motorcycle vs bike on Skyline

[tomgrrrl]

I know there has been some debate as to whether its appropriate to post these stories, but I think it's worth reading, particularly with regard to Skyline and the speed at which motorcycles travel around the roads in the Berkeley/Oakland Hills.

From the Oakland Trib:

Bike rider hit by motorcycle dies
Cause of accident still under investigation
By Susan McDonough, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
OAKLAND — A bicycle rider, who was struck by a motorcyclist Saturday afternoon near his home in the Oakland hills, has died, police and family members said Monday.
Edward Weiss, 50, was riding eastbound on the 8200 block of Skyline Boulevard about 3:45 p.m. when, for reasons still unknown, a motorcyclist traveling in the opposite direction crossed the double yellow line and hit him, said Oakland police Officer Wing Wong. Weiss died early Sunday from his injuries.

His family said Weiss was an avid cyclist who owned a large collection of bikes he enjoyed both maintaining and riding.

Wong said police are investigating the accident and no charges have been filed against the motorcyclist, whose name was not released.

Wong said the man was driving a Kawasaki racing bike and might have been speeding. Police are talking to witnesses — including another motorcyclist riding with the driver — to determine the accident's cause.

[aka_kim]

Motorcyclists speeding in the hills on those racing bikes are scary. I've been surprised, and frightened, by motorcyclists several times, and almost hit once.

[bikerz]

Skyline is pretty scary these days - the road is so rough and rutted with the constrution and the storm damage. I've had a couple of close calls with motorcyclists along there too, and most recently on the part of Pinehurst near Redwood. It is very scary.

[BikeMomma]

I'm remembering the Mother's Day Mines Rd. ride back in May.....some of those guys on their crotch rockets were screaming around those roads. We on the bikes barely had time to move over at times. It was pretty hairy....

Definitely not right that the motorcyclist came over from the opposite direction....wonder what's up with that???

~BikeMomma

[tomgrrrl]

I wish the police would do some speed traps up there....they are particularly bad on weekends....just screaming around the corners. Apparently the man who was killed was somewhat deaf from a work injury....perhaps he might have heard it coming otherwise....

[bikerz]

I think speed traps up there, and along Grizzley Peak too, would be an excellent idea. This afternoon maybe I'll find out how to contact the OPD about that.