Biker convicted of Vehicular Manslaughter for running over pedestrian in crosswalk

[joshuabardwell]

Josh, I would like to see more bike use, just not on the same lane that is intended for 3 or 4 times the operating speed of a bike.

I really think this is a cultural thing more than anything else. Americans love their cars and hate anything that gets in the way of the free exercise of them. But there are lots of places in the world where bikes and cars intermingle without issue. Look at 5:53 in this video for an example:

The point is that it can be done, but everybody has to support it.

 

[murphy1244]

Notice they have Bike lanes. And I don't really like Rice.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Notice they have Bike lanes. And I don't really like Rice.

Murphy, I was about to argue with you, until I re-read the quote and saw that Rusty said, "same lane," instead of, "same road."

 

[murphy1244]

Murphy, I was about to argue with you, until I re-read the quote and saw that Rusty said, "same lane," instead of, "same road."

No need to argue, Should add bike lanes to all roads. IMO

 

[NS Gearhead]

I live on a two lane secondary rd. It's a very popular rd for bicyclists as it's windy and hilly with no bike lanes. What drives me is when they ride two abreast, or two or three feet in from the shoulder. So instead of waiting for a clear shot and going into the other lane for traffic, I hug the yellow line (I drive a small car) and pass. I don't go over, or slow down. If it's too close for comfort for the cyclist, then perhaps they should reconsider their position on the road. I've been told I'm number one by several! LOL

Before I got my licence to drive as a kid I rode a bike everywhere. When I heard a car coming up behind me, I rode on the gravel shoulder until they passed. Had I not and got clipped, I wouldn't have gotten any sympathy from anyone... parents included.

 

[arrow]

I live on a two lane secondary rd. It's a very popular rd for bicyclists as it's windy and hilly with no bike lanes. What drives me is when they ride two abreast, or two or three feet in from the shoulder. So instead of waiting for a clear shot and going into the other lane for traffic, I hug the yellow line (I drive a small car) and pass. I don't go over, or slow down. If it's too close for comfort for the cyclist, then perhaps they should reconsider their position on the road. I've been told I'm number one by several! LOL

Before I got my licence to drive as a kid I rode a bike everywhere. When I heard a car coming up behind me, I rode on the gravel shoulder until they passed. Had I not and got clipped, I wouldn't have gotten any sympathy from anyone... parents included.

And your bike probably had big ,fat tires making it easier to go "off road" Narrow tired touring/road bikes kind of have this avoidance technique precluded. Today if you clip a bicyclist, it is you who will be villified no matter what the story is. Here's one of mine: Most bikers in my experience move over as far as possible but still are on the road. I think i met up with only one obstinate s.o.b who was riding with two others "abreast" on a 40 mph road and did not get into single file. Fortunately no one was traveling in the on coming lane because that was the only place left to go. I pulled up ahead and stopped my vehicle to talk with this group to remind them their arrogance could have gotten someone in trouble. They didn't stop. They simply continued 3 abreast. All I could do was yell out "one of you might not make it home today" Of course I had to pass them again but this time I laid on the horn as I approached and they moved over. They yelled obscenities when I went by but short of stopping and cleaning everyone's clocks, there was nothing to be done with this type of obstinate stupidity. This was an inherent trait of these individuals and not because they were bike riders. Bike riding simply brought out their characteristics. Whatever lessons they may have learned down the road, I hope for them was not the permanent type if only for the anguish of their kin.

 

[aczlan]

And your bike probably had big ,fat tires making it easier to go "off road" Narrow tired touring/road bikes kind of have this avoidance technique precluded.

Around here, most roads that bikers use have at least a 3' paved shoulder, then 4-6' of grass so pulling onto the shoulder isn't a big deal even for a road bike, they just refuse to do it...

Aaron Z

 

[arrow]

Around here, most roads that bikers use have at least a 3' paved shoulder, then 4-6' of grass so pulling onto the shoulder isn't a big deal even for a road bike, they just refuse to do it...

Aaron Z

Aaron weren't you in Alaska because now you seem to be in wine country? Here there is no shoulder beyond the painted side line. It just dips down into the grass. But this is RI and we do many stupid things.

 

[arrow]

I really think this is a cultural thing more than anything else. Americans love their cars and hate anything that gets in the way of the free exercise of them. But there are lots of places in the world where bikes and cars intermingle without issue. Look at 5:53 in this video for an example:

The point is that it can be done, but everybody has to support it.

I don't think its cultural. To me its more human frailty. I think its brain/visual causality and as a result, minimizing the "presence" of anything smaller than you. As a result, if you are bigger, then it must be ok to give the smaller less heed and importance. I think this mindset is a human algorithm. We run over motor cyclists at an alarming rate. If it weren't for litigation, we'd probably bump off bicyclist even more.

 

[aczlan]

Aaron weren't you in Alaska because now you seem to be in wine country? Here there is no shoulder beyond the painted side line. It just dips down into the grass. But this is RI and we do many stupid things.

Nope, never been to Alaska... Lived here in NY for most of my life, but have also spent significant amounts of time in GA, ME, UT and Argentina.
Here is an example of what is considered to be a "narrow" shoulder for a "major" non-limited access road around here:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.8...,0,0&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=42.81331,-77.32998
And a "Normal" one from a slightly larger road:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.8...,0&t=h&z=13&layer=c&cbll=42.881321,-77.316784

The "narrow" one is wide enough for one rider to ride on the shoulder to let cars pass. The "normal" one would let 2-4 bikers ride on the shoulder to let cars pass.

Aaron Z