Comments on: Tragedy on Summit http://www.rideboldly.org/2008/09/28/tragedy-on-summit/ Bikes, bicycling, and road safety. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:45:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mike http://www.rideboldly.org/2008/09/28/tragedy-on-summit/comment-page-1/#comment-285 Mike Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:42:33 +0000 http://www.rideboldly.org/?p=206#comment-285 In my accident the driver failed to yield, turning left in front of me. That driver, too, did not get ticketed. I don't know what it's going to take to make people, even on relatively bike friendly areas, more attentive to their surroundings, but this issue is nation-wide, and more needs to be done. In my accident the driver failed to yield, turning left in front of me. That driver, too, did not get ticketed.

I don’t know what it’s going to take to make people, even on relatively bike friendly areas, more attentive to their surroundings, but this issue is nation-wide, and more needs to be done.

]]> By: Mike http://www.rideboldly.org/2008/09/28/tragedy-on-summit/comment-page-1/#comment-283 Mike Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:33:37 +0000 http://www.rideboldly.org/?p=206#comment-283 The problem I see is, that the sign says STOP. To many, this is, well slow down somewhat, I'm in a hurry. The driver should have been ticketed at least for failure to stop. Having been hit by someone who failed to stop, this is an epidemic. I am always leary of cars approaching, even when I have the right of way. They simply are not paying attention. If you drive as you should have been taught, this would not have happened. You stop and look before proceding. Of course, this would also have to apply to some of the people enforcing the laws. The problem I see is, that the sign says STOP. To many, this is, well slow down somewhat, I’m in a hurry. The driver should have been ticketed at least for failure to stop. Having been hit by someone who failed to stop, this is an epidemic. I am always leary of cars approaching, even when I have the right of way. They simply are not paying attention.
If you drive as you should have been taught, this would not have happened. You stop and look before proceding. Of course, this would also have to apply to some of the people enforcing the laws.

]]> By: Julie http://www.rideboldly.org/2008/09/28/tragedy-on-summit/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Julie Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:19:53 +0000 http://www.rideboldly.org/?p=206#comment-282 I'm certainly keeping an eye on it. They can still issue a citation. Based on the street configuration through there, I know of several possibilities that at least fall into 'misdemeanor' and 'gross misdemeanor' departments. I'd also wonder if they did alcohol tests on site. I think one of the things that concerns me is that it's not a default action in injury accidents of any kind involving a vehicle. I know that there needs to be 'due cause' to make such a request, but having been in an injury accident should hold up as a reason. I’m certainly keeping an eye on it. They can still issue a citation. Based on the street configuration through there, I know of several possibilities that at least fall into ‘misdemeanor’ and ‘gross misdemeanor’ departments.

I’d also wonder if they did alcohol tests on site. I think one of the things that concerns me is that it’s not a default action in injury accidents of any kind involving a vehicle. I know that there needs to be ‘due cause’ to make such a request, but having been in an injury accident should hold up as a reason.

]]> By: Rory http://www.rideboldly.org/2008/09/28/tragedy-on-summit/comment-page-1/#comment-281 Rory Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:03:16 +0000 http://www.rideboldly.org/?p=206#comment-281 Julie, I, too, am perplexed that no citation was issued if that is indeed the case. And I totally agree that education is the key component of preventing these tragedies. You can place as many statutes in the books as you would like, but they will no more protect us from the inattentive driver as those statutes you have just listed. The simple fact is that as bicyclists we are in the minority. And like any other minority the larger population will not pay attention until there is a sufficient outcry from enough individuals organized in advocacy to raise awareness. Until such time as the metro area becomes more bicycle (and pedestrian friendly), the role of educating both the bicyclists and the motorists of our presence on the roads is critical to prevent the recent tragedies we have seen on the roadways. godspeed Julie,
I, too, am perplexed that no citation was issued if that is indeed the case. And I totally agree that education is the key component of preventing these tragedies. You can place as many statutes in the books as you would like, but they will no more protect us from the inattentive driver as those statutes you have just listed. The simple fact is that as bicyclists we are in the minority. And like any other minority the larger population will not pay attention until there is a sufficient outcry from enough individuals organized in advocacy to raise awareness. Until such time as the metro area becomes more bicycle (and pedestrian friendly), the role of educating both the bicyclists and the motorists of our presence on the roads is critical to prevent the recent tragedies we have seen on the roadways.

godspeed

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