This is so sad and tragic. And preventable…

Maroon Eagle

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May 24, 2006
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That driver is charged with among other things two counts of Vehicular Homicide with recklessness.

Looking at some of the photos near the scene in this article, we’re not talking county-maintained country roads here. It’s a US Highway.

 
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DerHntr

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They were only 10 miles from campus. Basically that entire area southeast of Johnson City is rural roads. It’s in a curve but that appears to be a pretty easy spot to see riders in the road.
 

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champdawg.sixpack

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Aug 25, 2012
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Yeah, it’s their own fault for getting plowed into by a car. They were doing a team training exercise pretty close to campus until they were rudely interrupted by a car crashing into the group. Where else should they ride?
Ok. I’ll capitulate. But how hard would it be to have a chase car following them? Seems reasonable to me
 

champdawg.sixpack

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Yeah, it’s their own fault for getting plowed into by a car. They were doing a team training exercise pretty close to campus until they were rudely interrupted by a car crashing into the group. Where else should they ride?
Ok. I’ll capitulate. But how hard would it be to have a chase car following them? Seems reasonable
 

Dawgbite

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Nov 1, 2011
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1. Automobile driver are never taught nor do they realize bicycles have the same right to use public roads as they do.
2. Why would you as a bicyclist want to occupy the same space as a 5000 pound vehicle traveling 55+ mph and driven by someone distracted by their cell phone?
 

FlotownDawg

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Aug 30, 2012
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1. Automobile driver are never taught nor do they realize bicycles have the same right to use public roads as they do.
2. Why would you as a bicyclist want to occupy the same space as a 5000 pound vehicle traveling 55+ mph and driven by someone distracted by their cell phone?
Where else can they ride? These guys ride dozens of miles at a time. I have a friend who rides bicycles pretty hard core, and a short ride for him is 40-50 miles. On Saturday mornings, he and his bike club will sometimes ride more than 100 miles. You can’t ride that distance without being on the roads.
 

Dawgbite

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Nov 1, 2011
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Where else can they ride? These guys ride dozens of miles at a time. I have a friend who rides bicycles pretty hard core, and a short ride for him is 40-50 miles. On Saturday mornings, he and his bike club will sometimes ride more than 100 miles. You can’t ride that distance without being on the roads.
I don’t have an answer to that, I’m just pointing out that it’s dangerous for bicyclists and automobiles to occupy the same space. I used to ride bicycles and motorcycles regularly. I now ride neither, not because I lost interest but primarily because it became dangerous to be on the road on either.
 
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DawgNsuds

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Jun 4, 2007
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This is why I don’t ride my bicycle & haven’t in 15 years. Drivers on cell phones & a few sick ones out there that really wouldn’t mind killing you.
had ridden for years, done a few triathlons but recently sold my bike. Getting older and the absolute disdain that some have for bikers convinced me it wasn't if, it was when I would have a true altercation rather than the near misses I had experienced. Almost every rider I know has had an altercation with a vehicle, the reality is our society for the most part thinks that roadways belong to the gas burners and not willing to make room for bikers. This is even true for the Natchez Trace which is a designated bicycle route.
 
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patdog

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May 28, 2007
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Ask around and see if you can find anyone willing to do drive around for 2+ hours at daybreak.
Just rotate among the people in your cycling group. One guy runs the safety car and the rest ride. As someone else posted, in the case of a college team, just get some grad assistant to run the safety car.
 
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Dawgzilla2

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Where else can they ride? These guys ride dozens of miles at a time. I have a friend who rides bicycles pretty hard core, and a short ride for him is 40-50 miles. On Saturday mornings, he and his bike club will sometimes ride more than 100 miles. You can’t ride that distance without being on the roads.
Mountain bike trails and forest service roads, and there are plenty in that area. I'm an avid cyclist. I am well aware of the different training you get from a road bike vs. a mountain trail, but they are similar enough that cross training is effective.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have been on the road, just that they have options. You can still get badly injured on a mountain bike, but at least none of the obstacles are actively trying to hurt you.

My road cycling is pretty much limited to races, large group rides, and places with bike lanes.
 

goindhoo

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Feb 29, 2008
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Got a question for cyclists: Runners are taught to run on opposite side of road facing traffic so you dont get run over from behind. Why are cyclists taught different?
 

patdog

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May 28, 2007
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Got a question for cyclists: Runners are taught to run on opposite side of road facing traffic so you dont get run over from behind. Why are cyclists taught different?
It's actually safer that way. For one thing any collisions are 20-40 mph less in speed differential between the bike and car this way. It also gives the driver of the car more time to recognize there is a cyclist on the road and avoid him.
 
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DawgNsuds

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Jun 4, 2007
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It's actually safer that way. For one thing any collisions are 20-40 mph less in speed differential between the bike and car this way. It also gives the driver of the car more time to recognize there is a cyclist on the road and avoid him.
and cyclist are subject to the same traffic laws as automobiles
 
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DerHntr

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Mountain bike trails and forest service roads, and there are plenty in that area. I'm an avid cyclist. I am well aware of the different training you get from a road bike vs. a mountain trail, but they are similar enough that cross training is effective.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have been on the road, just that they have options. You can still get badly injured on a mountain bike, but at least none of the obstacles are actively trying to hurt you.

My road cycling is pretty much limited to races, large group rides, and places with bike lanes.
How many are in a large group ride for you? Genuine question (not smart ***). They had 10+ on that team ride.
 

She Mate Me

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This is why I don’t ride my bicycle & haven’t in 15 years. Drivers on cell phones & a few sick ones out there that really wouldn’t mind killing you.

Exactly, I used to ride many years ago, but after too many close calls and riding around with rednecks like my brother, who really disliked cyclists and was nuts, I hung the bike up in the garage and left it.
 
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Dawgzilla2

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How many are in a large group ride for you? Genuine question (not smart ***). They had 10+ on that team ride.
Fair question, and something I've never thought about These days the group rides I join are really big. Like over 30. If I was riding with just 10 I would really consider the traffic on the route.

Again, Im not saying the cyclists did anything wrong in this matter, just what my preferences are.
 
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horshack.sixpack

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Oct 30, 2012
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“They were on a rural road in a mountainous area”. Why? Why?!!
There should be consistent penalties for distracted driving. That includes alcohol, drugs, screwing around on your phone instead of driving, and anything else that has your attention besides driving. If you are on your phone while driving, you are not driving well. Stop.
 
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DerHntr

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Fair question, and something I've never thought about These days the group rides I join are really big. Like over 30. If I was riding with just 10 I would really consider the traffic on the route.

Again, Im not saying the cyclists did anything wrong in this matter, just what my preferences are.

I don’t ride because I find it exceptionally more dangerous than running. I have of course had numerous close calls running too. So pick your poison I guess.
 

Rezdog

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Oct 25, 2015
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Where else can they ride? These guys ride dozens of miles at a time. I have a friend who rides bicycles pretty hard core, and a short ride for him is 40-50 miles. On Saturday mornings, he and his bike club will sometimes ride more than 100 miles. You can’t ride that distance without being on the roads.
Are we friends? I ride a lot but do my best to stay on as many bike lanes and trails as possible. I also ride late afternoon during the week or very early on Saturday and Sunday. I have a rear radar that alerts when a vehicle is approaching. I ride like I expect every car is about to hit me. The only issues I have had is rankin county red necks trying to teach me a lesson. Funny, they never pull ever after rolling me with coal.
 

Rezdog

Junior
Oct 25, 2015
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had ridden for years, done a few triathlons but recently sold my bike. Getting older and the absolute disdain that some have for bikers convinced me it wasn't if, it was when I would have a true altercation rather than the near misses I had experienced. Almost every rider I know has had an altercation with a vehicle, the reality is our society for the most part thinks that roadways belong to the gas burners and not willing to make room for bikers. This is even true for the Natchez Trace which is a designated bicycle route.
I just got back from a trip to Italy. Ton of bikes riding all over.
 

johnson86-1

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Aug 22, 2012
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Where else can they ride? These guys ride dozens of miles at a time. I have a friend who rides bicycles pretty hard core, and a short ride for him is 40-50 miles. On Saturday mornings, he and his bike club will sometimes ride more than 100 miles. You can’t ride that distance without being on the roads.
There's probably not a particularly safe way to do it the way they want to ride. I would say you should probably stick to roads with speed limits of 35 or less. Those roads probably aren't going to let them peddle non stop at the speeds they want because of traffic. But it is just a bad idea to be going twenty or twenty-five miles an hour on a road where people are going 30 mph faster than that. They can certainly legally do it in most places, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. People just don't pay attention like they should. Plus when you are slowing people down trying to get to work for your recreational activity, they are often going to drive aggressively. Not saying that's right, just reality.
 

mstateglfr

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Feb 24, 2008
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Go 17 yourself. Coming from you that’s a compliment. 2 young lives were lost that didn’t have to be and that is your response.
Yep, someone is charged with improperly handling their vehicle, resulting in the death of two people.

Law enforcement clearly thinks the vehicle driver was at fault. So blame the driver.
 

PBRME

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Feb 12, 2004
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I used to love riding my bike around the neighborhoods where I used to live. No way in hell I’d ride it around where I live now. Or any busy road/highway. I’m not putting my life in the hand of these dipshits that take the curve by my house too fast. They’re either on the wrong side of the road or leaving pieces of their vehicle in my yard.
 

stateu1

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Mar 21, 2016
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I run, dont bike, but I rather see what's coming at me. Seems more dangerous not to see whats coming at you
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