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/pbc...73278679763863

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbc...&nav_category=

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbc...73278680500269

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbc...&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/...stbikes03.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.

[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.