There were an unusual amount of articles in the Feed today. More wrecks with more “lifestyle” articles because of RAGBRAI and several multi-day charity rides ending this week. And some reports on wrecks earlier in the week that just now made it into the Feed.
Getting to the “Johnie-come-lately” report first is another report on the rider killed by a tanker truck last week. Bicyclist killed in collision on Van Dyke As I suspected from earlier reports this was a right-hook wreck. I don’t know if the truck pulled up on the rider or the rider pulled up in the truck, but I just don’t recommend the second one. If it’s the first one and you get hit it’s the driver’s fault, but if you pull up on the truck and you get hit it’s your fault. As for how to prevent one of these when the truck pulls up on you, well there is a 12 Ga shotgun round designed to go through a rim and tread or sidewall to flatten a tire and immobilize a vehicle. Putting this round in a handgun at least gives you a chance if the truck pulls over on you from a stop, but you would have to have the gun in hand when the truck started rolling in order to use it in time, so that isn’t really a workable solution. But would you be paying attention to a guy on a bicycle holding a gun that could chamber a 12 Ga round (hand cannon)?
Close to home is a rider hit on a service road to an Interstate highway just down the road a piece. Bike rider hit, killed in Burleson No lights, but no mention of reflectors which are the minimum required by TX law. Not that reflectors are enough, but hitting a legally equipped bike from behind would be a point in assigning fault in this case. At any rate a rarely enforced TX law assigns fault for any wreck involving a hit from behind by a passing vehicle.
“They” got another one in IN. Bicyclist injured at U.S. 41 and Riverside Drive Yeah, don’t run red lights, and hurry crossing on the green because it might turn red and you would be “running” the red light (not legally, because you entered on the green, but try explaining that to someone when you’re dead).
And a wreck that got a lot of media attention in OH. N. Canton bicyclist killed in hit-skip accident and Bicyclist Killed In Hit-Skip Accident also Man Charged with Cyclist’s Death in Fatal Hit Skip Accident Drunk driver, hit from behind, then leave the scene. Yeah, this guy gets the rabid badgers, not the cute kittens. I don’t care that he came back, he was drunk and left a fatal wreck, he deserves to die in a painful and prolonged way.
A really bad year for cyclists in Canada, from Canadia to Canuckistan. Cyclist killed in west Edmonton He lost control of his bike? Really? Well I’m going to go on the assumption that the report is accurate, there is not much I can tell you on this one. Don’t lose control of your bike, like anyone does that on purpose. Watch out of big semis the draft off one can knock you off the bike.
An unidentified cyclist is hurt in the UK. Injured cyclist’s identity sought Nothing about the wreck, so I can’t tell you how to avoid a similar one.
Another helmet-centric “safety” article. Delafield Family Preaches Bike Safety Just to correct some of the statements from the article only 46% of bike fatalities are from head injuries, most are from blunt trauma to the torso (50%) with blood loss from extremities most of the remaining 4%.
Another ride for soldiers. Bicycle Ride Honors Fallen Cape Soldiers The son of one of the riders getting killed days before the ride is a weird coincidence.
Another RAGBRAI report. Kilen: This ‘ridiculous ride’ keeps 84-year-old Ames man spry Yeah, when in doubt, ride your bike.
There are COPS in Terre Haute. COPS ride stops in Terre Haute As the father-in-law of a LEO I can say that the contingency plans for the survivors of disabled and killed police officers is pitiful.
A timeline of bicycle technology. From boneshaker to carbon-fibre It gets into personalities at the end but it’s still mostly technology.
And the future of cycling, or the future of motor vehicles? E-China: The bicycle kingdom is going electric Just FYI I’m working to develop an environmentally sound e-bike.
And that’s everything for today. There may not be a post tomorrow because I have an infection in my mouth and lousy dental insurance, so I may have to go spend all day in the charity dental clinic in downtown Dallas.
Billed @$.02, Opus
