Mercedes Driver kills local cyclist

[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.

[Grog]

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'm very afraid that there are more than a few. It was not the case with this woman, this is true, she was doing what she had to do, not a recreational rider. But I know very many cyclist who ride fully dressed in black. I was marshalling for a race today and I even saw a team kit that is nearly entirely black. Bike shops around here sell jackets and jerseys that are black. And I guess the people that wear those don't wear red shorts. (Sorry, just trying to be funny despite the tragic.) The more expensive road bikes get, the least likely they are to have reflectors of any style, and as we know lights are heavy... It's been a battle over the last year and a half to get lights on my boyfriend's bike, and I can tell you he's no utilitarian cyclist, yet often comes home at dusk.

[Trek420]

Best we can do is lead by example, talk to people. You never know when that will help.

When I ride to work I get comments on my neon gear. "Yeah it's funny but you see me, right?" I say. If someone gets it and tells someone else "I know this gal who rides lots and she wears...."

On my ride today Maury and I turned left as we left a stop for lunch. I was waiting for traffic to clear before turning myself and a driver stopped traffic for me so I could take the left across 4 lanes of traffic.

Was he a fellow cyclist? Maybe. I waved thanks.

[DarcyInOregon]

I'm very afraid that there are more than a few. It was not the case with this woman, this is true, she was doing what she had to do, not a recreational rider. But I know very many cyclist who ride fully dressed in black.

On Friday I was out on my daily ride. It was a beautiful warm day with sunshine. About 35 miles into my ride I saw another cyclist coming toward me, off in the distance. He was on a red bike, and wearing a red jersey with a red helmet. I was able to see that cyclist from quite a distance away, which means motorists could see him. However, about another mile further on, there was another cyclist, and I didn't see him until he was about 20 feet away. This cyclist was on a black bike, and wearing black clothing with a black helmet. He faded right into the color of the asphalt. If I couldn't see him until I was that close, then for sure motorists could not see him either. And goodness, why take the risk, because motorists are yakking on cell phones, fighting with their spouse or children, day dreaming, fiddling with their GPS monitor, or lost in the sound of their music system, and it only takes a few seconds for the driver to not be focused and not see the cyclist on the black bicycle with the black clothing and the black helmet, and there is another dead cyclist. In just about every news story regarding yet another dead cyclist, the driver will say, "I didn't see the cyclist."

Darcy

[Aint Doody]

I so agree with Darcy. On a ride a few weeks ago on a rather gray day, there were 2 men cyclists ahead of me. One had on bright yellow. The other had on a gray rain jacket. He totally disappeared into the asphalt. We gotta wear those bright colors.