Yep, another barely there Feed today. And because my son had to work late yesterday and was off work today we did our grocery shopping. The MythBusters Marathon is still going on over on the Science Channel, and we are still hip-deep in Christmas chocolates. So by my estimation 2016 is getting off to a great start.
Up first is another link to the story about the MD teen killed by a driver disregarding both a traffic control and another vehicle stopped for that control at the crossing. Crash at risky Md. crosswalk kills teen on bike he received for Christmas Again, a big problem with this is the requirement for drivers to obey the law and the traffic control with no enforcement actions unless someone gets killed. So, until someone gets hit and killed nothing happens at the intersection.
Moving from MD to MA. UPDATED: Cyclist killed on Belmont Street raises concerns about street’s safety and Bicyclist struck, killed by car in Worcester Since lights and reflectors aren’t mentioned, but an after-sundown time of day is mentioned, we have to assume the cyclist met legal requirements before he was hit from behind in the middle of the lane. He was riding in the middle of the lane because there were large piles of snow blocking the bike lane according to the commentariat.
Down in NYC this bike-lane-blocker might just as well hang a sign saying “I’m a douche and I don’t care”. Photo: Park Slope Driver Pulls Off The Tightest, Dumbest Parking Job Of 2015 Bystanders were unable to get LEO in the area to issue even a ticket for blocking the bike lane. Much less tow the vehicle for illegally blocking the street.
Also in NYC, CitiBike was not the meat grinder it was predicted to be. Citi Bike Logged 10 Million Rides In 2015
Over in OR another driver gets away with manslaughter after hitting a cyclist from behind. Independence cyclist killed near Monmouth I don’t get it, to get knocked over into the oncoming lane the cyclist had to be riding directly in front of the driver, where a driver watching the road would have to see him. That means the driver was either super distracted, or he hit the cyclist on purpose. Again, no charges for killing a cyclist.
Down south from that OR wreck. In S.F., 25 Pedestrians and 5 Cyclists Were Killed in 2015, Despite Safety Efforts Until they start getting cops pulling over speeding drivers instead of spending hours giving cyclists tickets for rolling a stop sign without putting a foot down there aren’t going to be appreciable declines in vulnerable road user fatalities.
When a major international carmaker decides that making e-assist bicycles is the best way to survive as a company, then you know this blog has a future. How Ford Plans to Survive the Next 100 Years
And that’s all the links I had today. Billed @$0.02, Opus
Witch on a Bicycle 