Not much new today, but metric buttloads of updates and additional information about wrecks both recent and ancient. If I hadn’t been doing this for 500 blog posts here at Witch on a Bicycle I would be homicidal by now. I keep mentioning that my mind is “pre-exploded” as a joke, but I have a hard time keeping my equilibrium when reading comments sections to mine for additional information about wrecks.

Up first is another article on the cyclist hit while riding in the bike lane. Cyclist dies after being hit by SUV This is the guy that was hit and then the driver left dust getting away from the scene leaving a debris trail almost a quarter of a mile long from the bicycle trapped under her vehicle. I don’t know what should be done about this waste of skin, maybe crush her car with her strapped in it?

Another cyclist hit in the most dangerous state in the US to ride a bicycle. Bicyclist injured in Fort Myers crash (photo) The cyclist was riding on a sidewalk and was hit when he didn’t stop for a Don’t Walk signal. To avoid a similar wreck, either don’t ride on the sidewalk or follow traffic controls like a pedestrian when you are riding on the sidewalk.

A trial date has been set for the waste of skin that ran head on into a cyclist riding on the opposite side of the road. Judge orders trial for fatal DUI suspect I think the sub-head says just about everything important in this report. “Prosecutors say Marco Valencia had methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, alcohol in his system.” Maybe they should crush his car with him strapped in it, too? My wife says just lock him up and throw away the key because he has abused the privilege of living in society.

More about the victim of a bicycle/bus wreck in the UK. Tribute to cyclist who died after Birmingham city centre bus crash The picture of the victim shows a decent happy guy, the kind of person you wouldn’t mind having a pint with after a ride.

The guy that hit-and-run a cyclist in the UK continues to run, either to Turkey or Australia. Three wanted men sought overseas You know he’s guilty, innocent men don’t run.

Chilling testimony about a drunk driver’s consumption just before he ran over a cyclist. Cyclist’s death: Driver consumed 12 vodkas before driving Yeah, the defense is trying to cast doubt on the science here, but there’s no escaping the truth, the driver was schnockered, blitzed, wasted, (insert euphemism of your choice here) well beyond the legal limit of fun. I’ll let Maltese justice take its course here.

From Singapore, more about safe cycling there. Safe cycling in focus Funny that the same things are being said about cyclists there, and drivers also…”Motorists are frustrated with cyclists who road hog and switch lanes abruptly, often without regard for traffic behind them. The cyclists say motorists are impatient and often drive too close and too fast, especially when overtaking.“

Another Veteran’s ride for wounded veterans. Veterans will bike 350 miles If you have a chance to support this effort Witch on a Bicycle says do it.

A DVD we are supposed to be getting a copy of to review here shortly is being shown as a regular movie. See Breedlove’s story at Stilwell I won’t say anything about it until I actually see it, but I am heartily in favor of seeing this movie and supporting the charity.

And that’s all today. Reminder that unless there is a major breaking story, like a certain “doctor” getting killed in prison, there will not be a report for tomorrow.

Billed @$.02, Opus

I hate finding out that another cyclist was hit in the bike lane, and I hate having to post about it in my blog, but if people don’t know about it how can change be made? If you don’t know that drivers are killing cyclists where cars and trucks should not be, how can you do anything about it? And what can I do about it except tell you about the carnage?

Getting to that story first, a woman drives into the bike lane and kills a cyclist. Names released in cyclist-vs-car crash and Woman accused of felony hit and run “Authorities said Murphy was following bicycle safety laws and was wearing a helmet as he rode northbound on Jamboree Road along the easterly curb. Izquieta hit him and didn’t stop to help him, police said.” and “Izquieta had made an “unsafe turning maneuver” before hitting Murphy” Now it appears that “unsafe turning maneuver” was driving in the bike lane. The cyclist’s bicycle was dragged over 300 feet according to one report, so there’s no way the driver could not have known they hit something. Mr. Murphy was riding with a group of cyclists when he was hit, so it was probably just chance that he was the one hit instead of someone else. For you to avoid this kind of wreck, use the hit-from-behind protocol I mentioned a couple of months ago in this post .

No bicycles involved in this one, it’s just a demonstration of why I think that large vehicles need to have special permits to be on the roads with much higher standards of licensing. SUV slams into building in Mechanicsburg The SUV in this case had barely 100 feet to reach a speed that almost took out a concrete block building, and would have killed someone had they been inside the blast radius of the debris that sprayed from the wall at impact, or been crushed by the shelving unit that was knocked from the wall.

The rest of the wrecks were outside North America.

From the charges filed it appears that someone drove a bus over a cyclist, literally in this case as the bus had to be lifted off the cyclist. Birmingham city centre bus crash: Cyclist named This makes this report unusual for a UK wreck report, in that the mode of the wreck can be inferred from the report. Using my incredible powers of deduction I can hazard the statement that the cyclist was waiting at the stop light and the bus turned left over him, causing him to be trapped under the bus. Check back in 6-18 months when the court case is concluded and the real story is released, if that ever makes the news.

From Enn Zed comes a story of an injured cyclist whose ID went elsewhere in the wreck. Police Seek To Identify Injured Cyclist If the description of the cyclist, his kit and his bike ring a bell ring up the LEO contact mentioned in the article and let them know who you think it might be. The Witch on a Bicycle says it’s your civic duty.

More lawyer talk about the change in injury severity and type as more commuters go by bike. Can Cars and Bikes Co-Exist?

Infrastructure for pedestrians gets slammed because it’s ugly?! Safety vs. eyesore? Signs at Oceanfront draw complaints

Get a bike fit as a first step in fixing painful cycling. Enjoy the Ride Or you could just get a recumbent.

Aaaannnd, that’s a wrap.

Billed @$.02, Opus

I had a couple of strange referrals today. For some reason Facebook has a click on their home page that directs people to my blog. I’m not on Facebook so I have not a clue why there would be something for people to click on that directs them here. Facebook users, could you post a comment and help me out here?

Up first is a wreck where a cyclist crossing the road was hit by a car. BRIEF: Cyclist killed in crash with car in Blaine and Bike Rider Killed In Blaine While Crossing Street And that is pretty much all I know about it at this point. Nothing on if there was a signal light, who had which signal if there was a light, stop signs, nothing.

And after what must qualify as one of the slowest lab analysis in human history, charges have been filed against the Boise teenager that left crossed a cyclist in the bike lane. Officials promise justice for cyclist Kevin Pavlis They promise justice, but because the killer was a minor we will never know about it even extending to the name of the killer…

And the man that claimed to not see a 6 foot tall driver in an orange bunny costume and her brightly lit pedicab gets a trip to jail. Man convicted in orange rabbit pedicab hit-and-run Apparently hitting someone while digging for your cell phone is OK but hit-and-run is still illegal. From this and previous reports on the wreck there wasn’t anything the pedicab operator could have done to avoid the wreck since the driver wasn’t watching and didn’t slow down.

A pair of reports on the wreck near Toronto reported on here ealier this week. Memorial in Cambridge for cyclist killed And UPDATE – Cyclist killed I fail to see where sidewalks would have made any difference in this wreck, but bad infrastructure is bad infrastructure even if it’s not our (bicyclist) infrastructure.

Apparently somebody has decided that it’s OK to have huge blind spots on big trucks because it would cost too much to fix…Cyclist Death Ruled “Accidental” Why is not being able to see an “accident” and not a defective vehicle?

A motorcycle/bicycle wreck in India puts the motorcycle rider in jail. Biker held for Shivranjini mishap A little confused as to who hit whom, but the guy on the bicycle came out the worst for it.

A loudmouth in Oz changes her tune after making a massively untrue statement on Australian national TV earlier this week. Going berko over a bisycho Yes, she did say that cyclists had no legal place on the roads earlier this week, which is contrary to the laws of every civilized nation which includes Australia, and now she’s back-pedaling so hard if she was actually riding a bicycle the tire would be smoking.

SC cyclists try to remind drivers that cars are not the only thing on the road. Cyclists urge motorists to share the road “People aren’t watching,” Connelly said. “We’re not getting any respect out there. We do have a right to the road. We’re considered a part of traffic, and drivers don’t seem to understand that.” He said it better than I could.

Same song, different verse in CA. Bikes and cars: Can we share the road? Between 1998 and 2008, for example, bike commuting in Marin County increased 66% as bicycle crashes declined 34%. The best practice is to get as many bikes on the roads as possible.

Still in LA is an article on cyclist safety that is highly car-head. Bicyclists should stay on the defensive to stay safe Watch out for cars, but don’t give up the road to them.

And that’s it for tonight, have a spooooky Halloweeeeen [evil chuckle].

Billed @$.02, Opus

My computer’s power supply is in the process of dying, it stays running if you get it to run, but getting it cranked up is a hit or miss affair. After reading some of the articles in the Feed I almost wish it had stayed busted.

Up first because it’s closest is a kid killed in Edinburg TX. Edinburg teen killed riding bike late at night It took until just before I posted this link for someone to notice that the bike riders were riding the wrong way when they got hit. I know my readers don’t do that, except when they can’t get through otherwise or if they have to backtrack out of a one-way section of road, but how often does something like that happen? Don’t be a salmon.

BikingInLA has a man in the courtroom in the trial of the thing that walks like a man with a medical degree. Evil on trial: UPDATE — Christopher Thompson takes the stand I hope the prosecuting attorney gives him a new one on the stand. Maybe two new ones.

More reports on the man arrested for the death of a Dutch cycle tourist. Man indicted in death of cyclist from Netherlands and Man charged in cyclist’s death Great, stoned on opiates and driving a car. Not any better than drunk, just different impairing substances. Bring on the bicycle chain floggers.

They found the truck in the NC hit-and-run crime, driver to follow. Troopers seize damaged SUV and Editorial: A careless and shameless act And the lawyer’s take on the wreck Hit and Run Driver Kills Bicycle Rider in Guilford County, North Carolina Again I advise against reading the comments unless you already have brain damage and can’t get hurt any worse by stupid people.

Another reason not to run red lights, drivers think they mean “go like hell” instead of “proceed when clear”. Decatur Central Student Killed in Bicycle/Semi Accident But I really can’t blame the truck driver in this wreck, it appears that the truck was already moving well before the cyclist ran the red and ran into the truck. Again, don’t run red lights, unless you think death or serious injury are fun.

And they just don’t take us witches seriously at the ME’s office. Bicyclist died of traumatic head injury, M.E. rules Nobody saw the truck I guess.

Great, the law firm that employed that pedestrian killed by a hit-and-run cyclist is out for blood. Caesar Rivise law firm wants justice in death of beloved longtime employee Why couldn’t they get this worked up over someone getting killed riding a bicycle? And don’t hit the pedestrians, they are on the same side as us cyclists, the bad guys drive cars.

From Jolly Olde, an MP gets a burr up his butt and the police catch a bad case of stupids too. Police launch crackdown on cyclists Just because a cyclist can see where they are going on a well-lit street, does not necessarily mean that they are fully visible to motorists approaching with their headlights on. Yep, car drivers are blind as well as stupid. Just because you’re in the headlights doesn’t mean they will see you. They will run into you but they will claim to never have seen you. That’s why I always use the Honkin’ Huge Taillight^tm when I ride at night. Look like a motor vehicle and avoid that “run down” feeling.

Boris makes more noise about making London safer for cyclists. Newton unsure about London Olympics The article about making London safe is down the column from the headline article.

The rest of the post tonight comes from Oz, AKA the Land Down Undah.

And speaking of having a case of the stupids, some cyclists have near fatal cases. Cyclists not given free ride by police Aside from the helmet laws most traffic laws make sense to follow if only because it makes your actions more predictable so that drivers can better avoid hitting you. That’s the main reason why I say to not run red lights, as it makes where you will be on the road unpredictable and drivers don’t expect to see a bicycle crossing their path when they have the green light, as an example.

It appears that Australian cars are even more deadly than US cars as shown by the graph that goes with this article. Cut speed to let our cyclists live Their near-zero survivor speed is 60 km/hr, but the “knee” speed is about the same as US statistics, roughly 30 MPH (50 km/hr) with an initial rise at 20 MPH (30 km/hr). I didn’t even bother to try reading the nearly 500 comments that went with the article at the time I made this post.

And letter to the editor about a proposal to make bicycles have license plates. Identifying cyclists will not cure road rage apparently this was precipitated by a bus driver nearly hitting a cyclist, who then was able to catch the bus in traffic, get on the bus and beat the tar out of the bur driver for nearly killing the cyclist. This is not something I would recommend but it is something I understand. and I bet this was the fastest extended sprint on the part of the cyclist in a long time if not ever.

And that’s all I have today, maybe I can do another one tomorrow, if the power supply holds up and doesn’t die.

Billed @$.02, Opus

The software glitches over at examiner.com have been solved so that I can again submit my deathless prose for remuneration. Check it out at Change of focus, let’s keep you alive on your bicycle The subject should be familiar to most of you here, it’s the protocols I tell you about nearly every day on how to not get hit, or at least how not to get hit so bad you get killed. I’ll be doing a regular report of the North American wrecks also, Monday through Friday if I get any North American wrecks to report that day. It will be pretty much a cut’n'paste from here but with some language cleaned up, and also more attribution for my fellow writers over at examiner.com. Since I will be getting paid over there I will be using a different closing then my usual here. No “Billed @$.02, Opus” for those guys (I don’t get paid that much there), instead it will be “Have fun riding your bike”.

Also I’m in negotiations for a monthly column with a startup car magazine. I can hear jaws dropping all over the country at that news, but really I love cars, it’s the drivers I have problems with. I may never actually write the column, we’re still way far apart on the word count and rate at the moment, as well as for access to their technical department. but if I get that gig it still won’t reduce your favorite blogger’s output, except I might cut back on weekends. I do want to get some time to actually ride my own bike(s) other than to the store and church, and I do have responsibilities at church that will need to be taken care of.

And that’s all I have right now.

Billed @$.02, Opus

I finally got a back channel report that I can share with attribution. And it has links! I’ll save that ’til last. I also got the usual weak Saturday Feed with the usual high number of “lifestyle” stories.

Up first for no particular reason are multiple reports on a cyclist that hit a curb in the left turn lane and crashed, in FL. St. Petersburg bicyclist critically injured in fall and Bicyclist struck by car, seriously injured in Lealman which brings in the real cause of the injuries, a car that hit him after he fell. The cyclist was riding in the dark when he hit the curb, so lights might have been an issue, not a lack of installed lights because they would have mentioned that in the reports but a light that was not adequate to see by.

A police blotter report on a bike wreck in OR. On The Record: 9.25.09 Nothing of any information here except the bare fact of the wreck.

??? No charges in bizarre Naperville incident So the guy on the bicycle gets hit in the face with a broken bottle and ???

Shades of El Tour de Tucson in Enn Zed. Four injured when car ploughs into cyclists The driver turned into a group of 20 cyclists, injuring 4 including one severely, but no charges have been set.

Now the report from BikinginLA writer Ted Rogers:

Just wanted to give you a update on the status of several court cases in regarding Southern California bike collisions:

1. A memorial Ride of Silence will be held in honor of Joseph Novotny next Saturday, October 3, in Santa Clarita, CA, just north of Los Angeles. Marco Antonio Valencia, the driver who killed Novotny and injured four other cyclists, is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, Sept. 29; he’s facing one felony count of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, six felony counts of DUI and four felony counts of leaving the scene of the accident, as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license due to two previous DUI convictions — despite being just 20 years old at the time of the accident.
Santa Clarita to honor fallen cyclist with silent ride and
Fatal crash driver had priors also
Man Charged with DUI and Murder of Bicyclist

2. Dr. Christopher Thompson, the physician accused of intentionally injuring two cyclists in L.A.’s Mandeville Canyon on July 4, 2008, is scheduled for trial on Oct. 6, 2009, with jury selection to begin Oct. 13 or 14; he’s charged with one felony count of reckless driving causing injury, two felony counts of battery with serious injury, two counts of causing great bodily injury while attempting to commit a felony, and one count of mayhem; he’s also charged with one count of misdemeanor reckless driving causing an injury for a separate incident in which he forced a cyclist off the road the previous March.
Road Rage Motorist vs. Cyclists on Mandeville Canyon Road and
Brentwood doctor pleads not guilty to injuring cyclists also
Mandeville Canyon Road Rage Doctor Trial Set for 9/17

3. Robert Sam Sanchez recently plead not guilty to all charges in the hit-and-run death of Rod Armas, as well as critically injuring Armas’ 14 year old son in Malibu, CA, near the completion of last June’s Grand Tour Double Century sponsored by the Los Angeles Wheelmen. Sanchez is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence and failure to stop after an accident involving an injury.
Father and Son Grand Tour Dream Ends With Tragedy also
Oxnard driver arrested in cyclist’s death and
The definition of tragedy

4. Alejandro Hidalgo is facing charges in the April, 2009, hit-and-run death of Jesus Castillo, in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Hidalgo is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence, and driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content over .08.
Echo Park Ghost Rider and
The definition of tragedy

Thank you for helping me report the goings on in SoCal Ted.

Getting to the lifestyle reports we have a report from the suddenly bike friendly town of Columbia MO. A Free-Wheeling City I wish them luck dealing with the car-heads who think they own the roads.

A really great charity ride. Bike ride continues Marine’s work I don’t know how great the ride is obviously, but the charity is worthwhile.

And finally an article from Canadia that’s about ?? Caledon OPP?officer Jonathan Beckett talks bicycle safety There was something about a ratio of the cost of your lock to the cost of your bike, not sure what that’s about.

And that’s all I got today, have a nice weekend.

Billed @$.02, Opus

Yes there are some very angry drivers out there, some of them angry enough to kill. That this is so has been demonstrated empirically in Boise, and in theory in CO. More on those later. We also have notes on crazy drivers, crazy politicians, and dead and injured cyclists. There is also a report on a dead cyclist that was brought to the Internets via Pony Express, with a series of dead ponies. I’m not saying these guys were slow off the mark but I could have walked from the crash site to the publisher’s offices in less time than it took for them to publish the report, and I’m crippled.

Let’s just get that slow report out of here first, before it stinks up the place. Bicyclist killed south of Lander This is a report on the AZ cyclist on a bike tour of the country that was killed by a left-turning semi. More. Than. Two. Weeks. Ago. Seriously I could have walked there from the wreck and posted this report in less time. What is these guys publishing frequency anyway, monthly?

Angry drivers Pt.1 in Boise. Readers share gripes, advice and questions about bicycles on roads Notice in the comments section that is the news in this article the number of drivers that complain because cyclists force them to slow down! And force them to pass unsafely! OK if a 350 pound max GVW vehicle is forcing your 6600 pound curb weight (empty, full tank of gas) vehicle to do anything, you have issues. Well forcing drivers to slow down I can see as drivers must slow down until it is safe to pass, but forcing drivers to pass unsafely? How is that happening? At gunpoint?

Angry drivers Pt.2. Civil disobedience at Colorado bicycle tour My colleague in the Tulsa edition of examiner.com points out the protest will have little effect on bicycle traffic, while blocking motor vehicle traffic that can’t get around the blocking car. He also points out the incongruity of calling cyclists selfish because they make drivers go below the speed limit. For the Hypoxians making this ride I suggest learning how to make Thermite, a few ounces should permanently disable any of the cars that “break down” and obstruct the cycling route, as in burn through the engine block and destroy the crankshaft. Then the vehicle will have “broken down”. Or the Sheriff’s Department could just have the offending vehicles towed and crushed. Hey! one less car! The Boulder Daily Camera has this take. When immaturity and safety collide and thae original story is here. Threats made to disrupt bicycle tour

After all that just getting back to “regular” bike wrecks without terroristic threats of bodily harm is a relief. They IDed the injured cyclist I posted earlier this week. Injured Fairfield Bicyclist Identified Name not released until next of kin are notified, but they have a name now.

Multiple reports on this one. Bicyclist struck, killed in South Whitehall Township and Coroner IDs Victim Of Deadly Bicycle Accident In Lehigh County No word on how he got hit, but he died of multiple blunt force trauma. In other words wearing a helmet would have had no bearing on his survival, he would be dead from something else.

More on the Sand Springs cyclist homicides. Woman charged for hitting & killing cyclists I know the charges at the moment are only manslaughter, but they can (will) be upgraded to homicide when the toxicology reports come back.

A cyclist pulls in front of a moving car and gets killed. Bicyclist dies at FMC after being hit by car What can I say about this one except watch where you’re going and what is coming? And the report of massive head trauma does not mean he should have been wearing a helmet, he was wearing a helmet (from a report I can’t link to any more) and still had the massive head trauma. and before I post anything further wear your helmet, just don’t expect it to perform miracles.

The crash was so bad they haven’t been able to determine the vehicles for all the victims, they think one might have been riding a bicycle and been a secondary collision victim. Freeway Crash Kills Two There are freeways in OR that are legal to ride a bicycle on because of a lack of through roads that cyclists would normally take. I’m not familiar with this particular stretch of pavement but if it is a mountain pass then it would be one of the parts of the Interstate system in OR that was legal to ride a bicycle on.

A MI writer talks about bike safety bills passed or under consideration. Eckert: Bill needed to help keep cyclists safe

A NY cyclist sues the contractor for leaving an unmarked hazard in the road that caused him physical pain and financial loss. Injured bicyclist sues State Street contractor What more can I say, the contractor left a dangerous road condition, one that could have brought down any single track vehicle with or without a motor, it just happened that the guy that hit it was not motor-driven but human powered.

Another report on the OR cyclist payout from the insurance company of an insane driver. Insurance company to pay cyclist $100,000 It’s not just me that says he’s insane, the judge in the case said so…

This is soooo stupid. Helmets, proper attire critical to cycling safety I agree that a helmet should be part of everyone’s cycling apparel but not the first thing.

And more on cracking down on Austratlian cyclists that have killed 2 pedestrians since 1999. Jail threat for dangerous cyclists From the Aussie safety site more than 3000 pedestrians were killed in the years since 1999, 2 by wrecks with bicycles. Obviously they had to crack down on the dangerous cyclists.

More later if I feel like it…

Billed @$.02, Opus

Well after a day spent mounting a pair of motorcycle saddlebags to the back of my bicycle (they look gooood) after going to church, and getting instructions from the board over how to represent the church’s position to NCTCOG over how to spend the the 3% of stimulus funds that have to be spent on non-motorized transportation, I get reading the Feed and there are repeats and updates all over the thing, but at least there wren’t very many of them.

Up first is another cyclist killed in Mankato MN. Bicyclist killed on Highway 169 and Bicyclist crossing highway hit by car, killed and finally Bicyclist Killed After Crossing Hwy. 169 Another SWSS/SWCC wreck in the same city in less than 2 weeks? Do they need to give cyclists anti-depressants in MN? Or is there an infrastructure problem with getting a bike across that highway?

Another report on the deputy that hit 3 cyclists head on in the bike lane last year getting demoted to a job that keeps him from carrying a gun and driving an official vehicle for the rest of his miserable waste of a life. Sheriff Demotes Deputy Who Killed Cyclists

A cyclist is killed by an impaired cyclist that left the scene. Man on bicycle struck, killed by car OK lets look at what’s known: The driver was taking prescription drugs that may impair his driving, illegal drugs that would definitely impair his driving, he left the scene AKA hit-and-run, at least 2 and maybe 3 violations and at least one felony, and the cops let him go. He kills a man and tries to run, and the cops let him go. How many people think the investigation of this wreck will be thorough and impartial?

Another FL cyclist gets killed in the most dangerous state in the country to ride a bicycle. Bicyclist killed in Venice Sometimes the rider is at fault even in a SWCC wreck. Make sure if you have to cross against the red that there are no cars coming. It is legal to cross against the red if the light won’t change, but you have to make 100%+ sure that there are no cars coming that will get close enough to hit you.

A RI attorney shares the legal and other ways to not get killed on a bike. Providence Attorney Shares Tips to Keep Rhode Island Bicyclists Safe Worth as much as you paid for it…

A cyclist gets killed in Canuckistan and everybody in Canada is talking about it. Calgary cyclist killed in B.C. and Calgary cyclist killed in B.C. From the articles this appears to have been an infrastructure problem and there have been several wrecks involving (just) cars because of it.

From Jolly Olde that woman killed when the driver hit 3 cyclists was very highly thought of. Penrith cyclist killed in crash ‘inspired everyone she knew’

Don’t forget to click the button over on the right and win me a new bike. This is all I have for you tonight, and I will only have the one report tomorrow as I have to make that trip to talk to NCTCOG about the stimulus funds.

Billed @$.02, Opus

OK I took a day off to be with my wife for Mother’s Day Sunday, and then I had an appointment with the lab rat keeper for an extensive exam for the study medication I’m on. That appointment kept me away from home until 6 PM. Then after I got home I had to eat, and I got right to work reading the Feed and winnowing out the “stuff” and after more than 5 hours I’m ready to start posting.

Up first are a gaggle of “Bike to Work” stories. Bike To Work Week and Bike to Work Day set for Friday in Richmond and May declared Bike Safety Month also Bikers push off to Bike to Work Week And those are just the articles that deal directly with Bike Month or Bike to Work Week.

Texas isn’t the only state to consider a 3 foot passing law. Bill requires drivers to give cyclists enough space and Cyclists looking for protection from motorists I suggest taking a Valium or other mood elevator before reading the comments section. Also from LA Panel approves bill to protect bicyclists on roadways I still say the laws need to be changed to read that if you hit a cyclist from behind you didn’t pass with 3 foot of clearance.

Another article on why FL is so dangerous to ride a bicycle. Florida the most dangerous state for bicyclists Perhaps it is the clueless LEO combined with drivers that feel they should be the only ones on the roads (and it isn’t just bicycles they hate, it’s all other vehicles that are in front of them). Start putting some of the recto-cranial inverted drivers in jail for assault with a deadly and permanently revoking licenses and confiscating cars as evidence, and after a couple of years you might see some improvement in all traffic fatalities.

I’ll be back later with more, I’m so tired I can’t see to type and have to keep backspacing and making corrections

Billed@$.02, Opus

I had been planning on taking a bike ride today to get free lunch and post this this afternoon, but the predicted scattered thunderstorms did not materialize and instead we got a steady rain for at least 4 hours with occasional thunder. I don’t have fenders made for this bike yet, and I prefer not to ride when there is lightning in the area, so my butt is parked at home in front of the computer, reading about bike wrecks and coming up with a post about same. Then I’m going to cook some beans with a ham bone. Had the weather cooperated I would be doing this post as the beans were cooking.

Up first is a memorial ride for the former Navy SEAL who was killed in VA. Beach cyclists rally to mourn loss, push for safer roads Yes, the comments section is a waste of bandwidth, with far too many people substituting opinion for facts, and the few times facts are included in the argument they are discarded because they don’t agree with a subsequent commenter’s opinion. There was also a Ghost Bike installed near the site of the wreck.

A cyclist is killed in LA by a large truck. Larose cyclist killed in hit-and-run Unless the truck driver was able to see the cyclist, he may not have known he even hit anything. I have friends who are or used to be long haul truckers and they say that they can run over small cars with their trailers and not know unless someone tells them. I’m sure hitting a cyclist with anything other than the front bumper would have similar non-consequences for a big rig. I used to drive local delivery and when fully loaded even the smaller trucks used for local delivery you can hit something quite large and no know it, not that I ever did. I actually lost that job because I was too careful to avoid hitting things. They kinda wanted me to drive faster and get there sooner… Anyway, as a cyclist you need to give big rigs a wide berth and never ride to the right of one in the same lane when approaching an intersection lest you be right hooked. Truck drivers don’t want to hit you as it can cost them their jobs even if they are not at fault, but most of the time they can’t see what’s right in front of them or especially what is to their right until it gets a certain distance behind the cab. Remember if you can’t see the driver in the mirrors, the driver can’t see you, and will probably proceed as if you were not there.

A newspaper columnist tries to tell cyclists how to be safe on the roads. Nine tips for safe bicycling Mostly a good article except for putting helmets first on the list. Helmets are your last line of defense after everything else has failed.

Voices of dissent are raised when Tucson bans bicycle from another park for extreme sports. Bikers at odds with Tucson skate park I can see where this is a problem, when riders are killed or injured doing stunts on the street or in other public spaces, but get arrested when they try to use the parks, where it is saf(er). Makes no sense to me unless they just want to see kids getting killed.

In the UK another memorial ride for fallen cyclist Derek Witt on the occasion of what would have been his 51st birthday. Hampshire riders remember cyclist Derek Witt on his birthday The wreck this ride commemorates was before the time this blog was transferred to WordPress, but it was a bad one with several cyclists hit and injured, some permanently crippled, and Derek Witt was killed. As of this report there still hasn’t been any final report issued.

Also from Jolly Olde is a shunt with minor injury between a bike and car. Cyclist injured in road traffic collision (Fishponds) From the few details released it appears that this was a left hook wreck, the UK equivalent of the US right hook. Not much you can do except leave yourself an escape route and be ready to use it. Also keep your head on a swivel as you approach and enter intersections. Intersections are the major location and cause for fatal bike wrecks.

A more typical UK report has nothing besides there was a cyclist killed on a road. Two boys die in Leeds crash; cyclist killed in Keighley accident This is the more typical UK report, nothing on the wreck except location and some of the participants and a description of their vehicles.

And that’s all for today. Maybe more later if I get it.

Billed @$.02, Opus