Austinist: Cyclist Killed in Hit and Run

anon

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:18:18 -0600

I can understand the training aspect and the challenge / best place to ride. I just wanted some insight as to what people are willing to risk their lives for (yeah, you can die from heat exhaustion playing soccer in the summer, but you get my point). I generally drive on these roads on my way to the lake and so forth and always see people talking on their phone or looking around and constantly drifting into the breakdown lanes. That and everytime I see a cyclist the are about 2 inches from the white stripe on a 10 ft. wide shoulder (I know this because of debris and such) I just wish there could be some way to put you some sort of fence or guardrail system for a bike lane. I mean, I'll jump out of a perfectly good airplane for fun, but I'm damn sure not leaving the fate of my life up to several hundred idiot drivers for a bike ride (unless of course I was getting paid millions of dollars to ride my bike, then maybe). Just my $.02 Hope they catch the bastard who hit that lady and punish to the full extent of the law.

Ami

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:58:38 -0600

We cyclists actually ride those roads because they are some of the BEST places for cycling around Austin. They have big, wide shoulders almost all the way and are part of longer distance routes that can be done without having to put one's bike on the car to get to the start. Biking through town is much more dangerous with crazy, distracted drivers at constant intersections with stop signs and lights to be negotiated. Unless drivers pay attention and cyclists make sure they're seen by drivers before crossing in front of cars, it's always gonna be unsafe. 360 is actually safer than most roads for cycling - really there are only 2 dangerous spots - at the Bee Caves and 2222 on/off ramps. IMHO anyway.

Justin Cox

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:45:13 -0600

Also, I totally see where you're coming from with your observation but to me its a lot like saying "why do those homeowners want the community to work to make their neighborhood/city safer when they have the means to pack up and move to better place?" just because you can (which they really cant since thats where all the hills are), doesn't mean you should have to, know what i mean?

Justin Cox

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:38:15 -0600

For a lot of competitive riders, its a place to train. The hill on 360 to 2244 has a 7% grade and the 2222 to 620 has a 10% grade. There are a higher grade hills (Jester, Lost Creek Blvd, Bluegrass, Courtyard), but I belive all of those are fed by 2222 or 360.

anon

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 13:54:43 -0600

She was apparently trveling through an off ramp area. Meaning she was on the right side of the road and then due to wanting to continue on 360, she pulled back out into traffic, crossing over the exit lane into traffic. I can't believe that the car kept going - its amazing what people will try to avoid as far as responsibility - I mean we are talking about a human life. Disgusting. Outside of that - (first off I am pro bike rights, just as long as they obey the laws they say they want rights to). Are there any cyclist on here that can tell me the fascination with riding on roads like 360 and 2222 and 2244? I just can't see how a group of people who constantly complain about how cars don't pay attention voluntarily go play in that arena. Debris on the side of the road, people on cell phones, looking on their floor for something etc... - I'd insert a Darwin comment here, but would like to hear some evidence as to why its better to bike at 10mph on a major road where you can easily lose your life than it is around town or in safe neighborhoods.

edward

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 13:12:22 -0600

The driver of the van that initially hit her wasn't cited and from the report it sounds like after that getting hit by the grey car was unavoidable. It doesn't sound like the grey car driver was responsible for actually causing the accident, but it is reprehensible that they left the scene after this tragedy. From this article sounds like the cyclist may have misjudged a lane change: http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/041706kvuefatalbike-cb-kk.44f7e7d0.html

Ami

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:50:11 -0600

You're right, nervous. It would have been nice. Although I don't really think the kind of person who could kill someone and flee the scene is too interested in driver/cyclist safety tips. So sad.

nervous

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:25:23 -0600

pretty gross how DPS states (or the authors only quoted the part about how) cyclists should carry ID so they can be identified WHEN they get run over, yet they don't give any tips to motorists for driving safely around cyclists.

Ami

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:22:39 -0600

Ugh. That is horrible. Not to mention scary. I biked that very same intersection both Sat. and Sunday.