eja_ bottecchia

trailangel

What the heck is wrong with people!

eja_ bottecchia

GrainBrain

Alcohol and probably meth.

So sad, they have a picture of the victim smiling on a new specialized!

eja_ bottecchia

JoeyBike

I am not surprised.

sirkaos

This makes me sick. I just cannot imagine what goes through someone's mind to murder them in such a cold and calculated way. Absolutely pathetic excuse for a human.
Heartfelt sympathies for the entire family, relatives and friends having to go through this. God Bless her soul.

Hoopdriver

Could be a tragic random convergence, but sure looks intentional. Are these type of events misplaced rage, desire for infamy, mental illness, or perhaps a "retirement" plan at govt. expense? It doesn't matter to the victim, though. RIP.

I wonder if the police actually responded to the previous reports of targeting.

Paul Barnard

I will never be able to understand the rage that some people have toward cyclists.

Paul Barnard

Is anyone ever surprised by violence?

JoeyBike

They have rage in general. Anything / anybody who "gets in their way" puts themselves at risk. Something to think about before displaying a one-finger salute or some cuss words towards any motorist who can get a legit shot at you.

Also keep in mind the issues with alcohol, pain meds, and other drugs that alter personalities. As you likely know there is a huge addiction problem in the USA, and rural folks can get away with driving loaded far longer than city folks. Toss a cell phone into the mix and things get really interesting, hate or no hate. No comfort for the dead person or the family HOW it happened.

trailangel

Update on this:
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/1...ck-and-killed/

CAT7RDR

We can sometimes point the finger at drugs/alcohol/mental health, but sometimes people are just plain evil.

Unfortunately, this cyclist met up with it.

Rest In Peace. It could be anyone of us.

steppinthrax

Alcohol lowers inhibition and if the driver was drunk she did something she would not otherwise due sober. Meaning, many people want to run over us, but rationally realize the complex implications of such.

I'm just pretty happy they caught her and it didn't become a hit-and-run turn cold case.

CliffordK

Sad thing what some people will do to other people, even strangers.

There was another thread about a person being apparently intentionally "bumped" by a car. Apparently some people dehumanize people they perceive as being "different".

Perhaps not realizing the vulnerability of cyclists vs cars.

And, toss alcohol and possibly drugs into the mix, and one gets a dangerous situation.

JW Fas

Now to see if the driver will receive a proper punishment that isn't probation and community service.

CliffordK

The bail is set mighty high, which is indicative that the DA is taking this seriously.

But, we'll see how it all gets watered down later.

eja_ bottecchia

rydabent

Jail for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No parole.

indyfabz

+1. This is effed up.

JoeyBike

Swimming with sharks. People choose to engage in risky behavior and sometimes their luck runs out. It's all part of the deal when you push down that first pedal stroke around motor vehicles. Tragic but not surprising, and not the last time. Could be you or me next. Thankfully, cycling around motor vehicle traffic is nothing like living in a war zone where people are purposely trying to kill me. Oh...wait.....
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genec

While I don't disagree with you... I do have to object to the swimming with sharks metaphor... We as cyclists are NOT dealing with a different species... drivers are human, just like us, and they have brothers, sisters, and moms and dads, just like us.

The shark is just responding to a hunger need... humans intentionally running down other humans is not such a need... it is a shameful deed.

squirtdad

I refuse to consider bicycling risky behavior. I also think it is a disservice to present it as such.
As to the analogy.... people are far more likely to get killed driving to a beach than by a shark at the beach.

JoeyBike

True in my case for sure. I stay out of ocean waters. Jellyfish avoidance mostly. Never seen a shark, or a jellyfish, walk 60 yards across a hot, sandy beach to eat someone. I also never seen a cyclist killed on a bike on a day they didn't ride a bike.

From another A&S thread:

First they have to KNOW there is a real problem. Then they have to get past the DENIAL stage and BELIEVE the problem exists.

Only after ^^THIS could a cyclist take action, if they chose. Yes, there are many actions we can take to minimize our exposure, but we have to ditch the entitlement and denial before prevention can be worked on and realized.

How many safe activities require the suggestion of wearing protective head gear and an entire booming industry who makes safety gear specifically for that activity? Exactly ZERO, that's how many.

CliffordK

I have to consider driving cars and overeating as the "risky behavior".

Yes, I could get smacked by a car.

But, I am also at an age that many of my Gradeschool and HS peers are dying. Some of them freak accidents. Some random health issues.

But, many studies seem to indicate that cycling reduces all cause mortality and morbidity.