Hooo boy....what do you say to someone who..

[kevman]

As a rider that tends to ride in my lane, or the middle, or the opposing side, or the sidewalk, or benches, or medians, or through stop lights, or through red lights, or while opposing traffic has a lead turn light, or over guard rails, sometimes at night, without reflectors, without lights and sometimes drunk from the bar without a helmet I feel comfortable saying a lot of cyclists are idiots...

[T@T]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im not going to treat her like a pariah...its something that happened and will have to be addressed at some point. Saying absolutely nothing could make her feel even worse actually....guilt can be a multiplier ina case like this i would think.

I have no intention of knocking on her door or anything, but we will cross paths at some point.

That would be the best thing to do after the media fk's off. Ask her if theres anything you can do to help. she probably wont drive for awhile so maybe tell her you would be happy to run the odd errand for her.

[MRCboicgy]

This might sound trite, but maybe take over some cookies/brownies and just ask if there is anything they need

[Phanuthier]

I would just say hey, i heard about the accident, sorry to hear about it and my wife and i are here to support you if you need it. I'll bet what she prefers is not to talk about, so keep it simple.

And media, i just avoid it at all possible costs. One of my friends was involved in a shooting which made big news and i got a ton if media find me on facebook. Since i am on a visa and didn't want any attension, all my friends and i just ignored all the messeges we got.

[transplant99]

Lead story on the news last night...ugh.

Heard from someone last night that the lady who was killed was carrying a dog in her arms while riding the bicycle on a pitch dark stretch of the road. I can easily imagine how this went wrong in a blink of an eye.

http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/...vid_3367.shtml

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Sounds like a candidate for the Darwin awards!

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Yep... I ride my bike to work every day, and I'm guilty of doing this. I do it because stopping at every stop sign is a pain, and because sometimes running a light is the only way to get into the lane I need to be in... But ultimately, if I get hit doing that it's going to be my fault.

I bike to work every day and I can't stand bikers like you. I get angry with cars if they run red lights, don't signal, get in the bike lanes, blow a stop sign etc. so I make sure I obey all road rules as well. I stop at stop signs, red and yellow lights, use arm signals and stay in designated lines. I wear a helmet and have multiple lights. I don't get why some bikers think they are so above the law that they are allowed to break all the road rules when convenient. It may be a bit of a pain to stop at a stop sign, but if you don't like it, take transit. If you need to break all these rules to get to work on time, maybe leave your house five minutes earlier and abide by the rules. Stop giving the good bikers a bad name.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

When I ride my bike I follow all the stop signs and the red lights and the other traffic signals mainly because it is the safe thing to do, if there is someone that is going through a green light and I happen not to see them while I am going through a red light and I get hit, frankly it is my fault.

Any time you are on a bike though defensive riding is required. Granted I still do go to the front of the line at a red light, mainly because otherwise it would take forever to get anywhere and it is one of the few perks about riding a bike. I know some people hate it but frankly it doesn't have much of an impact on anything as most drivers in Alberta don't make much of an effort to slow down or change lanes for a cyclist anyways.

[blackgold]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Because most bike riders drive like idiots on the roads. They go too slow but they drive out in the road so people can't pass them but when it comes to a red light they hug the curb and ride to the front of the line.

They pick and choose the rules of the road when it convenient for them.

Thats the best part of being a cyclist.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Yep... I ride my bike to work every day, and I'm guilty of doing this. I do it because stopping at every stop sign is a pain, and because sometimes running a light is the only way to get into the lane I need to be in... But ultimately, if I get hit doing that it's going to be my fault.

Too bad that the law doesn't see it this way, though. I would imagine in just about all cases of 'car vs bike' that the driver is the one going to get the blame for anything resulting from the accident.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by blackgold

Thats the best part of being a cyclist.

And the best part of being a driver is mowing down cyclists!

[ken0042]

Guys- please try to keep in mind this thread was started by an established member who's friend was involved in fatal accident. Let's try to keep in it on topic please.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I think the key here is to not treat her any differently. Depending on what level of friend they are it might even be worth send a quick email saying "Hey- let me know if you need me for anything."

At least that way the guilt they feel will not be compounded further by thinking she has lost everything.

Agreed. I liken this to someone who has just had a relative die, found out they have a disease, or similar such life changing event. Trying the person the same way as you did before really helps the person gain normalcy. It'll be weird the first time you talk to her but it will help.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by transplant99

was involved in an accident last night that killed a bicyclist.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article...WS01/101127012

It is my neighbor who was driving and hit a woman who succumbed to head injuries. I just heard the details from another neighbor and it sounds like it was certainly an accident by any stretch. Happened right down the road from our place...a very wooded area that is used by some homeless for camping etc. which it sounds like the victim was.

Worst part for Pat is that she will have to pass that spot every time she leaves her house or comes home. She has to be just torn up inside.

Not sure how you approach this kind of situation...as we arent real close or anything but certainly cordial with each other. I see that some of her family has arrived already from out of state for support.

Send some flowers or even just a card. Offer them assistance if they require it and tell them they are in your thoughs.

About all you can do. Just be there if they want to to be. Which we all know you would do anyway.

[blackgold]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

And the best part of being a driver is mowing down cyclists!

Its so funny how angry people get, when they realize they're too lazy to get out of their cars and get a bit of exercise.

[DuffMan]

I know someone who killed a kid who ran out onto the street from between parked cars, when he was on his mortorcycle. That's the sort of thing that haunts you for the rest of your life.
I'd suggest don't do anything different, maybe go out of your way a bit to say Hi or wave etc, as your neighbor is probably going through serious guilty feelings. So don't shun, ignore etc. just be sure to make contact of some sort, so they know you are not blaming them.

[Slanter]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I bike to work every day and I can't stand bikers like you. I get angry with cars if they run red lights, don't signal, get in the bike lanes, blow a stop sign etc. so I make sure I obey all road rules as well. I stop at stop signs, red and yellow lights, use arm signals and stay in designated lines. I wear a helmet and have multiple lights. I don't get why some bikers think they are so above the law that they are allowed to break all the road rules when convenient. It may be a bit of a pain to stop at a stop sign, but if you don't like it, take transit. If you need to break all these rules to get to work on time, maybe leave your house five minutes earlier and abide by the rules. Stop giving the good bikers a bad name.

So you stop at every stop sign and put one foot down?

[TylerSVT]

I probably wouldnt ride your bike around your block anymore....





too soon?

[FlamesAddiction]

In grade 8, a friend of mine was hit by a car and killed. The real kicker was the person who hit him was the mother of one of our other friends.

I don't know what you say to someone after that, but I know that she was never the same after that. I suspect she was medicated for some time after.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

I probably wouldnt ride your bike around your block anymore....





too soon?

No, not too soon, just not funny.

I hope you aren't such a try-hard in real life Tyler, as you'll find it hard to gain (and keep) friends as you grow up, and your Dad's money runs out, or gets cut off. If I were in your shoes, I'd spend more time reading than posting, as you don't seem to "get it".