Another Bicyclist Killed

[Bustertb]

Teen in Crash May Have Been Text Messaging
Nov 26 1:24 PM US/Eastern
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HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo.


A 17-year-old likely will face misdemeanor charges after allegedly losing control of his car while text messaging and hitting a bicyclist.

The bicyclist, Jim R. Price of Highlands Ranch, died Friday, two days after the accident.

"We do not believe it was an intentional act, but it was inattentiveness to the roadway," said Lt. Alan Stanton, spokesman for Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"The investigation showed that he was text-messaging on his cell phone" at the time of the accident, said Stanton.

The driver could face a charge of careless driving resulting in death, Stanton said. Under Colorado law, the teen could face up to a year in prison.

It was the second time Price, an avid cyclist, had been hit by car. He suffered a broken ankle two years ago when he was hit while riding on a bike path. His wife, Shirley, said he had been especially mindful of cars since then.

Shirley Price wasn't angry with the teen. "I feel sorry for the teenager," she said. "It was a stupid mistake," she told the Rocky Mountain News.

[Trekhawk]

Teen in Crash May Have Been Text Messaging
Nov 26 1:24 PM US/Eastern
Email this story

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo.


A 17-year-old likely will face misdemeanor charges after allegedly losing control of his car while text messaging and hitting a bicyclist.

The bicyclist, Jim R. Price of Highlands Ranch, died Friday, two days after the accident.

"We do not believe it was an intentional act, but it was inattentiveness to the roadway," said Lt. Alan Stanton, spokesman for Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"The investigation showed that he was text-messaging on his cell phone" at the time of the accident, said Stanton.

The driver could face a charge of careless driving resulting in death, Stanton said. Under Colorado law, the teen could face up to a year in prison.

It was the second time Price, an avid cyclist, had been hit by car. He suffered a broken ankle two years ago when he was hit while riding on a bike path. His wife, Shirley, said he had been especially mindful of cars since then.

Shirley Price wasn't angry with the teen. "I feel sorry for the teenager," she said. "It was a stupid mistake," she told the Rocky Mountain News.

This is very sad. What a forgiving wife.
Question - is it illegal here in the USA to use your mobile phone while driving?

[RoadRaven]

Just tragic
I don't know if I could be that forgiving... I'd like to think I could... but I don't really know

[Trek420]

a quick check found at:

http://safety.blr.com/display.cfm/id/96822

There is no Federal law, some states and local comunities limit cell phone use while you drive. Most of those require cell phone users to have a hands free device like speaker phone or blackberry.

I'm not aware of any law that says no text messageing, other than the law of plain ol' ordinary garden variety common sense.

Just got off the phone with my sister, last night she and my Mom were out and their car was sideswiped and totalled by an SUV. Only just averted a head on collision. The teenaged driver was very appologetic. Both of our families are all aware how close it came to being a very different kind of phone call last night.

Jeez, slow the f&*^ down everyone. Life's too short.

so very sad about the cyclist, I'm glad his wife can be so forgiveing, I'm not sure i would be able to be.

[Selkie]

SUVs, cell phones, text messaging, DVD players in cars, etc. Call me a Luddite but I think it all s*cks. I get most disgusted at the women my age (early 40s) wrecklessly driving Chevy Suburbans while talking on the phone despite having kids in their tank (those things are not cars). What justifies someone living in an urban area with one kid having such a big car? They HIRE people to take care of their lawns, homes, etc., so hauling mulch ain't the reason. Too much money, not enough brains. I remember my parents piling the four of us kids into the back of a sedan when we moved from White Plains, NY back to Pittsburgh, PA.

I long for the good old days when having an FM radio in your little Honda was the epitome of cool.

[Irulan]

Question - is it illegal here in the USA to use your mobile phone while driving?

with the rare exception of a few communities, nope.

[DeniseGoldberg]

is it illegal here in the USA to use your mobile phone while driving?

A continuation of Irulan's answer...

Just out of curiosity, I did a search to see if there was a list of state regulations regarding cell phone use while driving, and I found a summary on the Governors Highway Safety Association: http://www.statehighwaysafety.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html.

There are a couple of states that require use of hands free cells, but most have no restrictions.

[BikeMomma]

Ladies -

I don't know if any of you post on Bicycling.com, but the cyclist that was killed was known as "BikerBilly" on that site's forum. Very very sad, and so totally inexcusable. May he rest in peace.

Here are a couple links about him:

Bikejournal.com (http://www.bikejournal.com/thread.asp?ThreadID={B3D24A5C-3CFB-4164-9264-F1937786D96D})

Bicycling.com Forum (http://forums.bicycling.com/thread.jspa?threadID=147561&tstart=0)

Be careful out there.
-BikeMomma

[Trekhawk]

Thanks everyone for posting info re laws and mobile phones. It is against the law in Aust to use your mobile phone whilst driving unless its hands free. I sort of assumed it was the same here. Good law I think but hey I have still seen plenty of people driving in Aust and talking on their mobiles. For some people it doesnt matter whether its against the law or unsafe. People have become so blase about driving a killing machine that keeping their eyes on the road seems to be the last thing in a long list of things to do when out on the road.

Its so terribly sad.

[Pedal Wench]

Jim Price wasn't just a faceless cyclist. He was a loud and vocal member of quite a few of the most popular bike forums. cyclingforums, bicycling, and bikeforums.net, where I knew him as 'sydney'. He had thousands of posts, mostly in the mechanics forums, or giving mechanical advice on the road cycling forum at bikeforums whenever it was needed, some of it directly in response to my questions. He was known for helping out strangers, fixing and donating a bike to a young woman who ironically was in a crash. He will be missed. Here is a post from his daughter:


My family and I would like to thank each of you from the various forums he posted on for sharing your thoughts and experiences with him and condolences as well. My dad was a rather prolific poster it appears. I have read that on one of forums he only started 3 threads, but had thousands of posts. I guess he wanted to share his knowledge (or attempts at being witty, however twisted or crass it was). I wanted to make sure that everyone knew about all the forums he posted on (or at least the ones I have discovered thus far). I appreciate those who have kept up with the news stories and sharing the info on this story as it has become available. Once things settle down a bit, I will respond to the individual e-mails I have received. I will also update as more information becomes available to us.
We have been contacted by Good Morning America, however they have not let us know when and if they will air the story.

Those in the Denver area have asked about funeral arrangements and when a service would be scheduled for. My dad's wishes were to be cremated and to not have a service...we are supporting those wishes. He had a love for the outdoors that extended beyond cycling and included hunting and camping as well. His hunting partner as agreed to take some of the ashes up to the spot they went for 25 years. And we are going to take the rest up the camping spot he took my sister and I as kids, I just hope I can make the hike, he never did the easy trails.

Here is the list of forums that I know he posted on and the screen name he used...

BikeForums.net AKA sydney
Bicycling.com AKA Biker Billy
Cyclingforums.com AKA bourdreaux
RoadBikeReview.com AKA Rusty Coggs
Serotta.com/forum AKA bubba
Cyclingforum.com AKA bubba

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and opinions about my dad, words alone cannot express it. Please do not feel the need to respond to this thread I just wanted to make the forums all got the same information.

Kimberlee
txstevens@cox.net
Here's the thread over at bikeforums.net

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=155557

[bikerchick68]

yep, I knew him as BikerBilly... from bicycling.com forum. I never got to meet him in person, but he answered a couple maintenance questions that I asked. Such a shame... really a tragedy for everyone involved... Jim's family AND the family of the girl as well as the girl herself must all be devastated by this senseless tragedy...

[Yasmin]

My heart always aches when I read about such an unnecessary loss of a fellow cyclist. When I see someone on a cell phone or texting, it makes me mad. It's thoughtless, selfish & against the law. Yet 1,000's still do it. I agree about SUV's (we call them 4 wheel drives in Australia). I've had close calls with this type of vehicle more than any others, including semi-trailers, road trains etc. Bleached blondes with acrylic nails seem to be the worst offenders. Sorry to pin-point like this, but I'm being truthful according to my own experiences. SUV's with bull-bars are the worst. Should be banned in metropolitan regions. There you go, that's my 2 cents worth. Obviously I have strong views on the matter.
My condolences to the grieving wife, Shirley Price & family of Jim Price,this latest victum. There is no sense to any of this.

[Eaglewalker]

... Bleached blondes with acrylic nails seem to be the worst offenders. ... Wish I could agree with you, but the three who have nearly hit me (two hard-brake-and-swerves, once having to lay my bike over; once I had to jump it up out of the bike lane and onto the curb) were all women over forty, of well-kept and conservative appearance. Each occasion was in a different region of the country.

I am very sorry to hear of this tragedy.