https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/

Original report with intersection photos:

https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 5:50:04 AM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>
> Original report with intersection photos:
>
> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/

On the north side of the Golden Gate bridge is a very steep climb westwards up to Lookout Point. On the far side of that is an 18% decent down to the old Nike Missile station which is all but a few empty buildings now. From here you travel eastwards again there is a fork, I've never taken the north fork in my memory but I believe it is the continuation of Highway 1 on the north side of the GG bridge. The right fork leads up to a one way tunnel with a traffic light that allows one way traffic from either side in turn. The problem with this is that they have detectors in the tunnel to judge if the traffic is still there. They do not trigger for bicycles so when the tunnel changes to your direction you can only get about a quarter of the way through the tunnel before traffic - FAST traffic - starts coming from the opposite side. There is enough space barely to get to the right and if the asses in their cars don't have their high beams on, you can find your way to the opposite side without problems. But that this sort of thing is allowed anywhere in the world pretty much shows you what traffic engineers think of bicycles.

Am 15.03.2022 um 13:49 schrieb AMuzi:
> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>
>
> Original report with intersection photos:
>
> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/

Pysically separated trails and bike lanes are dead safe, aren't they?

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 7:16:12 AM UTC-7, Rolf Mantel wrote:
> Am 15.03.2022 um 13:49 schrieb AMuzi:
> > https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
> >
> >
> > Original report with intersection photos:
> >
> > https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
> Pysically separated trails and bike lanes are dead safe, aren't they?

How many auto accidents have you been in? The only one's that I am aware of for me is four rather minor accidents when I was under the medical condition caused by my concussion and consequential seizures. Before that 100's of thousands of miles without an accident and only the occasional close call from the driving errors of others. But since I have always been a careful driver because I can't afford to have broken cars, I am always aware that drivers can make errors and compensate for them.

It is the same with bicycles. Other than the occasional fall, I have had one bicycle car accident - a woman pulling away from a stop sign while I was directly in front of her and she wasn't even looking. This is different from trusting people to stop at stop signs or even stop lights. Now that the police have ceased enforcing traffic laws in California, you must always be more than careful yourself. This has been difficult for me to relearn after the concussion and I did have a few close calls.

If you look at the people who have been struck and killed the vast majority are wearing dark clothing and trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Which means one look by a driver isn't likely to show someone in the way. It took me a long time to get people to wear bright team kit and then those horses asses at Sky put black kit on their team. So all of the 20 year old racer wannabes immediately started wearing black. And indeed they started getting hit by cars. As if this was something that needed great thought.

I would imagine the problem with this would be much greater in Germany with so much faster drivers.

As a bicyclist you have a responsibility to make yourself visible as well as careful to remain out of the way of traffic as much as practical. There are two real dangerous drivers these days - Asian women in SUV's in which they can't see over the steering wheel and a large percentage of people driving a German car who apparently believe that if you pay that much for a car, the road belongs to you. Hot Rodders are always a worry but they are generally careful not to scratch the paint on their cars.

There is no way to eliminate all accidents. But you can make it safe enough that only a very odd accident will injure you. I would advise this now - do NOT negotiate with insurance companies yourself. ALWAYS get an attorney. The idea is not to get a lot of money but to give the driver a greater incentive to drive more carefully.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 10:16:12 AM UTC-4, Rolf Mantel wrote:
> Am 15.03.2022 um 13:49 schrieb AMuzi:
> > https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
> >
> >
> > Original report with intersection photos:
> >
> > https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
> Pysically separated trails and bike lanes are dead safe, aren't they?

This wasn't really an issue of bike lanes.
The report states that the cyclist was waiting at a cross walk for the _traffic_ light to change, and once it did he proceeded, not waiting to check if there was any traffic coming through.
It also _speculates_ that the car driver went around stopped traffic against a red light for traffic proceeding straight:

"Local bike and pedestrian case lawyers weighed in on the available info about the incident. “A cyclist is in critical condition because the driver of a BMW went straight through a green turn arrow and into this cyclist,”

More disturbing is that the driver wasn't cited for going through a red light - probably just another beemer asshole with connections.....

Rolf Mantel wrote:
> Am 15.03.2022 um 13:49 schrieb AMuzi:
>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>
>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>
>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/

Chicago should at least do away with the invitingly painted median
"dividers" to expand the elevated ones.

> Pysically separated trails and bike lanes are dead safe, aren't they?

Riding without paying attention to real traffic (instead of just legal
one) is always unsafe. Didn't Gerardo learn that when he grew up in
that other socialist hellhole, 10 ct/L gasoline Venezuela?

On 3/15/2022 12:38 PM, funkma...@hotmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 10:16:12 AM UTC-4, Rolf Mantel wrote:
>> Am 15.03.2022 um 13:49 schrieb AMuzi:
>>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>>
>>>
>>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>>
>>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>> Pysically separated trails and bike lanes are dead safe, aren't they?
>
> This wasn't really an issue of bike lanes.
> The report states that the cyclist was waiting at a cross walk for the _traffic_ light to change, and once it did he proceeded, not waiting to check if there was any traffic coming through.
> It also _speculates_ that the car driver went around stopped traffic against a red light for traffic proceeding straight:
>
> "Local bike and pedestrian case lawyers weighed in on the available info about the incident. “A cyclist is in critical condition because the driver of a BMW went straight through a green turn arrow and into this cyclist,”
>
> More disturbing is that the driver wasn't cited for going through a red light - probably just another beemer asshole with connections.....

I certainly agree with that last point. It's far too common to have
motorists not cited in car-bike crashes. IIRC, it's also true of car-ped
crashes. (And despite what Tom claims, it's not just a California
problem or "Democrat state" problem.)

--
- Frank Krygowski

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 9:43:16 AM UTC-7, Sepp Ruf wrote:
> Rolf Mantel wrote:
> > Am 15.03.2022 um 13:49 schrieb AMuzi:
> >> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
> >>
> >> Original report with intersection photos:
> >>
> >> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
> Chicago should at least do away with the invitingly painted median
> "dividers" to expand the elevated ones.
> > Pysically separated trails and bike lanes are dead safe, aren't they?
> Riding without paying attention to real traffic (instead of just legal
> one) is always unsafe. Didn't Gerardo learn that when he grew up in
> that other socialist hellhole, 10 ct/L gasoline Venezuela?

Around California there is a sharp uptick in bicycle riding. Not just sports in which just Sunday I was passed in one section about 25 people in a club going in the opposite direction, but also commuting to places where they can take their bikes inside.

What this has led to is city traffic planners making all sorts of experiments with bike lanes. Most of these make lanes more dangerous since a cyclist has difficulty seeing a car approaching more than 10 feet to the side and then making a sharp right turn in front of him, Likewise under these conditions drivers tend not to notice riders.

In Hayward they have a couple of areas where they have a bike lane next to the curb and parking outside of that. The trouble with this is that the "bike lane" very rapidly fills up with broken glass and cyclists are forced out into the moving traffic who are then angry that bicycles aren't remaining in their place.

The most effective bike lanes are a simple lane and drastic enforcement of the laws keeping drivers out of the cycling lane.

On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

>https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>
>Original report with intersection photos:
>
>https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/

Perhaps one of the reasons why
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
--
Cheers,

John B.

On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>
>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>
>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>
>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>
> Perhaps one of the reasons why
> https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
>

Maybe.
Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:

https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 18:36:18 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

>On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
>> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>
>>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>>
>>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>>
>>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>>
>> Perhaps one of the reasons why
>> https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
>>
>
>Maybe.
>Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:
>
>https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter

Ah well, I guess you missed the point.
In America an individual hit and kills someone and the Penalty - "The
driver declined medical attention and was not cited"

In Thailand, a poor, benighted, developing country, an individual hits
and kills someone and the penalty - "Police were waiting for results
of his alcohol blood test and medical examination, Pol Capt Thamnong
said. Police were expected to charge him with reckless driving causing
death."

The penalty for which is usually 10 years incarceration.
--
Cheers,

John B.

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
> On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
>> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>
>>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>>
>>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>>
>>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>>
>> Perhaps one of the reasons why
>> https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
>>
>
> Maybe.
> Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:
>
> https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter
>
>

Embarking on a high speed chase when you only have 25 miles of fuel in your
tank is not quite as bad as driving badly with a car full of dope, but it’s
right up there.

On 3/15/2022 7:47 PM, John B. wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 18:36:18 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>
>> On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
>>> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>>>
>>>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>>>
>>>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>>>
>>> Perhaps one of the reasons why
>>> https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
>>>
>>
>> Maybe.
>> Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:
>>
>> https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter
>
>
> Ah well, I guess you missed the point.
> In America an individual hit and kills someone and the Penalty - "The
> driver declined medical attention and was not cited"
>
> In Thailand, a poor, benighted, developing country, an individual hits
> and kills someone and the penalty - "Police were waiting for results
> of his alcohol blood test and medical examination, Pol Capt Thamnong
> said. Police were expected to charge him with reckless driving causing
> death."
>
> The penalty for which is usually 10 years incarceration.

I've said this before, but if a motorist kills or seriously injures
another road user, I think the default punishment should be a lifetime
ban on driving. If that existed and were well enforced, I believe
there'd be a marked increase in driving care.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:53:41 -0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
<ralph@invalid.com> wrote:

>AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>> On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
>>> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>>>
>>>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>>>
>>>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>>>
>>> Perhaps one of the reasons why
>>> https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
>>>
>>
>> Maybe.
>> Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:
>>
>> https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter
>>
>>
>
>Embarking on a high speed chase when you only have 25 miles of fuel in your
>tank is not quite as bad as driving badly with a car full of dope, but it’s
>right up there.

Perhaps some dash stickers, "BEFORE loading the dope, FILL the gas"
tank" (:-)
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 21:03:19 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>On 3/15/2022 7:47 PM, John B. wrote:
>> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 18:36:18 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>
>>> On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
>>>>>
>>>>> Original report with intersection photos:
>>>>>
>>>>> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps one of the reasons why
>>>> https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
>>>>
>>>
>>> Maybe.
>>> Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:
>>>
>>> https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter
>>
>>
>> Ah well, I guess you missed the point.
>> In America an individual hit and kills someone and the Penalty - "The
>> driver declined medical attention and was not cited"
>>
>> In Thailand, a poor, benighted, developing country, an individual hits
>> and kills someone and the penalty - "Police were waiting for results
>> of his alcohol blood test and medical examination, Pol Capt Thamnong
>> said. Police were expected to charge him with reckless driving causing
>> death."
>>
>> The penalty for which is usually 10 years incarceration.
>
>I've said this before, but if a motorist kills or seriously injures
>another road user, I think the default punishment should be a lifetime
>ban on driving. If that existed and were well enforced, I believe
>there'd be a marked increase in driving care.

Well, not to get into details but certainly the penalty for killing
someone should be sufficiently severe that the chap remembers it the
next time.

Re enforcement, etc. Way back when, the southern states - N. & S.
Carolina, Georgia, etc. were infamous for catching northern registered
cars, passing through on their way to Florida, for speeding and
levying large fines - as much as $100 for speeding.

I was traveling to a pistol match with the team in one of the team
member's car as I distinctly remember one of the guys, as we drove
into N. Carolina, saying in a loud voice, "Slow Down, we are in N.
Carolina". And we did, and so did all the other traffic.

Enforcement does Work.
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 4:36:24 PM UTC-7, AMuzi wrote:
> On 3/15/2022 5:44 PM, John B. wrote:
> > On Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:59 -0500, AMuzi <a...@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
> >
> >> https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/03/11/drivers-are-killing-bicyclists-trying-to-get-to-from-the-lakefront-trail-activists-said-the-city-isnt-helping/
> >>
> >> Original report with intersection photos:
> >>
> >> https://chicagonewsjournal.com/gerardo-marciales-41-fatally-struck-while-crossing-dlsd-on-a-divvy-bike-streetsblog-chicago/
> >
> > Perhaps one of the reasons why
> > https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2278179/top-cops-son-crashes-porsche-into-motorcycle-rider-killed
> >
> Maybe.
> Or perhaps a large pile if marijuana with a splash of idiocy:
>
> https://www.ladbible.com/news/man-who-led-police-on-30mile-chase-only-had-legoland-license-20220311?source=twitter

Think of the number of lives that were threatened by this drug dealer. Any bets that he gets a slap on the hand and the cops get laughed in the face?