HB bicyclist killed, hit/run driver arrested DUI

again..........................

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/orange_county&id=9439498

 

It sad to hear another fatality involving a bicyclist and a motorist especially when the motorist is DUI. I live near that area and also ride on the street when I cannot get to the dirt. This just make me think twice the next I want to ride on the road.

 

Not again! Wow this has been a really bad year for road riders, be safe out there.

 

Dammmmitt! That sucks.

 

Bike lanes are kill zones. Stay on the sidewalk. Yield to others. I know it's slow, but I'd rather be late and alive.

 

11:00 PM riding your bike in HB........

I don't think I would drive a car down there at 11:00pm

 

Again?? This is getting insane.. just another reminder why I will never ride in the road EVER, especially not at 11PM.. damn that's sad to hear.. at least they caught the idiot who ran him down..

 

bike lanes are not kill zones, and riding on the sidewalk is not only unsafe, it's illegal in many areas. Stop it with the doom and gloom already; there are many of us here that actually USE our bikes for more than simple recreation. As long as people are getting behind the wheel drunk or on drugs, innocent people will continue to be killed. You could be in a bike lane, walking your dog down the sidewalk, or minding your own business driving down the freeway, only to be hit head on by a drunk that kills you and 5 others.

 

Not a universal truth, though some are definitely flawed.

That often creates an unsafe mix of pedestrians/dogs/bikes/etc., and I think drivers are less likely to see you at intersections. And how many people ever stop behind the sidewalk and look both ways when they're pulling out of a driveway or parking lot? Sidewalk riding is illegal in most areas for a bunch of good reasons.

That said, I have been known to do it on short sections where a bike lane is non-existent, blocked, or unsafe for some other reason. I climbed Imperial Highway from the Yorba Linda side to Anaheim Hills the other day, and part of that steep, curving climb has no bike lane with 50 mph traffic, so I used the sidewalk. I'd be happy to take my chances and explain that sort of choice to a judge if needed. If there are pedestrians though, I'll yield to them or even walk briefly if needed.

Yep - absolutely! :clap:

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Condolences to the family and friends of the victim in H.B., and here's hoping that they throw the book at the guilty party.

 

I am hoping the guilty party has a prior DUI, that would qualify him for murder I believe? If not, he will probably do about 6 years and being he is pretty young, he would be released with plenty of time to repeat.

 

If you want to ride in the bike lane, do it. If you think riding on a sidewalk is unsafe, I'll raise my eyebrow at you, but that's your opinion. Is it more unsafe than riding in the bike lane? I don't think so, but that's my opinion. I know cars have jumped onto the sidewalk and killed bikers. But I feel infinitely safer with that curb and few feet of separation.

 

Melster and eteamer are correct. True sidewalks can be more dangerous at intersections as you are less visible due to viewing angles and the fact that noone is expecting a speeding bike coming off a sidewalk. However the probability of being hit any other time is much less on a sidewalk and overall vastly safer. When's the last time you read of a biker getting killed while riding on a sidewalk? Honestly curious. Post a link. John Forester and his idiotic Effective Cycling has caused more bike deaths than drunk drivers, think he even advocated against bike paths all with zero evidence and yet he is considered an authority in the cycling community. I think of the sidewalk as nothing more than a raised bike lane out of traffic. Have never had a cop bug me about it either. I am normally polite and respectful to law enforcement as they have a difficult job, but I would give them a piece of my mind if they suggested I ride in the street. I'm guessing some of you go over 65mph on the freeway so who cares if there's some piece of paper in some government building somewhere that says not to ride on the sidewalk. I'm not sacrificing myself for bike advocacy or to prove a point that texting/drinking/drugged driving needs to be cracked down on. I'd rather die robbing banks or something.

 

This^^^^^^

 

I too try and stay on the sidewalk as much as possible...the road riding is just too dangerous for me. I rather break an arm or scaphoid down a steep rutted dh then get killed by a drunk or unobservant motorist. MTB is dangerous, but road riding will kill.

 

There are sections in my community that I will not use the bike lane at certain parts of the day (heading to mbike trails). Way too many distracted drivers so I illegally ride on the sidewalk.

When I ride my road bike it is early on Sunday mornings when the drunks are in bed or jail.

 

Yes, because by all means, there are no drunk drivers on Sunday mornings. Especially on Santiago Canyon. Come on man, that comment, in light of recent events, is insulting.

 

That part of HB is well-lit, lightly traveled, with a true 4' wide (gutter edge to inside edge of white paint) bike lane, and one of the higher-income areas. The neighborhoods around there are routinely patrolled because there's a few stop lights lights and stop signs that have auto accidents every year. I grew up a mile north of there. Fought for the bike lanes along the entire length of Edwards going back to the 80's, including on the hill just north of there next to the park...the stoplight at the bottom of the hill back when it was a stop sign (still no light farther north...but at least bigger stop signs).

bottom line...the only way to avoid a particular tragedy is to avoid ALL circumstances that could contribute to it. I will not stop going out of my house, but will fight to lessen those circumstances that could increase risk to myself and others.

HB has a lot of bike traffic of all kinds, from the beach-cruiser set to the Lycra gangs to those who rely on the Wal-Mart special to get to work every day. Outside of Irvine, they also have the most bike lanes in the OC. They treat the risks to cyclists seriously. I look forward to this individuals prosecution.

 

What is more

Drunks between the hours of 11PM and 3AM or 6AM and 10AM?

 

A darn shame.
I've rode there often. Big wide lane, but cars drive fast there. I use the sidewalk while on Edwards.

 

I'd ride road in another area, but no way in west la. Ive personally seen 3 cyclists run over and I have a brain damaged neighbor who was just riding his cruiser bike to the store one street over. My son has been hit by a car twice, once on a sidewalk by a car coming out of an alley. Roads are too fast and drivers too preoccupied with their own chit to drive safely. As a matter of fact, some dumb ass just rear ended me stopped at a traffic light. The light turned red and she drove right into me without noticing I had not started moving. Can't believe the amount of sub par drivers out there. Good thing it doesn't snow in SoCal or we'd all be in serious trouble.