Student at my University Killed While Riding Bike to Class

[ghost recon88]

Here at Michigan State all the assholes just cross the road without looking, even when the cars, trucks, and busses have the green light. A whole mob will start walking when they have the right of way, then once the walking sign turns orange, they just keep on walking without even looking at traffic. One of these days when I'm the first car in line and my light turns green, I'm gonna put my car in neutral and rev the RPMs like none other and watch them scatter :laugh: Still though, I wish a few would get hit and killed that way others would learn how big of a douche they are for walking in front of traffic. I've had times where I've waited a whole light cycle without being able to move at all due to asshole students.

 

[Balt]

The cyclists are pretty reckless on my current campus, but I also think it's really stupid to have major streets going through a college campus. I'm fine with roads and parking lots that loop around the borders, but I'd prefer everything else be for pedestrians only. People need the exercise anyway.

They've already blocked off one street going through campus this year. It sits right between two major buildings and there is pedestrian traffic all day long. The street never should have been there in the first place, imo.

 

[Q]

We don't have too many cyclists on campus, but even so our streets on campus aren't any main roads or anything. Surprisingly the pedestrians/cyclists are pretty good about crossing only in the crosswalks when they have the walk symbol, etc. Some people do ride TO campus on bikes though in the bike lane, and it's kind of nervousing (I know that's not a word) passing them up on the road though.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Crusty

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
at UT they weren't really a hazard when I lived on campus. I think it was because they closed the main road ( forgot what it was called ) from Jester dorms all the way to RLM hall ( seemed like 3/4-1 mile ) and a few other roads too. I can't remember ever being close to getting hit.

You didn't stand at the foot of the 24th street hill @ speedway for long enough then. I've seen several pedestrians taken out by bikes in that intersection.

I've got a nice scar on my leg from where a bicyclist ran into me on 24th and Speedway. As usual, they go down that hill and don't stop at the stop sign.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I feel bad for the cyclist...but running a red light on or in ANY vehicle is just plain stupid.

 

[funkymatt]

i've been hit by a car on campus before, it sucked by luckily i wasn't injured. dude came flying out of an alley at like 5pm, we both weren't expecting each other i guess.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Cyclists need to learn to ride the Safeway and they'll be alright.

 

[Jeff7]

The campus here has a road running right through the middle of it. The church, rec hall, some offices, and engineering building are on one side, the rest of campus is on the other side.
What I had heard about the situation: It's officially the township's road, but they refuse to paint pedestrian crossing lines where the sidewalks to up to the road because they've deemed the location too dangerous, and thus they don't want to be legally responsible in any way. I guess putting the lines down indicates that it's a "safe zone" for pedestrians, or some such thing?


And the road turns into a bit of a death trap in winter. It's on a very steep slope, and it's not always salted very well. If it ices up, once you're moving down the hill, you're not stopping, voluntarily or otherwise.

 

[TallBill]

Bikers on my campus are morons and expect the right of way on sidewalks.

 

[Sumguy]

I haven't noticed anything too terrible at UF, but thats probably because I walk and don't drive (thus don't notice the annoying behavior). The speed limit is 20mph anyway and the police are brutal about enforcing it. Usually people only cross when the cross signal is given or the road is clear.

Most bikers/skateboarders stay in the bike lane, a few get on the sidewalk but they dont fly by at ridiculous speeds, especially if its busy.

The main problem are the shitty drivers. I thought the drivers in Miami were bad because they're so damn aggressive. Gainesville drivers just suck, but I realize its probably the large amount of college aged kids playing pretend racer with their Mustangs. So many mustangs...

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Sumguy
I haven't noticed anything too terrible at UF, but thats probably because I walk and don't drive (thus don't notice the annoying behavior). The speed limit is 20mph anyway and the police are brutal about enforcing it. Usually people only cross when the cross signal is given or the road is clear.

Most bikers/skateboarders stay in the bike lane, a few get on the sidewalk but they dont fly by at ridiculous speeds, especially if its busy.

The main problem are the shitty drivers. I thought the drivers in Miami were bad because they're so damn aggressive. Gainesville drivers just suck, but I realize its probably the large amount of college aged kids playing pretend racer with their Mustangs. So many mustangs...

One thing I've noticed around here is taxi drivers. At the major intersections on the edge of campus, you'll have crosswalks with 50+ people crossing at once. Taxi drivers who want to make a right turn will just slowly push their way through the crowd of pedestrians. I almost called the cops when one actually hit me.

 

[Glitchny]

Originally posted by: tom240
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WTF?


WHERE'S MY IPOD

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
My old campus people had the right of way at crosswalks and people on bikes only had the right of way if they got off the bike and walked across. If they were still on the bike they had to stop to those walking and/or did not have the right of way for others.

A pedestrian always has the right of way...anyone on a vehicle must yield.

And yet I have a friend who was ticketed (not a warning, there was a fine) for jaywalking.

Pedestrians do NOT "always [have] the right of way". Pedestrians are required to give reasonable consideration to motorists even when the pedestrians are in a crosswalk (e.g. they must be sure, even when using designated crosswalks, that cars have sufficient reaction time to stop assuming that the car are traveling at the speed limit).

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
My old campus people had the right of way at crosswalks and people on bikes only had the right of way if they got off the bike and walked across. If they were still on the bike they had to stop to those walking and/or did not have the right of way for others.

A pedestrian always has the right of way...anyone on a vehicle must yield.

And yet I have a friend who was ticketed (not a warning, there was a fine) for jaywalking.

Pedestrians do NOT "always [have] the right of way". Pedestrians are required to give reasonable consideration to motorists even when the pedestrians are in a crosswalk (e.g. they must be sure, even when using designated crosswalks, that cars have sufficient reaction time to stop assuming that the car are traveling at the speed limit).

ZV

They do here in California. Cars must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks. If you are driving down a road and see a pedestrian step into a crosswalk as you are approaching you MUST stop.

Obviously, as a pedestrian, you don't just step out in front of moving traffic without looking at the last second when a car doesn't have time to react...that would be idiotic, hell suicidal.

Pedestrians ? you must stop for pedestrians who have entered a crosswalk. Pedestrians have the right of way at uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks (i.e. those without traffic lights), but (and this is somewhat new), pedestrians can not legally just cross whenever they want ? they must wait for a safe time to try to cross. In California (as in the rest of the U.S.A.), a pedestrian crosswalk can be either explicit or implicit; quoting from the Department of Motor Vehicle's handbook, "Every intersection where streets meet at right angles has a crosswalk for pedestrians to cross the street. [...] Many pedestrian crosswalks are marked by solid white lines. Some crosswalks, especially in residential areas, are not marked."

Another interesting bit of info, and one I think more states would do well to adopt are bicycle lanes:

?Bicycle lanes ? some cities like Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Palo Alto, etc., have bicycle lanes painted onto selected streets. These are usually marked by a continuous thick white line on the right-hand side of the road, about a metre or so out from the curb or the parked cars. There's usually also some sort of sign painted in the lane every so often saying something like "Bicycle Lane" on the road's surface.


It is illegal for cars to enter these lanes except to park or to turn into a driveway, or where the continuous white line turns into a dashed line, usually just before an intersection. In any case, always watch for cyclists coming up on your right ? they have the right of way here. Also note that many bike lanes are simply too narrow for their intended purposes, and cyclists may have to veer out of them for parked cars, debris on the road, etc.

 

[jlee]

I'm not surprised. I've 'clashed' with several cyclists here, who didn't like to hear that not all cyclists are perfect riders.

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
My old campus people had the right of way at crosswalks and people on bikes only had the right of way if they got off the bike and walked across. If they were still on the bike they had to stop to those walking and/or did not have the right of way for others.

A pedestrian always has the right of way...anyone on a vehicle must yield.

And yet I have a friend who was ticketed (not a warning, there was a fine) for jaywalking.

Pedestrians do NOT "always [have] the right of way". Pedestrians are required to give reasonable consideration to motorists even when the pedestrians are in a crosswalk (e.g. they must be sure, even when using designated crosswalks, that cars have sufficient reaction time to stop assuming that the car are traveling at the speed limit).

ZV

They do here in California. Cars must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks. If you are driving down a road and see a pedestrian step into a crosswalk as you are approaching you MUST stop.

Obviously, as a pedestrian, you don't just step out in front of moving traffic without looking at the last second when a car doesn't have time to react...that would be idiotic, hell suicidal.

"Always has the right of way" and "has the right of way when in a crosswalk" are two completely different statements. There is also likely a clause in that law that says pedestrians can't just run out in front of traffic regardless of the crosswalk.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Safeway is so going to shoot you guys.

 

[sygyzy]

At UCSB, bikes have the right of way. And that's how it should be. If you are on this campus, they make it very clear as a pedestrian, you better pay attention.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
At UCSB, bikes have the right of way. And that's how it should be. If you are on this campus, they make it very clear as a pedestrian, you better pay attention.

Bicycles do not have the right of way against a red traffic light.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: sygyzy
At UCSB, bikes have the right of way. And that's how it should be. If you are on this campus, they make it very clear as a pedestrian, you better pay attention.

Bicycles do not have the right of way against a red traffic light.

This drives me fucking insane. I bike to and from my gym every day down a few busy streets. I cannot believe how many asshats just bike into the middle of an intersection straight through a red light. I've seen so many near hits. I stop at every red light and it's funny because I generally keep up with these people anyway.

I'd really like to see my city take a better approach to cyclists. First, they should start issuing tickets for running red lights and make it clear that if you're on a bike you have to obey the same laws that cars do. Second, they should add signals for bikes at a few intersections where it is dangerous for bikers and cars to follow the same stop and go rules. For instance, there is a part of the road where it dramatically narrows and there is no place for a cyclist to go. Cyclists should be put through that intersection before the cars go, allowing everyone to safely get through.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
My old campus people had the right of way at crosswalks and people on bikes only had the right of way if they got off the bike and walked across. If they were still on the bike they had to stop to those walking and/or did not have the right of way for others.

A pedestrian always has the right of way...anyone on a vehicle must yield.

And yet I have a friend who was ticketed (not a warning, there was a fine) for jaywalking.

Pedestrians do NOT "always [have] the right of way". Pedestrians are required to give reasonable consideration to motorists even when the pedestrians are in a crosswalk (e.g. they must be sure, even when using designated crosswalks, that cars have sufficient reaction time to stop assuming that the car are traveling at the speed limit).

ZV

They do here in California. Cars must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks. If you are driving down a road and see a pedestrian step into a crosswalk as you are approaching you MUST stop.

Obviously, as a pedestrian, you don't just step out in front of moving traffic without looking at the last second when a car doesn't have time to react...that would be idiotic, hell suicidal.

"Always has the right of way" and "has the right of way when in a crosswalk" are two completely different statements. There is also likely a clause in that law that says pedestrians can't just run out in front of traffic regardless of the crosswalk.

I don't know that it's codified specifically, but I believe it would fall under the "reasonable person" test that is universal in US Law. If you step into the crosswalk when the car is only 5 feet away it's not reasonable to assume that the car can stop in time even if it is following all the rules of the road.

The funny thing is that if you read Jules' post after his demonstrably false first sentence he is actually agreeing with everything in my post.

ZV

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I don't know that it's codified specifically, but I believe it would fall under the "reasonable person" test that is universal in US Law. If you step into the crosswalk when the car is only 5 feet away it's not reasonable to assume that the car can stop in time even if it is following all the rules of the road.

The funny thing is that if you read Jules' post after his demonstrably false first sentence he is actually agreeing with everything in my post.

ZV

NH--

265:35 Pedestrian's Right of Way in Crosswalks. ?
I. When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
II. No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
III. Paragraph I shall not apply under the conditions stated in RSA 265:36.
IV. Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.

265:36 Crossing at Other Than Crosswalks. ?
I. Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
II. Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
III. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
IV. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by traffic control devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.

 

[Kadarin]

We weren't there at the scene so it's hard to judge exactly, but from the sound of it the cyclist appears to be mostly at fault for his own death. Whenever you're out on the roads, whether you're driving, walking, or cycling, you should always maintain your situational awareness and don't rely on others to always be watching out for you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: JLee
I'm not surprised. I've 'clashed' with several cyclists here, who didn't like to hear that not all cyclists are perfect riders.

And likewise, not all riders should be lumped in with the idiots who ride with no regard for their lives or the safety of others.

I don't follow all laws to the letter when I ride but I also do not endanger anyone else or myself when I ride either...and I NEVER run red lights (well, not never, there are times that I've gone through a red light that would not change because it didn't detect my bike as a vehicle waiting). Still, I always will stop and wait until it is safe to proceed if this happens to me or use the cross walk button to trigger the light if that is possible...and I rarely, if ever, ride at night anymore.

Cyclists are frequently confronted with realities when they ride that the laws, which were thought out primarily with motor vehicle traffic in mind, do not address...or make allowances for so we are frequently left with no alternative but to disregard some traffic laws when we ride.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
My old campus people had the right of way at crosswalks and people on bikes only had the right of way if they got off the bike and walked across. If they were still on the bike they had to stop to those walking and/or did not have the right of way for others.

A pedestrian always has the right of way...anyone on a vehicle must yield.

And yet I have a friend who was ticketed (not a warning, there was a fine) for jaywalking.

Pedestrians do NOT "always [have] the right of way". Pedestrians are required to give reasonable consideration to motorists even when the pedestrians are in a crosswalk (e.g. they must be sure, even when using designated crosswalks, that cars have sufficient reaction time to stop assuming that the car are traveling at the speed limit).

ZV

They do here in California. Cars must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks. If you are driving down a road and see a pedestrian step into a crosswalk as you are approaching you MUST stop.

Obviously, as a pedestrian, you don't just step out in front of moving traffic without looking at the last second when a car doesn't have time to react...that would be idiotic, hell suicidal.

"Always has the right of way" and "has the right of way when in a crosswalk" are two completely different statements. There is also likely a clause in that law that says pedestrians can't just run out in front of traffic regardless of the crosswalk.

I don't know that it's codified specifically, but I believe it would fall under the "reasonable person" test that is universal in US Law. If you step into the crosswalk when the car is only 5 feet away it's not reasonable to assume that the car can stop in time even if it is following all the rules of the road.

The funny thing is that if you read Jules' post after his demonstrably false first sentence he is actually agreeing with everything in my post.

ZV

Semantics...:roll: Okay, I'll give you that. They don't ALWAYS have the right of way. They do have the right of way though.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: sygyzy
At UCSB, bikes have the right of way. And that's how it should be. If you are on this campus, they make it very clear as a pedestrian, you better pay attention.

Bicycles do not have the right of way against a red traffic light.

You're right. What's your point? On the campus, it's bikes and pedestrians. Practically no traffic lights. I did not say bikes have the right away against a red light.