another cyclist hit and run (Pittsburgh, Liberty: college, most dangerous, shop)

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

I was stopped (the light had just changed), I stayed stopped and biker guy rode through, as he was supposed to.

I once was waiting for the bus and watched an SUV driver as she waited to take a left because there was a uniformed crossing guard escorting two children across the street with the light in a crosswalk. Some old guy drove up behind her and started honking for her to move. He was held long enough to miss the light and everybody waiting for the bus got a show as the crossing guard berated him for as long as the light took to change green again. It was great.

[groar]

interesting p-g article today....

Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians can take the high road to safety - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by groar

interesting p-g article today....

Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians can take the high road to safety - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Thats a great article.

The cycling deaths affected me and continue to affect me as a cyclist, and because they happened feet from our home. I can't tell you how my wife and family encourage and love my passion for cycling and running, but they also worry about my safety while doing both.

My attitude changed one night after a bike ride from our home to the South Side and back. It was shortly after James Price was killed. Some things I saw...

1. I was nearly hit TWICE on Beacon Street, by two separate people, both incidents occurred about 30 feet from eachother. One guy was parked along Beacon and swung out on the street without looking. The other guy was pulling in to Giant Eagle while looking at his phone.

2. I saw MULTIPLE cyclists that night, riding without lights.

3. I love Walnut Street and decided to cruise through there on my way home. All I can say is, careful riding through there on a bike during busy weekends and busy evenings. Its a cluster of people driving and walking and a lot of them aren't sure of where they are going or what they are doing.

I'm a driver, I'm a runner, I'm a cyclist, and pedestrian. Up to these events this past summer, I was more "Rah rah" pedestrian and cyclist, no matter what the situation was. But what I saw that night opened my mind to the fact that there are a lot of drivers, cyclists, runners and pedestrians like me who don't do enough to not be a victim, and who just aren't paying attention

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Excellent article. I'm especially pleased with how it captures the continued focus the city is placing on developing appropriate infrastructure and changing the culture.

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I'm a driver, I'm a runner, I'm a cyclist, and pedestrian. Up to these events this past summer, I was more "Rah rah" pedestrian and cyclist, no matter what the situation was. But what I saw that night opened my mind to the fact that there are a lot of drivers, cyclists, runners and pedestrians like me who don't do enough to not be a victim, and who just aren't paying attention

Yeah, I walk around a lot, and it drives me crazy to see all the pedestrians downtown who run into the street or walk right in front of cars when they don't have a walk sign.

I drive a good bit, and it drives me crazy to see motorists being careless, driving erratically and running stuff over.

I bike Monday through Friday year round, and I hate it when I'm sitting behind a few cars at a red light and another cyclist just buzzes through.

You're completely right; many people just flat out do it wrong, regardless of what they are doing, haha.

[gg]

Good article. Thanks for posting it.

[CaptainPittsburgh]

Rather than create yet another thread, I dug up this one. This time it is an 8-year-old who was riding with his dad and sister. SUV, critical condition, etc. At least the driver didn't flee the scene.

Mother of 8-year-old bicyclist hit in Point Breeze says he should survive - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I'm a laid back dude, but this one really makes my blood boil. We need to change the culture in this city.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by CaptainPittsburgh

Rather than create yet another thread, I dug up this one. This time it is an 8-year-old who was riding with his dad and sister. SUV, critical condition, etc. At least the driver didn't flee the scene.

Mother of 8-year-old bicyclist hit in Point Breeze says he should survive - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I'm a laid back dude, but this one really makes my blood boil. We need to change the culture in this city.

Agreed. Another example showing that bikes do not belong on the same road as vehicles. It causes nothing but trouble all the way around.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by tclifton

Agreed. Another example showing that bikes do not belong on the same road as vehicles. It causes nothing but trouble all the way around.

So are you then an advocate of a massive local tax increase to create a comprehensive new bike trail/routing system throughout the city? Bear in mind this city's infrastructure is woefully outdated entirely due to our residents' alacrity when presented with the notion of being taxed into oblivion in order to bring that infrastructure into the 21st Century. With the Feds more concerned about squandering billions of our tax dollars overseas on an annual basis than chipping in towards worthwhile domestic projects it's extremely unlikely a fix to our infrastructural woes will come from them anytime soon.

The area where the young boy was critically injured by this SUV driver is a low-traffic and relatively low-density residential area where this never should have happened. I do question the logic of those cyclists who INSIST on riding along Penn Avenue in Point Breeze when there are safer adjacent alternatives just as I similarly wonder why cyclists ride along Fifth Avenue through Shadyside when very bike-friendly Ellsworth Avenue parallels it, but with that being said it's illogical to say "let's ban bikes!" because of this. The East End is growing. Its infrastructure isn't. That's a problem I hope future Mayor Peduto or future Mayor Wagner will start to remedy.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

So are you then an advocate of a massive local tax increase to create a comprehensive new bike trail/routing system throughout the city?

Absolutely, yes I am. In fact, we could start with requiring bikes be registered, and also add a VAT tax on bike purchases. That would help defray the costs.

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

The area where the young boy was critically injured by this SUV driver is a low-traffic and relatively low-density residential area where this never should have happened. I do question the logic of those cyclists who INSIST on riding along Penn Avenue in Point Breeze when there are safer adjacent alternatives just as I similarly wonder why cyclists ride along Fifth Avenue through Shadyside when very bike-friendly Ellsworth Avenue parallels it, but with that being said it's illogical to say "let's ban bikes!" because of this. The East End is growing. Its infrastructure isn't. That's a problem I hope future Mayor Peduto or future Mayor Wagner will start to remedy.

But until the infrastructure is capable, then the bikes shouldn't be on the road. It causes nothing but frustration and heartache all around.

[ex-burgher]

Originally Posted by tclifton

But until the infrastructure is capable, then the bikes shouldn't be on the road. It causes nothing but frustration and heartache all around.

In that case, my college age son and many others would have a hard time getting to school, grocery shopping, etc.