YABD

10-01-2004, 06:27 AM

As in Yet Another Bike Death

The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.

Stay safe!
Scott

10-01-2004, 08:45 AM

In article <cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu>,
Scott <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.

I not blaming the cyclist for his own death, but damnit, that's really
stupid. I'm a regular bike commuter, and have a cyclist's alertness for
bicycles in the area when driving, and I still get surprised by the
damnedest things: cyclists riding off curbs at speed against
right-of-way, cyclists riding the wrong way at night on busy roads, and
my most recent favourite, a cyclist riding without lights or reflectors
(that I could see) on the Georgia Viaduct, a busy, shoulderless 3 km
elevated ramp leading out of downtown. That last one was especially
spectacular since the rider definitely took the most dangerous possible
route out of town when riding without a tail light.

Because cyclists can see quite well at night (a product of everything
else being lit up, and to a lesser extent, lower speeds), many of them
don't quite get how well a blackout bike fades into the background noise
when seen from a car. Compound that with the usual erratic behaviour
you'll get from cyclists dim enough to ride unlit, and they'll get dead.

Blinkies and some reflective striping go a long way,

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

10-01-2004, 08:45 AM

In article <cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu>,
Scott <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.

I not blaming the cyclist for his own death, but damnit, that's really
stupid. I'm a regular bike commuter, and have a cyclist's alertness for
bicycles in the area when driving, and I still get surprised by the
damnedest things: cyclists riding off curbs at speed against
right-of-way, cyclists riding the wrong way at night on busy roads, and
my most recent favourite, a cyclist riding without lights or reflectors
(that I could see) on the Georgia Viaduct, a busy, shoulderless 3 km
elevated ramp leading out of downtown. That last one was especially
spectacular since the rider definitely took the most dangerous possible
route out of town when riding without a tail light.

Because cyclists can see quite well at night (a product of everything
else being lit up, and to a lesser extent, lower speeds), many of them
don't quite get how well a blackout bike fades into the background noise
when seen from a car. Compound that with the usual erratic behaviour
you'll get from cyclists dim enough to ride unlit, and they'll get dead.

Blinkies and some reflective striping go a long way,

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

10-01-2004, 08:45 AM

In article <cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu>,
Scott <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.

I not blaming the cyclist for his own death, but damnit, that's really
stupid. I'm a regular bike commuter, and have a cyclist's alertness for
bicycles in the area when driving, and I still get surprised by the
damnedest things: cyclists riding off curbs at speed against
right-of-way, cyclists riding the wrong way at night on busy roads, and
my most recent favourite, a cyclist riding without lights or reflectors
(that I could see) on the Georgia Viaduct, a busy, shoulderless 3 km
elevated ramp leading out of downtown. That last one was especially
spectacular since the rider definitely took the most dangerous possible
route out of town when riding without a tail light.

Because cyclists can see quite well at night (a product of everything
else being lit up, and to a lesser extent, lower speeds), many of them
don't quite get how well a blackout bike fades into the background noise
when seen from a car. Compound that with the usual erratic behaviour
you'll get from cyclists dim enough to ride unlit, and they'll get dead.

Blinkies and some reflective striping go a long way,

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

10-01-2004, 08:45 AM

In article <cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu>,
Scott <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.

I not blaming the cyclist for his own death, but damnit, that's really
stupid. I'm a regular bike commuter, and have a cyclist's alertness for
bicycles in the area when driving, and I still get surprised by the
damnedest things: cyclists riding off curbs at speed against
right-of-way, cyclists riding the wrong way at night on busy roads, and
my most recent favourite, a cyclist riding without lights or reflectors
(that I could see) on the Georgia Viaduct, a busy, shoulderless 3 km
elevated ramp leading out of downtown. That last one was especially
spectacular since the rider definitely took the most dangerous possible
route out of town when riding without a tail light.

Because cyclists can see quite well at night (a product of everything
else being lit up, and to a lesser extent, lower speeds), many of them
don't quite get how well a blackout bike fades into the background noise
when seen from a car. Compound that with the usual erratic behaviour
you'll get from cyclists dim enough to ride unlit, and they'll get dead.

Blinkies and some reflective striping go a long way,

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

10-01-2004, 09:38 AM

"Scott" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu...
>
> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.
>
> Stay safe!
> Scott
>

Yeah...we had a similar one here two days ago (far northern California).
The "cyclist" was riding on a rural road with no shoulder, at 3 am(!), with
no lights, wearing dark clothing, while wearing headphones connected to a CD
player. It was a hit and run, but they've got the driver.

Two stupid drunks, most likely.

GG

10-01-2004, 09:38 AM

"Scott" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu...
>
> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.
>
> Stay safe!
> Scott
>

Yeah...we had a similar one here two days ago (far northern California).
The "cyclist" was riding on a rural road with no shoulder, at 3 am(!), with
no lights, wearing dark clothing, while wearing headphones connected to a CD
player. It was a hit and run, but they've got the driver.

Two stupid drunks, most likely.

GG

10-01-2004, 09:38 AM

"Scott" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu...
>
> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.
>
> Stay safe!
> Scott
>

Yeah...we had a similar one here two days ago (far northern California).
The "cyclist" was riding on a rural road with no shoulder, at 3 am(!), with
no lights, wearing dark clothing, while wearing headphones connected to a CD
player. It was a hit and run, but they've got the driver.

Two stupid drunks, most likely.

GG

10-01-2004, 09:38 AM

"Scott" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu...
>
> As in Yet Another Bike Death
>
> The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.
>
> Stay safe!
> Scott
>

Yeah...we had a similar one here two days ago (far northern California).
The "cyclist" was riding on a rural road with no shoulder, at 3 am(!), with
no lights, wearing dark clothing, while wearing headphones connected to a CD
player. It was a hit and run, but they've got the driver.

Two stupid drunks, most likely.

GG

10-02-2004, 08:32 AM

"GaryG" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>...
> "Scott" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:cjjphd$q5$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].wisc.edu...
> >
> > As in Yet Another Bike Death
> >
> > The local rag this morning discussed the death of a cyclist in Lake
> > Mills (I think -- I was half awake and getting the kids' lunches put
> > together). Hit *twice* at 6 AM (when it's dark) and the cyclist was
> > light-less and wearing dark clothing, although the intersection was lit.
> > The person who hit him first ("I didn't see him") was charged with
> > failure to yield, the person who hit him second was not charged.
> >
> > Stay safe!
> > Scott
> >
>
> Yeah...we had a similar one here two days ago (far northern California).
> The "cyclist" was riding on a rural road with no shoulder, at 3 am(!), with
> no lights, wearing dark clothing, while wearing headphones connected to a CD
> player. It was a hit and run, but they've got the driver.
>
> Two stupid drunks, most likely.
>
> GG

The cyclist obviously deserves at least an honourable mention in the Darwin Awards.

John Kane
Perth ON