2 Bycyclists Killed In SS by DUI

[Conan71]

Of course, there's the argument from joggers that bicycles shouldn't be on jogging trails.  Who wins in a collision between a bike and jogger on a crowded trail?  There are some totally mindless cyclists who take every opportunity to haul arse in the midst of crowds of joggers and people walking their kids and dogs.

[waterboy]

Yes, quite true. Last night as I jogged I made note of how many bikers exercised the courtesy to tell me they were passing. And how many of them looked like "enthusiasts" (helmet, logo gear, expensive bikes). None of the enthusiasts warned me because they are too intense and focused on themselves. Only one of the old schoolers warned me and I heard him from way back, grunting and grinding gears.

The same arguments are also made for motorcycles and sub compact cars.

[custosnox]

That's a good route Conan. I suppose many people do it for the rural, small town feel and others for the challenge. That stretch from Chandler to West 23rd is brutal. At one time in my life I would have wanted to do that.

My wife made this interesting comment. "I don't think many of these upper middle class, $1000 bike, spandex clad riders know what they're letting themselves in for when they bike through industrialized, blue collar areas where people don't have the time, the energy or the money to be enjoying such pastimes." I don't think she means its Easy Rider type folks. Its just that during really tough economic times, class consciousness is magnified. There is some jealousy.

This case was just tragic alocol related. If you look at the tracks of the car you see that if there had been a nearby running path, like on Riverside, she would have veered into it. Why not equip cars with alcohol breathalizers or some simple checklist that must be finished before the car is operable, to keep seriously drunk drivers off the roads?

The reason we don't is simply because those of us that don't drink and drive should not have to be subjected to that hassle.  Also these types of systems are not very reliable.  Honestly, I think that the best answer is making sure that repeat offenders do serious time, and loose their priviledge to drive permanantly.

[Red Arrow]

Why not equip cars with alcohol breathalizers or some simple checklist that must be finished before the car is operable, to keep seriously drunk drivers off the roads?

The test would need to be repeated during the drive to prevent someone from getting a sober buddy to get the car started.  I don't think the sober drivers would put up with blowing into a machine while driving.  That in itself could be a bad distraction.

[Hawkins]

Out of the hundreds of drivers who travel the highway every day, there are bound to be a few idiots.

Therefore, hanging out on the shoulder is the equivalent of playing Russian Roulette. Its like each 70mph car is a gun chamber, and about 1 in every 1,000 or so chambers is loaded.

We are living in a declining society. Watch out for the idiots at all times.

I am very thankful that they were able to arrest this particular idiot and get her off the streets for good.

Its a shame that these people had to die.

[godboko71]

One reason cyclists use your roads is because not all speeds are safe for them to be on the trial.

[Ed W]

Let's be clear - the risk of riding a bicycle on the roads is greatly exaggerated.  Nationwide, roughly 700 cyclists die each year, and about a third of them are children.  When you look at the statistics based on miles traveled, time spent, or per capita, riding a bicycle has just slightly more risk than traveling in an automobile. 

I know, I know, some of you are disinclined to pursue this line of argument when it veers off into a discussion of real facts and figures rather than the far more popular fear-mongering that's so prevalent on the TW comments thread.

As an instructor with the League of American Bicyclists, I take crash investigations and reportage very seriously.  I was annoyed by the comment from state trooper Brian Warren, who said there are numerous bicycle/motor vehicle crashes along that stretch of roadway.  It was irresponsible of the reporter to not ask for information supporting that obviously biased statement.  It was irresponsible of their editor to allow it in the paper without any corroboration. 

It was irresponsible to suggest that somehow their helmets did not protect them in this crash.  Magic Styrofoam or Magic Paint Stripes (bike lanes) are no protection against stupid, inebriated people driving two thousand pound death machines.

 

[Conan71]

If you look at overall gross mortalities, far more people are killed in motor vehicles than bicycles every year.  I think the MV death rate in Oklahoma is 700 to 800 per year alone.

The media becomes ignorant when there's sensational blood and guts to report.  This is the same thing that happens when there's a small plane crash.  "A flight plan was not on file" is the ignorant media comment when a small plane goes down, as if not filing a flight plan causes light aircraft to crash. 

I agree with you on Trooper Warren's comments.  I'm not aware of many cyclists getting mowed down out in that area.  I think someone got hit on Avery last year or the year before, I don't recall hearing of more crashes, you'd be in a better position to know if that was a BS statement.  He made it sound as if they are scraping someone off the pavement on a weekly basis.

[godboko71]

Safer than a highway.

So your thought its better to put walkers, runners, joggers, families, and dogs in danger over bicyclists using a designated well marked bike rout?

[tim huntzinger]

So your thought its better to put walkers, runners, joggers, families, and dogs in danger over bicyclists using a designated well marked bike rout?

Uh, yes.  Absolutely. Unless they are snotty geek types.  They can go play in traffic for all I care.  More often the better.

[dbacks fan]

So your thought its better to put walkers, runners, joggers, families, and dogs in danger over bicyclists using a designated well marked bike rout?

That has been a problem in Tulsa for years, is that while there are a few true multi use paths for bikes,walkers, joggers,families, there has never been an attempt to put bike lanes on the surface streets, and in areas where there are sidewalks, has there been any improvement where the sidewalk meets the street? (some form of a transition ramp, not only for bikes but for people with disabilities) I will say that Phoenix is a much more bike/pedestrian friendly city, they aren't considered sport, and it's not unusual to see bike groups riding on the state highways here, there are several rides from Phoenix to the Hoover Dam each year, and yes there is a state law that requires yo to give cyclist 3 feet  of space as you pass by them.

Would bike lanes have helped in this case? It doesn't sound as if it would since the driver was impared, and in a case like that even if they were wearing all the right protective gear it might not have made any difference.

[sauerkraut]

Yes, quite true. Last night as I jogged I made note of how many bikers exercised the courtesy to tell me they were passing. And how many of them looked like "enthusiasts" (helmet, logo gear, expensive bikes). None of the enthusiasts warned me because they are too intense and focused on themselves. Only one of the old schoolers warned me and I heard him from way back, grunting and grinding gears.

The same arguments are also made for motorcycles and sub compact cars.

Fewer & fewer people yell out "passing on your left" on the trails these days I noticed, however on Riverside they now have two seprate trails, so the runners don't have to worry about the cyclists.. This tragic accident should show the Casino why the Riverside jogging trail should be moved to back of the casino. It'll be a matter of time before a car hits someone in the driveway.

[Conan71]

I get called a jerk or something else probably one in ten times when I call "on your left" on a ride.  But I still do it.  I don't expect anyone to hear me coming from behind when I'm on my bike.  Some people don't realize cyclists do this as a courtesy to prevent a collision for both of us, not to be a *one-eyed bishop*. 

[sauerkraut]

The city of Omaha has a outstanding trail system totally free of street crossings. They have a big network of trails They even have mile markers inbeded (at every 1/10 of a mile) in the pavement they use a 4" plastic disc with the trail name and the mile mark such as "Papilo Trail- Mile 7.4"  the next one says the same thing except it's Mile 7.5 and so on, they say the reason for that mile marking is for emergency responders should someone get hurt, like if  two bikes crash on the trail the EMS would know exactly where to go what trail it's on and what mile marker. Runners use the mile markers for timing themselfs. Many years ago a 42 year old cyclist was killed on Omaha's Keystone bike/jogging Trail, he got struck by lightning that came from a storm far off in the distance. As I recall it blew out his bike tires and split his helmet, very grim he had a wife & kids and he just got home from work, there is nothing safe in life..  www.omahatrails.com

[sauerkraut]

I get called a jerk or something else probably one in ten times when I call "on your left" on a ride.  But I still do it.  I don't expect anyone to hear me coming from behind when I'm on my bike.  Some people don't realize cyclists do this as a courtesy to prevent a collision for both of us, not to be a *one-eyed bishop*. 

Some cyclists ring a bell as they come up from behind. I don't know too much about cycling I'm not into that sport, I like the sport of running. I have not rode a bike in years.