Virginia Murray, 25 Was Killed Riding a Divvy After Being Hit By a Truck 07/01/16 - The Chainlink2024-03-29T11:39:33Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/a-female-divvy-rider-was-hit-by-a-truck-this-morning?feed=yes&xn_auth=noStory about Ginny's family su…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-02:2211490:Comment:10055832016-08-02T17:03:08.572ZAndrew Bednohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AndrewBedno
<p>Story about Ginny's family suing the truck driver:</p>
<p><span><a href="http://chicagoist.com/2016/08/01/family_of_only_divvy_rider_killed_s.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://chicagoist.com/2016/08/01/family_of_only_divvy_rider_killed_...</a></span></p>
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<p><span>Photo and mapping of her ghost bike:…</span></p>
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<p>Story about Ginny's family suing the truck driver:</p>
<p><span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://chicagoist.com/2016/08/01/family_of_only_divvy_rider_killed_s.php" target="_blank">http://chicagoist.com/2016/08/01/family_of_only_divvy_rider_killed_...</a></span></p>
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<p><span>Photo and mapping of her ghost bike:</span></p>
<p><span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://bedno.com/body/bike/ghostbikes/details/ginny" target="_blank">http://bedno.com/body/bike/ghostbikes/details/ginny</a></span></p>
<p></p> http://www.newsy.com/videos/d…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-02:2211490:Comment:10053452016-08-02T03:46:16.341ZJon Cunninghamhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JonCunningham
<p><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-hates-bicycles/" target="_blank">http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-hates-bicycles/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-hates-bicycles/" target="_blank">http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-hates-bicycles/</a></p> I saw media reports today tha…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-02:2211490:Comment:10054452016-08-02T01:28:06.692ZMauricehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Maurice
<p>I saw media reports today that Ms. Murray's family has sued the truck driver. The extremely probable result is a large out-of-court settlement by the driver's insurance carrier.<br/> <br/> Of course 90% of the social media comments I saw were "Cyclists have to obey traffic laws!" and "Divvy didn't do anything wrong!" The other 10% were "She didn't break any traffic laws" and "Divvy isn't being sued."</p>
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<p>It's a vicious cycle.</p>
<p>I saw media reports today that Ms. Murray's family has sued the truck driver. The extremely probable result is a large out-of-court settlement by the driver's insurance carrier.<br/> <br/> Of course 90% of the social media comments I saw were "Cyclists have to obey traffic laws!" and "Divvy didn't do anything wrong!" The other 10% were "She didn't break any traffic laws" and "Divvy isn't being sued."</p>
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<p>It's a vicious cycle.</p> Someone else commented here t…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-01:2211490:Comment:10054432016-08-01T20:48:08.950ZOldGuyCyclisthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/FritzHocking
<p>Someone else commented here that about 50% of drivers fail to signal turns, and I -- at my advanced age (50+ years of cycling - yikes!) -- agree. In fact, I often repeat that "50%" mental note when I'm driving my car and see people fail to signal.</p>
<p>And, is it just me (quintessential "get off my lawn" guy), or are there an increasing number of drivers making turns across several lanes of traffic? Particularly our comrades the cab drivers.</p>
<p>There seems to be little traffic law…</p>
<p>Someone else commented here that about 50% of drivers fail to signal turns, and I -- at my advanced age (50+ years of cycling - yikes!) -- agree. In fact, I often repeat that "50%" mental note when I'm driving my car and see people fail to signal.</p>
<p>And, is it just me (quintessential "get off my lawn" guy), or are there an increasing number of drivers making turns across several lanes of traffic? Particularly our comrades the cab drivers.</p>
<p>There seems to be little traffic law enforcement. I remember seeing a lot of traffic stops in Chicago 35 or so years ago. <a href="http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com" target="_blank">secondcitycop.blogspot.com</a> has mentioned that there are many fewer Chicago police officers now than there were even 10 years ago. (Trigger warning: SCC is decidedly <em>not</em> politically correct.)</p>
<p>To heck with it ... I'm moving to the desert. You kids can have the city.</p> Thanks, I did see the post yo…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-01:2211490:Comment:10052332016-08-01T20:41:17.204ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>Thanks, I did see the post you are referring to, I just respectfully disagree with you. I don't believe Jon is exploiting her death so much as expressing an opinion (whether correct or incorrect). I believe this is more of a reaction that is shaken by the events, needing to make sense of it, and coming up with theories. I tend to cope in a similar way - need to deconstruct and try to figure it out. </p>
<p>Thanks, I did see the post you are referring to, I just respectfully disagree with you. I don't believe Jon is exploiting her death so much as expressing an opinion (whether correct or incorrect). I believe this is more of a reaction that is shaken by the events, needing to make sense of it, and coming up with theories. I tend to cope in a similar way - need to deconstruct and try to figure it out. </p> In my travels yesterday, I sa…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-01:2211490:Comment:10053342016-08-01T20:22:04.696ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>In my travels yesterday, I saw several cars that failed to signal a turn. This was true for both LEFT and right turns. I see this on most days when I'm out and about. Until police start writing tickets for this sort of thing, it seems likely to continue.<br/><br/>Whenever I'm not sure, I wait to see where the driver is going.</p>
<p>In my travels yesterday, I saw several cars that failed to signal a turn. This was true for both LEFT and right turns. I see this on most days when I'm out and about. Until police start writing tickets for this sort of thing, it seems likely to continue.<br/><br/>Whenever I'm not sure, I wait to see where the driver is going.</p> Please read the specific Repl…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-01:2211490:Comment:10053332016-08-01T20:21:48.659ZOldGuyCyclisthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/FritzHocking
<p>Please read the specific Reply to which I was responding [millenial removing Bernie tattoo on July 4, 2016 at 6:49pm; in reply to Jon Cunningham on July 4, 2016 at 6:18pm], the guy who claimed that drivers have become more hostile to cyclists as a result of Donald Trump's candidacy.<br/> <br/>Much more importantly -- thanks for caring about Ginny a month on.</p>
<p>Please read the specific Reply to which I was responding [millenial removing Bernie tattoo on July 4, 2016 at 6:49pm; in reply to Jon Cunningham on July 4, 2016 at 6:18pm], the guy who claimed that drivers have become more hostile to cyclists as a result of Donald Trump's candidacy.<br/> <br/>Much more importantly -- thanks for caring about Ginny a month on.</p> If you are saying someone has…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-01:2211490:Comment:10052242016-08-01T18:35:54.977ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>If you are saying someone has "exploited" Ginny's death to "promote political bias," I respectfully disagree. As cyclists, we are moved deeply when one of our own is lost. It is normal for us to reflect on the "why" as well as our own experiences riding our bikes in Chicago. Ginny's ghost bike and memorial were done with the involvement and support of her family and friends. They expressed an interest in attending the dedication. Our cycling community feels her loss and we hope more is…</p>
<p>If you are saying someone has "exploited" Ginny's death to "promote political bias," I respectfully disagree. As cyclists, we are moved deeply when one of our own is lost. It is normal for us to reflect on the "why" as well as our own experiences riding our bikes in Chicago. Ginny's ghost bike and memorial were done with the involvement and support of her family and friends. They expressed an interest in attending the dedication. Our cycling community feels her loss and we hope more is learned about how to make Chicago a safe place to ride bikes with better infrastructure and improved interactions with drivers.</p> +1, millennial
Additionally,…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-08-01:2211490:Comment:10054352016-08-01T17:59:06.022ZOldGuyCyclisthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/FritzHocking
<p>+1, millennial</p>
<p>Additionally, it's in poor taste to exploit someone's death to promote a political bias.</p>
<p>Ginny was a close friend of my wife, and a delightful young woman. May her loss remind us to transcend pettiness and appreciate the preciousness and relative brevity of ALL lives.</p>
<p>+1, millennial</p>
<p>Additionally, it's in poor taste to exploit someone's death to promote a political bias.</p>
<p>Ginny was a close friend of my wife, and a delightful young woman. May her loss remind us to transcend pettiness and appreciate the preciousness and relative brevity of ALL lives.</p> My sincere condolences to the…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-07-12:2211490:Comment:10004462016-07-12T21:34:12.268ZCarter O'Brienhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/CarterOBrien
<p><span>My sincere condolences to the victim's family and friends. This is</span> just beyond awful and hits home for me very personally as I have pedaled through this intersection hundreds upon hundreds of times, including many trips with my daughter first on a bike seat and then later on a Trail a Bike. The ghost bike is appreciated as a sign of respect for her life and as a daily reminder for drivers.</p>
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<p>In the bigger picture, this intersection is like thousands of others in…</p>
<p><span>My sincere condolences to the victim's family and friends. This is</span> just beyond awful and hits home for me very personally as I have pedaled through this intersection hundreds upon hundreds of times, including many trips with my daughter first on a bike seat and then later on a Trail a Bike. The ghost bike is appreciated as a sign of respect for her life and as a daily reminder for drivers.</p>
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<p>In the bigger picture, this intersection is like thousands of others in Chicago, where there isn't an actual right turn lane, just (perhaps) two parked cars worth of <span>space at the end of the block that prohibit parking. So as others have noted, a large vehicle like a truck has to be at least somewhat in the center of the actual lane to make a</span> right turn.</p>
<p><br/>Based on the video, the confidence of the cyclist and the intersection's physical limitations, it strikes me as extremely likely that the driver was guilty of not having a turn signal on. Thus the cyclist assumed they were *supposed* to be to the right of the truck, and it was just the worst possible timing in terms of the cyclist hitting a blind spot, although it is certainly also possible the truck driver did not properly look before and during the turn. <br/><br/>Trucks should be treated with as much deference as possible, just for our own safety. Even when you are 100% following the rules of the road they are dangerous, I got "hooked" as in literally snagged by a truck's passenger side mirror on Belmont a few years back near Clark as it zoomed past me. The mirror <span>caught my jacket and I got lifted practically off of my bike and ultimately sent to</span> the asphalt. That may have been the only time I can say having toe clips worked in my favor from a safety perspective, as my weight combined with the bike (a heavy Specialized Crosstrail) actually quickly bent the s mirror and I was released. Fortunately I just ended up with a few scratches and bruised, but it wasn't hard to imagine that scenario playing out very, very differently.<br/><br/>Belmont has desperately needed a bike lane for as long as I've been alive, I'm impressed/hopeful that Steven mentioned it as a possibility as that would be a bona fide miracle. But I have no idea how that can be reconciled with the so-called rush hour parking control lanes, which don't have actual striping and thus are confusing as to where they actually start and stop. Traffic on Belmont during rush hour is... special to say the least.</p>
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