Hit and run kills cyclist
#27
Cycleway town
I don't ride on roads, as i deem it too dangerous to do so. And i don't have to, as my town was built from scratch with a separate pedestrian/cycleway system. It is no accident that i live here.
But i still wouldn't call it victim-blaming. I only victim-blame when the victim was a clear subject of Darwinism. Here however, is a common incident which just highlights how use of the motorcar has completely taken over our world.
Everyone has the right to use the roads. As a pedestrian, on a horse or horse-drawn cart, on a skate board, bicycle, steam engine.. it doesn't matter how you choose to get around, you should be able to travel on a road. That we can't do so safely, almost entirely due to the modern automobile and many of their mentally deranged ''i pay road tax'' drivers, is a sad state of modern times.
But i still wouldn't call it victim-blaming. I only victim-blame when the victim was a clear subject of Darwinism. Here however, is a common incident which just highlights how use of the motorcar has completely taken over our world.
Everyone has the right to use the roads. As a pedestrian, on a horse or horse-drawn cart, on a skate board, bicycle, steam engine.. it doesn't matter how you choose to get around, you should be able to travel on a road. That we can't do so safely, almost entirely due to the modern automobile and many of their mentally deranged ''i pay road tax'' drivers, is a sad state of modern times.
#28
Banned
........a lot to ask from a number of motorists, especially the ones that will over drive their headlights or road conditions. I like to throw a considerable amount of lighting and reflectivity into the mix, both static and dynamic for added insurance purposes.
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Yes, I run a taillight (at least one) visible from half a mile away. And at least twice, due to rain or battery drain, the light has failed while I was riding and I didn't know it. So .... that makes me fair game?
If a driver cannot see something in the road ahead, said driver is not fit to drive. End of that story.
Actually, there is more ... I am gong to assume that you meant, Not that we should not hold drivers to a minimum driving standard, but that we should not depend upon them to always uphold it. I agree we are each responsible for our own safety on the road ... I was addressing specifically comments about dim, low-quality tail lights.
Even if a bike has No rear reflective surfaces, there is never an excuse for a driver not to see it. Cars' headlights show what's there---if the driver bothers to look.
Last edited by Maelochs; 04-29-19 at 08:11 AM.
#30
Banned
Ummmm .... Not over-driving their own headlights on a flat, straight road is too much to ask from a driver? I would say, it would be the minimum.
Yes, I run a taillight (at least one) visible from half a mile away. And at least twice, due to rain or battery drain, the light has failed while I was riding and I didn't know it. So .... that makes me fair game?
If a driver cannot see something in the road ahead, said driver is not fit to drive. End of that story.
Yes, I run a taillight (at least one) visible from half a mile away. And at least twice, due to rain or battery drain, the light has failed while I was riding and I didn't know it. So .... that makes me fair game?
If a driver cannot see something in the road ahead, said driver is not fit to drive. End of that story.
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At 55 mph, seeing an unlit object on a dark road is tough. One can quibble about exact distances, but stopping distance and headlight range are at best pretty close at 55 mph. No margin at all for error. "Over driving" headlights is a routine factor on rural roads. There was a guy around here who used to ride his bike without lights down to the convenience store on the main highway and I'm not sure I'd have seen him at times were if not for the reflectors on his pedals.
#32
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There was a guy around here who used to ride his bike without lights down to the convenience store on the main highway and I'm not sure I'd have seen him at times were if not for the reflectors on his pedals.
#33
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Really?
I don't find either cycling or driving to be all that difficult.
I use lights at night .... but hey, at night cameras wouldn't work, eh?
#34
☢
Yeah ... the driver would have to ... like ... Slow Down when he realized there was some other human being on the edge of the road. Or ... just keep driving at undiminished speed and eithe r ginre him and hit him, or focus on his and drive off the road. yeah .... no reason to slow down, and the reflectors just make it more dangerous for the car. The cyclist should just accept getting hit.
Really?
Really?
I don't find either cycling or driving to be all that difficult.
I use lights at night .... but hey, at night cameras wouldn't work, eh?
#35
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You're preaching to the choir bub. I've been hit while riding my bike 3 times by distracted drivers (cell phones I suspect). Twice at night and each claimed they "didn't see" me. I'm simply being realistic, not offering an excuse for them.I used to be a night rider and commute to work at night. I road all 7 days...nights. I know the realities and dangers of cycling at night.
#36
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Lots of data on pedestrian survival rate at different speeds: >90% at 20 mph, ~55% at 30 mph, and <20% at 40 mph.
If the vehicle in OP was travelling at the limit of 50 mph and cyclist was at, say 15 mph, that gives a relative impact speed of 35 mph. So, he didn't stand much of a chance. But I'm probably underestimating the vehicle speed and overestimating the cyclist's.
If the vehicle in OP was travelling at the limit of 50 mph and cyclist was at, say 15 mph, that gives a relative impact speed of 35 mph. So, he didn't stand much of a chance. But I'm probably underestimating the vehicle speed and overestimating the cyclist's.
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Happened recently over the Easter weekend not too far from me:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/suspect-i...lice-1.4388874
Here's the stretch of highway where it happened:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0031...7i16384!8i8192
Posted speed limit here is 80 km/h, but traffic routinely moves at close to 100 km/h. Cyclist was found at around 10 pm, so it appears that the incident took place after sun down.
Sad story, really. A road like this with virtually no shoulder, high speed limit, partial darkness is no place to ride your bike. Don't accuse me of victim blaming. I've just learned over the years that there are some roads that you should never ride on. Condolences to his family.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/suspect-i...lice-1.4388874
Here's the stretch of highway where it happened:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0031...7i16384!8i8192
Posted speed limit here is 80 km/h, but traffic routinely moves at close to 100 km/h. Cyclist was found at around 10 pm, so it appears that the incident took place after sun down.
Sad story, really. A road like this with virtually no shoulder, high speed limit, partial darkness is no place to ride your bike. Don't accuse me of victim blaming. I've just learned over the years that there are some roads that you should never ride on. Condolences to his family.
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#38
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On any road in my opinion. Never outdrive your line of sight. I am a motorcyclist. It's easy to look at that 25 MPH swarning sign on a sharp curve and see doubling that number as a challenge. You have to ask yourself what if? A downed tree, stopped postal carrier, accident, blind driveway entrance etc. lies around the corner.
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On any road in my opinion. Never outdrive your line of sight. I am a motorcyclist. It's easy to look at that 25 MPH swarning sign on a sharp curve and see doubling that number as a challenge. You have to ask yourself what if? A downed tree, stopped postal carrier, accident, blind driveway entrance etc. lies around the corner.
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Happened recently over the Easter weekend not too far from me:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/suspect-i...lice-1.4388874
Here's the stretch of highway where it happened:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0031...7i16384!8i8192
Posted speed limit here is 80 km/h, but traffic routinely moves at close to 100 km/h. Cyclist was found at around 10 pm, so it appears that the incident took place after sun down.
Sad story, really. A road like this with virtually no shoulder, high speed limit, partial darkness is no place to ride your bike. Don't accuse me of victim blaming. I've just learned over the years that there are some roads that you should never ride on. Condolences to his family.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/suspect-i...lice-1.4388874
Here's the stretch of highway where it happened:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0031...7i16384!8i8192
Posted speed limit here is 80 km/h, but traffic routinely moves at close to 100 km/h. Cyclist was found at around 10 pm, so it appears that the incident took place after sun down.
Sad story, really. A road like this with virtually no shoulder, high speed limit, partial darkness is no place to ride your bike. Don't accuse me of victim blaming. I've just learned over the years that there are some roads that you should never ride on. Condolences to his family.
#41
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On any road in my opinion. Never outdrive your line of sight. I am a motorcyclist. It's easy to look at that 25 MPH swarning sign on a sharp curve and see doubling that number as a challenge.
You have to ask yourself what if? A downed tree, stopped postal carrier, accident, blind driveway entrance etc. lies around the corner.
You have to ask yourself what if? A downed tree, stopped postal carrier, accident, blind driveway entrance etc. lies around the corner.
In all fairness, I don't think there's anyone who's been riding for a long time, who hasn't at some time (or many times) ridden in that zone where the only thing separating us from disaster is favorable alignment of the stars. (Note the "us" rather than "him")
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is"organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is"organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
I try to keep safe with certain aphorisms in my head that come to mind to alert me when I encounter a situation where unseen dangers may lurk, such as “Like a weapon, assume every stopped car is loaded, with an occupant ready to exit from either side.” or“Don’t ride over an area (such as puddles or leaves) when you can’t see the road surface.”
After seeing this video, I’m adding “When approaching a curve with no forward sight lines, hug the curb…’tight to the right’ .“
After seeing this video, I’m adding “When approaching a curve with no forward sight lines, hug the curb…’tight to the right’ .“
Tight to the Right
not bad-sorta rhymes
Of course the motorist is at fault-
but the riders would be "dead right"-great for their heirs-not so good for them
Cars routinely cut curves and corners-
it should never be a surprise for an adult-riding or driving
Probably not so good for heirs-5 dead riders-$ 50,000 policy -dead young person worth $2,000,000 or so
Like Jim said
Tight to the Right- love that-I will steal it-forever
not bad-sorta rhymes
Of course the motorist is at fault-
but the riders would be "dead right"-great for their heirs-not so good for them
Cars routinely cut curves and corners-
it should never be a surprise for an adult-riding or driving
Probably not so good for heirs-5 dead riders-$ 50,000 policy -dead young person worth $2,000,000 or so
Like Jim said
Tight to the Right- love that-I will steal it-forever
I use both left and right rearview mirrors, in my case Take-a-Look eyeglass mounted ones. I got the idea from a cycling companion who used only a right hand mirror.
The additional right hand mirror affords a pretty good rearward view, but is particularly useful [including]:
The additional right hand mirror affords a pretty good rearward view, but is particularly useful [including]:
- ...
- On a curved road to the right
- ...
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-02-19 at 11:38 AM.
#42
Senior Member
Happened recently over the Easter weekend not too far from me:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/suspect-i...lice-1.4388874
Here's the stretch of highway where it happened:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0031...7i16384!8i8192
Posted speed limit here is 80 km/h, but traffic routinely moves at close to 100 km/h. Cyclist was found at around 10 pm, so it appears that the incident took place after sun down.
Sad story, really. A road like this with virtually no shoulder, high speed limit, partial darkness is no place to ride your bike. Don't accuse me of victim blaming. I've just learned over the years that there are some roads that you should never ride on. Condolences to his family.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/suspect-i...lice-1.4388874
Here's the stretch of highway where it happened:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0031...7i16384!8i8192
Posted speed limit here is 80 km/h, but traffic routinely moves at close to 100 km/h. Cyclist was found at around 10 pm, so it appears that the incident took place after sun down.
Sad story, really. A road like this with virtually no shoulder, high speed limit, partial darkness is no place to ride your bike. Don't accuse me of victim blaming. I've just learned over the years that there are some roads that you should never ride on. Condolences to his family.