Quote Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas
Lynne,

I saw the police lights from this accident when I was leaving PIR last nite too. (You and I WILL meet one of these days, I'm sure ) When I saw it on the news last nite, I was SURE that it was probably another racer that was hit. However, I've heard it wasn't (not that it matters - a cyclist is a cyclist). Hit and run - makes me so MAD.

Another cyclist was hit on Sunday morning, this time by a drunk driver driving on a suspended license. The news said he will be charged with assault.

These things sadden and frustrate me. There seems to be so little outrage over it. If these were children being hit, the whole community would be screaming.

Sigh.

Susan
Hi Susan. You and my BF think a lot alike; he had some of the same comments you do here. As I said, it is very sad. I was discussing w/the BF that oddly, the man who died at the track affected me much more than the vehicle/bicycle collisions. I know that's an odd reaction, but in my mind the fact that the BICYCLIST could not do anything different to avoid the collision causes it to have a lessor affect for me. To me, it's like getting hit by a falling piano; if that's the way I die, I could not do anything to prevent my death. That's NOT to say that I'm not angry w/the driver of the vehicle. I strongly strongly feel the Portland police should be giving tickets ANYTIME they see a vehicle doing ANYTHING in the bike lane. But, the cyclist at the track-I just keep thinking over and over, "why did he do that? why didn't he look? why didn't he do what he needed to do to protect himself? Winning a race means nothing if you die doing it". It goes through my mind over and over how senseless it was and how very tragic and how terrible I feel for his family. It's almost as inattentive as the driver who hits a bicyclist...you just HAVE to be vigilant and pay attention. The fact that the driver ran is disgusting, of course. Probably on drugs or drunk. Ok, so I'm on a ***** session here, sorry. It just makes me very angry that the person either is a drug or alcohol addict, not giving a sh*t about the danger he/she puts other people in. Or, they are driving w/a suspended license, or whatever other reason they selfishly felt their worthless little life was more valuable than the good they could have done by acknowleding what they'd done (which would have no doubt helped the victim's family heal from their loss).

I am stepping down off my step-stool now....