Seattle lost a cyclist Friday

[Eden]

He was hit from behind by an 18yo driving a pickup truck, in the exact spot I was occupying, probably only some 15 to 30 min earlier. He had no ID (get your Road ID... or equivalent) and I haven't seen any updates to his story, so I fear he may still be unidentified.

The story of course has brought out all of the you all should just get off the roads folks. I'm so sick of it. 93% of all automobile collisions have human causes (so they are not because of equipment failure, road conditions or other outside factors) If you can't get into a car without paying attention, slowing down and staying calm, you shouldn't be permitted to drive....

It won't save my life, but I've been inspired to get a helmet cam (by this and a story of a Florida cyclist who was able to video tape a driver threaten him - and a cop actually paid attention to it and arrested the driver for assault YAY! - then a judge threw it out BOO.... but its a start at least.) I plan to mount it backwards, as I am really, really curious to see just how close folks are when I feel like they are passing too close... I had a bunch of REI gift cards from bike to work/fitness incentives at work so I ordered an Oregon Scientific ATC5K Waterproof Action Camera with Onboard LCD Screen today.

Oh - and the place the cyclist was killed was just a short distance away from where I was hit two years ago...... (but going in the opposite direction). It was up hill in a place where there is a wide shoulder so it seems a fairly unlikely spot for a fatal accident, but something was really going on - the truck hit not only the cyclist but continued on to hit a utility pole...

[indysteel]

How sad. I love that cyclists take the blame as a group for something that was clearly the fault of an inattentive driver. We can't win.

[hulagirl]

Poop. And Seattle is very bike friendly (compared to Hawaii). I feel so much safer riding there. Alas the kid was either drunk, high, on his cell phone or all of the above. Hope he gets it for manslaughter.

[Eden]

Those three things have actually been eliminated as causes - the driver wasn't impaired nor was he texting/talking on a phone. I can't imagine what he was doing though.... though the road is winding the section on which the cyclist was hit is not a sharp bend, it is uphill and has a pretty wide shoulder.... There are very, very few published details, which leads me to think that there may have been no witnesses.

[smilingcat]

An 18 YO.
Not too experienced in driving. Not enough time behind the wheel.

If the road, as you say, is bit winding but not terribly so, then he may have been paying attention and his gaze locked onto the cyclist.

Your car/bike do tend to go in the direction of your gaze and he may inadvertently drove the car into the cyclist then proceeded to smash into a utility pole.

But this is all conjecture and nothing will not bring back the cyclist. My condolence to the families who are affected by this tragedy.

There are obviously few nefarious reason for the cyclist's death. I just wish none of them are true.

I also wish the judicial system and police to treat all people the same way. Cyclists have have the same right as anyone else to "life and liberty".

Do maintain situational awareness at all times. Be safe, and ride safe!

[badger]

I drive along a long stretch of flat road that I share with traffic. I was so unnerved by all the trucks and speeding cars coming up from behind that I got a mirror. It's probably not going to save me if a car/truck was coming right up to hit me, but at least I can feel better that I can see behind me to see what's happening in general.

I know it's tragic that a cyclist lost his life, but I also feel bad for the driver; he has his whole life ahead of him knowing that he's killed someone due to inattention.