Comments on: Green Valley News on Jerome Featherman

By: Chris from Ohio

Chris from Ohio — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:33:14 +0000

This site has a lot of bicycle crash information.
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm
These stats are a little old:
motor vehicle fatalities
0.016 per million miles traveled
Bicycle fatalities
0.039 per million miles traveled
Data from Traffic Safety Facts 1997
and The Environmental Benefits of Cycling and Walking

By: Green Valley cyclist killed @ Arizona Bike Law Blog

Green Valley cyclist killed @ Arizona Bike Law Blog — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:59:37 +0000

[...] There was a nice article about Jerome in the Green Valley News, interesting discussions about crimal negligence at tusconbikelawyer.com [...]

By: Bikes and politics: Choosing the best candidate in CD2 « BikingInLA

Bikes and politics: Choosing the best candidate in CD2 « BikingInLA — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:25:11 +0000

[...] General who went on to kill him. The Tucson Bike Lawyer says it actually is against the law to kill a cyclist in the bike lane, if they could only get someone to press charges. Finally, a cyclist in my home town is hit by a [...]

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:57:13 +0000

We had a summer of shark attack, and we had a summer of child abductions. This summer seems to be the cycling fatality. We had 2 this week in Phoenix. I don’t know if it’s being reported more, or if the incidence rate is actually higher.
I know drivers kill other drivers, but I’m really curious what the data says about car/bike crashes.

By: Mickey

Mickey — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:31:21 +0000

Chad,
just because there isn’t a headline for a car-on-car fatality, does not mean that they are not out there. I can count on one hand the number of cyclists killed in the last year in Tucson. I am certain the number of automobile fatalities is much much higher.

By: Coghauler

Coghauler — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:53:12 +0000

It’s the vulnerability of the victims in
these hit-from-behind bicycle assaults
that makes the danger seem ever-so-much-
more-so. The numbers may be up, but the
percentage of incidences is relatively
the same or less-according to crash
analysis by PAG. Our perception of
safety is greatly skewed by sensational
headlines of spectacular crashes…but
it is pretty safe to bicycle in Tucson.
The response the cops seem to give to the
demands that something be done about these
instances is to sting cyclists at out-of-
the-way four-way stop signs in the morning…
which does nothing for the rear-ended
cyclist in the afternoon. Maligned enforcement
is not the answer; Erik reports the laws exist.
Perception always lags behind reality and
prosecutors need to acknowledge the new nature
of negligence that is causing these ‘accidents’.

By: AZTT

AZTT — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:59:01 +0000

Same thing happens in Canada as well: Bob Mionske's Blog on Bicycle Law and Advocacy: The Usual Suspects

By: ChipSeal

ChipSeal — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:08:55 +0000

If someone chooses to use their status enhancing vehicle on a public street they need to be held to a higher standard of operational competence then they are now.

The use of an automobile has become such a commonplace everyday event that the heavy responsibility that useing one entails is forgotten. This cavalier attitude has to be addressed and be personalized.

Getting a ticket for traffic violations has to be regarded as the crimes they are and not just an unfortunate event of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Causing property damage or injury to others in the public space must have harsh and financially crippling consequences.

Poor driving skill needs to be met with public scorn rather than indifference.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:56:29 +0000

Are we really safer, mile for mile, than when driving? Can you cite your source? There have been so many scary headlines lately, I’ve cut down on my miles.