When the Bad Guys Ride Bikes

When the Bad Guys Ride Bikes

From the journal gazette

SUV hits bicyclist in Warsaw driver cited | The Journal Gazette

Let's hope that the cyclist makes a full recovery.
I was pleasantly surprised the the driver was actually cited!  That says a lot about Warsaw and how serious that community is about becoming a bicycle friendly community.

Do Passing Distance Laws Really Protect Cyclists?

Do Passing Distance Laws Really Protect Cyclists?

Road Traffic;Single Biggest Source of Fatality for Young People Worldwide

Road Traffic 'Single Biggest Source of Fatality' for Young People Worldwide

Total bummer but makes sense.  

It used to be considered a crime to run over someone with your car

The Invention of Jaywalking - Commute - The Atlantic Cities

Why our roads are not good for bikes and pedestrians explained

I posted this a couple years ago but I felt that it needed some more playtime!
Enjoy.

Drivers be careful

From WANE TV, Another Cyclist Injured in Fort Wayne

Bicyclist struck on Anthony Blvd. and Simons Street

Updated: Monday, 26 Mar 2012, 7:48 AM EDT
Published : Monday, 26 Mar 2012, 7:49 AM EDT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) According to Fort Wayne dispatchers, a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle Monday morning.
It happened around 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of Anthony Blvd. and Simons Street in Fort Wayne.
Officials said there were injuries reported from the incident, but they were not sure about the severity.
We have a crew at the scene and will update this story with the latest information when it's available.

From WANE TV, Child hit while riding bike

A child was hit by a car while riding a bike near Pettit Ave. and Lafayette St

Child on bike seriously hurt after being hit

Updated: Monday, 26 Mar 2012, 6:19 AM EDT
Published : Monday, 26 Mar 2012, 12:03 AM EDT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A child riding a bike was hit by a car Sunday night near Pettit Ave. and Lafayette St.
It happened just after 8 p.m.
The child was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

No one else was injured.

Was the driver cited?  Whose fault was it?  Was the kid in the street?  Crossing the Street?  I will follow up.  

Public Service Announcement

Great advice from a Lawyer

The Chicago Bicycle Advocate: After A Crash Your Bicycle May Have A Lot To Say
Planning ahead and thinking about this sort of thing before it happens will help you or family should, God forbid, it does.  Stay safe out there gang.

Scary, let's hope the kid is okay

Pickup hits 13-year-old 2 in jail after chase | The Journal Gazette

Or for anyone not in a car

Wider, Straighter, and Faster Not the Solution for Older Drivers « Project for Public Spaces

Vulnerable road user hit by automobile

Vehicle hits pedestrian on S. Anthony sidewalk | The Journal Gazette
At least it is under investigation.  Hopefully the driver gets charged.  If they don't, it will continue to send the massage that those who walk or bike are in a lower class than those who drive.

Editorial

Regarding the boy who was killed on Friday night on Clinton
Original story can be found HERE

I was watching the news last night and the comment was made that Clinton is a busy street and is dark. That is very true. It is busy and is not well lit and the 35 MPH speed limit is not adhered to by most drivers making this area very unsafe for vulnerable road users.

The link above to the article in Saturday's Journal Gazette made a point of stating that the boys did have dark clothing on, no helmets on, and very few reflectors.

Honestly, would it have made a difference? We might never know. What is my point here you ask? The kid was 15 years old. Judging by the hour, he was probably on the way home for dinner with his buddies from the neighborhood. There is no safe place to cross that road! Is that his fault? No. People come screaming down that hill toward the downtown. It that his fault? No. Kids are not going to travel a half mile or more to an intersection to cross and then ride their bikes all the way back. It won't happen.

Sure they could have planned ahead at 3 pm or whenever they went out on their bikes and thought, "Gee, it might be dark when I come home so I should wear white." 15 yr old boy? Yeah right.

This freeway through the middle of town is dark and is unsafe for those who are on bikes or are walking. But that doesn't mean that they still won't be there. They will! Like those who use cars for transportation, they still have places to go (even if it is unsafe).

I am so sorry that this young man had to lose his life because cars are more important than those who use bikes or walk. It is time that the most vulnerable road users are taken into consideration.

Could this tragedy have been avoided somehow. Yes. Who is at fault here? The Driver of the car? Partially. The boy riding the bike? Partially. The engineers who designed the road? Partially.

Could this have been avoided with an educational campaign in the schools that help kids understand the dangers and consequences of not thinking about all of those dangers? Perhaps. But since when does a 15 year old boy listen to anything?

Could it have been avoided if this freeway's speed limits were enforced on a regular basis? Perhaps.

Could this have been avoided if the road was illuminated better? Maybe.

Could it have been avoided if the most vulnerable road users were always considered within traffic engineering design? Maybe.

I hope that people will not just point the blame at this poor kid for not wearing the right colored clothing or having the correct number of reflectors though. There are a lot of folks who need to share the blame for his early death. RIP.

Be careful out there!

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Avoid the door zone at all costs and think twice about a bike lane that puts you in the door zone

This was extremely eye opening for me and I hope that everyone takes this to heart. I never thought about how you fall when "doored". Now we know.

Sad

NPR.org » Woman Dies One Month After Being Hit By Cyclist In San Francisco

It is sad that it always takes extreme events in order for light to be brought to a subject. Hopefully all of us the bike can learn that following the laws that exist help to keep everyone safer.

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