Mercedes Driver kills local cyclist

[smurfalicious]

I just had to post this because it's sad as all get out. Even more dispicable is they went and burned the car as evidence. This just makes me sick. I can understand the panic but to ditch and then burn the vehicle? I don't think the articles mention it but my mom said on the news they reported that she was hit so hard she was decapitated. Also sad is that she wasn't wearing anything reflective or light colored. Not blaming her but it's definately a heads up to make sure you're geared properly for the ride even if it's just to get get milk. Here are the stories:

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070418/NEWS0107/704180350&SearchID=73278679763863

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070420/NEWS0107/704200359/1001&nav_category=

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/NEWS0107/704190317&SearchID=73278680500269

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070420/NEWS0107/704200372/1001&nav_category=

[KnottedYet]

This is just awful.

I know it's a shallow thought on my part, but will anyone be putting up a Ghost Bike for Kimberly Potter?

[smurfalicious]

Enlighten me? What's a ghost bike cuz I'm so on it! Did you see the other accidents in this town. Shameful considering there's a huge biking community around here.

[KnottedYet]

And it sounds like so many are on Third St.

A Ghost Bike is a bike painted white, that sits at the scene of a fatality. Members of a bike club (or other volunteers) maintain it for a week or so, folks can leave candles or flowers or what ever at the bike. Sometimes a placard is put up explaining what happened, or sometimes just a sign with the cyclist's name.

There are many Ghost Bike groups, and most major cities have a Ghost Bike organization of some sort.

www.ghostbike.org
www.ghostcycle.org
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/235063_ghostbikes03.html

[missymaya]

For this case, I think a ghost bike is neccessary. Not just because one persone was hit and killed, but according to the article, there have been several accidents in that area. People need to be aware of what the heck is going on.
I like the idea of a ghost bike.

[surgtech1956]

This is so terrible.

I can't imagine how people could ever live with themselves.

[KnottedYet]

Considering the cocaine the Mercedes driver and passengers were involved with and the previous criminal convictions, it sounds like they weren't living with themselves too well already.

They hit her so hard that I find it difficult to believe it wasn't deliberate.

[KnottedYet]

Smurf, can you find out if a Ghost Bike is in the works for that site? Is there a bike club that would have info?

If you have to do it yourself and need some $$ help to buy a junker bike and some white spray-paint, let me know. I don't have much, but I can send you something.

I think it's very important that a Ghost Bike be set up for Kimberly.

[Geonz]

I believe the accident happened at 2:30 a.m. and she dind't have lights... so it might have been difficult to hit her intentionally. Doesn't make it less hideous and horrible, and it definitely calls for a ghost bike :(

[Grog]

I also think this is terrible.

However I can believe it was not necessarily intentional. She was passing some utility vehicle, according to one of the articles above, and if the Mercedes was speeding seriously, then... Well...

I think this is an important reminder that Ninjas on Bikes are not safe. I can't believe the number of cyclists I see wearing only black or dark colors. And of course there are no reflectors or reflecting devices on or near their bike. You can't control whether some idiot in a Mercedes will come speeding and end your life by hitting you from behind. But you can give yourself a chance by being somewhat visible. Even in the day.

I agree that it would be great to have a ghost bike. If you can find a reflective spray paint (the type that people would see well at night), it might make other cyclists think, too...

This is very sad.

[markpedal]

This is so terrible.

I can't imagine how people could ever live with themselves.

Unfortunately this may sadly be true, but both are victims, to a degree.

Let me relay a story that Chris Phelan, the Ride of Silence's founder, emailed to myself and a few others last year.

Chris was at charity event in the Dallas area early in 2006, and noticed one of the "volunteers" going about his business, in very humble low key manner. Chris struck a conversation with the man, whom it turned out was doing community service work. As the conversation continued, the man sadly admitted why he was required to do this; He was the bus driver who had struck & killed Chris' good friend, endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz, the reason Chris organized that 1st Ride of Silence in Dallas in 2003.

The bus driver continued, that he had been sentenced to jail time, was now released to do 1,000's of hours of community service work, had lost his job, lost his family, was close to being financially destitute and deeply regretted what had happened, all without knowing who Chris was.

Chris felt that perhaps there is more than one victim when cyclist/motorist accident happens, that it not only impacted Larry Schwartz's family and friends, but the bus driver's as well. It was at this point that Chris was finally able to begin to forgiving process.

If Chris can forgive, so can I (we). It's not to late to organize a Ride, now in 197 locations worldwide, in 6 countries.

markpedal

[smurfalicious]

GRRR! I posted on freecycle which if you're not familiar is a community recycling program where you can posts items avail or wanted. Well I posted for a junker bike and look at the BS I got. I especially like the "no reply needed" part. Yeah, you get to voice your stupid opinion but don't wanna hear mine eh?

Hello Hilary, (love my name being spelled wrong)

Regarding Kimberly Potter’s death, I am sorry for your loss.

It sounds like your intent is to place the bike you are looking for at the site of the accident. I appreciate your sentiment for the life lost, but question the wisdom of a roadside memorial. I hope your interest and concern can be more constructively applied than placing what many (myself specifically) feel is roadside trash and litter. Lobbying for wider shoulder/bike lanes in the area of the accident is an example of more constructively applied energies.

Thank you for listening. No reply is necessary. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.

Ummm yaw the widest bike lanes in the world won't do squat if drivers are stupid. Des. Market Rd got a bike lane finally and people are still damn near running bikes off it.

[missymaya]

How about doing both, a bike lane and a memorial? I think it weird that is the response you received. I see several motorist or pedestrian death roadside memorials with stuffed animals, balloons, crosses, huge signs, etc that's a lot of stuff on the side of the road that eventually gets strewn about the area but a bike painted white with a sign being seen as trash? Not saying that a motorist's death or a pedestrian's death isn't equal in pain and loss to a cyclist's or that their lives are not equal to that of a cyclist's, I just think that's weird. Hmm..
Or, have you thought of a share the road sign? I think something needs to be done considering the amount of accidents in that area and the horrible death of this woman.

[KnottedYet]

Perhaps the person who wrote to you is unaware of the Ghost Bike protocol, and thought you were leaving it up forever instead of just for a week. Maybe they thought you were going to abandon it, rather than take care of it and clean up afterwards.

Would it help these folks on Freecycle if you explain the entire concept and how you will be responsible for it in your ad? They might just have no clue about the Ghost Bikes.

Once you get the bike up, it would be very cool if the local paper (is that the one with all the articles you linked?) came out to take a picture of the Ghost Bike near the start of the memorial week. I would imagine that other local folks would like to pay their respects before the week is out, too.

It sounds like it was a brutal accident, and that's traumatizing for everyone.

[Trek420]

I also think this is terrible......I think this is an important reminder that Ninjas on Bikes are not safe. I can't believe the number of cyclists I see wearing only black or dark colors. And of course there are no reflectors or reflecting devices on or near their bike. You can't control whether some idiot in a Mercedes will come speeding and end your life by hitting you from behind. But you can give yourself a chance by being somewhat visible. Even in the day....

This is very sad.

Yes, this is very sad, my heart goes out to all involved especially the first responders.

I reflect (pun intended) that the bulk of "Bike Ninjas" as well as others we see riding in unsafe manner are not members of our tight little cycling community.

I imagine she was just trying to get by without a car.

They don't go on club rides or hear safety speaches, they may have no idea that bike specific gear much less reflective gear exists, they don't share the bazillions of tips and tricks we do each day of "we're safer if we do this or that"....

The cycling community needs to find ways to reach outside of our recreational wall and help this community. Maybe this memorial will help.

[Grog]

I reflect (pun intended) that the bulk of "Bike Ninjas" as well as others we see riding in unsafe manner are not members of our tight little cycling community.


I'm very afraid that there are more than a few. It was not the case with this woman, this is true, she was doing what she had to do, not a recreational rider. But I know very many cyclist who ride fully dressed in black. I was marshalling for a race today and I even saw a team kit that is nearly entirely black. Bike shops around here sell jackets and jerseys that are black. And I guess the people that wear those don't wear red shorts. (Sorry, just trying to be funny despite the tragic.) The more expensive road bikes get, the least likely they are to have reflectors of any style, and as we know lights are heavy... It's been a battle over the last year and a half to get lights on my boyfriend's bike, and I can tell you he's no utilitarian cyclist, yet often comes home at dusk.

[Trek420]

Best we can do is lead by example, talk to people. You never know when that will help.

When I ride to work I get comments on my neon gear. "Yeah it's funny but you see me, right?" I say. If someone gets it and tells someone else "I know this gal who rides lots and she wears...."

On my ride today Maury and I turned left as we left a stop for lunch. I was waiting for traffic to clear before turning myself and a driver stopped traffic for me so I could take the left across 4 lanes of traffic.

Was he a fellow cyclist? Maybe. I waved thanks.

[DarcyInOregon]

I'm very afraid that there are more than a few. It was not the case with this woman, this is true, she was doing what she had to do, not a recreational rider. But I know very many cyclist who ride fully dressed in black.

On Friday I was out on my daily ride. It was a beautiful warm day with sunshine. About 35 miles into my ride I saw another cyclist coming toward me, off in the distance. He was on a red bike, and wearing a red jersey with a red helmet. I was able to see that cyclist from quite a distance away, which means motorists could see him. However, about another mile further on, there was another cyclist, and I didn't see him until he was about 20 feet away. This cyclist was on a black bike, and wearing black clothing with a black helmet. He faded right into the color of the asphalt. If I couldn't see him until I was that close, then for sure motorists could not see him either. And goodness, why take the risk, because motorists are yakking on cell phones, fighting with their spouse or children, day dreaming, fiddling with their GPS monitor, or lost in the sound of their music system, and it only takes a few seconds for the driver to not be focused and not see the cyclist on the black bicycle with the black clothing and the black helmet, and there is another dead cyclist. In just about every news story regarding yet another dead cyclist, the driver will say, "I didn't see the cyclist."

Darcy

[Aint Doody]

I so agree with Darcy. On a ride a few weeks ago on a rather gray day, there were 2 men cyclists ahead of me. One had on bright yellow. The other had on a gray rain jacket. He totally disappeared into the asphalt. We gotta wear those bright colors.

[Running Mommy]

boy Darcy that reminds me of a convo I had with my adopt an IM kids. I was telling them that the safest place for them until they are older is on the sidewalk. I explained that the bike lanes really weren't the best place for kids and explained why. And then I went on to talk to them about adults being distracted in the car. I told them that at a stop sign they should ALWAYS let the car go first, even if they were there first. And unless they see the driver waving them to go, then they should wait. And you wouldn't believe all the kids that busted their parents for what they do in their cars. I heard lots of "yeah I know. My mom text messages when she's driving" :eek: ... Ok, that parent should have their parenting license revoked.. Oh yeah, we don't require such a thing... :cool:
We also talked about how I wear bright clothes, and if I go out anywhere near sundown I wear my blinkeys. They liked the blinkeys.. :p
Hopefully I'll get throught to some of them. Sigh... Even just one would be a victory right?

[MomOnBike]

Not to take anything away from the Be Seen commandment, but my general philosophy is to ride like I'm invisible.

This comes from several conversations with over-the-road truckers who ALSO complain mightily that car drivers don't see them. If <your stereotypical driver here> doesn't see an 18-wheeler, s/he most certainly won't see a person on a bicycle, no matter what I wear. (It probably can/should go without saying that the trucker is in a much better position if a car driver does something stupid, still, they are protective of their driving record.)

So, by all means, wear bright colors, but don't assume anyone sees you.