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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
BIKE ACCIDENTS

 
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dodgell

Feb 28, 05 19:59

Post #1 of 5 (405 views)
BIKE ACCIDENTS Can't Post
I’m tired of reading about athletes training or in a race that get struck by vehicles and paralyzed or killed. Isn’t there something we can do to create a ground swell to make drivers more aware of cyclists? I don’t think many people really realize that a biker only has a helmet for protection. Cars are 1000+ pounds of steel (and plastic) with seat belts and airbags and disc brakes. I think the manslaughter charges need to be persuaded where applicable. I am tired of getting cut off or provoked because I’m out riding on roads my tax dollars support and being ignored by the 4 wheel machines. A car vs. a bike is no small accident. Let’s save some LIVES!!!!


dodgell

Mar 1, 05 8:24

Post #2 of 5 (303 views)
Re: BIKE ACCIDENTS [dodgell] [In reply to] Can't Post
CHeck these out...

http://www.coolrunning.com/...m2/HTML/006031.shtml

http://cairnsbug.org/Accidents95-99.htm

http://www.jeffcross.net/archives/000477.html

http://www.classadrivers.com/...d_Daily_News.rss.php

Do a search on "cyclist hit" or "cyclist struck", "cyclist killed", "cyclist paralized"

When you read the next story like these above, please think about what we could have done to prevent it.

Don't wait for things to happen. MAKE THEM!


(This post was edited by dodgell on Mar 1, 05 8:27)


Fleck

Mar 1, 05 8:41

Post #3 of 5 (263 views)
Re: BIKE ACCIDENTS [dodgell] [In reply to] Can't Post
My girlfriend is currently taking a driver training course. It's one of the best ones around and they have been rattling off some pretty grim statistics of the lack of drivng skill of your typical driver. Much of this revolves around observation and knowing what is going on around your car(180 degrees) at all times. Furthermore, considering the lag in reaction time, a driver needs to anticipate what's going to happen up ahead at all times too. Driving a car is a complicated business, but my sense is that many are on auto pilot most of the time!

Here's an observation I have made time and time again over the years. When I am out running on country roads, with no sidewalk I run on the shoulder of the road facing traffic. It's safer this way as you can see approaching traffic and hopefully drivers will see you. However, I have always found it extraordinary the number drivers that don't see me until the last second and then there is the dramatic swerve to their left to move way out of the way. How is it that they did not see the 6'2" man wearing the day-glo run top running along the side of the road. Now, when you are cycling, you are on the same side of the road as the moving traffic. You don't see the drivers in the cars. You have to put absolute faith in them that they see you! However, from my running observations, this is clearly not the case and many drivers will again, not see you until the last second. Scary. I try not to think about it too much.

Fleck

Steve Fleck
steve@nineteenwetsuits.com
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com


tri_bri2

Mar 1, 05 9:27

Post #4 of 5 (182 views)
Re: BIKE ACCIDENTS [dodgell] [In reply to] Can't Post
Go to the League of American Bicyclists web site and you woll find some people of like mind are already working on the issue. There is power in numbers--join them rather than going solo.


erichollins

Mar 1, 05 9:27

Post #5 of 5 (182 views)
Re: BIKE ACCIDENTS [Fleck] [In reply to] Can't Post
I keep thinking that I will get killed doing something that I love so I shouldn't worry about it too much.

Also, if I ever get hit, I survive, and it wasn't my fault, I am going to make a plea bargain with the person hit me. I am going to tell them to ride a bike to work every day for a month, pay for my bike, and my medical bills and we will call it even. A lot of people out there don't know how crazy it is being on a bike because they have never ridden a bike on the roads. I became a lot more observant driver after I started cycling.






Eric
--
Patience isn't a virtue. Patience is a waste of my time.
http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/