Ore. Bicyclist Charged With Manslaughter

You expect that car drivers should stay behind a group of slow moving bicycles for miles until a good passing zone presents itself, if one exists?

You do when you're behind farm tractors/street sweepers/construction equip.

Well, I don't see a whole lot of construction equipment or street sweepers out on the rural roads (where this is most likely to be an issue) during the weekend. Farm equipment I'll typically only see out in the farmland areas, and it's usually pretty predictable where and when you're likely to see them. But if I do come up behind a big combine harvester (likely taking up both sides of the road) I'll stay behind it until it turns off or it's safe to pass. But bicycles can move to the side and let me pass.

Oh that is too funny. I put a wood grain on my new Lexus, wow it was cheesy. My husband said I should be on the show Pimp my Lexus. At any rate, I decided to fix up the bicycle for work a basket, rear view mirror and a bell, that would be great.

Well, here in Alexandria you will not see a biker stop for a stop sign or red light. It is a quest for them to beat the cars through town by blowing through all the stops. Now, I've yet to see a driver reading a newspaper, I don't say it has not happened but not as frequent as bikers ignoring traffic regulations.

Not only have I seen people reading a newspaper, I have seen them reading books also. The traffic is stop and go on I-5 around the Seattle area. They prop a book, paper, etc on the steering wheel and away they go. They lurch along, reading, breaking, not looking, looking. That is a FACT. It is not made up. I know others here who have commented on seeing these types of drivers also.

Before you bang cyclists, count the number of traffic deaths in this country each and every year. Usually, 45,000 or so. I don't see 45,000 deaths caused by cyclists. I have not seen any cyclists picked up for DUI around here lately. I have not seen any cyclists stopped for doing 50 plus MPH in a 25 MPH school zone lately. I have not seen any cyclists drag racing away, smoking tires, leaving marks on the streets around here lately. I have seen cyclists run stop signs. I have also had something to say to cyclists who make those types of stupid decisions.

I have had many a driver, pulling out of a drive way, turning at an intersection, pull right out in front of me, or make the turn in front of me, causing me to either have to stop, veer off trying to avoid hitting them, or crash. I have had drivers on cell phones yacking away, come straight for me, only to look up thankfully at the last minute and see me and veer away. I have put up with smart ass drivers coming up behind me, screaming, throwing liquids, food, paper cups, soda cans, beer cans, and other objects at us. Oh, yes, they think it funny to approach from behind and slam on the horn, trying to scare you. I have had one guy come along side and the passenger open the door like he was going to try to knock me over with the door.

Right, tell me about those nice auto drivers out there and those wreck-less cyclists. No, most if not all auto drivers are stupid of state and local laws that allow cyclists to use the roadway. I obey the traffic laws in HOPE that the auto drivers are doing it, thus I may survive.

Tell you what you should do. Get yourself a bike. Ride down the road about 20-25 MPH. Be coming straight down the road, seeing a vehicle approach from the right side on a street or driveway. Know that little white line they are SUPPOSE to stop BEHIND? Well try having their front bumper and fender come across that line out in front of you as you almost on top of them, but add to that a vehicle coming on your rear so that you are unable to maneuver to the left to avoid the bumper. After you live through that, tell me about your safe drivers.

No, auto drivers are all in such a hurry, that a person on a bicycle is a nuisance to them, slowing them down, and pi$$ing them off, wasting their precious time. Problem is, ACCORDING TO THE LAW, we are vehicles also and have every right to be on the road as the car. I paid taxes for the roads also. IF a cyclists breaks a traffic law, he/she should get a ticket, same as a car. Around here, I have seen police officers stop cyclists. Same with cars, if a cops sees the cyclist break a traffic law, they stop them. But, just like a car, the cops are hardly ever around when you see some nut breaking the law. I.E. Me doing 50 MPH in my Jeep last Saturday morning, getting passed by the guy in the supped up little sports car doing at least 80. Right, safe auto drivers.

A 51 year old bike rider with a court appointed lawyer?

Well, if he had any money, he probably wouldn't be peddling around town on a bicycle.