I think there is just an ingrained visceral notion in many drivers' heads that cyclists should not be there in the road. Other motor vehicles, even if moving slowly are "normal" annoyances which can upset people but generally don't give permission to go crazy. But cyclists somehow, in drivers' minds, are doing something bad to them and on purpose. More widespread education on cyclists' road rights could actually help a bit with that.

Quoted in post 3 or 4 is MI's second degree murder charge language. Might apply here. But I am not a MI lawyer so would defer to them. They'll charge the most serious offense they think they can convict on, including lesser offenses

As to the post above yours I think I read somewhere that there was a witness on the phone just prior to the accident and sounds like they saw it as well

WWMT-TT went to Pickett’s home for comment on Wednesday, but said the family threatened to chase a reporter and cameraman off their property with a front end loader and then pursued the news crew in a car after the verbal altercation.

I'm very glad to be wrong here. Five counts of second degree murder: http://www.freep.com/...d5f820e426986c8e0113

Serious question... how does the Varia help? I'm guessing by your name that you're in Grand Rapids or at least familiar with the area. I routinely ride on Belding road and it seems relatively safe b/c of the huge shoulder, despite the high traffic and speeds. I was thinking about getting something like the Varia but I'm not sure how much it would help as I'm being passed by cars every minute or two. From what I understand, my Garmin computer would flash to let me know someone was coming and then the rear lights would blink to (hopefully) alert the driver. I'm not sure what I would do with the knowledge that someone is coming when it happens so regularly. If I was riding less frequently traveled back roads it might be more useful. As for the rear lights, wouldn't a bright blinky light accomplish the same things? I'm honestly curious to hear how this has worked for people. This incident hit pretty close to home and my wife, who was already nervous about me riding outside, is going to be pretty worked up over this.

I live in Ontario as well. My routine, as you've indicated, is to give a friendly wave when drivers give me room. I figure it is a simple gesture of respect that may impact that drivers mind in a positive way. Also, over time with some of the habitual routes I follow, I have noticed an improvement in this regard. I hope this trend continues.

I think the problem is its not just education. Its frequency of events.

Its completely experiential. Lots of decisions when driving are sub-conscious- simply habit. What were expecting is a driver who, lets say hits 500 or thousand junctions a year to see a motorcyclist. The bike is such a rare event in a situation where ot matters, that when it does happen it can get missed

Part of the solution to this lies with car manufacturers and sensing and removing some of the burden from the driver to f@@k it up

In this particular instance it seemed very clear what happened from the onset...... all this talk about rider safety, what can we do blah,blah,blah, made about as much sense as a a discussion of bowling ball safety to bowling pins.... This was a sick twisted m****r f****r who decided to mow down as many of theses cyclist as he could..... no protecting against that.

At best this might give a brief uptick of motorist vigilance in the community but that's about all the happy face that can be painted on this by me.

Andrewmc wrote:

And its not people distracted, or "not paying attention" (they are paying attention but they are looking for the wrong things)

I think the research has demonstrated that drivers are looking for cars / vans / lorries and this is to do with the frequency with which they encounter them

I think the problem is its not just education. Its frequency of events.

Its completely experiential. Lots of decisions when driving are sub-conscious- simply habit. What were expecting is a driver who, lets say hits 500 or thousand junctions a year to see a motorcyclist. The bike is such a rare event in a situation where ot matters, that when it does happen it can get missed

I try to do this as often as I can as well. I check my 6 pretty often when riding and as I hear or see a vehicle approaching I'll keep double checking behind me to see what they are planing on doing. As soon as I see them either slow down because it isn't safe to pass, or when I see them start to cross the center line to give me room, I give them a friendly wave. At intersections where drivers wave me through and give me the right of way, I also either nod, yell thanks, or give them a wave. I hope this helps not only increase visibility and goodwill, but just give the person behind the wheel that I'm a person and not just a bike.

This is a crappy situation in K-zoo. My hope is they make an example of the driver that hopefully will raise other motorists awareness of what can happen if they hit or harass cyclists and pedestrians.

Is it just impatience on the motorists' part or the assumption that a car should always have the room to pass a bike? It seems that unless they ride a bike, motorists have no idea how wide a margin they should give, and that if there isn't enough room for the bike, the margin, and the car, they're within rights to squeeze by rather than wait for a better opportunity to pass.

To me, this fits with the lack of education and rolls into the impatience you talk about that have led to many of the non-blatantly hostile close calls I've had.

There was a study, which I can't find at the moment, that showed a large percentage of people are only looking for what can hurt them, so a vehicle of equivalent or larger size. So yes, looking for the wrong things.


Part of driver education ought to be walking and cycling in close proximity to fast traffic (some sort of controlled situation so no-one could be injured). And a longer, scarier version for all local/state police training as well. Walk and ride in our shoes.