"A 27-year-old bike messenger was reportedly killed instantly when he was hit by a truck in the South Loop neighborhood on Monday afternoon. The bike messenger, who was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office as Ryan Boudreau, of the 4000 block of North Oakley Avenue, was working when a truck struck him and killed him, according to a Central District police captain...
The Chicago messenger community will hold a vigil and memorial ride for Ryan this Friday. Meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Skylark at Cermak Road and Halsted Street. Friends will speak briefly on Ryan and then lead a silent ride to the site of Ryan’s death at Clark and 18th streets."
Unfortunately, Ryan isn't the first and probably won't be the last cyclists killed in the big city. Its perhaps the biggest conundrum there is, car, trucks, and bikes need to share the road, but at times neither group has a healthy respect for each other, and each feels entitled to the road.But I'll say this, and it doesn't come from having darted through Chicago traffic for 13 years, unless the cyclist is riding as if he has no respect for his/her own life, then cars and traffic have to have a greater awareness of those on two wheels (whether motorized or not). Does it sound like I'm preaching to the choir, or like I'm an ardent bicycle activist? Maybe. But it really comes down to common sense and physics.
If a bicycles runs into a car or truck on accident, the most damage that those vehicles will incur is a dent or scratch. If the situation is reversed, its potentially someone's life!
4 comments:
No truer words...
What a wretched and senseless tradegy. I am very saddened to hear this.
The Scandanavians have had it right for a long time on so many topics most notably their bicycle laws: Car and bike accident? Bike wins everytime regardless of fault.
I have, this very night, just returned from my 4 hour roundtrip to appear at the hearing of the Paris Hilton-esk chick that hit me in NJ. Keep an eye peeled as I will shortly post the outcome and more excitingly her disposition.
Take a wild stab at her demeanor in court...
bro...she didn't have a pocket puppy with her I hope?
And more bad news:
"Kim Geist, a 20-year-old Olympic hopeful on Team Lipton, is recovering at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest after a collision with a tractor-trailer early this week. The Emmaus native suffered a broken pelvis, broken ribs, two collapsed lungs and several fractured vertebrae in the incident, but sources say her doctors expect her to make a recovery and she should return
home sometime next week. No surgery will necessary, although one of her
lungs is still being inflated artificially.
According to an article in Friday's Morning Call, Geist was riding on PA Route 100 Tuesday morning when a truck made a right turn in front of her. Geist struck the side of the
cab, then, according to a friend, she curled into a ball as she fell under the truck's rear wheels, which rolled over her."
Here is Kim Geist on the end (right) in sunglasses:
http://www.procyclingwomen.com/Granite/15.html
As a PA native, I know Route 100 all too well and know how awful that road can be. Though great country to train, PA is historically obsolete with bicycle awareness, dedicated lanes, protection, etc.
Thank you for sharing Sean. My thoughts and prayers will be with her for a speedy recovery. Thank God for no surgery.
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