I have been doing this on various sites for several years now, and I have noticed a trend this year that I find highly disturbing, multiple cyclists hit-and-run in a single incident. To wit the Sand Springs OK incident, the recent CA incident where the drunk driver crossed the road and hit 5 cyclists, a NZ incident that hit 2 cyclists, a wreck that I can’t recall the location of off the top of my head that involved 3 cyclists hit from behind somewhere in the SE US, and one more that the number of cyclists and location of the wreck escapes me, other than more than 2 cyclists and somewhere in the US South.
Well, add Canadia to that list with a 5 cyclist hit-and-run in the bike lane. Five cyclists injured in hit and run and Driver charged in hit-and-run of cyclists on March Road also Arrest made, van seized after hit-and-run injures five cyclists The second and third links have several pictures of the wreckage, which was deposited over an area that was more than 360 feet long. The bikes in the pictures are destroyed, with little to nothing salvageable. This tells me that the motor vehicle was traveling in excess of 50 MPH when contact was made with the cyclists, and the fact that so many were hit tells me the driver was either seriously impaired or doing it deliberately (or both). Yes I’m going to make the bald statement that this may have been a deliberate assault with a motor vehicle against cyclists, with or without the “assistance” of drugs or alcohol. And since I can see the area where the wreck happened I can also say that this was not an avoidable wreck, because the cyclists were in the bike lane and there was a large curb at the right hand edge of this bike lane preventing moving right as an escape route. Not that there would have been time to use an escape route in this case given the other evidence.
In the deadliest state in the US for cyclists, FL they killed another one. Bicyclist killed while crossing South Orange Blossom Trail According to the police report there were vehicles that blocked the cyclist’s line of sight and kept him from seeing the car that hit him. Hmm, stopped vehicles and a crossing cyclist, after looking at the scene in Google Maps this looks like a case of generous drivers killing a cyclist with kindness as the stopped vehicles prevented the other vehicle from seeing the cyclist, and vice versa in an intersection where the other vehicles had the right of way. Still when there are 2 stopped vehicles at one place and only 3 lanes of travel, wouldn’t it behoove a driver to be alert at the very least? I’m not blaming the driver that hit the cyclists because legally he did not have to stop, and neither did the other 2 drivers. It was the other 2 drivers that led the cyclist to his death, but the cyclist went willingly (I assume there were no threats or coercion involved). How to avoid, don’t cross the street unless you can see if the cars are coming, and when someone stops to let you cross, wave and say “Thank You” and use their car as a block while you make sure it is safe to cross, or just wave them on and wait until you can see that it is safe to cross, but be sure to be polite about it.
Another “brush-and-run” in IA. Des Moines cyclist injured Thursday in hit and run Yes it only takes a slight amount of contact with a car to knock down a cyclist, I doubt the driver even noticed the contact inside the car. If you have trouble reading the last part of the article because of the ad bleeding over the copy the final paragraphs read:
“He told police the car was possibly white and possibly driven by a woman, but that he didn’t get a good look at the make or license plate number.
The report says Valadez dislocated his shoulder in the accident and that he took himself to Broadlawns Medical Center.” Ouch, transporting yourself to medical attention on a bicycle. Had the cyclist been in possession of a cell phone a better alternative would have been calling 911 for a police investigation, and possible transport. Remember when you have been in a wreck shock sets in and you may not know the extent of your injuries, be sure you are checked out by competent medical personnel (not the cop trying to give you a ticket).
A totally unavoidable wreck in CA. Boulder athlete injured when tree falls on cyclists during Calif. triathlon Yes, that was an unavoidable freak accident. Maybe we should start registering trees and requiring licenses to possess a tree 
More lawyer blather about not getting hit by cars, good information but still lawyer blather. 60 Year Old Bicyclist Killed In Blaine I linked to this story last week from local media, this is just a follow up report.
NC cyclists ride to remember one of their own recently killed. Cyclists ride to remember friend killed in accident Just be careful out there, OK?
Update on the hit-and-run against a pair of cyclists in Enn Zed. Taranaki charity cyclist badly injured Nothing much new here except that now they say the 2 cyclists had taillights to go with their reflective vests. My Enn Zed readers should be keeping an eye peeled for a dark colored van or truck with left side damage and a missing left side mirror.
A cyclist found on the road in Oz. Death of NW rider lifts road toll to 50 No lights, no helmet, no reflective gear and no ID, but he had a motor! Add in bad weather and lighting conditions, and well you have a dead cyclist. Lesson in this one is to make yourself conspicuous! Of course if you are riding an illegal motor vehicle that might not be such a good idea, but drop the motor and it’s all golden. Make yourself easy to see, and have an escape route should the need arise. Another wreck in the article had a wrong-way cyclist hit in similar weather and lighting, also a bad move. You would think
a 82 YO would have learned where to ride a bike by now, instead of riding facing traffic.
A pre-ride article on RAGBRAI. RAGBRAI riders treasure what they gain or have lost This sounds like it’s going to be a good year for RAGBRAI with the county Gov’ts losing their suites to block the ride last year. With the economy tanking the ride is a shot in the arm to the places where it shows up, but they still have to maintain the roads.
I could make a snarky comment about LEO and doughnuts risking a 6 mile bike ride, but I won’t. Bicycle ride to benefit Chicago police If you wish you can donate to this, at least these cops recognize the right of cyclists to ride the roads and streets.
More LEO riding for comrades. Widman Brotherhood riders make it to Polk County Ignore the article comment from the ignorant person who doesn’t know how to make sense.
And that’s the whole thing, all the relavent bicycle articles from the Feed today.
Billed @$.02, Opus
