I've never been so afraid to ride on the road

[ZoneFive]

I live in Lake Orion, and while I didn't know Susan Cummings, this hits pretty close to home on a lot of levels. I've only seen this update from the Freep; do you have any more news?

[pinsonp2]

Our Club, Downriver Cycling Club, posted the following info on Facebook:


This from one of our club members in regards to the ODRAM rider who was killed near the very beginning of the ride this past weekend.

"I just spoke with the Muskegon County Prosecutors office. Letters of concern regarding this case can be sent to the Muskegon County Prosecutors office at 990 Terrace street Muskegon MI 49442. ALL LETTERS WILL BE READ AND ADDED TO THE CASE FILE. The prosecutor's office assured me they hope to fight this to the full extent of the law."

Here is all the pertinent contact information if you'd like to convey your thoughts to the prosecutor's office:


Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson
990 Terrace St., 5th Floor
Muskegon, MI 49442
Phone 231.724.6435
Fax 231.724.6685

Website: http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/prosecutor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muskegonpro...c_location=ufi

Twitter: @djhilsonpros


P2

[zoom-zoom]

I live in Lake Orion, and while I didn't know Susan Cummings, this hits pretty close to home on a lot of levels. I've only seen this update from the Freep; do you have any more news?

All of the articles floating around pretty much say nothing of substance. Of course the defense attny specializes in hit-and-run and is trying to make a case that country roads without formal bike lanes would have made all the difference. No, dipschit, your client actually watching the road would have prevented this senseless loss. We lived in the town where this happened for 13 years. We rode on that road all the time. Where the collision happened there are clean lines of sight down a gradual downhill. This happened because he was likely going too fast and not looking at the road. I hope they are looking at cell phone records.

There was a statement that they had ruled out alcohol. I really don't know how that is possible when it appears that he only turned himself in 48 hours or so after the incident. How can authorities even make this claim...?

[smilingcat]

Makes me really angry about the motorist. When will they take responsibility. A hit and run has NO EXCUSE what so ever!! He could have stopped and called for paramedic. No. chicken $hit!

Ride a bicycle, you become less than a second class citizen with no weight given to your account of what had happened (witnesses of the hit and run). I wish gas price would hit $10/gallon. We have several yahoos near my farm. And it seems to be getting worse. It used to be the tail gating to get you to speed up. Now, they just blast around you even on a blind corner then try to run you off the road. I can't imagine what these idiots would do with cyclists.

Just because its a rural road, don't even think for a minute that its safer than city riding. There are lot of yahoos out there who will drive down the country road at 70+MPH. They think they are NASCAR driver waiting to be discovered...

[shootingstar]

Just because its a rural road, don't even think for a minute that its safer than city riding. There are lot of yahoos out there who will drive down the country road at 70+MPH. They think they are NASCAR driver waiting to be discovered...

This is why I've always been abit puzzled why some cyclists do think cycling out in rural roads is safer. The open road that appears to be quieter and safer, just gives some drivers excuse to go over the speed limit very easily. I could never forget cycle touring on rural roads where 1 woman was aiming at her car at my partner, to run him down...or approaching drivers who pass a
"slower" car on a dotted line divided secondary road. Just scary.

I personally just find a lot of cars faster on the rural roads....because they CAN be even if it's illegal...just less cars around. The legal speed limit on major Alberta highways is 110 km. / hr. We all know then alot of drivers will push it at 120-130 km./hr.

That disgusted me coming from Ontario and British Columbia.

[ZoneFive]

An arrest has -- finally! -- been made in this case. Let's see how this plays out now.

Arrest made in hit-and-run death of bicyclist

[smilingcat]

Our criminal justice isn't about rehabilitating a person, its more about retribution and keeping them out of the society. If he gets the full 15 years and stays for full 15 years, will he have learned anything or change his attitude? Probably not. Years of punishment is so arbitrary it makes no sense to me. Will he ever get any training or instruction that his way of thinking is wrong...

Well this is a cycling site so I will stop here. I hope he spends the next 15 years in prison though.

[zoom-zoom]

Our criminal justice isn't about rehabilitating a person, its more about retribution and keeping them out of the society. If he gets the full 15 years and stays for full 15 years, will he have learned anything or change his attitude? Probably not. Years of punishment is so arbitrary it makes no sense to me. Will he ever get any training or instruction that his way of thinking is wrong...

Well this is a cycling site so I will stop here. I hope he spends the next 15 years in prison though.

I get that...but there's currently so little incentive for motorists to exercise caution around cyclists. Because they can kill someone with their car and face FAR less time behind bars than they would if they were to "accidentally" cause death by other means to any other individual.

Regardless of jail sentence, I hope he never again possesses a license to drive. Let him get around for the rest of his days by bicycle. That would be better rehabilitation than anything else, IMO.