Atlanta bike fatality

On 27 Aug 2004 11:00:26 -0700, (Steven Goodridge)
wrote:

That early in the morning, with so little traffic, on a road that is
apparently away from street lights, a cyclist using a rear light would
be very conspicuous to a sober driver, and a collision extremely
unlikely. If the driver were not sober it would have been mentioned in
the article. I've seen a lot of racing cyclists do training rides in
darkness with inadequate lighting. So I'm inclined to think he wasn't
using a rear light.

I've seen cyclists who use just the toy CPSC reflectors that come with
most bikes on the back, and these reflectors are either so dim or so
badly out of alignment that they aren't much use. Compared to an LED
lamp they are virtually invisible from a couple hundred feet back,
making them a poor choice for arterial cycling at night.

Only quibble is we had two (2) cyclists, not just one. Whereas one might
make a reasonable case for not seeing once cyclist, perhaps on some odd
stretch, blind corner or something, it would be extremely hard to miss two
cyclists riding side-by-side even with just standard reflectors.

-B

This is pure crap. I agree with the above post(s) that the driver is
clearly at fault on this one. Even if the cyclist was not at the very
edge of the road, the driver should have moved over to accomodate. My
prayers go out to the cyclists family, and I can only hope that this
accident raises awareness of cycling.

Badger_South wrote:
On 27 Aug 2004 11:00:26 -0700, (Steven Goodridge)
wrote:

That early in the morning, with so little traffic, on a road that is
apparently away from street lights, a cyclist using a rear light would
be very conspicuous to a sober driver, and a collision extremely
unlikely. If the driver were not sober it would have been mentioned in
the article. I've seen a lot of racing cyclists do training rides in
darkness with inadequate lighting. So I'm inclined to think he wasn't
using a rear light.

I've seen cyclists who use just the toy CPSC reflectors that come with
most bikes on the back, and these reflectors are either so dim or so
badly out of alignment that they aren't much use. Compared to an LED
lamp they are virtually invisible from a couple hundred feet back,
making them a poor choice for arterial cycling at night.

Only quibble is we had two (2) cyclists, not just one. Whereas one might
make a reasonable case for not seeing once cyclist, perhaps on some odd
stretch, blind corner or something, it would be extremely hard to miss two
cyclists riding side-by-side even with just standard reflectors.

If the reflectors don't actually shine on the reflectors, it doesn't matter
how many there are, they won't be seen.

Austin

AustinMN wrote without proofreading:

If the reflectors don't actually shine on the reflectors, it doesn't
matter how many there are, they won't be seen.

Lets try this instead:

If the *headlights* don't actually shine on the reflectors, it doesn't
matter how many there are, they won't be seen.

Austin

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 21:32:32 GMT, "AustinMN" wrote:

AustinMN wrote without proofreading:

If the reflectors don't actually shine on the reflectors, it doesn't
matter how many there are, they won't be seen.

Lets try this instead:

If the *headlights* don't actually shine on the reflectors, it doesn't
matter how many there are, they won't be seen.

Austin

I realize that, having read about it, but can you imagine in your wildest
dreams driving down the road and not 'seeing' two bikers and running over
one of them? I can't.

-B

"Badger_South" wrote in message
...

I realize that, having read about it, but can you imagine in your wildest
dreams driving down the road and not 'seeing' two bikers and running over
one of them? I can't.

With all due respect, yes. If it were dark, the cyclists had no lights or
reflectors and they were wearing dark clothing. Believe it or not, I see
this all too frequently.

Dave

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 18:19:13 -0700, "Raoul Duke"
wrote:


"Badger_South" wrote in message
.. .

I realize that, having read about it, but can you imagine in your wildest
dreams driving down the road and not 'seeing' two bikers and running over
one of them? I can't.

With all due respect, yes. If it were dark, the cyclists had no lights or
reflectors and they were wearing dark clothing. Believe it or not, I see
this all too frequently.

Dave

Yet for some reason, you don't run them over. ;-)

Don't most helmets, at least, have reflective stripes on them?

-B

Badger_South wrote:

Don't most helmets, at least, have reflective stripes on them?

I don't think so. (Cycling SHOES do, however.)

Bill "tape for the bucket not bad idea" S.

Badger_South

wrote in part:

... it would be extremely hard to miss two
cyclists riding side-by-side even with just standard reflectors.


If the pair were riding two abreast it *would* be more difficult to not see
them but since the article reads- "A 1987 Honda Prelude traveling north at
about 45 mph came up behind Serrano and slammed into him, killing him almost
instantly. Investigators said either the falling bicycle or Serrano then struck
the second bicyclist, 35-year-old Brian Mock."- I'd say it is reasonable to
assume that they were riding in file. Sideswipe type impacts seldom result in
near-instant fatalities and a direct type impact pushes the victim and his bike
forward not sideways. In any case, a sad event.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

The article contains insufficient information and is poorly written so it is
impossible to really know what happened. I hope someone does a better job
of reporting the facts. sounds like there were no lights involved on either
the vehicle or the bicycles. Lights on the vehicle should have provided
ample reaction time unless the cyclist was wearing total black. Funny way
to say it was the cyclists fault. I remember once when a dog caught my leg
and ripped my calf open with one big bit. When the policeman arrived on the
scene his first question right after asking me where I lived was, "Why were
you riding on this road when you live on the other side of town". He made
up his mind that I was a fault for getting bit. I took him to task and he
was reprimanded or so the chief's letter said :-).

Ken



"psycholist" wrote in message
...

"Rivermist" wrote in message
news:TYGXc.69943$Fg5.36535@attbi_s53...
Anyone know anything about the bike/car accident that resulted in the
death
of a cyclist?

It was at the corner of Peachtree Ind and McGinnis Ferry at 5 or 6 am
(still
dark out). The guy who died was a triathlete I think.





http://www.gwinnettdailyonline.com/G...3D7732E075.asp