Paul Barnard

We have had some spectacularly good weather for late afternoon MUP rides this week. Part of my route along the levee path had me pedaling directly into a low hanging sun. I am not talking a sun that is 3 hours away from the horizon either. I am talking 30 minutes from sunset. One day I forgot my sunglasses. My bicycle doesn't have a visor either. Guess how pedestrians or other road users I ran over? None. Guess how many were hard to see? None. Close calls? None. But if I had hit one, I'd have a good excuse, right Joey?

Trevtassie

SMIDSY Sorry Mate I Didn't See You
That's what you say in Australia to get off from running someone on a bicycle over.
I've always said if you want to murder someone in Australia get them a bike then run them over. You'd probably get sympathy if you played the "I got them a bike for christmas and now I accidentally ran them over" card.

Paul Barnard

It's the same thing over here. You wouldn't think cyclists would give inattentive motorists a pass, but a few do.

UCantTouchThis

There have been many cyclists who hit pedestrians. Around here, one killed a ped on the bike trail. There are plenty of inattentive people everywhere, off and on the bike. What is the point of this thread?

trailangel

Paul and Joey need to get a room. I thought this type of thread is not allowed on BF.... retaliation for their argument about the low sun contributing to the death of 5 bikers in Nevada. Close the thread.

alcjphil

There was a very sad case here earlier this year where a cyclist was killed while trying to avoid hitting a pedestrian. I actually knew him, he was a very experienced cyclist who had raced for many years

Paul Barnard

Retaliation? LOL. It's a story that reemphasizes my unwavering position that the "sun" is very rarely ever a reason to run over anyone, and that letting people use it as an excuse is a disservice to our cycling community. Process what I wrote. I was riding directly into a very low hanging sun. I had no visor. I had no sunglasses. The other path users were NOT "hard to see" whatever that is. I could see them 3/4 of a mile down the path.

This is an advocacy issue I am deadly serious about. We cannot give motorists the "sun" or "hard to see" pass. It's not a reason. It's a lame excuse that doesn't withstand honest scrutiny like I gave it on my ride.

StanSeven

Good point. Thread closed. You all know this kind of thread isn’t allowed here. It has nothing constructive to do with A&S and certainly will quickly deteriorate into arguments.

veganbikes

In before it was locked! Though have no idea what is going on but good not to hit people!

trailangel

Apparently it's not really closed... so hammer away!

Paul Barnard

In the spirit of abiding the moderator's wish, I'll cease discussion of the topic in this thread.

zandoval 

Just like I don't ride in slippery weather, I also don't ride when shadows are long. Its just a matter of survival. I have used up all my close calls...

downhillmaster

Still appears to be open.
*looks around furtively

Trevtassie

Shhhhhhh...... mum will hear us.