Mercedes Driver kills local cyclist

[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.

[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.

[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