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Another day, another cyclist hit. Another month, another cyclist dead.

Reported by the county twitter feed: @Allegheny_Co 4:33 PM "Pittsburgh. 800 Baldwin Rd, Lincoln Place. A vehicle & bicyclist were involved in an accident. PGH EMS Medic 12 is on scene." Shortly thereafter, via KDKA: @CBSPittsburgh 4:54 PM "#BREAKINGNEWS Bicyclist struck and killed by vehicle along Baldwin Road: http://cbsloc.al/1b7C7NX " 800 Baldwin 15207 either is or is just off Streets Run Rd, about half a mile south of the Streets Run exit from the 885/837/Glenwood spaghetti. --- This is, by my count, possibly the eighth cyclist hit by a car in the last two weeks; the second hit today, and, of course, the second fatality this summer. Good luck finding anything on either the PG or Trib's websites, though---but hey! these ducklings are safe. (My added comment to KDKA: "@CBSPittsburgh Thanks for being the one outlet covering this story--but bikes are vehicles, too. This rider was killed by a *driver*.")
epanastrophe
2013-07-12 16:34:23
I have no words.
joanne
2013-07-12 16:40:29
I have a few words but you're not supposed to drop the f-bomb here. This is disgusting.
salty
2013-07-12 17:33:46
KDKA is also devoting more time to the ducks than to both the bike-car events of today combined. On the Oakland collision they reported that the cyclist "may have broken his leg". REALLY? The cyclist decided to reach down and snap his femur?? What a sad commentary on the accuracy of our news. No wonder I end up turning it off half the time.
srpit
2013-07-12 17:56:15
Please post more details when you get them.
stefb
2013-07-12 18:31:22
The picture of the bike in the KDKA link looks like nothing has happened to it. Of course it might not be the bike involved... good journalism and all. There was an Oakland crash too? Geeze this is shitty!
marko82
2013-07-12 18:35:54
Marko82 wrote:There was an Oakland crash too? Geeze this is shitty!
Cyclist was apparently hit by a garbage truck. ...and now you know as much as I do. Not a word on any local news site, including that of KDKA, the station that apparently broke the story.
epanastrophe
2013-07-12 18:39:05
Sad news indeed.
jmccrea
2013-07-12 18:41:33
Thanks for checking in, Marko. I immediately thought of you when I heard it was in Baldwin.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-12 19:26:57
What a shoddy, idiotic article. "Investigators did not find a helmet at the scene". Who gives a shit? Yet they can't be bothered to mention if investigators found a *car* at the scene, much less whether they took the murderer operating it into custody? Was it another hit & run?
salty
2013-07-12 21:44:21
He was riding the wrong way on Baldwin Road. Can we at least not call the motorist who hit him a murderer?
jonawebb
2013-07-12 22:48:17
I think you meant to say "it's been reported that he was riding the wrong way on Baldwin road", if you're being a stickler for terminology. Even if it's true, it doesn't relieve the driver from responsibility.
salty
2013-07-12 22:53:03
@salty yeah, that's what we have to go on. It's not that hard to figure out what side of the road an accident happened on, and which direction people were traveling when it happened. And murderer is an incredibly loaded term. Cyclists are not angels who never do anything wrong. We have a responsibility to follow the traffic laws and sometimes, when we make mistakes, terrible things happen. Let's take a step back and wait before we decide whose fault this was.
jonawebb
2013-07-13 06:28:14
Channel 11 had a good shot of the car. The upper part of the windshield on the passenger side was all cracked and concave. The accident looked to have occurred in the area of Hays where one would be coming from the South Hills, via Streets Run Road, in order to connect to the trail. These thing should not happen. The attitude that these Yinzers in their cars own the roads has to be changed in this town. I've been dealing with it for 32 years, but now that there are more cyclists on the roads, the inevitable is occurring with alarming frequency. We need a campaign like the motorcycling community is waging so that drivers are made aware that we are out there too. They should be looking and and thinking about us also while they are maneuvering through the roadways. We also need our elected officials to step up and the police to be made aware that they need to protect us. The cyclist was 57 years old. So am I, and that is too young to die while trying to ride to work, have a little fun, get some exercise, getting rid of the stress of driving to work, and doing your part to save the planet. I agree about the news and all of our local TV stations. Too much sensationalism, too little information, and too many commercials. They are more interested in running every trash story that they can find instead of any real hard news. I try to watch the news but always end up turning it off due to one or more of the above. Channel 11 ran the cycling segment as their 2nd presentation at 11 PM last evening.
fultonco
2013-07-13 07:40:46
Per street view, speed limit on that road is 25 mph. Per my own experience, speeds on that road are closer to 45... 25 should be plenty of time to avoid an oncoming rider or stop, even if they are riding erratically, as one of @Vannevar's facebook friends suggests. 45 would not be.
epanastrophe
2013-07-13 08:04:27
Love, btw, that the Trib mentions that police were "forced" to close off the Streets Run exit on 885/837, "snarling rush-hour traffic for several hours." Motorists on East Carson Street were backed up to Becks Run Road! (aren't they usually?)
epanastrophe
2013-07-13 08:10:07
This is very sad. No one should have to die for making a mistake. The man interviewed in the KDKA story admits that he too rides his bike facing traffic on this road, and nothing is said about how this is wrong. Why didn't the news station take this as an opportunity to educate the listeners to the dangers of riding AGAINST traffic?
marko82
2013-07-13 08:28:44
It is vile that every time a driver maims or kills a cyclist, the authorities and general public focus almost exclusively on what the cyclist did, with nearly zero attention on the actions of the driver piloting the three thousand pound missile down public roads. Speed limits are there to provide for a margin of error--so WHEN, not IF a driver or fellow road user makes a mistake, the driver is not at the very limit of his/her control of his/her dangerous machine. A mistake by one road user is not a get-out-of-blame-free card for the driver. This is not so different from other situations where someone is assaulted or killed--the primary onus should be on the assaulter or killer, not on the victim, even if the victim made a mistake! I have to wonder whether we need to team up with the motorcyclists--this Orwellian four-wheels-good, two-wheels-bad shite has to stop somehow.
joanne
2013-07-13 08:47:33
The guy hit on Baldwin Rd was a delivery driver and retired firefighter & marine who was biking home from work because his car was in the shop. Condolences to the family.
pseudacris
2013-07-13 13:49:14
"Mr. Zietak's widow, Sharon, said this morning that her husband was pedaling home from work at Pittsburgh Mailing in the 4700-block of Streets Run Road because his car was in the shop. She said he was not wearing a helmet." The reporter just HAD to throw that in there? *head desk* Yes, condolences to the family. Who would have thought that cycling was more dangerous than the marines and fire-fighting... another unnecessary death.
headloss
2013-07-13 14:51:47
I don't know if the general public is educated.. For instance, a guy was talking to a few of us outside of a sheetz today and had to ask if the 4 foot pass is a law or a courtesy. So there are drivers who don't know this, there are people on bikes that don't know that they should ride with traffic, there are walkers who don't know that they should walk against traffic, and most of all, there are people who don't care to drive the speed limit. I think someone else said it, but shouldn't you be able to avoid hitting things and people in front of you if you are paying attention to traffic? This is really sad indeed. I feel bad for the family.
stefb
2013-07-13 15:05:02
Bill Peduto says it's going to take years to change Pittsburgh cyclist safety - but assures it will happen. Bill Peduto: it's going to take years to change Now that the presumed-next-Mayor is back from touring Europe, if you'd like to urge him to prioritize action on bike safety the twitter handle is: @billpeduto. The questions I sent to Mr. Peduto are: Is a "years" timeframe acceptable? What's the plan? When does action start? Pittsburgh Mayor Apparent Bill Peduto: Please Champion bike safety bicycle Pittsburgh (click image to embiggen) #BurghShame #ChangeOnTheStreet
vannever
2013-07-13 18:04:30
Change could start today if the media would change their tune, particularly their template, concerning this type of story. A year of focused activism can be undone in a single night with stupid coverage that reaches hundreds of thousands.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-13 18:11:42
I think the news coverage was fine. Mentioning the helmet makes sense because it's one of a few things Mr. Zietak could have done to increase his margin for error. They could also have said something about riding with traffic. And obviously we need massive improvements in infrastructure and enforcement. I'd like to see a Pittsburgh where there was always a safe route from point A to point B, and signs directing people to it. What might help is thinking about what we can do to help riders just starting bicycling after not doing it since they were kids. They aren't likely to know about Bike Pittsburgh, with its maps etc. Is there anything we can do to help these riders in the near future? I ran into a new rider in Performance Bikes once and was telling him about Bob Firth's maps for "scaredycats". At least it would be nice if bike shops had a packet of maps and a guide to riding in traffic (and the BikePgh message board URL for more advice) to hand out to anyone who's just starting riding again.
jonawebb
2013-07-13 18:42:28
It's all a question of resources. We are about to go to print with 35,000 more maps which give a quick glimpse at the rules of the road and pretty decent, if not good routes to get around the city. We're also about done with the next edition of Bike Commuting 101, now called The Urban Biking Companion (since many people who ride don't commute). I think we're printing something like 15,000 of those and of course both of these publications are online. All one would need to do is type in to their search engine of choice any number of terms about bicycling in Pittsburgh and you'll find us and our resources. We can do more reaching out via radio, TV, bus ads, etc, but it takes money. If you would like to see this happen and you're not currently a donor/member please become one. Finally, this is a government problem too. We need to make sure that every drivers exam gets a question about biking on it which means people must STUDY that section of the vehicle code if they don't want to miss that question. Call your state rep to tell them that we need reform on how people are licensed and how often we need to pass exams to stay licensed. Laws change, people forget, bodies age...
scott
2013-07-14 11:13:45
scott wrote:Finally, this is a government problem too.
Absolutely. This is primarily a government problem. (public safety, public health, transportation, capital investments, communication). I wish they would see it that way
vannever
2013-07-14 14:00:20
I was just in a bike shop and among the pamphlets by the cash register saw nothing for new riders. It doesn't have to be elaborate and expensive. It can be small and mostly a reference to Web resources. Something like "For NEW riders: here's some things you should know about riding in Pittsburgh: riding in traffic; map resources; helmets; locks; community". Just something bike shops could hand to anyone who says they're getting on a bike for the first time since they were a kid.
jonawebb
2013-07-14 14:14:39
All the crap that puts the responsibility on new "cyclists" isn't going to help the guy whose car breaks down and he pulls a bike out of the garage Is he going to think "Ah, I better brush up on my cycling rules of the road! I bet bike shops have pamphlets to help me" Does the oncoming car have no responsibility for whatever is in front of him? Another witness said he noticed the guy wobbling. Now, even if somebody isn't wobbling in your lane of travel, what do you do? Plow straight ahead! Being in the opposite lane of travel should not be a death sentence or excuse for somebody else to run into you. If your path of travel is obstructed, SLOW DOWN, USE CAUTION Do we have evidence the motorist did either?
sgtjonson
2013-07-14 14:29:02
Jon, bike commuting 101 is for new riders. We're just out of them which means shops are out of them. They're being printed soon.
scott
2013-07-14 14:48:41
@Pierce I was thinking about that. And of course not everybody will get the news. But quite likely somebody who pulls a bike out to ride while his car is in the shop might go drop by a bike shop and pick up a tube or whatever -- and maybe see "Commuting 101". It might save a few lives. And yes, enforcement & infrastructure would save more; I was talking about what we can do right now. @Scott, good to know.
jonawebb
2013-07-14 16:09:49
One more time, I will ask: What was the driver doing driving? What transportation need was being satisfied by employing the use of an automobile? Could not this need have been satisfied some other way? Regardless of wobble or salmoning or inexperience or whatever shortcoming, this cyclist would probably still be alive today if the driver had not been behind the wheel. And in a 25 zone in broad daylight, it is difficult to explain not being able to avoid something directly in front of you. Would you hit a sitting tree branch that had fallen just because it was in your path of travel?
stuinmccandless
2013-07-14 20:04:48
I was sitting on the neighbor's porch discussing this last night. Her twenty year old daughter commented, 'I thought you were supposed to ride a bike facing traffic.' This from a girl that is smart (going to nursing school) & I think a very good and cautious driver (at least when I’ve seen/been with her). So how does a newly licensed driver not know this? AND I might add that her grandfather is an avid cyclist (albeit the recumbent trail type).
marko82
2013-07-14 21:09:31
@stu If the guy was going the speed limit, he'd probably be one out of 100 That road merges into 885, which I've been taking to work since '08 I've never even been on that road because I know there's no shoulder and it's a narrow, decent amount of traffic road Glenwood Bridge also has a speed limit of 25 Lebanon Rd, which runs parallel to Baldwin, has a speed limit of 40 and I'm regularly passed by cars going downhill when I'm doing 35-40mph, and this is when I'm aggressively taking the lane, and several times people have even changed into the opposing lane of traffic to pass me with a PAT bus barreling towards them in the opposing lane
sgtjonson
2013-07-14 21:28:03
Oh, him. Then again, he was a sergeant in 2009, too. Well, db though he's repeatedly proven himself to be, so far he hasn't said or done anything stupid in this case. Just something to keep an eye on. Thanks for pointing that out, Mick. I totally missed that little detail. For those wondering what we're talking about, Sgt. Hlavac took personal offense to a bunch of Critical Mass riders in Pittsburgh a few years back, circa 2006-07. Nasty things happened. I wasn't there. Same guy then got caught up in a domestic dispute which should have gotten him booted off the force, but instead he was reinstated with a pay raise.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-15 17:53:29
Is there gonna be a ghost bike for this?
stefb
2013-07-15 21:23:51
Concerning salmoning: I have a co-worker (that I assume is in his mid-50s) who talks to me about biking every so often. Repeatedly, he has told me, "I remember it used to be that you were supposed to ride a bike against traffic." So apparently, at some point in history, it was the law (or at least custom) in Western PA to ride your bike against the flow of traffic. It also seems some people still believe it is the law. We need to do more to educate people. I'm officially jumping on the bandwagon and agreeing that this incident could have been avoided with more resources spent on education. It would be especially nice if those resources were funded by enforcement of the traffic laws.
jaysherman5000
2013-07-15 22:20:12
I'd delete "in Western PA"; it was (and still is, unfortunately) pretty common everywhere as far as I can tell, based on accounts in "Bicycling and the Law" and "Effective Cycling", and other places. When I was a kid (70s/80s), my parents taught me to ride against traffic. On this road. With no helmet. I did it all the time, and so did all of my friends.
salty
2013-07-15 22:46:35
I'm pretty sure riding against traffic was the law in the 90's Delaware where I grew up also
sgtjonson
2013-07-15 23:17:34
I wouldn't go so far as to say the accident could have been avoided if Mr. Zietak wasn't riding against traffic. That puts way too much responsibility on the cyclist. Baldwin road is a dangerous road, drivers speed all the time, etc. When I pointed this out, I was objecting to Salty's calling the driver a murderer, which goes too far in the other direction, I think.
jonawebb
2013-07-16 06:39:48
That last PG article has a lot of problems as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully I can find some time to point those out to Mr Silver. I was riding home last evening through Crafton and a middle aged guy in a minivan waved me over to talk. He said he was a friend of the victim, and would be going to the funeral today. Asked if I had heard about it. He kept saying "be safe out there", as I stood listening in my hi vis construction vest, helmet, blinky lights going front and rear. It was touching.
edmonds59
2013-07-16 07:14:08
Text of my email to Jonathan Silver of the Pgh Post Gazette: "Mr. Silver, I appreciated your article on the death of Mr. Zietak, but respectfully, I have some issues with your presentation of it. For one thing, the statement "When Jeffrey "Zeke" Zietak took the bike ride that would end up killing him,..." is stooping to a bit of sensationalistic hyperbole, in my opinion. The bike ride did not kill him. An automobile driver killed him, it could not be more clear. Then, "...as Mr. Zietak made his way down Baldwin Road in Hays without a helmet for the first leg of his commute,..." I realize you are trying to weave a lot of information into a short article, but to insert "without a helmet" into this statement is superfluous. Whether you realize it or not, you are subtly conveying blame onto Mr. Zietak, when he was doing something he was entirely within his rights to be doing. Helmets help reduce head injuries in low speed falls, but when a person is hit by a car doing 35 mph plus, a helmet is of little use. "Sgt. Connolly said investigators will look into whether drugs or alcohol were a factor." On the part of whom, Mr. Zietak or the driver? You do not make this clear. The implication is clearly on Mr. Zietak. Was the driver checked? This was in broad daylight. Was the driver on the phone, or texting? The article presents no details regarding the driver. "Bicycles are supposed to go with the flow of traffic,..." However, if Mr. Zietak had been a pedestrian, he would have been in the right. Is it possible that if Mr. Zietak had been walking, this driver would have hit him anyway? What if it had been a child, would they also have been hit at the same location? How does a driver not see a full grown man in the lane directly in front of them? Your article questions none of this. Your article goes on to wax favorably regarding Mr. Zietak as a person, but it subtly and repeatedly places the blame on the victim. This is poor journalism. Please be more rigorous in your writing. These issues affect many road users critically. Thanks, Bill Edmonds Robinson Township, PA"
edmonds59
2013-07-16 08:14:07
Mr Edmonds, it is high time that I buy you a beer.
mick
2013-07-16 10:39:31
Well, Mr. Silver sent a very nice response to my comments, which I appreciate, but he just does not get how the subtle directional cues in his presentation will affect riders in the real world. At. All. Not a freaking clue.
edmonds59
2013-07-16 10:52:28
edmonds59 wrote:as Mr. Zietak made his way down Baldwin Road in Hays without a helmet for the first leg of his commute,…” I realize you are trying to weave a lot of information into a short article, but to insert “without a helmet” into this statement is superfluous.
I agree that the way the article was written was annoying (especially the "bike ride that killed him" part), but I do like to know whether a rider was wearing a helmet or not. It's kind of the like the "how was your bike locked when it was stolen?" question. There's a danger that it sounds like victim-blaming, but it's also a very useful data point as others try to make decisions about how they bike.
willb
2013-07-16 12:26:08
@WillB yeah, and I'm not exactly as sure as Ed that a helmet would have been of no use in this accident. I've seen the bashed in windshield but I guess I'd have to know more -- more than I want to know, actually -- about the trauma to Mr. Zietak's body to make that determination.
jonawebb
2013-07-16 12:33:01
@jon, that's really my point exactly... we don't know, so it seems kind of superfluous to even print that without details. Stating that xyz injuries occurred and such and such expert has stated that a helmet would have made a difference, is helpful information. Stating that the cyclists didn't have a helmet (stop), is just unnecessary and does seem to place blame on the cyclist.
headloss
2013-07-16 14:01:46
Just heard more info from a second/third?hand source Guy on Baldwin was sideswiped previously on the same trip before he got fatally hit, which might explain the wobbling He also rode for pleasure, car was fixed
sgtjonson
2013-07-16 14:27:14
@Drewbacca, reading the story, it says he died in from skull and spinal fractures. So yeah, I'd say the helmet is relevant. They aren't magic but they are supposed to prevent the trauma that killed this guy, and they work pretty well. Can't say if they would have saved his life -- but it's certainly conceivable. Also, his not wearing it does speak to his relationship to cycling, as does his riding on the wrong side of the road, buying the bicycle recently at a garage sale, etc. I can certainly see why discussing these details, focusing on the rider, tends towards blaming the cyclist for the accident. But they also help us understand him, which is what this reporter is trying to do. And I would have preferred the story also mentioned the terrible conditions on Baldwin Road, the speeding, etc. That would have made it more balanced.
jonawebb
2013-07-16 14:47:05
I wasn't going to comment further out of respect for Mr. Z. and his family. With that said, some of the speculation above could be clarified, at least to some extent, by heading over to the crash site, taking in the totality of the situation, and while there saying a prayer or having a moment of silence for Mr. Z. and his family. You can observe, among other things, the spray paint markings on the ground, the sight lines that the driver and Mr. Z. might have had, the weeds that are encroaching on the shoulder and somewhat obstructing a wide field of vision, the fact that the houses in front of where the crash happened sit arm's length from the white line (again obstucting the field of vision), that fact that the point of impact is marked as being immediately after the apex of a curve, and any other factors you might think are relevant. Despite traveling this road more days than not for the last 15 years or so, I have no idea who was at fault, or if both were at fault, in what percentages. I will say, though, that I can imagine a wide range of very realistic situations. They range from the driver being 100% at fault to the driver being completely blameless, and everything in between. I would need to hear the driver, first responders and any witnesses testify under oath before assigning blame. As for Jon's comments about conditions on the road being terrible, that's true at certain times. Between 3:30 and 6:30 in the afternoon it is not good at all as it is a major artery for people who work downtown and live in Brentwood, Baldwin, Whitehall, Pleasant Hills, Jefferson, South Park, a small slice of West Mifflin and who knows where else. Beyond those hours, the traffic is pretty low and pretty slow. The main problem is that the shoulder of the road is either blocked by Japanese knotweed, filled with gravel from the various parking lots, or filled with sediment from the endless runoff. If someone would take the time to knock down the knotweed and run a skid steer with a power broom on the shoulder, most sections would be massively improved and there would be about half a bike lane for most of the distance. I would rent a machine and fix it myself if I had the time, permission from Baldwin Borough and insurance coverage.
jmccrea
2013-07-16 15:49:22
Thanks for the info Jacob. It's been bothering me that the guy in the news clip & my 20 year old neighbor both incorrectly believe that riding facing traffic is safe (as unfortunately Mr. Z did); so I've been searching the web looking for a reference to when cycling against traffic was considered good practice and I can't find anything. I did run across a 1950 safety video that clearly says to stay right. http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2010/05/bicycle-safety-video-from-1950.html So how is it that 60+ years on people still don't know what side of the road to ride a bike on? Edit: I'm not assigning blame & I don't know what Mr Z knew, but he surly would have been safer on the other side of the road. I guess I'm bothered by why people don't know this.
marko82
2013-07-16 16:12:17
...safer on the same side of the road, but riding in the other direction (with traffic).
quizbot
2013-07-16 17:26:26
The only institutionalized dissemination of the salmon myth that I know of was related to me by a friend who was in the Boy Scouts. He *insisted* that this was the correct way to ride, simply because the Boy Scouts said so. Other than that, it's probably being consistently reinforced by the notion that a bike isn't a car and must be too slow for the *real* road and can't be taken seriously therefor you might as well behave like a pedestrian. I used to ride this road almost daily a few years ago and the assessment by Jacob is spot on. In either direction the shoulder is often non-existent, and there is no shortage of obstacles in and out of the lane. (I was nearly taken down by a startled cat chowing down on McDonald's - presumably thrown from a car? - with an SUV close-passing on my left and a rocky creek-bed 10 feet below on the right.) It must be bewildering to many who knew him that he died doing something he *chose* to do for the joy of it, when for practical purposes he could have just driven like everyone else (if that information is accurate). In any case, we've had far too many people punished this year for doing something good for themselves and which doesn't harm anyone else, and without a positive response from local police/government I'm afraid this year could be an overall loss on PR for cycling in the region, only exacerbating the problem of fewer riders and reduced cyclists' safety, as we all know. My condolences to the family and all who knew him.
renny
2013-07-16 19:25:01
Marko82 wrote:I’ve been searching the web looking for a reference to when cycling against traffic was considered good practice and I can’t find anything.
When I was in 6th grad, I was prepping for my first bike trip (15 miles downwind and down 700 feet that went really well! (followed by a hellish return). I read a book in the school library about bicycle touring. I recall it saying to ride on the left and if baffled me. It would have been suicidal in the trip I made. The book was "old" - it might have been from the late 1930s. Recently I found myself pondering: what if it was an English book (the country, not the language)?
mick
2013-07-16 19:51:18
jonawebb wrote:reading the story, it says he died in from skull and spinal fractures.
Yes, it was pertinent-ish in that article, but not in some of the earlier reports. Sorry, I was generalizing. I actually thought that the later report was more reasonable (but I do agree with edmonds that it was placing unnecessary blame).
headloss
2013-07-16 22:46:09
Re bike safety education, have you seen the embroidery by Mary Mazziotti currently on display/sale at the Society for Contemporary Craft? Here are closeups and a full view (courtesy of Yale Cohen). I like this. SCC hours are Mon-Sat 10-5. 21st & Smallman, Strip District, Pittsburgh.
paulheckbert
2013-07-18 09:52:41
Anyone know any details about the one that happened last night?
stefb
2013-07-18 18:43:22
(photo posted last night about 740pm, reposted by @BloomfieldNow this afternoon: ?@jeffreynryan "Another biker hit on Liberty in Bloomfield @bikepgh http://pic.twitter.com/R42uR8LKVu " BTW, this one showed up in the police blotter, for once: http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/police/blotter/blotter_wednesday.pdf#page=23 indicates arrest at 19:45, 12 minutes after "Incident Time" of 19:33, for "Driving While Operating Privilege is Suspended or Revoked", "Careless Driving", and "Accident Involv. Death/Inj. While not Licensed")
epanastrophe
2013-07-18 19:05:21
I'm surprised that there's not more righteous anger in this thread. Another day, another cyclist hit. Meh. Who the fuck cares?
quizbot
2013-07-18 21:19:08
quizbot wrote:I’m surprised that there’s not more righteous anger in this thread. Another day, another cyclist hit. Meh. Who the fuck cares?
Five stages of grief... just not anger at the moment.
headloss
2013-07-18 21:42:22
We've seen plenty of grief over the last dozen years. When exactly should I expect the anger to kick in?
quizbot
2013-07-18 23:39:07
Although I believe most of the local population is stuck on Denial (there's no problem, it's always been this way, it'll take 20 years to fix this, it's the cost of doing business, accidents happen, this is the way things are), and although my facade is placid, ICYMI within me is a whirling tornado of Anger. I am most angry at the Perpetrators, those that do the violence, but I have definite a Tier-Two anger at the Acceptors.
vannever
2013-07-19 06:17:39
@quizbot, There is plenty of anger, believe me. I personally would rather leave all of that off this thread, and the entire forum for that matter. Let this be one place where we can come to get the facts, the news already skews everything to elicit ratings emotional response.
ericf
2013-07-19 06:27:30
I'm going to say it again: the only thing that will stop people whose licenses have been suspended from driving is if there is a decent chance that they will be stopped at a roadblock and checked to see if their license is valid. Police do this all the time in CA, and PA should do it too.
jonawebb
2013-07-19 07:11:21
I'm beyond anger and into trying to organize something. Something that would really push the envelope with a very public "Enough, dammit". I would like to do it above board, but if I cannot get approvals from the authorities, I'm willing to do it without approvals. Contact me off board. PM me, or hit me up on text or Fb or whatever. I'm easy to find.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-19 15:01:25
I just talked with my sister -- they stopped doing the checks in CA years ago. Budget problems. And this happened.
jonawebb
2013-07-19 15:08:17
I’m beyond anger and into trying to organize something. Something that would really push the envelope with a very public “Enough, dammit”. I would like to do it above board, but if I cannot get approvals from the authorities, I’m willing to do it without approvals. Contact me off board. PM me, or hit me up on text or Fb or whatever. I’m easy to find.
I would truly love to be able to set up a semi-permanent billboard in a very public place, showing the pictures of the last three people killed in a traffic collision in our region, and update it every time someone else dies on the road.
reddan
2013-07-19 15:39:00
I like the idea of the dropping-dead civil disobedience thing Maybe do it at the police HQ, Peduto's office
sgtjonson
2013-07-19 21:51:51
@jon, granted, it was a DUI checkpoint... but I totally got check-pointed tonight post Flock. :) I thought of your comments and thanked the cops! :p
headloss
2013-07-20 01:31:28
@DB yay!
jonawebb
2013-07-20 08:15:55
@edmonds59: not assault level anger, just do something about it anger. I'm liking @pierce's idea of civil disobedience, but maybe save it for the new mayor.
quizbot
2013-07-20 19:45:03
I would give Peduto a chance. I actually talked with him (!) recently and brought up bikes and he was immediately on about how this is going to take time, Portland has a 20 year plan, etc. It sounded like he really wants to make a difference but people are pressuring him to get stuff done faster than it is possible. He mentioned to me that first priority is 20-25 dangerous intersections, which I think means red light cameras. I think they're planning to put one in for testing at Shady and Dallas. If we could get him to do that and start trying to get unlicensed / DUI drivers off the road that would be a good start, I think, and something he can do right away.
jonawebb
2013-07-20 20:06:13
jonawebb wrote:He mentioned to me that first priority is 20-25 dangerous intersections, which I think means red light cameras.
I just moved here from Knoxville, TN, a very heavy red light camera city. I was waiting at a light and turned left at an intersection as the opposing traffic was making right turns on red. I got brushed by somebody that didn't yield to my right of way (they had a red, but didn't run it because I guess they technically stopped first). I emailed the traffic cop in charge of the red light cameras, and basically the companies write the contracts in such a way that you can't get video of anything other than red light runs. So I had no way to get any license plate info, despite being in the presence of 4 government cameras. And besides that, the red light cameras weren't targeting bike intersections. They were targeting high yield areas, similar to an 88/51 intersection. I don't think anybody in Knoxville would agree that red light cameras made the city a more bicycle friendly city. I would be careful about getting excited about red light cameras.
sierramister
2013-07-20 21:05:13
jonawebb wrote:... I think they’re planning to put one in for testing at Shady and Dallas...
Do you mean Forbes & Dallas?
paulheckbert
2013-07-20 21:26:09
sierramister wrote: I would be careful about getting excited about red light cameras.
Agreed. I've lived with red-light-cameras in both Seattle and Chicago... In either case, they were in money generating areas and did little if anything to improve overall safety. In fact, I'd say that the caused more accidents due to drivers being torn on whether to drive as usual or to be overly cautious at intersections with cameras. By overly cautious, I mean slamming on brakes at the last minute and being unpredictable to other near by drivers. They could be used for traffic control quite effectively, but I've yet to see them used in this way.
headloss
2013-07-20 21:37:43
Street protests, die-ins, etc helped the Netherlands get its bicycling infrastructure. In the 1960s and 70s, after the rising number of cars on Dutch streets resulted in over 400 child deaths by car per year, nationally, there were grass-roots protests that got the attention of the politicians. See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o Discussion of the video: http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/10/how-dutch-got-their-cycling.html That graph (of all road deaths, not just cyclist deaths) from http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/04/netherlands-traffic-deaths-down-again.html
paulheckbert
2013-07-20 21:57:56
Drewbacca wrote:In fact, I’d say that the caused more accidents due to drivers being torn on whether to drive as usual or to be overly cautious at intersections with cameras. By overly cautious, I mean slamming on brakes at the last minute and being unpredictable to other near by drivers.
the various studies that have been done at intersections with red light cameras have shown, after the cameras are installed, a slight increase in rear-end collisions, but a slight decrease in overall collisions, and a significant decrease in fatal collisions.
hiddenvariable
2013-07-20 23:55:30
We're discussing the details of the Moon Twp / Sewickley Bridge fatality on this thread.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-21 11:48:52
@jonawebb Peduto could also make traffic enforcement a police priority from day one
sgtjonson
2013-07-21 14:51:25
I saw Bumper Bike Aaron today at Aiken & Centre, first I'd seen him in a while. What if we all followed his lead and all rode a fleet of bumper bikes around the city? It would certainly get peoples' attention.
salty
2013-07-21 17:11:16
Saw the video, quite a character. Seems like an opportune time to share an idle thought I had a long time ago. How about a bunch of us riding with giant pool noodles affixed to the back of a bike with 4 FEET PLEASE in maximum size bold font and and an arrow on it?? Bonus for some hash marks actually measuring out 4 feet out to the left on the noodle. Could be done infinitely better, but in most basic form, once you have the noodle or two, a few clear sleeves for 8 X 11s affixed, and a printer, you can say this or really anything else bike safety/respect on the roads related, and it would be seen. I've not done this so far because of time, knowledge that I'd be alone, a lack of desire to highlight myself on the road (both safety and because I'd have to be better about stopping), uncertainty whether a driver hitting the noodle would cause me too much instability and endanger my safety on the bike, and because it would make parking the bike a bit of a pain. But safety concern aside, and that may be overblown... these things are bendy foam after all, basically my thought is, one person doing it is a crank. 20 sends a message. 100 sends a message that can't be ignored. So, for public consumption, feedback appreciated... would anyone else be up for this sort of thing?
byogman
2013-07-21 22:34:06
Throw enough spaghetti at the wall and some piece will stick.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-21 23:05:43
salty wrote:I saw Bumper Bike Aaron today at Aiken & Centre, first I’d seen him in a while. What if we all followed his lead and all rode a fleet of bumper bikes around the city? It would certainly get peoples’ attention.
I love this idea if it would get the media's attention too. With all the attention they've been giving bike-related issues, I wonder if the Post Gazette would be on board if we gave them notice, did it downtown (where a photog/writer wouldn't have to travel too far to get shots) and at a non-rush hour time.
rustyred
2013-07-24 10:31:37
I bought an extendable paint pole last week for the same purpose (my thought is that I can adjust it inward or outward, depending on where I'm riding). I got a pointy looking red attachment that screws onto the end. Drivers are clearly not concerned about ending my life--but I'm thinking they will give me lots of space if they think my pointy pole will scratch their paint. I just have to work out something that will offer some "give" if anyone actually hits it.
joanne
2013-07-24 17:53:56
There's this: Also tthis. And, oh my goodness! US Patents 3945336 and 4116154. Just from a quick search for 'bicycle distance safety device" I ignored the many devices that project an image of a bike lane etc on the ground, because I think they're stupid. If drivers were looking for bike lanes we wouldn't have this problem.
jonawebb
2013-07-24 18:21:42
I'm picturing giant foam hands with a middle-finger... I mean a pointer-finger and "4ft please."
headloss
2013-07-24 22:52:29
I think it's more dangerous to ride around with a bunch of weird stuff hanging off the sides of your bike for the purpose of making your bike wider than not doing that. Stuff like the car shoo could probably be found in a sharper image catelog next to slimming waist bands, a computer mouse that looks like a bmw, and stairs that let your short dog climb up on to your bed. I also think it is interesting that aaron rides a bumper bike, but I stop short at trying to encourage him to do so, I think it could be putting him in more danger.
benzo
2013-07-25 08:52:33
Maybe there is traction then, at least on ideas similar to noodles. Let's get concrete. Who all would jump in and split on the cost of a big pack of noodles? They're real cheap bought that way.
byogman
2013-07-25 09:34:21
It's a wonderful example of how I misread text-only communication without visual feedback or context. When Ben said "lets get concrete", I thought he meant: skip that plastic pole stuff, let's get cement jousting sticks. Later I realized he meant, let's get specific. I'm very apprehensive about sticking things out of bikes and daring/forcing/provoking/ people in 3500-pound vehicles. And yes, this is my bike with the fold-out traffic flag, in the stowed position: and this is the rear-view in the deployed position: And yes, I did find that people gave me a more room when I rotated/extended/deployed that thing, it's called a Herrman's Safety Flag or a Lollipop Flag. (you could look it up) I think they gave me room because they thought I was crazy. These Yinzer's ain't Brits n'at and I really wonder if the path you're discussing is... sustainable. (let's get concrete.... I loved that)
vannever
2013-07-25 14:31:30
If I were going to put a long pole on the left of my bike, I'd get the Bicyline device that @jonawebb found ($30 with shipping, http://www.dinoinvdes.com/seguridad_bicisMgr.php). It looks like a nice design. It's not as goofy looking as the Car Shoo, and you can extend it up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) while you pedal. But I don't plan to buy one for myself just yet. If someone else in Pittsburgh gets one, I'm interested to hear how it works out for them, however.
paulheckbert
2013-07-25 16:03:32
I'm guessing anything that increases your visibility and acts as a deterrent to close passing for the overwhelming majority drivers from close passing is a net safety win. Though there is a tiny minority of drivers who would see that as yet another reason to feel aggrieved and possibly take it out on the cyclist. So maybe not. Anyways, my recent thoughts have turned to it not really as a permanent bike fixture (I don't filter much, but I prefer to have the flexibility), but as cheap protest enabler in the light of recent events (and sigh... maybe future ones). Plus, then you've got a pool noodle (ok, maybe not a plus for all, but I have three kids). Works best that way if lots of people do it. Plus, noodles are cheaper in a pack.
byogman
2013-07-25 23:12:57
I'm just primarily looking at it as an experiment: if I mount something scratchy, will that finally tap into an area of concern for some motorists: their shiny paint jobs?
joanne
2013-07-26 10:40:01
Regarding the practice of hanging stuff off your bike to promote safe passing, has anyone thought about the impact it may have on other cyclists? If you are riding slower than me and I want to pass you, your little protection phallus forces me to pedal farther than I normally would into the lane, potentially exposing me to greater hazards. Granted, I should technically pass you with 4 feet of clearance, even when we're both on bikes, but in practice, the use of the protection phallus just seems like a dick move.
jaysherman5000
2013-07-26 10:58:18
@JS5000 I don't think cyclists have to pass cyclists w/4 foot clearance. That's just motorists. The all-powerful bike lobby wins again. But I do agree, the protection phallus is sort of annoying for that reason. Also limits filtering.
jonawebb
2013-07-26 11:03:11
JaySherman5000 wrote:I should technically pass you with 4 feet of clearance, even when we’re both on bikes, but in practice, the use of the protection phallus just seems like a dick move.
Clearly, you should also have one--in fact, you should have one on both sides, and then y'all can joust.
epanastrophe
2013-07-26 11:04:42
(I'm not sure how long @joanne's paint stick is, but when i pass cyclists, I usually give them more room than at least that 'car-shoo' flyswatter seems to extend, and for the same reason I want a car to pass me wide---not merely to avoid scaring the other rider, but to give both of us ample room for any emergency maneuvers either of us may need to make... or just a simple momentary arm-twitch's wobble.)
epanastrophe
2013-07-26 11:08:50
@jonawebb: Operating from memory only, I think the PA law states that cyclists have the same "rights and duties" as motor vehicles, and the 4 foot law* does not contain an exception for bikes. Unless the law says "when operating a motor vehicle and overtaking a pedalcycle," you are required to give 4 feet, even when Cat 6-ing me. *Tangential argument: can we please try hard to wipe out instances of people referring to this law as the "4 foot rule"? Using the correct verbiage in this case will remind people that it should be taken seriously. After all, I'd hate for people to start referring to a "don't murder rule".
jaysherman5000
2013-07-26 11:51:41
I haven't finalized my design yet, but I'm thinking it will stick out a foot to 18 inches. Too much?
joanne
2013-07-26 12:06:59
@JS5000, PA 3303 (a) (3) (3) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a pedalcycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left of the pedalcycle within not less than four feet at a careful and prudent reduced speed.
jonawebb
2013-07-26 12:11:20
@ jaySherman Tangential argument: can we please try hard to wipe out instances of people referring to this law as the “4 foot rule”? ?
mick
2013-07-26 12:21:56
@JS5000, PA 3303 (a) (3)
(3) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a pedalcycle proceeding
in the same direction shall pass to the left of the pedalcycle within not less than four feet at a careful and prudent reduced speed.
Ya know, I never before noticed that the law talks about the DRIVER passing "within not less than four feet", not the VEHICLE.
reddan
2013-07-26 13:05:59
Oh, so since the driver is on the left side of the car, and already has three, three-and-a-half feet between him and the right side mirror, that means they can pass us legally with only six inches of space?
stuinmccandless
2013-07-26 13:09:35
This explains those PAT bus buzzings.
jonawebb
2013-07-26 13:27:05
This explains those PAT bus buzzings.
Exactly. All this time, we were the ones who didn't grasp the intent of the law.
reddan
2013-07-26 13:42:42
@JAWs: thanks for clarifying, I was too lazy to look up the statute. @Mick: In many articles, posts, and other discussions, I've noticed people referring to the four-foot passing law as the "4 foot rule." I think referring to the statute as a rule instead of a law makes it sound like obeying is optional rather than mandatory. Breaking rules seldom has serious consequences, whereas breaking a law (usually) comes with legal and financial consequences. I consider this just as important as referring to vehicle collisions as such and not calling them accidents.
jaysherman5000
2013-07-26 15:38:56
Ok. So you wanted it referred to as a"Law".. Your post was a head-scratching thing to me because you only referred to a complex of concepts you wanted to wipe out. Don't think of the color blue.
mick
2013-07-26 18:47:39
I'm good with 4-Foot-Law. I'm also good with "collision" and not accident. +1
vannever
2013-07-26 22:21:27
Stopped to take a photo of the location and some flowers that have been placed. Had an unexpected experience: while I was taking the picture a driver stopped and waiting for the light rolled down the window and said, "Hey we're real sorry about that". I thought that was very gracious of them and I really appreciated it.
vannever
2013-07-28 19:30:25
@V, I know speculation is frowned upon- but after seeing it in person do you have any insight into what could have gone wrong? I'm referring to light timing, signage, etc. I hope we put a ghost bike up for this family. The tragic irony will be that it will probably be secured to the bike-route sign.
marko82
2013-07-28 20:19:13
Marko, I'm sorry - I guess I've posted in the Fatalities thread when there's a specific thread elsewhere. My bad, I'm sorry. I think that Swalfort and Stu's comments here and here are probably very close to the mark. Yes, I agree about the ghost bike. A daily reminder that a lot of people would see. OTOH it might be difficult for the family, and there are younger siblings. We'll see. I'm also convinced that the Moon PD has done everything a cyclist could possibly want them to do, so kudos to them.
vannever
2013-07-28 22:50:09
@V, thanks. I did read those posts, I was just curious if anything had changed since the streetview pic; or if seeing the red/green/walk light sequence caused any confusion for either the driver or cyclist. It's good to know that the PD is giving this the seriousness it deserves too.
marko82
2013-07-29 06:25:05
I can see it now- some hot rod cyclist passes me on the jail trail at a high rate of speed unannounced with six inches of clearance- I chase them down and ask WTF? They reply "I have the legal right to do that!" I feel that as cyclists, we could at least treat each other with respect, and hope that motor vehicles do the same.
helen-s
2013-08-01 06:39:15
^I'm with you there Helen S. I think the broader problem is empathy, or the lack thereof. Experienced cyclists can ride safely all day long at 25 mph 6" from each other. It doesn't occur to them that the thing that feels completely safe to them will freak someone else out. Likewise, the newbies on the trail don't have a clue that weaving back and forth, stopping right in the path, and generally being asshats might actually be a problem and endanger people. Drivers as well. We have had the empathy intentionally engineered out of our society for the last 40 years, with the message that greed is good, it's a dog eat dog world, looking out for yourself is the only moral way. Horseshit. If you can think of a way to reverse that message, you will be on the path to solving an innumerable number of problems.
edmonds59
2013-08-01 08:05:50
edmonds59 wrote:Experienced cyclists can ride safely all day long at 25 mph 6? from each other. It doesn’t occur to them that the thing that feels completely safe to them will freak someone else out.
I would disagree on that. Moving in the pack is completely separate art. Experienced cyclists do not ride in packs with newbies or other unfamiliar cyclists because it's a matter of trust. And they are very aware of this fact. There are lots of rules for riding in a pack. Starting from do not move across a pack and ending when and how you can overlap wheels and almost constant pedaling (if people stop pedaling that means something is happening and you should be very aware). How to go in a turn is another complicated rule.
mikhail
2013-08-01 10:48:32
Ghost bike on Moon side of Sewickley Bridge.
vannever
2013-08-03 19:31:53
This is the only ghost bike I am likely to pass on a regular basis. Thanks to those responsible for getting it out there. It will be a reminder to ride safe, and also to send mental hugs to Emily's parents.
swalfoort
2013-08-03 20:52:47
Who placed that? God that's heartbreaking.
edmonds59
2013-08-03 22:11:08
I ran across this on Cyclelicious. Seems to be a low-tech version of the devices discussed here.
jonawebb
2013-08-23 12:43:54
Not ideal when biking in the peloton. He's sitting on the log, isn't he!?
paulheckbert
2013-08-23 12:49:49
Hard to tell. He's also wearing a longish (hip+ -length, anyway) coat. what gets me is, it seems to be balanced there--I don't see anything holding it on.
epanastrophe
2013-08-23 19:25:21
buffalo buffalo wrote: What gets me is, it seems to be balanced there–I don’t see anything holding it on.
He is Russian, his buttocks are strong, like bull!
rustyred
2013-08-23 19:36:18
RustyRed wrote:
buffalo buffalo wrote: What gets me is, it seems to be balanced there–I don’t see anything holding it on.
He is Russian, his buttocks are strong, like bull!
Serbian, actually, if the watermark is taken at face value. (This is where the Polish/Ukrainian steps out to let the crowd make their own decisions on what that means... ;-) )
epanastrophe
2013-08-23 19:50:46
As a half breed Ukraine, we dumb as bull too.
marko82
2013-08-23 21:09:53
I just had a reporter from a radio show from C.A come by the Museum today, he asked me if Pittsburgh is more bike friendly as he has found that more accident reports this last two years .I said yes I think so, more bike lanes more events more bike sales and I think more bikers young and older just getting into the bike thing and all,,,,more bikers more accident,s,,,,,,Motorist are not out to kill people but cars are bigger than bikes and its a bad mix when a accident happened"s. I hope everyone is carful this Sunday and with so many bikers out that day its a good chance for an accident.,,Bicycle Heaven will be open for Pedal P.G.H bike event,,free bike repairs and water ,,we will do the best we can not knowing how many can stop by,,,,,
bicycle-heaven
2013-08-23 22:41:33
Vannevar wrote:Ghost bike on Moon side of Sewickley Bridge.
edmonds59 wrote:Who placed that? God that’s heartbreaking.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,craig / brian schaffer from bicycle heaven gave that to a customer,,,is it still there ?
bicycle-heaven
2013-08-23 23:13:37
That was very nice of you. It was still there as of a few days ago, and I suspect it's not going anywhere. It's secured by a very heavy chain, painted in her high school's colors. Thank you very much.
vannever
2013-08-24 07:05:46
It was nice meeting everyone who stopped by during pedal Pittsburgh.I am glad to here all went well,we did get one girl who came by as she had a bad fall cut knees elbow and such.I am also glad channel 2 dident put me on t.v for the tagged street in front of the Museum lol,,,all is well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hope to see everyone again next year
bicycle-heaven
2013-08-27 10:11:57
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/teenage-boy-bicycle-hit-car-sheraden/nZhBD/ "A 16-year-old boy remains hospitalized Friday morning after he was hit by a car while riding a bicycle Thursday night in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood. Authorities said the accident happened at the intersection of Ladoga and Fayette streets around 8 p.m." I'm guessing they mean Fadette St. Here's what the intersection looks like: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=sheraden,+pittsburgh,+pa&hl=en&ll=40.452891,-80.068547&spn=0.002474,0.003996&sll=40.356509,-79.91927&sspn=2.536692,4.092407&t=m&hnear=Sheraden,+Pittsburgh,+Allegheny,+Pennsylvania&z=18&layer=c&cbll=40.452773,-80.068622&panoid=QbBjPebCGhfdOFLuvpN4Qw&cbp=12,48.62,,0,20.05
paulheckbert
2013-08-30 08:23:21
That whole neighborhood is being overrun by drivers trying to avoid the W.Carson st closure. I rode thru there a few days ago. Ridiculous.
edmonds59
2013-08-30 11:26:23
Ladoga has no stop signs after Middletown. The entire rest of the street is unsigned.
jonawebb
2013-08-30 11:42:11
No comments on the story (even after I registered on the site). So, my usual litany of questions: * Where was the driver coming from and going to? * How could that trip been avoided through better planning or timing? * Could the purpose of that trip been accomplished by use of a bicycle or transit? * When was the last time the driver ever rode a bicycle around dusk? A couple of questions concerning the environment: * From StreetView, it indeed does appear the stop sign on Fadette is missing. I cannot determine whether there ever were any on Ladoga. * I do not think of Ladoga as a high-traffic street. It doesn't really connect anything. * Steep downhill going north. Which direction was the car going? * Would a Twenty Is Plenty campaign have done any good here? * It's getting dark at 8 p.m. in late August. A couple of questions concerning the cyclist: * Was he actually traveling someplace, or just noodling around the neighborhood? * Headlight? Taillight or at least a reflector? Dressed light or dark? * Has this cyclist ever received any significant guidance on how to ride on the street at night? (I'm going to guess "no" because I can't think of a child in this country who has, unless s/he grew up in a family of cyclists.)
stuinmccandless
2013-08-30 12:26:26
a friend of mine just posted a photo to her facebook from inside the back of an ambulance. she got hit by someone on a motorcycle. wtf.
cburch
2013-08-30 15:51:56
I almost got left hooked again yesterday from somebody pulling into Lowes by the waterfront from the backside, where cyclists are now going instead of the actual trail Guy said he was "looking where he was turning, not ahead" It was by the curved area by the plants. He seemed apologetic and I asked him to keep an eye out for people == I had a bunch of motorcyclists pass me very close and at very high speed on 885 about a month ago while going under the airport tunnel in West Mifflin
sgtjonson
2013-08-30 16:39:08
cburch wrote:a friend of mine just posted a photo to her facebook from inside the back of an ambulance. she got hit by someone on a motorcycle. wtf.
I had someone on a Harley pass me @ about 2 feet, maybe less, on Arlington during Pedal Pittsburgh. Twice.
epanastrophe
2013-08-30 23:56:09
joanne wrote:I bought an extendable paint pole last week for the same purpose (my thought is that I can adjust it inward or outward, depending on where I’m riding). . . . . .
Joanne, I just came across this photo, Glacier National Park in the mid-1980's according to the attribution. I think it might have everything you're looking for - a tiny flag sticking out of the side, a lot of visibility, and a major spirit of whimsey.
vannever
2013-09-09 20:43:27
Ha! was just coming to post the same thing. (Don't know about VB, but I found it via The Path Less Pedaled.)
epanastrophe
2013-09-09 21:15:06
@Vannevar and @buffalo buffalo, whoa! I wonder if drivers would stare at that and unconsciously steer toward it? I wonder what would have the most effective "give me space" effect? Something threatening (e.g., Edgar Snyder on the back of one's shirt)? Something silly, like the clown above? Something likely to elicit a sense of empathy and unity ("go Steelers")? Hmm.
joanne
2013-09-10 18:23:55
joanne wrote: I wonder what would have the most effective “give me space” effect? Something likely to elicit a sense of empathy and unity (“go Steelers”)? Hmm.
Funny you should mention this, I have two Pirates stickers on my helmet, it gets many a comment/shout from drivers and pedestrians alike. (it's kinda unnerving actually, to have strangers scream "LET'S GO BUCS!" at me.) It doesn't stop me from getting buzzed and hooked though. :/
rustyred
2013-09-10 20:35:00
I'll spare you the picture, but when I rode the PNBR in 2011, I had "CAN U C ME NOW?" painted on my back in very large letters. In direct response to too many cyclists run down, and the motorist saying "I didn't see him."
stuinmccandless
2013-09-10 21:00:40
I apologize for posting another tragedy, but I think it is relevant to the original crash that started this thread. A young boy was killed while riding his bike to school. While I put 99.99% of the blame on the mother driving this huge SUV, one has to wonder why no one ever taught this child to ride with traffic. The woman was pulling out of the school's driveway onto a very straight and flat road with the sun to her back (look at the shadows in the pics) and did not expect to encounter a moving object to her right. So sad.
marko82
2013-09-24 11:03:37
I look forward to a day when all cars have rear-view cameras... even in my lowered mid-size sedan, I always worry about what I can't see.
headloss
2013-09-24 12:02:33
Drewbacca wrote:I look forward to a day when all cars have rear-view cameras… even in my lowered mid-size sedan, I always worry about what I can’t see.
i expect that long before this happens, we will have reached the end-game, which is automated automobiles. removing humans from the equation will very likely lead to unimaginable safety gains. it will also probably turn all the current traffic idioms upside down.
hiddenvariable
2013-09-24 22:42:15
I'm pretty sure we'll get rear-view cameras first. They seem to be on all the new minivans, at least as an option, and the technology is just not that expensive. Figure a few years before they're pretty much universal. Whereas self-driving cars have a lot of barriers to overcome before they're beyond the experimental stage even on semi-controlled environments like limited access highways, let alone complex places like city streets where they might encounter cyclists.
jonawebb
2013-09-25 11:59:18
jonawebb wrote:we’ll get rear-view cameras first
You mentioned minivans. They are on some SUVs also and on some sedans (luxury ones?) with detection technology (lidars and ultrasound?) and ability to stop the vehicle.
mikhail
2013-09-25 12:11:25
I would hope we could simply get more people on mass transit before we need to get to self-driving automobiles. But that seems to be difficult enough. Also the technology will come more readily than the human adjustment. Some segment of the population of a certain age will just need to die off before they yield control of the vehicle to automation. My wife's car does a lot of automatic nonsense that I can't stand ('10 Merc). ABS, some anti-spin acronym, auto lights, auto locking, this, that. Feh. Learn to drive. Also, indexed shifting - feh. Lol.
edmonds59
2013-09-25 13:01:14
I wish people driving those things would slow way down! I wish I was Edger Snyder for a year and I would go after the auto industry showing how careless it is showing this giant SUV/Pickups flying down roads at stupid speeds and showing off how great they handle. They don't handle and shouldn't be driven like that ever! Ah well, the industry had too much money to be made. I wonder how many lives would still be here if these idiots were driving good cars? 50%? I looked at that map of the cycling deaths in 2012 and the first several I clicked on were SUV's or Pickups. One has to wonder about that statistic. Maybe it is out there somewhere? Don't know.
gg
2013-09-25 13:02:18
Self driving cars and backup cameras?!?!? I'm still waiting for auto manufacturers to change the behavior of the lock button on my key fob to simply roll up all the windows and lock all the doors with one button press.
benzo
2013-09-26 01:04:08
Well, if he faces any charges, I almost guarantee they won't include the "reasonable and prudent reduced speed" portion of the four-foot passing statute...
epanastrophe
2013-09-29 21:03:13
^ pretty good sight lines. I wonder how fast the car was traveling, and if the phone was in use.
marko82
2013-09-29 21:58:38
The comments are pretty much what I would expect.
helen-s
2013-09-30 06:13:40
They showed it on the news and the car was wrapped around a tree/utility pole and there wasn't much left of it. I don't know the speed limit on that road, but it looked awful.
mjacobpgh
2013-09-30 08:18:53
mjacobPGH wrote:. I don’t know the speed limit on that road, but it looked awful.
There are portions where the limit is 55 (I saw a "55" sign further down the road) and 25 in 'town'
rustyred
2013-09-30 08:49:30
Based on a quick look at Google Street View, I would say that 55 mph seems really high for a speed limit on that road. It's pretty narrow and there's really no need to go that fast there. Of course in spite of this I'm still pretty sure the driver was speeding and certainly not using a "reasonable and prudent reduced speed" based on the images of the aftermath shown on the news.
brent
2013-09-30 09:10:33
Brent wrote:Based on a quick look at Google Street View, I would say that 55 mph seems really high for a speed limit on that road. It’s pretty narrow and there’s really no need to go that fast there.
I haven't looked at the SV, but 55 is pretty standard for a country highway in this state.
epanastrophe
2013-09-30 22:24:53
From WPXI Traffic Twitter: Bicycle Accident in Homewood along N Lang Ave at Kedron St. Anyone know anything?
jonawebb
2013-10-02 08:10:26
Jon, That's all I heard too. But I heard it on the news during the traffic segment. Accident involving a bicycle on North Lang at K(...) in Homewood. Didn't catch the cross street. Glad you did. I heard this as I was leaving the house, probably just before 8 a.m.
swalfoort
2013-10-02 08:18:23
Route 51 down that way just sucks! and it's an official PA bike route too. There are still no updates almost 24 hours later either. Condolences to the family.
marko82
2014-11-01 16:10:11
that's two deaths in two years on PA State Bike Route A at bridge crossings. Coraopolis and West Aliquippa.
vannever
2014-11-02 09:34:05
What a terrible road, I can't believe that's a bike route!!! Just prior to the bridge the lane narrows to one lane... I took a screen shot on google maps showing the merge arrow almost directly in line with a bicycle route sign. *sigh* (obviously can't post since the upload button is broken). After that, no shoulder. I imagine the poor kid tried to stay as far to the right as possible instead of taking the lane (no question, this is a place where a cyclist absolutely has to be assertive and take the full lane, there's no other option). Combine that with post-sunset dusk lighting and the end of rush hour on a Friday... I'm just heartbroken, everything was working against this poor kid.
headloss
2014-11-02 12:43:18
One thing they do know is that Taylor was an experienced cyclist who once pedaled from Beaver all the way to Westmoreland County. That's useful to know. It doesn't say anything about his riding style, but it does sound like he was a regular bike commuter on this road who knew what he was dealing with. Assuming they find the car, I sure would like to see a clear photo of the front of it. Where on it did it contact the bicycle?
stuinmccandless
2014-11-02 18:02:11
That's terrible! My heart goes out to the family. I DRIVE this road to work 5 days a week. It's the bane of my existence and the reason I don't commute to work. This is the worst bicycle road imaginable. I never understood when they used this as the bike route. I see guys on bikes a few times a week and I fear for their safety and cringe when I see them riding. It's not just bicycles that I see. There are pedestrians walking this road daily. Right on the white line because there is no where else to walk. Most of you probably never use this road between monaca and cresent twp. so you might not know this. People speed on this road at alarming speeds. I'm passed every morning multiple times by people going 80-100 mph and the speed limit is 55. The reason they do this is because not only is there no where to walk or ride because there is no berm, but there is only a few spots for a cop to sit to catch speeders and everyone slows down in those spots. Something needs to be done and quickly. I'm surprised that more have not been injured or killed on this road. I think because of the location of this road that it's off of every ones radar and the people using the bike route just put their head down and bust it out as quickly as possible to get it over with. I think the ORTC will help bring attention to this horrible route and hopefully have a solution in place soon. Hopefully before another person is killed.
rambo
2014-11-03 09:53:32
KDKA just reported a cyclist hit by a vehicle in Etna - as a traffic delay.
srpit
2014-11-05 06:13:58
*facepalm*
stuinmccandless
2014-11-05 07:35:31
While I was just (8:15ish) talking with a police officer in the Strip, there was scanner chatter about a cyclist hit further up the Strip around 27th. We watched the ambulance roar up Penn after picking them up. The officer said the bike looked pretty chewed up. That's all I have.
rustyred
2014-11-05 09:00:47
There was a car accident that blocked Penn and 27th and had a big response. Airbags were deployed and the two passengers were laying on the ground outside of the car who both appeared to be painters. However, I didn't see any bike involved in this accident though a lot of bikers had stopped. I didn't stay long since emergency crews were on the scene so maybe but the commute in was a total cluster-you-know-what today with construction and accidents.
mjacobpgh
2014-11-05 09:28:48
"However, I didn’t see any bike involved in this accident though a lot of bikers had stopped." Good news. I wonder if the scanner chatter sometimes gets misconstrued.
rustyred
2014-11-05 09:34:44
I suppose there is a possibility a biker was involved because I really only stopped for a moment since I didn't want to be in the way of the emergency responders, but I only saw the two car passengers. Although they seemed pretty hurt, I imagine they will be OK relatively speaking. Their car appeared to have hit a parked car on the corner. Like I said, a lot of bikers had stopped maybe 4-5 so perhaps one of them is a board member who could elaborate more.
mjacobpgh
2014-11-05 09:50:05
BTW I went by the viewing for Taylor Banks yesterday. The Jobe Funeral Home is right on my commute; I go by it every day. Sad, sad occasion. Dude was basically a bro, cycling to a relative's house, life cut short. They had a few posterboards up with photos. What a waste. There was no one there when I arrived; people started showing up as I was leaving. I mentioned the cycling community's concern and the Ride of Silence to the funeral director, and left my business card in case the family wants to get in touch.
jonawebb
2014-11-05 10:20:33
Jon that's awesome.
vannever
2014-11-05 10:25:30
Yes, it's great of you to stop Jon. I know the distance is kinda far for some, but is there any plan for a ghost bike? I know the family of the girl killed last year did a bike on their own, but a larger number of people would attract more news cameras - and this IS an official bike trail so it might heighten the stupidity of that. If we do this maybe a weekend installment would be best since it gets dark so early now.
marko82
2014-11-05 10:44:04
If people would like to do something, ghost bike, ride of silence, etc., maybe reach out to Vincent Troia at the Ohio River Trail Council, this is right in their "front yard". http://ohiorivertrail.webs.com/
edmonds59
2014-11-05 11:37:33
I would really like to do a ride of silence on PA Bicycle Route A.
jonawebb
2014-11-05 11:54:16
I was noodling about doing the ghost bike, I live in that community. So let me ask: anybody got an old bike with flat tires that I could use? I'll get in touch with Dr. Troia, also. VB
vannever
2014-11-05 13:11:05
I have a frame with forks and handlebars. We would just need wheels.....no bottom bracket or cranks on the bike either... I'm in this area too.
rambo
2014-11-05 13:23:23
I am not far away, on the other side of the river. The thrift stores in my area often have bikes this time of year that are in need of so much work as to be worthy of ghost bike status.
swalfoort
2014-11-05 13:37:02
I have a dead bike I'd like to donate to this.
byogman
2014-11-05 13:59:02
Co worker just told me he heard a cyclist was hit and life flighted this morning. He thought near Frick?
stefb
2014-11-05 14:37:43
Ben, I'd like to take you up on that bike. I'll be in touch about handoff. Thank you so much! I spoke with Dr. Troia, who's head of the ORTC Board. He supports the ghost bike and the idea of a ROS. I've asked him to give it some thought (since I approached him cold) and we're going to talk tomorrow. (As it happens, there's an ORTC Board Meeting at 3pm Thursday and I'm going to visit). So: regarding a ride. The route would be out-and-back on State Route A / Route 51. I'd like to suggest: start in Monaca, ride south down to Aliquippa, reverse. On the ride back, stop at the scene of the fatality. Back to Monaca. We'll attempt to generate some media coverage. There's a few places to park cars in Monaca. Also post-ride: Yolanda's Pizza nom nom nom. so good. When would be a good time for the ride? Friday Nov 15th? 5pm? (DARK) Sat Nov 16th? what time Sun Nov 17th? what time I'd really appreciate any guidance you all could offer me, I've never done this before. I'd like to make it at a time when a few of you could come out, there's not a lot of #BeaverCounty cycling organisation. Rough sketch of a possible Ride route below. thanks! VB vbush90@gmail.com 724.494.9343
vannever
2014-11-05 14:51:45
@V sounds great, but please do it on Saturday any time or Sunday afternoon.
jonawebb
2014-11-05 14:56:19
Yes i was thinking daylight would improve safety.
vannever
2014-11-05 15:59:22
I'm in. I'd vote for sat or sunday too. I will cross post this on our "underground" beaver county forum.
rambo
2014-11-05 17:42:40
Anybody know anything about Stef's post?
neilmd
2014-11-05 19:12:16
V, Jim Logan of the WPW knows exactly how to put one of these together (Ride of Silence, I mean). Sadly, has done this before.
edmonds59
2014-11-05 22:57:32
I just got a call from Beth Ann Banks, Taylor's mother. She told me an incredible thing. She heard Monday that they'd caught the guy who killed her son, and he was "impaired." And they released him. This was the Beaver County Police. They will not talk with her and she is asking for any help at all. Can anyone get more information? Does anyone have contacts in the police department who can find out what's going on?
jonawebb
2014-11-06 08:57:17
Jon, check your gmail por favor.
vannever
2014-11-06 10:18:17
Not incredible. Very credible, but also very unacceptable, if true (and I am going to assume true until proven otherwise).
stuinmccandless
2014-11-06 12:06:39
I looked for other news coverage of this and found a brief story in the Beaver Times. They require a 99 cent subscription to see their story, so I'm quoting it here. I added a comment on that story repeating Jon's request for help regarding the Beaver County Police, with a link to this bikepgh thread. http://www.timesonline.com/news/police_fire_courts/aliquippa-police-investigating-fatal-accident-no-arrests-made/article_cf4783e6-6448-11e4-b1a6-001a4bcf6878.html Aliquippa police investigating fatal accident; no arrests made Posted: Tuesday, November 4, 2014 2:00 pm By Kirstin Kennedy kkennedy@timesonline.com | 0 comments ALIQUIPPA -- City police continue to investigate a fatal accident involving a car and a bicycle, and no arrests had been made as of Tuesday. Aliquippa Police Chief Donald Couch said that the accident, which occurred about 6:45 p.m. Friday, is "definitely being investigated." A motorist was taken into custody Friday at the time of the accident, Couch said, but that driver was later released. The Beaver County Detective Bureau is assisting Aliquippa police in the investigation. According to Couch, police have consulted an accident reconstruction specialist to assist in their analysis. The district attorney's office will be advised of the results of the investigation and will make a recommendation on what, if any, charges, should be filed, Couch said. Taylor Lee Banks, 23, of Braddock was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. According to Beaver County Coroner Terri Tatalovich-Rossi, Banks died from head injuries. Banks was riding a bike on the northbound side of Route 51 in the area of Logstown Road when he was struck by a car, Couch said. Police believe he was headed to his mother's home in Rochester.
paulheckbert
2014-11-06 12:28:23
I spoke with a reporter (Thursday) who had spoken with the police chief on Wednesday. She's convinced they're taking it seriously. She said, the police chief knows the absence of info is frustrating and especially for the family, but they're working the investigation and they're not in a situation to make public statements yet. I called the Mother and had a nice talk with her. The not-knowing is heavy on her. Memorial Bike Ride, Sunday Nov 16 2014, 2pm. 11 miles, over by 3.30 Expect a ghost bike. Expect a gathering of the family to meet the ride. Details https://www.facebook.com/events/1496698953913572/ or for the non-Facebooked: http://type2-clydesdale.blogspot.com/2014/11/taylor-lee-banks-memorial-bicycle-ride.html
vannever
2014-11-06 13:39:09
Can anyone suggest a route out from the City? I would like to come, and could possibly try to bring others, but while I could drive I'd rather not.
epanastrophe
2014-11-06 15:42:59
I'll try to come. I'm tentatively planning to drive, but I would consider biking there and back if we can get a large group. @buffalobuffalo: I've never biked there, but here’s a page of the Adventure Cycling Association’s Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, which covers Pittsburgh-Monaca. Their routes are well researched. It follows route 51 through Aliquippa, so apparently Taylor Banks was following the best route in the area, where he was struck. http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-duWwo_ZTdas/VFvslkvFxzI/AAAAAAAAJy4/L5P32H33wxU/w992-h1382-no/underground_rr.jpg
paulheckbert
2014-11-06 16:53:03
You can take the 21 bus. It works pretty well to get general area. Then Rte 51 the rest of the way.
jonawebb
2014-11-06 16:55:47
I've ridden to Sewickley. It's really not that part I'm worried about.
epanastrophe
2014-11-06 17:43:44
I plan to go, and plan to drive there. I have a four-bike rack, but in reality I can only get two or three bikes on it. If you can get to a 12 McKnight to Northway Mall, or an 8 Perrysville or 13 Bellevue bus to West View, that will get close enough to me that it wouldn't be too difficult to swing by, load up, and be on our way.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-06 18:56:50
I'll be biking out too. We should definitely go as a group if we can. North side to McRock bridge to 51 is probably the (only) route. Gmaps has it as 22 miles to Allequippa and another 5 to Monaca. So figure about two hours?
marko82
2014-11-06 20:11:25
Jim Logan is organizing a ride out from Neville Island.
jonawebb
2014-11-07 07:10:38
Here's Jim's message. I'm assuming details will be forthcoming: Pittsburgh Randonneurs: I am asking for your support for this memorial ride. We ride route 51 regularly, so we know the situation. I plan to ride to and from this ride from the city and/or Neville Island on Route 51 with a group of willing riders. Please join me. Jim Logan RBA, Pittsburgh
jonawebb
2014-11-07 08:17:57
Since this is a designated bicycle route, this would seem like an excellent stretch to start replacing the worse-than-useless "Share the Road" signs with "Bikes may use full lane" signs.
edmonds59
2014-11-07 08:23:50
I need to prepare a persuasive speech to be said in front of cameras, suitable for the evening newscast, about the right for cyclists to use the road and use the lane. * If people speed, that's a police issue, enforce the speed limit. * If the posted speed limit is too high, that's a policy issue for PennDOT to resolve, but to resolve with the active participation of cyclists, not back-room lip service. * If the shoulders are to be where cyclists are supposed to ride, then that's an engineering issue, modify the road and the signage appropriately. * If we are indeed to be able to use the lane, then that's a public education issue. Sign it as such, and make the public aware. I suspect that all of the above are at play. Getting everyone to realize that bicycles really do have the right to use the road at all, and the full lane in particular, is going to be the hardest part. We fortunately do not get these opportunities to have a big public presence, but we should take full advantage of this.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-07 10:47:18
Stu, there's some very good discussion of this in John Forester's "Effective Cycling." That's probably where a lot of the ideas about bicycles as vehicles come from. So that would be a good source for your speech. I don't agree with Forester regarding bike lanes, but as far as vehicular cycling techniques go, he's spot on.
jonawebb
2014-11-07 11:04:57
^Stu I would add, *The traffic engineering profession needs to be re-educated and (forced?)(motivated?)(word?) to accomodate ALL citizens, from 8 year-olds walking to school, to cyclists, to 90 years olds using public transportation. Everyone one deserves a safe and usable transportation network, not just drivers.
edmonds59
2014-11-07 13:25:03
Is there a time & place to meet up Sunday for those wanting to cycle down to Aliquippa? How about 11:15am at Point State park portal leaving at 11:30am? Is that enough time? I'm open to suggestions.
marko82
2014-11-08 17:51:16
I believe Jim Logan is leading a group, going to depart Golden Triangle Rentals at 1100. Lunch at Yolanda's in Monaca before the ride. You'll probably see a final document with details on Tuesday-ish. I'm very pleased you're trying to make it, thank you!
vannever
2014-11-08 22:10:28
Ok, I'm an idiot. I was thinking that this was today - I need to look at dates better. I was worried that a bunch of us were going to be riding on our own instead of as a group. I'm glad there is more time to plan and arrange things.
marko82
2014-11-09 09:50:16
I re-worked my post above, plus comments from a few others, into this blog post, which I plan to do as a speech, if given the opportunity.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-10 10:18:57
@marko I thought the same thing and messaged Dan to see if he had any more info :) Still doesn't solidify/mention what the cycling plans are to get up there though
sgtjonson
2014-11-10 10:25:07
The Port Authority Route 14 bus will take you all the way out to Ambridge. Leaves Allegheny Station (the T stop near the Casino) at 11:50 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. The latter bus would get you to Ambridge at 1:36 p.m. Remembering that their are only two rack spaces per bus, I posted the next earliest bus too. Returns from Ambridge would leave the Ambridge station at 2:41 and 3:41 p.m.
swalfoort
2014-11-10 11:11:02
We're still farther away than the accuracy of most forecasts, but is there a plan in place in the event that it is snowing?
edmonds59
2014-11-10 12:01:36
I may not have a bike rack, since I will likely have a rental car due to a recent incident with the family car (details irrelevant here). So I might be looking for a ride myself.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-10 12:49:41
"Ok, I’m an idiot. I was thinking that this was today " You aren't alone, a few people messed up the date including myself.
headloss
2014-11-10 13:09:54
Stu, re; your blog post. It's a good post, but my gut reaction would be, if you get a chance to speak, keep things focused on the loss of this person, and tread cautiously as to not make a political opportunity out of the event. This is a mourning.
edmonds59
2014-11-10 13:15:46
This is a post from the WPW Calendar by JimLogan: https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=ZDUzZzhxNmRjZXFnOGQwaWt0dGJsam01ZmMgd3B3LndlYm1hc3RlckBt&ctz&pli=1&sf=true&output=xml#f and this is what that URL should take you to: 11am Sunday Nov.16th Golden Triangle Bike Rental, 600 1st Ave, Pittsburgh, (Jail Trail) We'll ride 25 miles from Pitttsburgh to Monaca for the Memorial Ride. Around 11:40 AM +/- 15 minutes we'll pass by the commuter lot on Neville Island, if anyone wants a shorter ride. Either watch for us from the commuter lot or the 7-11 at the end of the island. Plan is to get to Monaca by 1 PM,and have lunch at Yolanda’s pizza. After the Memorial Ride we will ride back. We'll work to stay in one or more groups. Basic drafting skills are encouraged to help keep the group together when we are on Route 51 between Aliquippa and Monaca. Timing allows 12.5 mph pace outbound, but we can expect to do 15-18 mph if the wind cooperates. We'll avoid the climbs on Rt 51 by using first Neville Island and then second by crossing the river over to Sewickley. People can cut the ride down to 30 miles by meeting us on Neville Island by meeting us a the Park'n'Ride under the Rt 79 bridge or the 7-11 at 11:40 +/- 15 minutes. We''ll be pressing sunset coming back so lights and reflective gear encouraged. Let's me visible in more ways than one on Rt 51 next Sunday. Jim Logan --- I can't say enough how much help Jim Logan has been.
vannever
2014-11-10 14:02:55
Bill, regarding snow (and weather in general): Rider safety is the crucial issue. If it were snowing/slushy/sloppy there's no way I want to put folks in harm's way. If it was intermittent light sunshows, little sprinkles of rain, I'd probably stick to the schedule. Any downstream weather forecast, more than 3 days out, is a fantasy. So we're watching. But to induldge in the fantasy, right now it says 20% chance of precip, cloudy morning sunny afternoon. We'll see, I guess.
vannever
2014-11-10 14:24:22
I'm thinking next Nov.1st 2015, Día de Muertos, we have a ride around the Ghost Bikes of Pittsburgh - a ride to remember those killed, maintain public awareness in a sense of respect and good cheer. I can't believe it's Nov.10th and I'm 9 days late for 2014.
vannever
2014-11-10 22:20:11
Rental car has no hitch to hook my rack to. I will see if my old-old-old clamp-on rack fits. *crosses fingers* When does the pack cycling up 51 think they might pass the end of the McKees Rocks Bridge?
stuinmccandless
2014-11-11 14:37:38
Stu: remove front wheel, bike in truck, bungee trunk lid down?
vannever
2014-11-11 20:22:01
No. Subscription required to access premium content.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-13 00:35:48
Sorry about the link - it works for me and I'm not a subscriber. (I stopped my subscription to the BCTimes when they fired the youth delivery-kids, which I explain to them every time they call me to subscribe) Nothing new, same text as the press release, Facebook page, and blog post. TIL that Sunday is the World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims. http://worlddayofremembrance.org/ Who knew?
vannever
2014-11-13 08:45:14
This is probably way too TL-DR; but may I convey what I think is going to happen Sunday, just to share the vision? I've coordinated with Monaca, Center, and Aliquippa police, and with PennDot about the memorial. If the weather forecast seriously deteriorates, I'm going to be calling Jim Logan and making any cancellation decisions by 0930, because of the group ride coming out of the Jail Trail at 1100. I'll communicate via email, Facebook, and this thread. At 1:00 I'm going to leave one family member at 102 Baker Street with the the ghost bike, a funeral floral arrangement, and some chairs . At 1:30 at the start I'll be asking Jon Webb to distribute armband ribbons, providing Sharpies and asking cyclists to write on the ribbons - could be just their first name and zip code as a sign that they attended, could be Condolences or Wishes or Hopes-Dreams. Then the cyclists put their annotated armbands on their left arms for the ride. I'm going to seek 8 cycling volunteers for intersection marshall duty, and I've got vests and flags (borrowed from BikePgh!) for them. We're going to send the Marshalls off before the pack departs. The intersections for the Marshalls will be marked with balloons. We may have the Monaca VFD providing a bit of roadway assistance for the start. I'm going to deliver a safety briefing at 2pm. Two-abreast only when there's two lanes due to the nature of the roadway. No earbuds in the ears, please. I'm going to encourage anybody who's unsure of their ability to ride 10 miles to not begin the ride. The ride begins promptly after the Safety Briefing. I'll be in a van behind the cycling group. At 2:30 the bike group arrives at 102 Baker Street Aliquippa. We should get all the bikes and van out of the roadway. There will be family waiting for us. I'm going to say some Initial Housekeeping things: Intro the family (briefly), then say ThankYous to folks who helped this happen, recognize the groups participating then explain what's going to follow Which will be: ribbons containing condolences/ hopes/ prayers tied to the GhostBike (kind of like Tibetan prayer flags) RustyC will walk the bike over to it's location. While the bike is being positioned I'm going to ask the Mom and Dad if they want to say something first, or wait until later, and we'll honor their choice. I'm going to ask a few speakers to say a few words in order. I think that sequence is going to be: Marlin Erin (Snitger's Bikes), Dr. Troia (Ohio River Trail), Stu Strickland, myself, and then we'll open the moment up to the parents and all present. After that, we'll move the cyclists into a group, and the 8 marshalls will work getting them across Route51 safely. (using the middle turning lane of this 5-lane stretch as a middle safe zone) We may have Aliquippa police helping our transition onto 51 North. The marshalls will take off in front of the pack, to get to their intersections. Once we're northbound, it's a silent ride past the Ghost Bike. We expect this to be a media photo opportunity. When we're on the other side of the bridge and out of sight of the family, no need for Silence. The Van will follow the group back to the start. We've had contact from reporters from three newspapers: PG, Trib, BC-Times. FWIW, I think the primary messages for media contacts is: - Bicycles are legitimate road users, and this is State Bike Route A - Drivers need to pay attention, avoid distraction - Bike use is increasing, millenials are less interested in cars; Bikes are HereToStay. Finally, this Ghost Bike Ride means an awful lot to the family, I think you'll be surprised at the degree of their satisfaction about people coming out. This was a hit-and-run death and no announcements of arrests or leads or anything. Any questions? or Suggestions? 724.494.9343 thanks again. Yinz rock.
vannever
2014-11-14 16:40:47
Dude, you rock.
jonawebb
2014-11-14 16:45:28
not really but thanks. this is the ghost bike, donated by Ben Yogman - many thanks Ben!
vannever
2014-11-14 18:01:13
@Van and everyone else involved, thank you. This is what community means--I hope this can provide even a tiny bit of comfort for the family and loved ones.
joanne
2014-11-14 20:01:45
I posed the question on the event Facebook page, but since it has just been myself and Stu conversing there, I'll repost here for visibility. Vannevar (or anybody in the know), will people driving to the start/finish area be cleared to park in the industrial park lot under the water tower? Or should we look for alternative parking in/around town? If we indeed should park elsewhere, there are some suggestions and general area info posted in the comment thread.
smarchit
2014-11-15 13:40:35
Bump. This memorial ride is Sunday (tomorrow). Reminder: if you want to join the 10 mile round trip memorial bike ride in Monaca, it meets at 2pm - see https://www.facebook.com/events/1496698953913572/ And recall that Fort Pitt Tunnel outbound is closed this weekend. I'm planning to join Jim Logan's group downtown at 11am and bike from there.
paulheckbert
2014-11-15 21:12:34
I-279 to Camp Horne Rd, turn left, proceed to PA 65, turn right, proceed into Sewickley, left onto Sewickley Bridge (think of Emily Jankart as you get to the end), right onto PA 51.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-15 22:11:22
@smarchit You're going to be fine parking in the Industrial Park in the designated area, and there will be white balloons identifying where to park. Sorry I didn't see this until now.
vannever
2014-11-15 22:12:46
@BuffaloBuffalo - McKees Rox Bridge, 51 North, Neville Island, Coraopolis, 51 North, Sewickley bridge. Ride into Sewickley. Turn left on Sewickley main drag Beaver St. This moves you northwest paralleling 65 to Ambridge. In Ambridge ride Merchant St, TurnLeft on 11th to Ambridge-Aliquippa Br. (I use the sidewalk on the bridge since the rehab, but caution: there's no curbcut on the west side and a major drop) Off the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, turn right on 51 North.
vannever
2014-11-15 23:58:51
This is today Sunday Nov16th! Cyclists should be at 1729 Pennsylvania Ave Monaca PA 15061 with "butts on bikes, ready to ride" at 2pm. Non-riders should be at 102 Baker St Aliquippa PA at 2.30 Looking forward to seeing you all.
vannever
2014-11-16 08:08:12
Thanks to Vannevar for organizing this. It was amazingly well attended and organized. A solemn, moving ceremony, with a lot of press coverage. Let's hope something comes of it, and the family gets what peace they can. I'm looking forward to the results of the police investigation.
jonawebb
2014-11-16 16:21:23
V, thanks so much for pulling this together & you did a great job in organizing all the moving parts. Hopefully the family can take a little solace in our effort to bring attention to this tragedy and the need to find justice for their son. For those that could not attend. Both WPXI and WTAE had cameras there so look for coverage tonight.
marko82
2014-11-16 21:23:48
Post-gazette coverage was reassuring and seems to have honored the family's wishes. I watched WTAE last night, and while it was covered, it focused on the support given to the family and the fact that the driver is still at large... while mentioning nothing of 51 being a bike-route, the four foot law, or the need to slow down. To add insult to injury, they gave just as much coverage to gas prices dipping below $3/gal. Shameful, really. At least they got the message out that the death was caused by a hit and run and the family needs help to find closure.
headloss
2014-11-17 10:16:55
Was it at the very top of the 11 PM WTAE broadcast? I missed like 5 minutes and didn't see it. The WPXI coverage was decent but not until about mid-way through the broadcast.
mjacobpgh
2014-11-17 10:22:51
It was around twenty minutes into the 11pm(?) news iirc (but I really wasn't paying much attention to the time; had the tv on in the background until I heard the lead-in).
headloss
2014-11-17 11:06:36
Who was the guy who spoke first at the gathering, cyclist, light yellow hi-viz. I didn't catch his name.
edmonds59
2014-11-17 11:57:59
"Who was the guy who spoke first at the gathering, cyclist, light yellow hi-viz. I didn’t catch his name." Marlin Erin
rustyred
2014-11-17 12:32:50
yes, Marlin, the owner of the bike shop in beaver
rambo
2014-11-17 13:54:32
Check my video, on the Facebook thread. I caught all of his speech, though not all of my of my own.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-17 13:59:36
Marlin Erin is co-proprietor of Snitger's Bikes in Beaver, PA, along with his wife Mary Snitger. Also a former Beaver Borough councilman. If there's a voice of cycling enlightenment in Beaver County it's Marlin. I was so impressed at his message. I called him today and said, "holy **ck dude that was eloquent", which gives you a sense of my own articularity. There are voices in Beaver County that believe that bike trails will be "superhighways for drugs and crime" (which is of course a type of code), and others who believe that there is no positive economic impact of trails and bike infrastructure. Marlin is often the voice of reason in the wilderness, up here in the Great NorthWest.
vannever
2014-11-17 23:34:02
Here is the Beaver County Times story on Sunday's memorial ride: http://www.timesonline.com/news/local_news/memorial-ride-honors-fallen-bicyclist-brings-attention-to-issues/article_8704590a-6de0-11e4-8ffa-77152bf4cd6b.html Memorial ride honors fallen bicyclist, brings attention to issues Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2014 11:45 pm By Justin Criado jcriado@timesonline.com ALIQUIPPA -- Beth Ann Banks recalls the last meal she shared with her son Taylor. It was Oct. 30, and the family had burritos, one of Taylor's favorites, and as always, he used hot sauce to spice things up. "We call him the hot sauce kid," Beth Ann said. "He put hot sauce on anything. He loved spicy foods." The next night, just after 7 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31, Taylor was riding his bike from the Subway restaurant in Aliquippa, where he worked, along Route 51. He was heading to his mother's house in Rochester for another family dinner, but before he could make it, he was killed in a hit-and-run accident near the West Aliquippa Bridge. He was 23 years old. On Sunday, a memorial bike ride and ghost bike dedication took place to remember the fallen rider as well as raise awareness about cycling safety, especially on Route 51, which is designated as PA State Bike Route A. Sunday was also World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. "We don't do (ghost bike dedications) in Beaver County. (But) everyone we talked to in Beaver County about it was very positive and supportive," ride organizer Ed Quigley said. "Everyone seems to embrace the idea of having a memorial for this young man that was killed." A "ghost bike" is a white bicycle that's placed at the scene of a fatal accident as a memorial to the rider and a reminder to motorists to share the road. Quigley is a member of the Ohio River Trail Council and as an avid cyclist belongs to several riding groups. He says he travels Route 51 at least once a week from his home in Monaca. "We all realize that this could have been any one of us," Quigley said. "We all view this as 'this could have been me.' This touches home for us." Sunday's ride started at 1726 Pennsylvania Ave. in Monaca and traveled south through Center Township and into Aliquippa, where the memorial service and bike dedication took place at the corner of Baker Street and Route 51. Upwards of 70 cyclists, motorcyclists and community members attended the service. "I just want to hug each and every one of them and let them know how grateful I am and what this is doing for my family," Beth Ann said. "It has helped with my grieving although I know it will never go away. This is filling a space in my heart right now, which is very damaged. This has put a little bit of joy back, knowing that so many people care." The outpouring of support also has provided a sense of stability for the family as many questions have gone unanswered during the ongoing police investigation. "It's hard for me to find words," Beth Ann said. "I am so grateful for these people and what they're doing for my son Taylor. This means so very much to me and especially Taylor's older brother Jared." She added: "Not only did Jared lose his brother, he lost his best friend. That goes for all of us because Taylor was just the joy of our lives. We are very grateful for these people." Jared, 28, said his little brother had always loved biking, but he personally hasn't pedaled a bike in almost 10 years. "I haven't rode a bike since I was 19," Jared said. "I was actually riding (Taylor's) bike and I wiped out in the middle of the street, and I swore to him that day that I wasn't going to ride a bike. "I rode a bike today. That's the first time I rode a bike, and this will be the last time. Just for him." The family also wore tie-dyed shirts, which Jared and his fiancee, Nicole Renfro, created since it was Taylor's favorite pattern. Taylor's death was the second in 16 months along Route A, as Emily Jancart, 17, was struck and killed at Route 51 and the Sewickley Bridge in July 2013. A ghost bike also marks that location. Plans for an Ohio River Bike Trail, which would connect the Montour Trail in Coraopolis to Monaca, Rochester, Beaver and Midland, aren't progressing as fast as bicyclists would like, and the conditions along Route 51 aren't exactly ideal. The designation of Route A is at least 10 years old, according to Quigley. "It's also a 55 mph highway with no shoulder," Quigley said. "There's an inconsistency between those two views. Something's wrong when you lose two kids in less than a year and a half.” -- and here's the comment I posted there: The article says "conditions along Route 51 aren't exactly ideal". A huge understatement! With Google Streetview (maps.google.com), search for Route 51 & Highland St, Aliquippa, PA, travel a few hundred feet south, then look at the northbound lanes. No shoulder. This is approximately where Taylor Banks was struck. http://goo.gl/OsUjE0 Route 51 is deadly for cyclists and pedestrians. For much of its length, between Crescent Township and Monaca, it lacks shoulders and a sidewalk. There’s no space for police cars to sit and wait for speeders. This allows some speeders to travel at 80 mph or more without risk of a ticket. Meanwhile, topographically, the Ohio River Valley is a natural route for cyclists. There is no safe alternative for cyclists and pedestrians; they are forced onto Route 51. It’s designated Pennsylvania Bicycle Route A, but it’s deadly. Emily Jancart was struck by a car and killed while she cycled on Route 51 near the Sewickley Bridge on 7/20/2013. We really need a bicycle/pedestrian trail along here to prevent more deaths like this. The Ohio River Trail Council has designs for a trail, but they lack funding: http://www.greenway.ohiorivertrail.org/ . When will Beaver and Allegheny Counties allocate money to a trail along here?
paulheckbert
2014-11-18 03:13:26
This road is the main route that we use when visiting my in-laws in Monaca and Center Twp. As such, I've driven it many times over the years, and have become excitedly anxious to see development of the Ohio River Trail move forward so that we can someday leave the car at home on family visits. Even before we knew of the ORT aspirations, my wife and I often scratched our heads at the Bike Route designation that Rt. 51 carries. During the ride Sunday, it became even more glaring to me how unsuitable that road is for most cyclists. It really made me yearn even more for bike infrastructure such as the trail in that area. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that there is also a fine alternative right under our nose. That stretch of Rt. 51 is FAR removed from it's traffic heyday when the mills were firing in the Valley. Aside from local traffic and people looking for a fast shortcut, it could be argued that Rt 65 on the other side of the river, and I-376 on the other side of town handle a much greater majority of the traffic between Beaver County and Pittsburgh. The mills aren't coming back. It's time for a road diet. While I'm sure it would cause much initial gnashing of teeth and public outcry from the anti-bike lobby, I see no reason why this stretch couldn't be condensed down to a 2-3 lane road. This could provide room for much needed bike/ped infrastructure, as well as probably open up space for better enforcement of traffic laws. I watched Stu's video of the ride back to Monaca (which cut off about 3/4 of the way there). To borrow from the anti Penn Ave lane crowd's argument, I only counted 26 motorized vehicle pass him through that stretch. While it may be slightly heavier during the week, it seems that one lane could easily accommodate the automobile traffic demand.
smarchit
2014-11-18 16:43:46
My take on the road is that if there isn't even room for a shoulder, there isn't room for four lanes. Making a better road system will take creativity and a both-sides-of-the-river approach is desperately needed in order to make a safe roadway. This of course recognizing that the river valley is supporting dense populations that demand quick/easy access to the City of Pittsburgh itself. Ideally there would be a four-lane divided freeway or at least better access to 79 and 376 to reduce automotive demand... but even then, a terrible bottle neck at the Fort Pitt tunnel remains and encourages drivers to follow the river highways. I don't know what the longterm answer is, but I would expect it to include some sort of light rail system to tie those communities to the city with a timely and comfortable means of commuting. I don't see this happening in my lifetime. So, focusing on the short term, I'm not even sure what the best approach is... it's one big mess out there.
headloss
2014-11-18 17:32:18
What Smarchit said, my feelings exactly, after experiencing it. Road diet. We've spent millions of dollars constructing a parallel high speed automobile only roadway (now 376). Drivers should be "negatively incentivized" to use the infrastructure built just for them. Or, to paraphrase, "Get in the car lane!!".
edmonds59
2014-11-18 17:51:14
“Get in the car lane!!”. Amen!
headloss
2014-11-18 19:00:00
@ vannevar ... bike trails will be “superhighways for drugs and crime” Could you post some direction to those trails, please? Thanks in advance!
mick
2014-11-18 19:36:02
35 mph car lane, and a bike lane. Now, to make the brown stuff hit the spinny thing. Oh, how about a second video of the ride back, only from my rear-facing camera? This one, too, cuts out partway back, but you do get to see what traffic coming back looks like. Also, it's sideways. http://youtu.be/e34NqFDOG2Q
stuinmccandless
2014-11-18 23:00:04
I've been driving this stretch of 51 to work for over 22 years. It would not matter if this were a 1 lane road. The traffic load on this stretch is minimal and I drive it during the busiest times, morning and evening rush hour. Not only is this stretch of road dangerous for bikes, but it's dangerous for other drivers. As I've said before, people take advantage of the fact that cops have no where to sit for speeding traps and they exceed the speed limit by great margins. There is not a week (sometimes a day) that goes by that someone doesn't pass me like I'm standing still and I'm no saint! I often find myself going 65-70 mph going with the flow before I catch myself and slow down. Not only should this be a one lane road but there is no reason for this to be 55 mph, it could easily be a 45 mph zone. Over the years, back in the 90s I would never see people on bikes or walking this road, but over the last 5 years it's become almost daily where I see multiple bikes and or pedestrians walk and riding this dangerous stretch. Something needs to be done quickly before another person is killed.
rambo
2014-11-20 10:41:51
@Rambo, ++
jonawebb
2014-11-20 10:54:18
I'm shooting high. 35, and one traffic lane each way. That would also give the cops plenty of space to sit & patrol.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-20 17:11:36
To refer very briefly to the far opposite end of 51, a far too similar condition, West Carson Street from McKees Rocks to the West End bridge, one of the goals of the reconstruction project, prior to the present construction, was to reduce automobile fatalities through that section. Prior to the construction, once or twice a year, there would be some massive, high speed, fatal automobile crash in that stretch. Since the road has been ripped apart and reduced to one very narrow lane inbound and constricted by concrete barriers, I haven't heard of a single fatal crash through there. If PennDot is at all serious about reducing fatalities, they would finish the project, and keep it to a single, constricted lane in each direction, leaving heaps of room for a delightful separated bike lane. By all evidence though, that is not a serious concern for them.
edmonds59
2014-11-20 17:27:55
That's an illuminating point Bill. Penndot projects as road diets, what a concept.
vannever
2014-11-20 20:26:53
So it has been over two months now, has there been any news from the police regarding the investigation into the accident, or any other answers?
stu01
2015-01-12 10:57:38
Another sad local loss.... 24 year old cyclist killed on Steubenville Pike in North Fayette This looks to have happened along the section of road that parallels 22/30 near the Oakdale/West Allegheny HS stretch, rather than the busier stretch between the Robinson retail glob and Crafton that initially crossed my mind. While there are the inevitable unanswered questions when media handles a story like this, the one fact that unfortunately sticks out to me is that the cyclist was riding contraflow of traffic when he was struck by the passenger side mirror of the box truck.
smarchit
2015-09-19 13:37:14
thanks for the link @smarchit. Hit and run fatality. You're right about the contraflow. Minor media critique: Called it a "fatal hit-and-run accident" which is really, like, a crime. No obligatory "helmet" reference. wow, nice bike graphic. Is that a bottle-generator on the front wheel? Condolences to the family. 24 years old, my oldest is that age.
vannever
2015-09-19 16:18:00
kdka: PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run in North Fayette Township. It happened Friday night around 7:50 p.m. when a box truck hit a cyclist on Steubenville Pike. Police say the cyclist, 24-year-old Brandon Ortmann, was taken to the hospital, but later died. The driver of the box truck kept going after the side mirror struck Ortmann. witnesses say they saw a bicycle fly into the air after it was hit. Ortmann landed in the front yard of a home nearby. “It was dark, it was dusk, just getting dark,” said North Fayette Police Lt. Michael Hamm. “He did have a light on his bike. We’re attempting to find the actor’s vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle did leave the scene, never stopped to render aid or to provide information.” ----- Post-G Brandon Ortmann, 24, of Ambridge, died at 3:58 a.m. in Allegheny General Hospital, North Side. Mr. Ortmann was riding his bicycle home to his apartment from work, heading west facing traffic when witnesses said an eastbound box truck passed the bike, apparently knocking the rider into the air, according to North Fayette Police Lt. Michael Hamm said. The truck driver did not stop.
vannever
2015-09-19 22:09:34
Here's what I see as common in the bike fatalities out beyond Ikea since July 2013 Emily Jancart (17yo) daylight, returning from work. Sunday afternoon. Semi-Frequent cyclist. Bike Route A with ShareTheRoad signs. Taylor Banks (21yo) dark, lights unknown. returning from work. Friday night. Frequent cyclist. Hit&Run. Bike Route A with ShareTheRoad signs. Arthur Bell (53yo) dark, before sunrise, lights on. Going to work. Thursday morning. Frequent cyclist. Bike Route A with ShareTheRoad signs. Brandon Ortmann (24) dark-twilight, lights on. returning from work. Friday night. Frequent cyclist. Hit&Run. (contraflow) No ShareTheRoad signs so fwiw: 4/4 are going to or from work. Not recreational riding. 3/4 were frequent cyclists, 1 just started riding regularly 3/4 involve darkness. at least 2 of those 3 had lights, 1 unknown 3/4 were fairly young 3/4 roads had "share the road" signs 2/4 on Friday evenings. 2/4 are hit-and-run. No indication of cyclist drugs/drinking ugh. this sucks so much.
vannever
2015-09-19 22:29:32
7293 Steubenville Pike
vannever
2015-09-19 23:20:23
That type of road is particularly difficult to bike. The shoulder is not rideable; it's barely walkable. Perrymont Road comes to mind: 10-foot lanes.
stuinmccandless
2015-09-20 06:24:07