Georgia Pedestrain Deaths Spike. Other Cities See Large Improvements. (condo, pollution)

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Wonder what has to have happened in your life to be the one wielding an instrument of death and blaming those that get in your way as the danger?

We have the numbers. We know drivers are at fault most of the time. We got to get serious about stopping this killing.

So by this I guess you also think that when someone (in a car or not) gets hit by a train, it's the train's fault?

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Wonder what has to have happened in your life to be the one wielding an instrument of death and blaming those that get in your way as the danger?

We have the numbers. We know drivers are at fault most of the time. We got to get serious about stopping this killing.

All I know is that I didn’t hit any of the five or so bikers going the wrong way through the roundabout. They are not dead because I did more than just follow the rules of the road they chose to ignore, and if the fifty or so other bikers in this enthusiast group can’t correct their own, they are part of the problem.

[DaBurgh]

Does anyone know which city dept I can contact and ask for more crosswalks installed in my neighborhood?

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by ddm2k

When cyclists develop a sense of entitlement and arrogance, it won't save them from being killed. 4000-6000 pound vehicles regularly turn onto side streets. It just so happens that such maneuvers cross over bike lanes. You will lose, every time. We don't make 90-degree turns (successfully) at 35 mph, look for turn signals or brake lights. Even if someone fails to signal, you'll see brakes. It just might save your life.

Just riding a bicycle does not make one feel entitled or arrogant. Trust me those people feel the same when driving a car too. Yes I have seen some entitled and arrogant behavior from cyclists and call them out on it, because it makes me look bad, upsets drivers and then they could take their anger out on me.
Drivers need to be aware on streets with bike lanes when performing turn movements to look for bicycles. At the same time, cyclists need to ride defensively SLOW DOWN. I try and stay out of drivers blindspots and anticipate a right hook when approaching intersections. I check vehicles turn signals, etc. when riding and watch out for drivers who are blinded by sun.

Originally Posted by DaBurgh

Does anyone know which city dept I can contact and ask for more crosswalks installed in my neighborhood?

To start with, request crosswalks with ATL311. Then talk with your councilmember.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by jeoff

All I know is that I didn’t hit any of the five or so bikers going the wrong way through the roundabout. They are not dead because I did more than just follow the rules of the road they chose to ignore, and if the fifty or so other bikers in this enthusiast group can’t correct their own, they are part of the problem.

Not running down five bikers is normal behavior. Congratulations. Did you stop and ask them to thank you for not killing them?

Being a good moral human being trumps the "rules of the road".

It is not reasonable to expect pedestrians to follow all jaywalking laws, cars to follow speeding laws, nor bikes to follow all the same laws as cars. It just isn't going to happen.

Of course the number show when fatalities happen, the driver is usually the one at fault. They are the one not following the rules of the road.

We need to design out streets to be safe for all in that reality. That means using design to slow the cars so uses can mix or providing protected facilities for other users.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by DaBurgh

Does anyone know which city dept I can contact and ask for more crosswalks installed in my neighborhood?

Public works does the implementation but I'd start by lobbying your council member. It would help if you can get a petition signed by your neighbors.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Not running down five bikers is normal behavior. Congratulations. Did you stop and ask them to thank you for not killing them?

Being a good moral human being trumps the "rules of the road".

It is not reasonable to expect pedestrians to follow all jaywalking laws, cars to follow speeding laws, nor bikes to follow all the same laws as cars. It just isn't going to happen.

Of course the number show when fatalities happen, the driver is usually the one at fault. They are the one not following the rules of the road.

We need to design out streets to be safe for all in that reality. That means using design to slow the cars so uses can mix or providing protected facilities for other users.

jsvh, the point of my post is not that I did anything wonderful. I worked to the best of my abilities not to hurt another human being—I work to keep people safe. But, the bikers in this group were NOT doing their part. They ignored the clearly marked arrows and bike symbols on the road, and did what felt good at the time. Their intentional acts made it more difficult for me to keep them safe. If they pull the same maneuver x number of times, eventually it will have a very bad outcome, and some folks will instinctively blame the car driver.
Especially disconcerting is that these bikers were apparently part of a biking club with 50 or so participating at this time, and I am sure that more then a few of these members argue for safer roads, and protest whenever there is biker involved in an automobile accident.

And, not that it matters to you, I want more bike lanes and for everyone to behave responsibly. Even as I realize that some people are irresponsible whether they are driving a car or riding a bike, I am still especially discouraged that a bicycle enthusiast group could behave so irresponsibly, and that someone like you, who obviously wants safer roads response to this is dismissive sarcasm.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by jeoff

jsvh, the point of my post is not that I did anything wonderful. I worked to the best of my abilities not to hurt another human being—I work to keep people safe. But, the bikers in this group were NOT doing their part. They ignored the clearly marked arrows and bike symbols on the road, and did what felt good at the time. Their intentional acts made it more difficult for me to keep them safe. If they pull the same maneuver x number of times, eventually it will have a very bad outcome, and some folks will instinctively blame the car driver.
Especially disconcerting is that these bikers were apparently part of a biking club with 50 or so participating at this time, and I am sure that more then a few of these members argue for safer roads, and protest whenever there is biker involved in an automobile accident.

And, not that it matters to you, I want more bike lanes and for everyone to behave responsibly. Even as I realize that some people are irresponsible whether they are driving a car or riding a bike, I am still especially discouraged that a bicycle enthusiast group could behave so irresponsibly, and that someone like you, who obviously wants safer roads response to this is dismissive sarcasm.

And what if I told you that bikes and pedestrians breaking the law made them safer?

Bikes / pedestrians going before the light is green. "Idaho Stop". Taking the entire car lane instead of staying in bike-gutter-lane all show indications it is the safer way to go.

https://ggwash.org/view/71937/why-pe...-safety-advice

Being visible to drivers is key. Those bikers going the wrong way through the middle of the round-a-bout got noticed (and thus avoided) by drivers. However, like the scooter rider killed last week, if they tried hugging the gutter on the edge of traffic they are likely to get crushed by a vehicle that doesn't even realize they are there.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by jsvh

And what if I told you that bikes and pedestrians breaking the law made them safer?

I would say that you are a zealot and a terrible advocate for bicyclists and pedestrians.

[SEAandATL]

Not sure if it's mentioned before, but one thing that doesn't help is the law that bikers have to ride on the road and not on the sidewalks. I think Georgia is the only state with that law, that I know of.