Another cycling death

[ChrisV]

The Frerer's are starting a fund to help educate cyclist and motorist. It is definitely a two way street and both have a responsibility to safety. The fact of the matter is that we are going to ride and obviously the cars are going to drive. There has to be a happy medium somewhere and not just have non-cyclist saying we shouldn't be out there. That way of thinking is just down right rediculous. I know that it upsets people to slow down and wait a minute out of there day to safely go around us, but come on. We use back roads here the majority of the time and try to stay out of the way of as many cars as possible. It is just like anything else where maybe a few give the rest a bad name; I can't speak of the cyclist in each of your areas, only mine. JP's accident was a terrible accident for all involved and will never be forgotten by us that new him and rode with him weekly and hopefully it will not be in vain. If TN and LA can pass a three foot law then surely MS can. The 3 foot law also pertains to runners and walkers.
Everyone should also remember the miles that you put on a bike when you were younger and just riding around town. We had a guy that was hit by the golf course about a year ago and had both legs broken among other injuries. That could have been anyone's son or brother, daughter or sister, or any family member.
The important thing to remember is that we are not doing anything to upset anybody. We just want to ride and be safe just like we all did when we were kids. Now we just do it to stay in shape and enjoy ourselves. We all have the responsibilty of being safe and watching out for our fellow man while on the road. The whole argument that we shouldn't be there makes absolutely no sense. We pay taxes just like everyone else and have the same rights as everyone else. I completely understand that unfortunately some roads are not safe for us to use and we respect that. But to say that we shouldn't ride; let's all try to progress to the point that we realize that is insane.

screw the 3 feet law. how about a NO shoulder then NO ride law!!!! stay out of the way!!!

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Tbost, I did not say that there was no place for you cyclists on any road. My main point was that there is no place for you on heavily traveled 4 lane highways ---such as Hwy 6 where the subject accident ocurred --- and would also include Hwy 78, I-55, etc. If there is not already, there should be a law prohibiting cyclists from using such highways. It is not safe for the cyclists, nor the motorists. And it cannot be made safe by a "3 foot law" or any other rule of the road on such highways.

It is not even safe to walk along such highways. I still recall the horrible accident back in the 80s along Hwy 6 when several girls in the Chi Omega sorority, who were walking in a charity walk, were killed and severely injured after being struck by a truck pulling a hay baler. The truck was traveling in excess of the speed limit, topped a hill, and failed to timely see the walkers (who were walking out in the road) and their slow moving vehicle escorts. The truck lost control trying to stop and plowed into the rear escort vehicle and the girls. At the time, I was riding a dirt bike (motorcycle) out at Sardis Lake/Coontown landing area. As I was riding back into Oxford on college hill road, I recall seeing all the ER helicopters in the air and wondering what had happened. A little later I learned the horrible news. It was something I will never forget. To my knowledge, there have been no more charity walks along Hwy 6 by students at Ole Miss.

The concern I have for your safety tbost (and other cyclists) is not due to any poor riding on your part. In fact, you could be riding as safely as possible on such a highway and still get killed or seriously injured. When you put yourself in that position, you are literally placing your life in the hands of the other motorists on the road ---strangers who you do not know ---including people who are irresponsible --- people who are intoxicated ---people who are talking on cell phones ---- people who are texting ---people with poor eyesight --- elderly folks who don't have reflexes as fast as they used to, etc. While you also subject yourself to a similar risk when driving a vehicle, you have more chance surviving a collision with a vehicle if you are in a vehicle yourself. And you are more visible in a vehicle than on a bike. On a cycle, you have little to no chance at all in the event of a moderate to high speed collision. This risk is exponentially greater on 4 lane highways with speed limtis of 65mph and upward. High speed vehicles mixed with slow moving bicycles/vehicles/horse and buggies/horses is a dangerous mix ---which is why there are minimum speed limits on most such 4 lane highways.

While I understand your desire to ride and the freedom aspect of such a hobby, at some point you have to weigh those risks and ask yourself: "Is it worth the risk"? If you are single and no one really depends upon you, then perhaps you are willing to accept more risk. But, if you are married with children, or have others who need and depend upon you, it is hard to justify. I used to ride a bicycle for transportation when I was a kid (that is how I got around my hometown until I got my DL and my first car). And I rode a bike to school and work when I lived in Oxford ---but not on Hwy 6. If I lived in a city, and could ride on city streets, then I probably would still ride some. But, I don't, and I have too many folks who now depend upon me to unnecessarily put myself at such risk. I don't ride a street motorcycle for the exact same reasons stated herein for not riding a bicycle. I would love to do it, but it just is not worth the risk to me.

And even if you think the juice is worth the squeeze, your decision to assume such risk will ultimately negatively affect someone else's life in the event of such a tragic accident --- your loved ones --- and the other person in the accident, who most likely will not have intended for any such thing to happen, but simply did not timely see you -- and now will have to live with the accident and your death for the rest of his/her life, or might even have been killed or seriously injured as a result of the accident .

This is just a long winded way to say that this issue is not just all about you and your "right" to ride wherever you want. Some of us have been around the block of life a time or two. But, we were young once too. And while we understand where you are coming from, we also know that as you get older, have more responsibilities, and start geting a little grey hair, you will likely completely understand where we are coming from.

[rjohnson]

"screw the 3 feet law. how about a NO shoulder then NO ride law!!!! stay out of the way!!!"

Seriously???? How about you stay out of the cyclists way. I'm not one to judge so I will strike down the opinion of you I get after that statement and assume you didn't really mean it.

Po Monk you're right about laid back low rider bikes. Definitely can't see them until you get right up on them. They all need a flag or something sticking. There are places you should ride, i.e. the Natchez Trace outside of any busy area, and places you shouldn't, i.e. 4 lane highways. You do have to ask yourself if it is worth it though. I decided not even though I want to do triathlons.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Po Monk you're right about laid back low rider bikes.

rj, those thing just need to be banned outright on ANY road ---the only purpose of the flag, IMO, would be to ram up the cyclist's booty for being such an idiot ---tricycles are for little kids in driveways, not for our state and federal highways

[rjohnson]

Po Monk you're right about laid back low rider bikes.

rj, those thing just need to be banned outright on ANY road ---the only purpose of the flag, IMO, would be to ram up the cyclist's booty for being such an idiot ---tricycles are for little kids in driveways, not for our state and federal highways

I think they look ridiculous so you have my vote.

[ChrisV]

no i am serious, no shoulder then no bikes. that sounds like a great law to me, well atleast as great as the 3 feet law.

no matter to me really, i will be the one in a 4000 car doing the speed limit hitting a speed bump.

as with Po Monkey i love to ride motorcycles but I now have more then myself to be worried about. I no longer ride for that reason. in a battle against a car the cyclist will always lose.

[rjohnson]

agree, motorcycle or bike, the car/truck will almost always win, don't really stand a good chance on either, if no shoulder no bike that removes pretty much every road in MS except for 4 lanes and interstates, 3 feet law and only single file riding for the cyclists, fair enough for both sides, cyclists stay single file and folks give them a little room

[Seymore]

We have one of those tricycle things come through our neighborhood all the time and it's the craziest thing I've ever seen. I've seen this same guy riding down Eason and crossing Gloster during the 5 PM rush here in Tupelo. I'm sorry if this upsets those of you who ride but that is just stupid. Even riding a bike at that time in that location is asking for trouble as already alluded to by Po Monk.

If there's one thing I hope this tragedy does is bring attention to our government officials that there need to be restrictions placed on when and where bicycles are allowed. Sorry if this infringes upon any perceived "rights" by cyclists but motorist have the right to not be put in the position of playing dodge the cyclist when they get behind the wheel. Putting the full burden on the motorist by saying they must adhere to some distance law is a waste of time and money.

There's no "3 foot law" that will solve this problem. Only restricting bicycles to roads and times that the Department of Transportation has studied and determined that the amount of traffic on the road presents an acceptable risk will create some degree of safety. I plan to contact my legislators and ask that they pass a law stating just that. Instead of beating the drums and calling for all cyclist to ban together against the motorist, I would think the cycling community would support a logical and rational study of roadways ensuring that those roadways designated as bike approved met some criteria of safety. As it stand now all we have is a free for all with a law being proposed stating not to get close to the cyclist.

Po Monk, I believe there are already laws in place limiting walking and cycling on 4 lane highways in Mississippi. At least that is what I remember from my driver's ed book some 30 years ago. I remember the tragedy in Oxford as well. In fact two of the girls who died were friends of my wife and were in her high school class. As sad as that day was what makes it even worse is that the sorority had asked for the sheriff's office to provide escort for the walk-a-thon and the sheriff's office refused stating it was unsafe. The sorority decided to proceed with the event using their own cars as escort. Little did they know how prophetic the sheriff's office was.

I'm sure this will upset the cyclist here but so be it. To many people have died and been injured, to many families have been hurt, and to many people who have hit a cyclist are living with the aftermath. To march to mantra that it is all the motorist fault and they just need to stay away is neither practical nor reasonable.

[ChrisV]

fair enough for both sides, cyclists stay single file and folks give them a little room

if giving you "room" forces me to cross the center line then no it is not fair to me or the other motorist. sorry. how about you pedal fast enough that i do not have to pass you? sounds fair to me.

[Bigpoppa]

Chris V,

Not the time nor place. You will learn. Or not.

[peewee]

PoMonk, I agree with alot of your argument. Here in Vicksburg we mainly stick to the park and several county roads. We usually ride the same roads cause which are usually less traveled and for the most part have alot of the same motorist on the road which I believe look out for us.

Chris V has a point about cyclist staying single file. When we are on the road if we aren't single filed in a pace line as soon as someone sees a car we become single file and wave the motorist around us. But as far as not riding unless the road has a shoulder that would put every cyclist in MS on major highways, which some are part of the MS Riding Trials already.

But ChrisV, if you think a human life is equvilant to a speed bump you aint much a man to start with.

[ChrisV]

actually human life means alot to me.

The problem is that people have so many "rights" that they want to use. you have the right to jump off of a bridge and I wont stop you. You feel you have the right to ride a bike down a busy narrow road putting your life in danger. I wont stop you but i wont lose any sleep over what ever happens to you.

[GrizwalD]

saw a guy rippin on his cycle down hwy 51 yesterday at dead on 5 o clock..... IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT

[TODO]

I think its terrible that it happened, and i respect everybodys right to ride, but i have to agree with po monk on the common sense aspect of it. A 4 land highway is just no place for a bike. Period. I travel 61 going 75 twice a week, and everyonce in awhile i pass some cyclist about a foot out in the lane, totally trusting that every incoming car sees them. Makes me nervous just to watch.

[Doc & Nash]

Playing in the street never turned out good for anyone. Everyone has a right to be able to do it but at some point common sence has to prevail..