16 replies to this topic

[Terry]

Just saw on Channel 13 news that an "older bicyclist" was hurt after turning into the path of a vehicle on Parkshore Drive west of Folsom Blvd.

[Joe]

Just saw on Channel 13 news that an "older bicyclist" was hurt after turning into the path of a vehicle on Parkshore Drive west of Folsom Blvd.

There is heavy police presence there now with a portion of Parkshore blocked off. It looked like there were little markers everywhere and the police are taking pictures. Hopefully, all those involved are ok.

[mylo]

I saw a ton of cops blocking off Parkshore. Hope he's okay, but it didn't look good.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

There's a RIP comment under the story on channel 13's site from what appears to be someone who knew this man.

http://cbs13.com/loc...tml#addComments

[newday]

Channel 3 is reporting non-life threatening injuries.

http://www.kcra.com/...931/detail.html

[newsblaze]

Update

Serious Injury Vehicle vs Bicyclist Collision on Folsom Blvd

Investigators believe the vehicle and bicyclist were traveling eastbound on Parkshore Drive when, without indication, the bicyclist turned left into the path of the vehicle. The bicyclist went up onto the hood and window of the vehicle before landing on the ground. Investigators do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a role in the collision.

[tony]

Looks like he was coming out of the park entrance (probably turning left onto Parkshore). People fly up that road in the afternoon rush hour. Looks like I was wrong. Now it appears he was turning left into the park entrance.

Why is it that the description is always that the cyclist suddenly turned in front of traffic? Maybe he did (many bicyclists have a bad habit of hugging the curb and then turning left), but the reporting sounds like the driver's version. At least in this case, he's alive to give his version.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Channel 3 is reporting non-life threatening injuries.

http://www.kcra.com/...931/detail.html

That would be great news. Not sure what the RIP is all about.

[camay2327]

Sorry that this happened and hope the person is OK.

So many bicyclist do not stop for corners and think they own the road. Bikes do not do well against a large vehicle.

[supermom]

Hope everyone is ok.

[tony]

Sorry that this happened and hope the person is OK.

So many bicyclist do not stop for corners and think they own the road. Bikes do not do well against a large vehicle.

So many motorists do not stop for corners and think they own the road. Almost 30,000 of them die every year.

And they kill almost 10,000 pedestrians and bicyclists every year, often stating, "they came out of nowhere". In many other countries, the motorist is presumed to be at fault if he/she hits a pedestrian or bicyclist. Here, we blame the victim unless there's a smoking gun, like alcohol.

Maybe the bicyclist did turn in front of the car, but given that he was taken away in an ambulance and the police are looking for witnesses, I'm guessing we've only heard the motorist's version so far.

[Bill Z]

So many motorists do not stop for corners and think they own the road. Almost 30,000 of them die every year.

And they kill almost 10,000 pedestrians and bicyclists every year, often stating, "they came out of nowhere". In many other countries, the motorist is presumed to be at fault if he/she hits a pedestrian or bicyclist. Here, we blame the victim unless there's a smoking gun, like alcohol.

Maybe the bicyclist did turn in front of the car, but given that he was taken away in an ambulance and the police are looking for witnesses, I'm guessing we've only heard the motorist's version so far.

"Honestly, I didn't see the bicyclist, I was busy texting my BFF and putting on my eyeliner at the same time"

coming to you soon on the Dr. Phil show.

[newsblaze]

So many motorists do not stop for corners and think they own the road. Almost 30,000 of them die every year.

And they kill almost 10,000 pedestrians and bicyclists every year, often stating, "they came out of nowhere". In many other countries, the motorist is presumed to be at fault if he/she hits a pedestrian or bicyclist. Here, we blame the victim unless there's a smoking gun, like alcohol.

Maybe the bicyclist did turn in front of the car, but given that he was taken away in an ambulance and the police are looking for witnesses, I'm guessing we've only heard the motorist's version so far.

You could be right, but let me ask you a question.
If you were riding a bike and you wanted to turn left and there was a car close by, would you take a chance the car would stop for you or would you pull over and let the car pass?

For the vehicle to have hit the cyclist, and rolled him over the top, and given that a car is only about 6 feet wide, that vehicle must have been far too close to the bicycle for the cyclist to have made a rational decision to turn left, if the cyclist had seen the car.

I can tell you that I never trust a car driver to give way to me on a bike, until I see them slowing and possibly waving me across.

I wasn't there, but logic tells me the bike and vehicle were too close for the cyclist to have taken a considered decision to turn left.

I hope he is OK.

[gm2005]

I don't know what happened in the case and I sure hope that the cyclist is ok.
I never make an assumption that the car driver can see me. I do the opposite and make an assumption they have no idea I am there.

I don't think that car drivers, motorcycle riders or bike riders are always responsible and never at fault.
However, I can tell you about a bike the other morning on E. Natoma and Blue Ravine crossing.
The bike rider proceded to make a left hand turn from the far right lane. Not the far right turn lane, but from the far right, across two lanes going streight.
I know that biking is growing and that is great, but bike riders really need to learn the rules of the road if they are going to be on the road.

[tony]

You could be right, but let me ask you a question.
If you were riding a bike and you wanted to turn left and there was a car close by, would you take a chance the car would stop for you or would you pull over and let the car pass?

Depends how close. The correct way to do it is, as you would in a car, to move (after finding an adequate gap and signaling, of course) into the farthest left lane (Parkshore has unmarked lanes, essentially one in each direction, but it is very wide) and then turning left (again after signaling) from the left lane. This may result in the car having to slow down for you, as it would if you were in a car. If you find yourself stopping on the right edge of the road trying to turn left, that means you waited too long to make the first move, unless traffic is really heavy or really fast, neither of which should be the case on Parkshore. The problem with stopping to let cars go by is that now you need to cross the entire road in one move, finding a gap in traffic moving both directions at once, rather than first finding a gap in the traffic moving your direction and then one in the opposite direction. Of course, you want to communicate with the driver behind to make sure they see you and are going to let you in, but that is a lot easier when moving than when stopped at the side of the road. Another problem with stopping at the side of the road is that now you are far less visible, as motorists tend to look straight ahead, so when you do try to cross both lanes of traffic, you will appear to any approaching motorist to have "come out of nowhere", which you may have actually done.

This seems to be a prime opportunity to recite the mantra of the League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 class (formerly known as Effective Cycling): "Cyclists fair best when they act and are treated as vehicles." The key is that when you behave as a vehicle, then your actions are predictable and motorists know how to react. Sometimes that will annoy the motorist, but an annoyed motorist is one that is aware of your presence, which is far better than the alternative. As gm2005 suggests, you should ride assuming you are invisible, but making every attempt to be as visible as possible. The problem occurs when you assume that since you are invisible, you can ride any way you want.