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Sorry to hear that Mike thinking of you and his family.

I've had 3 friends killed on motorbikes that were ALL down to the stupidity of car drivers that hit them.  I know how it feels.

man, so sorry to hear that Mike.  my prayers for you, his other friends and family.

tangent:  I've never understood the mentality that a lot of drivers have against cyclists.  I used to ride on a regular basis and I would get honked at, yelled at and threatened with cars (yes, THREATENED by bearing down on me and swerving at the last second) because I was riding on "their" road.  it's flat out dangerous around here unless you're in a park, especially on the country 2 lane roads with very little shoulder.

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SteveStrummerUK

Beagle

tangent:  I've never understood the mentality that a lot of drivers have against cyclists.  I used to ride on a regular basis and I would get honked at, yelled at and threatened with cars (yes, THREATENED by bearing down on me and swerving at the last second) because I was riding on "their" road.  it's flat out dangerous around here unless you're in a park, especially on the country 2 lane roads with very little shoulder.

Beag, when I go to pick up my kids on a Saturday morning I generally drive the 'scenic' route; it's similar to what you describe here - winding and narrow country lanes for over half the journey.
 
On Saturday mornings, one of the local cycle clubs runs a regular event along these lanes. The cyclists are serious guys (judging by the speeds they can get up to) and they're all wearing helmets and hi-visibilty jackets. Knowing that they're likely to be cycling along the route I take, I generally set out about a quarter of an hour early.
 
What you mention here about car drivers made me recall an incident I got into a short while ago. I was following one of these cyclists up a winding incline and as there was no safe way to get past him, I slowed down to his speed and kept a good way back from him. Before I knew it, I'd got some young boy racer right on my tail flashing his headlights and laying on the horn - he was gesturing rather impolitely that I should overtake the bike.
 
He he, I just slowed down to a crawl even after the cyclist had long since pulled away at the top of the hill. I kept that up and wouldn't let him pass me until another car arrived behind him. But what a prick, he's exactly the sort of idiot that causes tragedies such as Mike describes.
 
 

perfect response!!!

mike_mccue


Thanks everyone.

His son spent yesterday in the hospital. He'll be okay physically... but I am worried for his well being.

I'm going to head in to town today and find out if I can be helpful.


Personally, I am desparate to get out on my road bike and exercise as mountain biking is just too tough once you have fallen out of shape. I live on a country road that is very similar to the one Dave was on... and the car drivers can be viscous and specifically threatening. I literally drive to a place where I can ride on a rails to trails... and I live on one of the great country roads that is labeled a scenic byway and advertised to cyclists as suitable... but I know it to be too dangerous.

For example; A few years back my neighbor was run over on her road bike and left for dead.... luckily she only had a broken pelvis and was able to crawl off the road into a bed of red ants so that the next car didn't squash her like they do with the turtles. When they found the driver.. the excuse was that she thought she *hit-and-ran a mailbox* and that seemed to satisfy law enforcement's need to investigate.



Anyways... thanks for the emotional support.


best regards,
mike

I'm thankful that the son has a chance to recover.  Hopefully, he will be able to eventually cope with the loss of his dad.  I can understand that it will take some time. 

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mike mccue: It's never a good day when you lose a friend. Sincere condolences and best wishes to his son and family.

mike_mccue


We cyclists have a saying; "One Less Car".

We hope to remind people that most people you see on a bicycle could just as easily be slowing down traffic by driving a car.

We hope that car drivers will realize that it is the humans and not the car that deserves to be regarded with care and respect.




I drive a car... and I occasionally encounter bicyclists at times that are inconvenient for me.

I have also encountered bicyclists riding uncooperatively with cars.

At times like that, remembering that we are all humans seems to be most important.



In this latest incident... having ridden that road 100's of times... I can only speculate about how long one would have to NOT pay attention to not see two bicyclists on the road. It IS the road we take beginners... because it is so wide open and safe compared to the hilly and curvy tree covered roads we can also choose.

I will not judge the driver... but I can't help imagining "texting" being part of the story.

Even the road I live on has a few blind corners and tights spots at old bridges.

Tram road has none of that... Dave got run over on a straight away with a hay field on the south and pine forest on the north and a 60 foot, totally clear right away, with wide open visibility. The driver had the sun at their back and visibility was a mile or more.


anyways... I'm babbling... I guess I'm just hoping to increase awareness at this point.


Thanks very much for the kind thoughts.

best regards,
mike

For me you say it all here Mike.

The very nature of humans is flawed when it comes to motor transport.

Here just as everywhere else people will tend to say why this happened and 'the other guy' was to blame and I'm careful, but in truth a tragedy such as this can happen to anybody, I'm sincerely as glad I was not at the cars wheel as I am that I wasn't on the bicycle.

The truth is when I excercise the privilidge of taking the car out I'm as capable as anyone of depriving somebody elses right to life there is no 'other idiot'.  That no less than is the extent of the responsibility you or I take on when driving a car.  How many truly ponder this EVERY time they turn on the ignition.

I was always considered a 'crank' for not allowing my children to cycle on a public road, especially by them, even though I stated that no driver would consider how precious you really are.  They all cycle now but I'd still forbid them if they weren't of age.

I was ostracised by their schools PTA during a meeting about lift sharing between parents who devised a pool of drivers that would ferry the kids to and from the school.  Because I'd not take on the responsibility of driving somebody elses children and wouldn't allow them to take mine.  I cited that although these people weren't fussed about who carried their children to and from they'd all wince at the thought about lending each other their precious cars in the same circumstances!

Also I can honestly say I have never seen ANY driver give as much consideration to a family on their cycles as I have seen being given to horses being led down the road.  Go figure!

I've also had the misfortune of being at the wrong place during one of too many notorious well-reported motorway pile-ups where any notion of driving ability evaporates in an instant and things rapidly descend into the most macabre lottery any soul can bear witness to.  Seeing the expressions of ordinary folks faces powerless to do anything but plow into the guy you'd just 10 seconds ago asked if he was OK is definitely a life-changing experience I'd recommend everybody do without.

Raising awareness is cool and I don't care who I piss off in the process of doing so at any opportunity.

Being in charge of a 1 ton projectile doing anywhere between 30 and 70 mph whether any fault can be found with your ability or not, is a major responsibility.  Tragedy doesn't respect the good, the bad or the indifferent.

So lets just be careful out there.

And again sincere condolences to you Mike, extended to Dave's family.  Sadly I do understand the grief you'll be going through too well.

Sorry to hear about that Mike.

We have an annual trek across Iowa called RAGBRAI. The bicyclists are out in full force training right now. Lance is supposed to ride year. It always amazes me how people will get right up on someone riding a bicycle and barely skim around them. I always get scared when I come up behind them because it's so windy here and cars run so quiet these days I'm worried they won't hear me and weave out in front of me. It's happened to me a couple of times so I'm kind of paranoid about it.