PLEASE Ride Carefully!
05-11-17, 08:45 AM
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PLEASE Ride Carefully!
As I was browsing FB last night, I saw that a group ride friend had been run over by a woman in an SUV while he was riding on a country road. He is now in the hospital with a fractured leg, arm and pelvis. I gather he's fortunate to be alive.
This guy is an amazing athlete over-all--besides riding LOTS of miles every week he swims and does circuit strength training--and he is VERY fast for LONG miles. He's 61 years old (and looks, maybe, 45). His fitness, we're hoping, will be a help in his recovery. He is retired from our town's police force after 29 years.
His alleged attacker is in custody, charged with attempted 1st degree murder. According to the news story, she drove past him, gave him the finger, then slowed down to get behind him and then ran him over. Why? We don't know.
All of this reminds me how vulnerable we are while we ride, and how careful we must be.
Please, Please, PLEASE be cautious and observant out there!
This guy is an amazing athlete over-all--besides riding LOTS of miles every week he swims and does circuit strength training--and he is VERY fast for LONG miles. He's 61 years old (and looks, maybe, 45). His fitness, we're hoping, will be a help in his recovery. He is retired from our town's police force after 29 years.
His alleged attacker is in custody, charged with attempted 1st degree murder. According to the news story, she drove past him, gave him the finger, then slowed down to get behind him and then ran him over. Why? We don't know.
All of this reminds me how vulnerable we are while we ride, and how careful we must be.
Please, Please, PLEASE be cautious and observant out there!
05-11-17, 09:32 AM
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Cripes. I hope he gets better soon and they put her away for good.
Oh ... and just found out one of our cycling tribe (and one of the fast ones) was hit by a car today ... she's beat up, but otherwise OK. The driver that hit her did stop and was also shaken up.
Oh ... and just found out one of our cycling tribe (and one of the fast ones) was hit by a car today ... she's beat up, but otherwise OK. The driver that hit her did stop and was also shaken up.
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05-11-17, 08:36 PM
#3
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If it doesn't have a shoulder, I don't ride it. I feel safer on the Interstate than on quaint country roads with no shoulder and a homicidal maniac in a pickup!
05-11-17, 10:25 PM
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It's hard to find a silver lining sometimes, but maybe this is the sort of incident that can help turn around the whole driver/cyclist thing. Sometimes the public need a character they can relate to or respect more easily -- a baby, a cute little kid, a heroic retired law enforcement or military veteran -- to finally grok why the issue is important.
Many Americans were indifferent to driving after/while drinking until MADD got going in 1980 after one mother made it her personal mission to turn around attitudes in the public, law enforcement and the justice system.
Many Americans were indifferent to driving after/while drinking until MADD got going in 1980 after one mother made it her personal mission to turn around attitudes in the public, law enforcement and the justice system.
05-12-17, 07:29 AM
#6
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You might feel better having that white line between you, but I see an awful lot of crash reports where the driver crossed that line and hit the cyclist anyway. I personally think you're better off in the lane right in front of them where they are more likely to see you -- assuming they're looking at all.
05-12-17, 09:06 AM
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05-12-17, 10:11 AM
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05-12-17, 02:43 PM
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She seems nice. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation, including for looking like this in a mug shot after trying to kill someone.
05-12-17, 03:33 PM
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I hope she dies in jail!!
From the link:
From the link:
According to a release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Andrew E. Tolle, 61 of Galesburg was cycling on Highway 26 near Lake Bracken when a red jeep driven by Jacqueline J. Wells, 45 pulled up next to him and began making obscene gestures and yelling at him. Wells then positioned her Jeep behind Tolle and rammed the bike twice, knocking him off, deputies said. Wells then ran over Tolle and drove off with the bicycle dragging underneath the jeep.
05-13-17, 05:03 PM
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Dang! I was thinking maybe someone held a grudge, since he's an ex-cop, but she looks like she doesn't need a reason to be creepy. 😜 Hopefully, the guy recovers fully, and she does some hard time.
05-13-17, 08:49 PM
#13
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You might feel better having that white line between you, but I see an awful lot of crash reports where the driver crossed that line and hit the cyclist anyway. I personally think you're better off in the lane right in front of them where they are more likely to see you -- assuming they're looking at all.
As a professional driver I really don't care for cyclists 'right in front of me'. Unless they can maintain the speed limit, of course.
05-13-17, 10:55 PM
#14
Cycle Year Round
She is mentally ill. Raises the question as to why she was allowed to drive.
More in A&S:
https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-s...-incident.html
More in A&S:
https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-s...-incident.html
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05-13-17, 10:58 PM
#15
Cycle Year Round
Remember, cyclist are tax payers as well that help pay more than their share of road cost to support your employment.
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05-13-17, 11:15 PM
#16
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I was a professional driver too, in that I did a lot of interstate delivery driving for a living. I delivered very expensive cars, often driving the cars themselves rather than using a hauler. I drove as if I had to pay out of pocket for any damage. I often had to lag for miles behind stubborn drivers who parked in the left lane, side by side with other drivers, refusing to allow anyway to pass, even if it meant poking along at 50 mph on the highway. I was never involved in any collision, never got into confrontations with other folks using the road, never assumed I had the right of way or priority over anyone else using the road. Because no one wins that passive-aggressive game.
That's being a professional driver. Unless you're talking NASCAR or demolition derby.
05-14-17, 01:14 PM
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Did you get lost on the way to the race track and somehow ended up on a bicycle forum?
I was a professional driver too, in that I did a lot of interstate delivery driving for a living. I delivered very expensive cars, often driving the cars themselves rather than using a hauler. I drove as if I had to pay out of pocket for any damage. I often had to lag for miles behind stubborn drivers who parked in the left lane, side by side with other drivers, refusing to allow anyway to pass, even if it meant poking along at 50 mph on the highway. I was never involved in any collision, never got into confrontations with other folks using the road, never assumed I had the right of way or priority over anyone else using the road. Because no one wins that passive-aggressive game.
That's being a professional driver. Unless you're talking NASCAR or demolition derby.
I was a professional driver too, in that I did a lot of interstate delivery driving for a living. I delivered very expensive cars, often driving the cars themselves rather than using a hauler. I drove as if I had to pay out of pocket for any damage. I often had to lag for miles behind stubborn drivers who parked in the left lane, side by side with other drivers, refusing to allow anyway to pass, even if it meant poking along at 50 mph on the highway. I was never involved in any collision, never got into confrontations with other folks using the road, never assumed I had the right of way or priority over anyone else using the road. Because no one wins that passive-aggressive game.
That's being a professional driver. Unless you're talking NASCAR or demolition derby.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
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05-14-17, 01:17 PM
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It's hard to find a silver lining sometimes, but maybe this is the sort of incident that can help turn around the whole driver/cyclist thing. Sometimes the public need a character they can relate to or respect more easily -- a baby, a cute little kid, a heroic retired law enforcement or military veteran -- to finally grok why the issue is important.
Many Americans were indifferent to driving after/while drinking until MADD got going in 1980 after one mother made it her personal mission to turn around attitudes in the public, law enforcement and the justice system.
Many Americans were indifferent to driving after/while drinking until MADD got going in 1980 after one mother made it her personal mission to turn around attitudes in the public, law enforcement and the justice system.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-14-17, 01:18 PM
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You might feel better having that white line between you, but I see an awful lot of crash reports where the driver crossed that line and hit the cyclist anyway. I personally think you're better off in the lane right in front of them where they are more likely to see you -- assuming they're looking at all.
Then there is that RUMBLE STRIP they perforate part of the shoulder with to try and jolt drivers back to reality.
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05-14-17, 01:20 PM
#20
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You might feel better having that white line between you, but I see an awful lot of crash reports where the driver crossed that line and hit the cyclist anyway. I personally think you're better off in the lane right in front of them where they are more likely to see you -- assuming they're looking at all.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-14-17, 02:19 PM
#21
Cycle Year Round
Thank you for your thoughts, which mirror my own. The attempted murder charge is appropriate and refreshing to see, but do we really expect it not to be plea-bargained to reckless driving or something similar? Ten-year sentence, out on parole in three and back behind the wheel, and we wonder why the highway death rate keeps climbing, after decades of a gradual decline.
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05-14-17, 04:54 PM
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About the title... I don't think riding carefully would have helped.
I hope the cyclist recovers without long term consequences. I feel sad for that woman and her family too. think it is pretty sais so sad for that woman and her family too. An all around bad thing.
I hope the cyclist recovers without long term consequences. I feel sad for that woman and her family too. think it is pretty sais so sad for that woman and her family too. An all around bad thing.
05-14-17, 05:05 PM
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Wonder if there's any connection...ISTR some places if you attack former LE, you can still be charged as if you'd attacked an on-duty cop if the attack had anything to do with their prior employment as a cop. If the guy ever so much as gave her a verbal warning during his career, that could set her up for some even more serious penalties.
05-14-17, 07:10 PM
#24
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As long as they're doing over the minimum posted speed, they're doing nothing wrong. There is no requirement for anyone to do the speed limit, a.k.a. the maximum safe speed for the road.
05-14-17, 08:58 PM
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Regarding the alleged perpetrator's mental status, I sympathize with her only insofar as it affects her personally, and her family. That sympathy does not extend to her when she inflicts her illness on others.
I have more experience with folks who have various mental illnesses and behavioral problems than I care to admit. Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism and drug abuse -- you name it, my extended family got it. Some finally took responsibility for their own problems and got help. Others tried but kept sliding back. A few never really tried and burned every bridge they crossed.
If the driver who struck that cyclist in this incident were my own family I'd say the same thing. Take full responsibility for it. Get help. Stay away from the people and situations that pull you back toward irresponsible behavior. That includes not driving a vehicle until you have full control of yourself.
I have more experience with folks who have various mental illnesses and behavioral problems than I care to admit. Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism and drug abuse -- you name it, my extended family got it. Some finally took responsibility for their own problems and got help. Others tried but kept sliding back. A few never really tried and burned every bridge they crossed.
If the driver who struck that cyclist in this incident were my own family I'd say the same thing. Take full responsibility for it. Get help. Stay away from the people and situations that pull you back toward irresponsible behavior. That includes not driving a vehicle until you have full control of yourself.