Revenig

I've heard of cyclist being killed by cars and trucks, but this is a first for me. How very sad.

Man killed in collision cycled for his health
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
October 14, 2003

LITTLETON, COLORADO - Thomas Fox had taken up bicycling after a mild heart attack three years ago.

On his ride Friday afternoon, the 60-year-old Ken Caryl Ranch accountant was killed after a crash with another bicyclist along the Mary Carter Greenway Trail near Prince Street.

"I just couldn't believe it," said his wife, Betty Fox. "He was bicycling for his health. But if he was to die, that was not a bad way to go."

Fox was riding north behind two other cyclists as he was approaching the underpass for Prince Street.

A southbound cyclist, a 35-year- old man who was not identified by police, crashed into Fox on a blind curve. Fox was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsy results were pending Monday.

Both cyclists wore helmets. It was not known if speed was a factor.

Littleton police said no charges are expected in the accident.

Monday, Fox's family was still finalizing memorial services.

It was in Durango that he started taking up mountain biking.

"He just really loved sports," said his wife. "He skied, he rode bikes and he played pickup tennis."

In 1999, he became the chief financial officer for The Developmental Disability Resource Center in Jefferson County and moved to Ken Caryl Ranch.

Three years ago, he had a mild heart attack. After that scare, he started taking better care of himself, his wife said. "He took his diet more seriously and he got his fitness up." Fox had been bicycling for an hour or two three times a week. "He liked to ride fast, but he was careful," Betty Fox said.

She and some friends have approached the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District about having a bench along the Mary Carter Greenway Trail dedicated to her husband.

"It's a wonderful trail, and it's been such a joy for all of us," she said.

oldillini

Such a tragedy for all. My thoughts go out to the families.

Stubacca

Sad to hear. A hard thing for any family to go through; my thoughts are with his.

Seems like a very rare occurence to me - I have never heard of this type of cycling related death before.

packfodder

That's unusual. Sad to hear.

What's up with his wife's reaction? - "that was not a bad way to go."

LLCoolJessie

I think she meant, "You gotta go sometime... might as well be biking when it happens"

If you had to choose a place and a time to die... Well, I certainly wouldn't pick in my car, or sitting at my desk at work.

Ohio Trekker

Funny thing is I suspect my Wife would say the exact same thing. He died doing what he enjoyed doing, and didn't suffer through a long draw-out illness.

What a tragic, tragic story.

Stubacca

That's essentially how I interpreted the comment.

Many people say the same sort of thing of pilots who die in plane crashes: "They died doing what they loved". A pilot friend of mine always points out that no pilot enjoys crashing....

wza97

But unfortunately, the other cyclist has to live with what happened, even if it wasn't his fault. That's a tough way to go through life.

Pat

Around here our bicycle paths have a number of blind corners. I am always really careful on those because I figure some fool is likely to be cutting the corner whilst going 25 mph. If both cyclists have any kind of speed, their total velocity at impact can easily be 40 mph. You hit your head just right (or just wrong) or break your neck and that is the end of it.

closetbiker

What a great combo. Deaths of helmeted cyclists on a path!

Around here we have those same blind corners on narrow paths that have been put in by well meaning advocates for bicycles. A couple were put in to avoid large intersections or around bridges to make it "safer" for cyclists, but I see more danger on the narrow path with blind corner than a well designed, visible, wide, controlled intersection.

I have a problem when those same advocates are shown the problem with the design and then refuse to do anything to change the paths once they are put in.

It's similar to the bike lanes that are placed next to parked cars and the cars doors swing out into the bike lane. We have some of those here too and after I showed the city bike advocates the results of these doors swinging into cyclists, they wouldn't alter the lanes to make them safer.

ngateguy

We had a similar case here last year on the Samamish Slough trail 2 bikes collided killing one of the riders

I feel for all involved!

Allister

Considering the way some cyclists use the Coronation Drive bike path (shared path) here in Brisbane, the only thing that surprises me about this story is that it doesn't happen more often.

DnvrFox

Goodness.

I believe I had met this guy. I may have had some business dealings with him (or perhaps it was his predecessor??) several years ago at the Developmental Disabilities Resource Center, where he was the CFO.

Very sad for all involved.

Grendel

According to this news item the cyclist that hit Mr. Fox is now facing a criminal charge of reckless driving. Un-freaking-believable. If this guy had been driving a car when he hit Mr. Fox he would have gotten off free and clear. It's frustrating -- we can't get law enforcement to care much one way or another when motorists harrass and assault cyclists, but let a cyclist hit someone and the law is all over 'em.

Chi

That's what I'd like to know.

RIP

sch

There is a frequent poster on these forums under the handles Denverfox
or DnverFox or a variant, wonder if this was the same person.....?
Lived in that area and was about that age. Steve

DnvrFox

Good Lord, now you have me dead!

But, I do believe I had met Mr. Fox (the one who was killed), as I had done a lot of business with the organization of which he was the CFO.

And, I don't believe we can have our cake and eat it too. If the other biker was truly at fault, and killed Mr. Fox out of negligence and carelessness, then he should be charged.

Folks, proper enforcement of traffic laws includes enforcing against bikers as well as car drivers.

I bet his wife and children want proper enforcement!

Grendel

Well, see, that's the problem -- I don't know how it is in that part of Colorado, but in my area and many others around the country law enforcement routinely turns a blind eye when a cager mows down a cyclist. All the driver has to say is something like "I didn't see him/her" or "The sun was in my eye" or some other B.S. excuse and they get off free and clear. There are abundant examples of times when a cyclist was injured or killed by a motorist without the motorist even being charged, let alone convicted.

The original article I read on this case made it sound as if speed probably wasn't a factor due to the curvy trail and that it was unlikely any charges would be filed, and now law enforcement seems to have had a change of heart and is going after the cyclist. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for cyclists obeying the laws and facing appropriate punishment if they don't, but I'm of the opinion that the law took an interest in filing charges in this case only because a cyclist and not a motorist could be found at fault.

You're closer to this case than I am, and if I have this wrong and you're okay with what happened here then so be it. I'm just saying it looks like **** from where I sit.

closetbiker

Correct me if I'm wrong here but, are there rules on a bike path?

The Motor Vehicle Act, set in legislation, rules the roads here. Police monitor the roads to see the law is followed and courts rule on challenges.

As far as I understand there is no particular laws on most bike paths that lay out how fast (some paths do have a limit and it's posted) a bike can go or even, what side of the path you can be on. Many paths don't have enough room for 2 cyclists to pass on a (too) tight (blind) turn. Except for highly used exceptional areas that have posted speed limits on a few paths, there is no enforcement effort made by the city that has set the paths down.

Am I wrong? Where is it evident that the MVA is applicable to bike paths? Is there some other set of rules that path users must follow?

DnvrFox

Most of our bike paths have posted rules.

It has nothing to do with the motor vehicle laws.

I.e., the Platte River Bike Path (60 miles) has a speed limit if 15 mph.

The Cherry Creek has a limit of 20 mph, etc.

Rules are posted, but I have never seen a "keep to the right" rule posted??

However, most of the paths are 8 feet wide.

slider

Geeze, at least you're consistent. If there is a law you must follow it to the letter even if it hurts no-one. If there is no explicit law then do what you want and you shouldn't be held responsible even if you kill someone.

Frankly, even if there isn't a legal speed limit, you'd think the guy could be charged with reckless endangerment or something. I can't stand people who ride on bike paths as if they're on the last leg of a time trial. It's irresponsible and dangerous.

-s

closetbiker

It's been my experiance that no one follows any rules (or common sense) on bike paths. Couple that with poor design (like blind corners) and I find they're accidents waiting to happen. I stay clear of them because there is more sanity on the streets.

I emailed the story authors and asked under what law the cyclist would be charged under.

ngateguy

MVA is not applicable to bike trails but I bet if you look you will find laws covering most if not all bike trails we have them here in Washington.

closetbiker

From what I understand, in BC, we have a cyclist must yield to pedestrian bylaw, and that's it. If a cyclist hit a pedestrian, there would be a way to charge the cyclist.

If two cyclists collide, there is no recourse for a victim if he wanted to attempt to get compensation for damage or injury.

CycleNaut

Earlier this year, a cyclist died in this area when she first collided with another cyclist, then fell into the road where she was hit by a truck.