the truck to stop.

I have a theory (though unfounded). I think that perhaps the truck moved a little wide to give more leeway to the peloton (who often ride badly around here on weekends - more than two abreast on shared roads, etc) and that made the trailer move and clip the rider - but who knows. A local tragedy for sure.

Even so, watch out for even concientious drivers on shared roads.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20 875576/
http://www.ocregister.com/news/ police-saturday-scene-1846313-irvine-julienne
http://www.hbindependent.com/a rticles/2007/09/20/publicsafet y/hbi-julienne20.txt

[castufari]

I was up on the parkway earlier this summer (riding solo). Saw a group come the other way...4 abreast and 7 or 8 deep. There were at least 30 cars piled up behind them, including a park ranger with emergency lights on. I wish people would learn some common rules of the road.

Sadly the mentality in some areas is that cyclists don't belong on the road. Here in Asheville it's pretty bad, I was out for a ride on Saturday and some redneck POS @$@#$# threw a can of Bud at me. Couldn't read his tags and didn't have a phone. Did manage to tell him some facts about his mother though.

I've given up road biking, riding trails is much safer. Animals don't throw stuff at you. Nor do animals write to the newspaper "letters to the editor" whining about the 1.5 minute delay a cyclist caused them.

[LisaS]

let me first say I've been a cyclist in the past, my husband is a road cyclist, I understand how the rules of the road work for cyclists and am all for sharing the roads between autos and cyclists.
that said -

we have some really rude & clueless cyclists in this area.
One day I was walking my dogs and my male was out on a grass berm near the curb, sniffing, and the lead cyclist in a group of about 12 thought it would be funny to appoach very close to the curb and in a loud voice make barking noises -- if my dog (75#) had startled off the curb into the street - 9 or 10 cyclists would have gone down with him in the middle.

I have a four-way light at a T-intersection (the 4th being the driveway into our complex). This is a real intersection with a pedestrian walk button on the sidewalk to cross our driveway portion. Cyclists on the road routinely run the red light (apparently) because the only car they see is the one coming out of the driveway (who have a GREEN by the way) - I'll admit when I saw a pair get ticketed for running that light I rejoiced inwardly.

All that aside, we've had a rash of local cyclists getting injured and killed in the last year, very close to where I live (and would be riding) and it is very sad - you have to be very aware that anyone else out there could act like an idiot, whether driving a car or riding a bike.

[castufari]

Originally Posted by LisaS

lCyclists on the road routinely run the red light (apparently) because the only car they see is the one coming out of the driveway (who have a GREEN by the way) - I'll admit when I saw a pair get ticketed for running that light I rejoiced inwardly.

I've seen a few people get ticketed...then start whining to the media about it. That behavior does nothing to further their cause at all and offends cyclists who do stop. I stop for all lights. Sometimes I might look both ways and restart but I always come to a halt.

Had a guy today doing 18 in the left lane, 25 cars stacked behind him. The language I heard would have made a sailor blush.

[emartin10]

I hate seeing cyclists act like idiots, it ruins our reputation. I ride, and make sure that the people I ride with, ride by the rules. I hate seeing people ride like morons.

Colorado has just started a great program: www.bicyclecolo.org

We make donations and get special license plates, and the money helps educate both cyclists and motorists. It should be a good thing!!!

E