Cyclist who killed pedestrian Q and A

[Jezston]

Guy posts on 'social media' website Reddit his story about how he killed a pedestrian in a collision whilst on his bicycle a couple of years ago.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/dpj35/i_killed_a_person_while_riding_my_bike_ama/

Makes interesting reading. Also nice to see a lack of anti-cyclist ranting.

I like Reddit.

 

[Jaguar]

I'd never heard of that site, but I really like some of the comments further down the page. Like this one: " [the pedestrian] might have lived if he'd been wearing a helmet. Sure, you might look dorky walking down the street wearing a helmet, but a speeding bicycle might come out of nowhere without any warning. Remember, always wear a helmet!"

 

[ComedyPilot]

I stopped reading when I got to the bit where he went right, the ped went right, he went left, the ped went left.

I was sat there thinking, if you'd BRAKED the ped would still be alive?

 

[Howard]

I stopped reading when I got to the bit where he went right, the ped went right, he went left, the ped went left.

I was sat there thinking, if you'd BRAKED the ped would still be alive?

Maybe he did but just neglected to write it down. Or the only thing he had time to do was two quick changes of direction. It's possible he was on the bars and just couldn't swap hand positions in time. Who knows.

Now flame me.

 

[marzjennings]

I stopped reading when I got to the bit where he went right, the ped went right, he went left, the ped went left.

I was sat there thinking, if you'd BRAKED the ped would still be alive?

Emergency braking on a bike going 30mph doesn't guarantee you're going to avoid hitting the person you're braking for. You're best bet is to steer around, which is what the guy tried to do, rather than try and stop.

 

[iAmiAdam]

Emergency braking on a bike going 30mph doesn't guarantee you're going to avoid hitting the person you're braking for. You're best bet is to steer around, which is what the guy tried to do, rather than try and stop.

And if you lock your wheels you can't possibly steer out the way.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I rode down a steep hill yesterday, and because it was a bit blind I covered the brakes 'just in case'.

Looking at the road this happened on, it is very open with good visibility, my GUESS is that the rider was giving it big licks without thinking of any contingencies.

Just because we can ride at 30mph + doesn't mean we should.

 

[marzjennings]

I rode down a steep hill yesterday, and because it was a bit blind I covered the brakes 'just in case'.

Looking at the road this happened on, it is very open with good visibility, my GUESS is that the rider was giving it big licks without thinking of any contingencies.

Just because we can ride at 30mph + doesn't mean we should.

My guess is that the rider was traveling below the posted limit when the unfortunate accident occured. Also there's little expectation for peds to be in the street as jay walking is illegal and in general not a contingency that requires a lot of attention and the accident occured at 10pm so visibility would have limited. Riding around Austin at 10pm your attention is mainly focused on looking out for drunk students in pick ups.



For some of us 30mph down hill is hardly 'big licks'.

 

[Bromptonaut]

My guess is that the rider was traveling below the posted limit when the unfortunate accident occured. Also there's little expectation for peds to be in the street as jay walking is illegal and in general not a contingency that requires a lot of attention and the accident occured at 10pm so visibility would have limited. Riding around Austin at 10pm your attention is mainly focused on looking out for drunk students in pick ups.

No law against 'jay walking' in the UK.

 

[Jezston]

No law against 'jay walking' in the UK.

There is in the US, where this happened.

 

[marzjennings]

No law against 'jay walking' in the UK.

True, but I wanted to highlight one of the differences in mindset and planning for contingences here in the US. Riding in Texas you really don't expect to see peds in the street because 1 it's illegal, 2 nobody walks anway, 3 there's limited sections of pavement (the city doesn't even plan for walkers) and 4 as a cyclist you are the oddity in the street so you've got to watch your own back a lot more. I see more squirrels and possums on the road than I ever see peds.

 

[Arch]

For some of us 30mph down hill is hardly 'big licks'.

Bully for you Lance Armstrong. Whether 30 mph is hard, or a walk in the park, it's too much if you can't stop in the distance you can see to be clear.

I noticed today in the papers, an elderly pedestrian was killed near Thirsk last week, in a collision with a cyclist, who sustained serious injuries.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/843...ire_has_been_named_as_Michael_Eldred_Gubbins/

Not clear what happened - the pedestrian was crossing the road when it happened, and the cyclist was middle aged, which ought to imply some road sense, but might not.

 

[marzjennings]

Bully for you Lance Armstrong. Whether 30 mph is hard, or a walk in the park, it's too much if you can't stop in the distance you can see to be clear.

I noticed today in the papers, an elderly pedestrian was killed near Thirsk last week, in a collision with a cyclist, who sustained serious injuries.

http://www.yorkpress...Eldred_Gubbins/

Not clear what happened - the pedestrian was crossing the road when it happened, and the cyclist was middle aged, which ought to imply some road sense, but might not.

At 15 n'alf stone I roll up to 30mph on a good down hill without any effort at all and I'm no Armstrong. And I agree that one should adjust one's speed to match road conditions. I would consider 30mph down Oxford Street (if not impossible) stupid and dangerous, but the same speed on the A39 down into the Falmouth easy and safe. I'm with the yanks and their laws on this one, if on a clear section of road a ped wants to do something illegal and stupid and suddenly unclear my section of road I will do everything in my power to avoid contact, but I will not be expected to accept blame if things go wrong.

 

[Globalti]

Not much to do with the subject but I found this comment illuminating:


"It is not very different from being too drunk to drive except that there is a lot more you can do about it (caffiene, quick 30 minute nap)."