Bike rider killed this morning...

[charliebrown]

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1405622.html

The poor person laid there for 90 minutes, does that seem a little long to anyone else?

[ryno lite]

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1405622.html

The poor person laid there for 90 minutes, does that seem a little long to anyone else?

It's horrible, but maybe they were doing their due diligence to photograph the scene. Maybe the investigation required it. Does seem a bit long though. I've seen that happen before with people under sheets in Minneapolis. They never seem to be in a hurry to move the body. It really is horrible.

[jkalla]

My wife rode by there in her car at about 11AM and saw the victim covered by a sheet. She called me crying - said it was the one of the worst things she has ever seen.

[charliebrown]

I guess that is why I don't understand what they do what they have to do and remove the victim quickly, both for their benefit and the general public. I guess I wouldn't want my loved one laying on the ground, when they possibly don't have to be there for so long... I certainly don't know anything, but 90 minutes seems like a very long time. Well it is to bad either way...

[tedsti]

If it was a homicide with totally unknown circumstances, I can see them leaving it there that long or longer to collect evidence. I am guessing there were plenty of witnesses here. I would hope they could just do the outline, take some photos and get the the poor person's body out of there.

[TrailPatrol]

IPMBA just finished a two-part series on "Bicycle Crash Investigation" in their quarterly newsletter, and one of the big points of the article was "take absolutely nothing for granted". The science of accident reconstruction is a very involved one, and sometimes you need everything exactly in place until you can chart, diagram and photograph every possibility. Particularly when a fatality involves a school bus, which is a "regulated carrier". Then you may also have had a whole additional level of investigators involved. Minneapolis PD may have had to wait on the troopers to arrive before the victim could be moved. They also may have been waiting on the Medical Examiner's investigators to do their thing, too.

As much as it may seem disrespectful to the victim and their family, there are times when things like this happen, in order for all the parts to fall into place.

All that being said, I wonder if it had been a rainy, cold day, (or snowing) if they might have wrapped up the scene faster?

As I always say...

Ride safe,
Hans

[qheuie]

All that being said, I wonder if it had been a rainy, cold day, (or snowing) if they might have wrapped up the scene faster?


I doubt it. Remember, it's their job to perform the best investigation as possible. Covering a body with a sheet is not disrespectful. Leaving the body uncovered would be.

[ilove2bike]

I doubt it. Remember, it's their job to perform the best investigation as possible. Covering a body with a sheet is not disrespectful. Leaving the body uncovered would be.

i agree completely, If I was hit and killed on my bike I would want them to leave my body there as long as neccessary if it meant bringing a idiotic driver to justice. Unfortunatly I don't think this bus driver will be brought up on anything other than a traffic violation that is if it was their fault.

[TrailPatrol]

i agree completely, If I was hit and killed on my bike I would want them to leave my body there as long as neccessary if it meant bringing a idiotic driver to justice. Unfortunatly I don't think this bus driver will be brought up on anything other than a traffic violation that is if it was their fault.

You are assuming it was the bus driver's fault, which may or may not be the case. What if the cyclist had a stop sign but didn't obey it, and the bus was in the wrong place at the wrong time?

As for the accident investigation, remember that I have been in emergency medical services for almost 35 years, and have also been a deputy sheriff and police officer before I became a park ranger. I know how long it takes, and I know how long it can take. Sometimes adverse conditions can move things along a bit.

Ride safe,
Hans

[Danimal]

Hans you forgot in your resume below "...I have been in emergency medical services for almost 35 years, and have been a friend of Dan's for three years, and have also been a deputy sheriff and police officer before I became a park ranger."

Can't forget the important stuff ya' know. Don't want you to short change yourself.:)

[TrailPatrol]

After the story about the accident, Channel 5 did a follow-up story tonight about cyclists not obeying the rules of the road. (Running stop signs, wrong way on a one way, etc.) It wasn't very well done, but it did make a valid point. According to the U of M PD spokesman, they intend to ticket cyclists who don't ride by the rules. We'll see if they really do it.

Ride safe,
Hans

[RiverRat]

they intend to ticket cyclists who don't ride by the rules.

Luckily this didn't happen before tuesday, as I was heading for the cedar lake trail downtown. I was heading southwestish on 3rd since I heard the trail was open again, but 3rd isn't open all the way to it, so I ended up detouring to 2nd, and going the wrong way for 1 block (nice and slow as close to the curb as possible). In the process, passed 4 bike cops (2 mpls and 2 county mounties). 1 of them didn't look too happy, but didn't say anything. The rest didn't even seem to notice.

[MisterClaw]

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1405622.html


Followup story: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1407615.html
Sounds the bus driver failed to yield to the oncoming biker.

[MisterClaw]

According to the U of M PD spokesman, they intend to ticket cyclists who don't ride by the rules. We'll see if they really do it.

Ride safe,
Hans

I bike through the U campus daily and you'll see some of the worst bikers out there. I usually see a biker on the wrong side on the road everyday, and quite a few of them blow through red lights.

I'd actually like to see an safe biking presentation giving during new student orientation and other "safe biking" programs. I don't think many of them even know the rules of the road, nor do they realize that bikers often get hit and sometimes killed biking around the U.

Education <b>and</b> enforcement, please!

[PJJ]

Are they still trying to ID the cyclist? Just a reminder to all of us to carry ID with you at all times...make it a 'must do' just like wearing a helmet.

[Lezgo Cycling]

I recently started commuting again and am thankful that 90% of my route is on paved bicycle trails....Its too bad when things liek this happen, and the fact that they still dont know who he is ??????? This is why I have attached my Dog Tags fromt he military to my mesenger bag, and one on my camelback becasue I dont always have my wallet when I ride but then I have some sort of id at least.

[jkalla]

I'd actually like to see an safe biking presentation giving during new student orientation and other "safe biking" programs. I don't think many of them even know the rules of the road, nor do they realize that bikers often get hit and sometimes killed biking around the U.

Education and enforcement, please!

They used to have a required road rules session as part of the Lakeville Ironman number pickup the morning of the ride. Even with that I would still see people doing things that they were told not to just hours before.

I doubt that people don't know the rules - stopping at stop signs, riding on the right side of the road - how many college students don't know this?

I think the best education that you can give a cyclist is to make them understand that they can't always assume that a car (or bus) sees you even if you are following the rules of the road.

I think that enforcement has to be a big part of the answer.

I was with a cyclist who got stopped by a cop for making a left turn from the right side of the road. He got chewed out pretty good. No ticket was issued but I know that he will never do that again.

[Lezgo Cycling]

I think the best education that you can give a cyclist is to make them understand that they can't always assume that a car (or bus) sees you even if you are following the rules of the road.

I think that enforcement has to be a big part of the answer.

use a whistle .....like a horn :D but yes they dont always see you cause there not looking for you

[silvrum]

Ive always been told to ride on the right side of the road though I don't like the consequences if the driver in the car is not paying attention (playing with the radio, text messeging, etc...) and crosses over the white line where I happen to be. Since I've almost been clipped twice on county roads I tend to bike on the left side if its high speed roads.

[MisterClaw]

Ive always been told to ride on the right side of the road though I don't like the consequences if the driver in the car is not paying attention (playing with the radio, text messeging, etc...) and crosses over the white line where I happen to be. Since I've almost been clipped twice on county roads I tend to bike on the left side if its high speed roads.

Indeed, this probably what many U students think - I'm safer looking at the cars coming at me. Riding on the wrong side of the road <b>in the city</b> will get you in a lot more trouble with everyone else around you - other bikers, cars coming from side roads, alleys and driveways, and people turning in front of you.

[Jackrabbit Slim]

When my brother got hit this weekend he waited in a ditch for 60+minutes before taking a 10 minute ride in a chopper to the hospital. I know there is lot's going on, and I used to do air ambulance work, but 60' also seemed excessive.

[destrago]

I've never found a place where riders are so consistently ignorant of laws, rules, and the existance of other people on the road than the U. I've actually yelled at riders who forced me out into traffic when I was riding in a marked one-way bike lane.

Also, in response to this story I've ordered RoadIDs for my fiance and myself today. If something happens to me, even death, I don't want to be unidentified - I want my family to know what happened right away.

-Tony


Indeed, this probably what many U students think - I'm safer looking at the cars coming at me. Riding on the wrong side of the road in the city will get you in a lot more trouble with everyone else around you - other bikers, cars coming from side roads, alleys and driveways, and people turning in front of you.

[The Goat Killer]

I've never found a place where riders are so consistently ignorant of laws, rules, and the existance of other people on the road than the U. I've actually yelled at riders who forced me out into traffic when I was riding in a marked one-way bike lane.

Also, in response to this story I've ordered RoadIDs for my fiance and myself today. If something happens to me, even death, I don't want to be unidentified - I want my family to know what happened right away.

-Tony

Never had the honor of being finger-printed, eh? :fool:

[RiverRat]

Finger prints are going to take time, and only work when still intact. Get some serious road rash, and they could be gone.

[silvrum]

I wouldn't envy you city dwellers but you have such nice trails down there.

[RiverRat]

I wouldn't envy you city dwellers but you have such nice trails down there.

I actually feel safer on the roads downtown and near downtown, than I do in the suburbs. Yes, there are more cars, but more of them are paying attention and realize that bikes on the road are a reality.

[Thewavebb]

I actually feel safer on the roads downtown and near downtown, than I do in the suburbs. Yes, there are more cars, but more of them are paying attention and realize that bikes on the road are a reality.

I couldn't agree more. All my run-in's have been out of the downtown area where people are more in a hurry and less likely to notice me.

[silvrum]

I couldn't agree more. All my run-in's have been out of the downtown area where people are more in a hurry and less likely to notice me.

You two have a point, though cold spring isnt a suburb, if Im riding in this small town and a car yeilds to me I get confused.

[destrago]

I couldn't agree more. All my run-in's have been out of the downtown area where people are more in a hurry and less likely to notice me.


I've found the same. Here in Eagan, drivers expect bikes to be on the bike paths because most people down here think bikes are for kids and casual recreation, not a serious means of transportation. I complained several times about the inability of Eagan drivers to stop before the bike path, leading me to abandon it for the much safer lanes of traffic and shoulders. But once again, since there are "bike paths", and with everything more spread out making riding for transportation slightly less convenient, drivers aren't looking for bikes on the roads out here in the burbs.

-Tony

[RiverRat]

You two have a point, though cold spring isnt a suburb, if Im riding in this small town and a car yeilds to me I get confused.

You may get confused, but there are times I get downright upset (to keep it clean) on occasions. I hate the 4 way stop where a car pulls up and stops well before I get to the intersection on the other street, and they wait for me to come to a complete stop, then wave me through. If they had just gone right away, I could have slowed down enough to let them through, then continued on without having to completely stop. Thus slowing both of our commutes down. Worse yet, I've had cars stop at an intersection where I had a stop sign and they didn't.

[stoneage]

feel safer on the roads downtown and near downtown, than I do in the suburbs
WORD!

[jeffgude]

Channel 5 did a story last night on how poorly the cyclists around the 'U' follow traffic laws. I thought it was kind of a slanted point of view, but from what I am seeing in this thread maybe it was accurate.


http://kstp.com/article/stories/S187077.shtml?cat=206

[Trevize1138]

Police are going to ticket bicyclists. Uh, right...

On second thought, they just might, but I wouldn't expect it to last more than a week. Once people start complaining about them not ticketing cars enough they'll give up on bikers.

I think it's sort of like traffic triage. You gotta figure it's a whole lot more dangerous for everyone around when someone blows through a red light driving 4000lbs of metal as opposed to only 30.

[MisterClaw]

Police are going to ticket bicyclists. Uh, right...

On second thought, they just might, but I wouldn't expect it to last more than a week. Once people start complaining about them not ticketing cars enough they'll give up on bikers.

This is the same campus where police regularly tickets jaywalkers. And although 30lbs of biker + rider @ 20mph isn't the same a 4000lb car @ 30mph going through a red light, both can kill people. Yes, bikers do sadly hit and kill pedestrians sometimes. At the U, biker-pedestrians collisions are not uncommon.

That said, the pedestrians on the U campus are probably worse than the bikers when it comes to paying attention to their environment.

As for the rollerbladers, well, they always seems to find the one patch of sand left over from winter and wipe out right in front of me.

[xterrabuzz]

wear mine 24/7.
http://www.roadid.com/common/default.aspx

[Nickel]

I hope they do ticket bike riders. They are putting themselves in unnecessary risk: biking the wrong way down Washington Ave, wearing headphones and swerving into large crowds of people, riding without lights....running a red light is the least of the problems.