This one hits close to home...

[mimitabby]

so bottom line, I think we're safer in the middle of the lane than we are on the side in the "bike" lane because there we have more space.
Motorists might not like it, but they SEE us.

[pinkychique]

so bottom line, I think we're safer in the middle of the lane than we are on the side in the "bike" lane because there we have more space.
Motorists might not like it, but they SEE us.

They really don't like it:

I was riding home last night, and some jerk decided to buzz me when I was taking the far right lane (because at this particular part of the road there is no bike lane, and it's a really small section). And I decided to tell him that we have rights in the lanes, and he just ended up screaming at me and driving off . I of course should expect this, but it's law that says 1) that we cannot ride on the sidewalk and 2) that we are to take the lane if we have to.

I was thinking I should make a pamphlet of local laws to hand to drivers like these when I can. Maybe then it will spread the word?

I'm so sick of jerks like these!! I try not to think of the ones that are completely distracted...I can't do much about those

[Geonz]

Well, there's a lot of in between.

Let's face it, this lady *probably* will hesitate before reaching for a bottle again. It was an accident... but an avoidable one. LIke my T-shirt says -"“Drive Now, Talk Later: It only takes a second to
cause an eternal heartbreak.” ... and it doesn't just apply to cell phones.

So... the question is: how to help people learn from this *before* they get the reminder that "oh! your car is a deadly weapon, BE CAREFUL!!" the hard way

COmmunity service... and a big magnetic sign that says "killed cyclist reaching for a bottle" ... okay, that might be more distracting... perhaps a billboard that says it?

[Thorn]

Well, there's a lot of in between.

So... the question is: how to help people learn from this *before* they get the reminder that "oh! your car is a deadly weapon, BE CAREFUL!!" the hard way

COmmunity service... and a big magnetic sign that says "killed cyclist reaching for a bottle" ... okay, that might be more distracting... perhaps a billboard that says it?

How about community service that involves giving lectures to high schools about the accident? Reminder to the person and instructive, even if only 1 person in a large number actually "hears" the message.

[KSH]

I'm very sorry to hear this RM. Very sad. Very sad indeed.

As far as drivers becoming distracted and killing a cyclist... if they got distracted and killed someone else who was driving a CAR... that driver who killed the other driver would be brought up involuntary manslaughter.

I find it odd how a person in a CAR can PLOW DOWN someone who is walking or on a bike... and they don't even get a ticket. I'm sorry, but if you kill someone... even if you didn't mean to, you need to have sort of consequence.

How is it, in today's society... that we can allow someone in a car to kill a cyclist and not do a damn thing to them? HOW?

[Jo-n-NY]

They really don't like it:

I was riding home last night, and some jerk decided to buzz me when I was taking the far right lane (because at this particular part of the road there is no bike lane, and it's a really small section). And I decided to tell him that we have rights in the lanes, and he just ended up screaming at me and driving off . I of course should expect this, but it's law that says 1) that we cannot ride on the sidewalk and 2) that we are to take the lane if we have to.

I was thinking I should make a pamphlet of local laws to hand to drivers like these when I can. Maybe then it will spread the word?

I'm so sick of jerks like these!! I try not to think of the ones that are completely distracted...I can't do much about those

I have thought of doing similar things to educate drivers. I think "Share the Road" signs help in educating as it says "road" on sidewalk.

~ JoAnn