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Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

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Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#101

Post by [deleted] »

enraged_camel wrote: post #86
oinksoft wrote: post #64

The sad truth is that while bicycles should be respected as vehicles, they are given lip service at best in driver education and there is little attempt made at going after motorists who drive aggressively around them. As a result, you put yourself at great risk of life and limb when you ride on a road like this one: http://www.mapquest.com/?version=1.0&hk=6-LvU0mhA3 (Hillandale Rd, Durham, NC) I accomplish all of my…

I only ride my bike on dedicated bike lanes (by "dedicated" I mean those blocked from the main road) and bike paths. Everywhere else, I ride on the sidewalk. Fortunately, most sidewalks where I live are sparsely populated, and I make sure to slow down to walking speed or dismount completely when going through areas with lots of pedestrians. Someone told me I could get cited for riding my bike on a sidewalk. Fuck that…

[deleted]

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#102

Post by baddox »

oinksoft wrote: post #64

The sad truth is that while bicycles should be respected as vehicles, they are given lip service at best in driver education and there is little attempt made at going after motorists who drive aggressively around them. As a result, you put yourself at great risk of life and limb when you ride on a road like this one: http://www.mapquest.com/?version=1.0&hk=6-LvU0mhA3 (Hillandale Rd, Durham, NC) I accomplish all of my…

> The sad truth is that while bicycles should be respected as vehicles,

I tend to agree, but I can see both sides. There is also very little (and, as far as I know, zero required) bicyclist education, and many bicyclists make little attempt to drive predictably and safely either out of boldness or ignorance.

Similarly, while stricter rules and enforcement for automobile drivers is warranted, I think the same goes for bicyclists. I don't think it's appropriate to consider bicycles as "first-class vehicles" in all situations, namely in the dangerous situations you list (speed limits >~25mph, multiple automobile lanes, etc.). In those situations, I think it's reasonable to ban bicyclists outright, for the safety of the bicyclists and automobile drivers. Of course, along with that is the need for dedicated bicycle lanes, or better yet, completely separate thoroughfares for bicycles.

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#103

Post by oinksoft »

enraged_camel wrote: post #86
oinksoft wrote: post #64

The sad truth is that while bicycles should be respected as vehicles, they are given lip service at best in driver education and there is little attempt made at going after motorists who drive aggressively around them. As a result, you put yourself at great risk of life and limb when you ride on a road like this one: http://www.mapquest.com/?version=1.0&hk=6-LvU0mhA3 (Hillandale Rd, Durham, NC) I accomplish all of my…

I only ride my bike on dedicated bike lanes (by "dedicated" I mean those blocked from the main road) and bike paths. Everywhere else, I ride on the sidewalk. Fortunately, most sidewalks where I live are sparsely populated, and I make sure to slow down to walking speed or dismount completely when going through areas with lots of pedestrians. Someone told me I could get cited for riding my bike on a sidewalk. Fuck that…

I see your point. If the speed limits are not too high though, you might want to try riding on the roads and using some tactics that help me (at least):

* If you hear a car coming up on you, always turn your head and look back at the car so that they know you see them and because faces command attention. This quick look also gives you an idea of how much the driver notices you, that is, if you have to bail in a hurry.

* If there are cars around in general, ride with a rigid posture that makes you appear a more formidable object.

* Keep close enough to the center of the road that motorists think twice before passing you, move over briefly if you want them to be able to pass (they'll appreciate it).

* Always signal your intentions if there is any traffic, bicycle or otherwise.

Critical mass has to start somewhere! :^)

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#104

Post by enraged_camel »

ejs wrote: post #93
enraged_camel wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only ride my bike on dedicated bike lanes (by "dedicated" I mean those blocked from the main road) and bike paths. Everywhere else, I ride on the sidewalk. Fortunately, most sidewalks where I live are sparsely populated, and I make sure to slow down to walking speed or dismount completely when going through areas with lots of pedestrians. Someone told me I could get cited for riding my bike on a sidewalk. Fuck that…

People are often killed riding on sidewalks, I avoid riding on them because they are very dangerous wherever there is a driveway - cars move to the edge of the street without expecting a vehicle moving at 15mph+ on the sidewalk.

Trust me, I know. I always slow down to walking speed when I'm approaching a drive-way or a parking lot exit.

The thing about riding your bike on the sidewalk is that you, as the cyclist, can avoid virtually all danger by being cautious. Whereas on the road, you're pretty much at the mercy of car drivers and are at great risk regardless of how careful you are.

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#105

Post by usaar333 »

enraged_camel wrote: post #89
robbyking wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is why more people should ride. The more cyclists there are on the road the safer we all are.

I'm not sure if your logic holds up to critical scrutiny. To me, more bikes would simply mean a greater potential for accidents. What needs to be fixed is driver education, especially the driver tests.

Driver awareness is huge: http://www.copenhagenize.com/2007/11/more-bikes-means-less-a...

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#106

Post by protomyth »

josh2600 wrote: post #12

This is terrible, but I wonder if there's a technical way we can provide a black box for bicyclists so that these sorts of injustices don't go unpunished. RIP :(.

Electricity shouldn't be a problem since pedaling should recharge the batteries. Four cellphone-type cameras and some flash with a small rechargeable battery and generator wouldn't be that big on space. It would be interesting to mount (maybe, 3 cameras under the seat and one strung in front). If I was going to the trouble I would probably add some LEDs to light up when I am riding.

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#107

Post by jlgreco »

thwest wrote: post #97
jlgreco wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's called addiction. People who drink themselves to death cannot be said to be "choosing" to do that in any meaningful way.

Drinking is a significant cause of death among non-addicts. Addicts are a small portion of consumers. Addicts are the exceptional case here.

I am willing to wager that there are more alcohol related deaths involving chronic drinkers than there are binging college students who forget to vomit.

We've just termed those deaths "acceptable" or pretend that they are "natural causes" because the victims tend to be in the second half of an expected lifespan.

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#108

Post by enraged_camel »

Yver wrote: post #98
enraged_camel wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only ride my bike on dedicated bike lanes (by "dedicated" I mean those blocked from the main road) and bike paths. Everywhere else, I ride on the sidewalk. Fortunately, most sidewalks where I live are sparsely populated, and I make sure to slow down to walking speed or dismount completely when going through areas with lots of pedestrians. Someone told me I could get cited for riding my bike on a sidewalk. Fuck that…

You could also injure a pedestrian. Do you realize that you can hurt an elderly person on the sidewalk with a bike as much as a car can hurt you on the road?

You should try practicing your reading comprehension skills. I said:

>>Fortunately, most sidewalks where I live are sparsely populated, and I make sure to slow down to walking speed or dismount completely when going through areas with lots of pedestrians.

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#109

Post by chrischen »

moskie wrote: post #24
chrischen wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've never been to China then. I've never been to any country where the drivers are more courteous to pedestrians than the USA.

The US is a big place. Some areas are OK for pedestrians and bicyclists. Many are not so friendly or accommodating.

I've been around the US.

Even in this article, the driver didn't seem to have done it because of disregard for cyclers or pedestrians. It claimed s/he moved out of the way to avoid traffic, and probably didn't see the cycler.

In China, they might actually go on the sidewalk intentionally and drive at you assuming you will move out of the way for them.

Re: Seth Vidal, creator of yum, killed in hit and run accident

#110

Post by _j5l3 »

preinheimer wrote: post #100
enraged_camel wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only ride my bike on dedicated bike lanes (by "dedicated" I mean those blocked from the main road) and bike paths. Everywhere else, I ride on the sidewalk. Fortunately, most sidewalks where I live are sparsely populated, and I make sure to slow down to walking speed or dismount completely when going through areas with lots of pedestrians. Someone told me I could get cited for riding my bike on a sidewalk. Fuck that…

As a pedestrian, you terrify and bully me. As a driver managing turns, you're traveling at a very different speed than the people I'm expecting on the sidewalk which makes turning safely much more difficult.

How does the speed of someone on the sidewalk affect a driver?
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