Bicyclist killed at Oak & Wells Friday AM

Any updates:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-bicyclist-str...

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on October 5, 2012 at 10:02am

+1.

my sympathies, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the victim.

 

everyone spread the word about "look before opening a door"

 

DHB

Marc-Paul Lee said:

sadly, the take-away for many may be "biking is dangerous" rather than "look before opening your door."  

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 5, 2012 at 10:04am

I think that's an excellent idea and very appropriate.

Melissa M said:

Might it also be a good idea to gather for a memorial on a weekday morning around the time that it occurred? We could wear white shirts and gather (on the sidewalk?) at the site. It just seems like being there at the time when the area is busiest is a good time to remind people to check for cyclists (and other traffic) before opening their doors.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on October 5, 2012 at 10:04am

A very unfortunate collision that could have easily been avoided. It's sad that bad roadway design and oblivious motorists are still causing countless lives to be lost. When will car drivers realize that they are operating deadly weapons and take responsibility for their actions on the road?

I ride by this every day on the way to work. Due to the construction, the northbound bike lane is nonexistent – it's been covered by a shoddy concrete job. The southbound lane is full of potholes and is completely faded. I hear that this area is getting a buffered bike lane all the way to North Ave, but a protected lane would be even better.

Permalink Reply by Justin B Newman on October 5, 2012 at 10:13am

I emailed the Trib. Got a response in under 10 minutes that the ad was being taken down. 


Trevor said:

Yeah, I think I saw the same one.  Guy sitting in a cab, then people running and motoring through the traffic jam, caution be damned?  Agreed that it's very inappropriate.

Mike Fiasco said:

The Tribune updated the story with a video from the WGN news. If you play the vid it starts with a really inappropriate commercial.

I don't know if we all see the same commercial (due to data mining my PC) but check it out and see if you have the same problem as I.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on October 5, 2012 at 10:16am

Also they can't stop very fast or steer the trailer -it just follows behind where the semi tractor has just been.  If you fall in front of those trailer wheels there is literally nothing the driver can do even if the driver saw you go under the trailer.  There is no swerving a trailer, and stopping on a dime is just not possible in time if the rig is going over about a walking pace.   It's pretty much like falling off the platform in front of a train.  There just isn't anything they can do even if they can see you.  Big rigs are dangerous to be around, just like being near a train.  Give them a WIDE berth -most truck drivers try to do the same for other road users because they are aware of these facts too.   I almost never have big rig drivers fail to give me 3-feet (unlike smaller delivery truck drivers and especially buses -those guys can be the worst.)

Barry Niel Stuart said:

When it comes to semis, I give them a very wide berth because of the huge blind spots they have.  If I can't see the driver's face, that also means he can't see me.

Permalink Reply by April on October 5, 2012 at 10:17am

I posted a comment under the NBC Article which (thankfully) mentioned the door being opened and that the driver would be ticketed.  Someone already started the cyclist bashing about us not stopping at stop signs.

Here's my comment:

In this case it was not a cyclist who was breaking the law, it was a driver who broke the law and endangered another person. Opening your door into a bike lane (or any traffic lane) is against the law and plain irresponsible. Let’s not turn this horrible tragedy into a grade-school finger pointing. Let’s please be respectful to the memory of Neil Townsend and try to learn from this situation. Drivers, please check before opening your door. This kind of fatal accident is extremely common in our city and can be avoided. The Danes recommend using your right hand to open the door because your body naturally turns allowing you to check before exiting your vehicle. Cyclists, please ride with caution, avoid the door zone as much as possible. Scan for drivers in the windows as you pass, watch for taillights and listen for the telltale sound of the door clicking open. Again, please be respectful to the memory of Neil Townsend and learn from this incident. My thoughts are with the Townsend family.

Permalink Reply by blair on October 5, 2012 at 10:22am

Great comment!

April said:

I posted a comment under the NBC Article which (thankfully) mentioned the door being opened and that the driver would be ticketed.  Someone already started the cyclist bashing about us not stopping at stop signs.

Here's my comment:

In this case it was not a cyclist who was breaking the law, it was a driver who broke the law and endangered another person. Opening your door into a bike lane (or any traffic lane) is against the law and plain irresponsible. Let’s not turn this horrible tragedy into a grade-school finger pointing. Let’s please be respectful to the memory of Neil Townsend and try to learn from this situation. Drivers, please check before opening your door. This kind of fatal accident is extremely common in our city and can be avoided. The Danes recommend using your right hand to open the door because your body naturally turns allowing you to check before exiting your vehicle. Cyclists, please ride with caution, avoid the door zone as much as possible. Scan for drivers in the windows as you pass, watch for taillights and listen for the telltale sound of the door clicking open. Again, please be respectful to the memory of Neil Townsend and learn from this incident. My thoughts are with the Townsend family.

Permalink Reply by Trevor on October 5, 2012 at 10:25am

Yeah, I sent the info to a couple of his friends and coworkers, I think they'll circulate as much as they can.


h' said:

Can you let his friends/family/coworkers know about the vigil tonight at 9? 

Trevor said:

I'm not sure if Neil was a chainlink member, but he was a really nice guy.  He was on his way to work on W. Fulton Market this morning.  He didn't show up on time and didn't respond to text messages, unusual for him.  Police showed up at his office to let people know what had happened.  This is incredibly sad, and I know at least one of his coworkers who rode into work today was too shaken to ride home.  My thoughts are with Neil's family and friends.

Kevin C said:

Updated Tribune story identifies the victim as Neil Townsend.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on October 5, 2012 at 10:25am

Why is it that every time an article is posted about a cyclist being injured or killed, some commenters always feel the need to wrongly claim that all cyclists break the law and therefore they deserve whatever happens to them? In my experience, far more car drivers are breaking the law then cyclists, e.g. speeding, driving aggressively, following too closely, not allowing 3 feet of space, driving/parking in the bike lane, not looking before flinging their car doors into traffic, etc. Drivers of cars need to be held to a higher standard of safety since they can injure/kill someone with their vehicle FAR more easily than a rider of a bicycle.

Permalink Reply by April on October 5, 2012 at 10:32am

Here is the reporter's email: Colleen Mastony, CMastony@tribune.com.


Someone, please write them and tell them their story was terribly biased and point out door safety.  I need to get back to work and this should be done as soon as possible.  Thanks!!

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 5, 2012 at 10:43am
Yeah. The title says , "he did have a lot of close calls."
. Why they had to highlight that one stupid sentence.
April said:

Here is the reporter's email: Colleen Mastony, CMastony@tribune.com.


Someone, please write them and tell them their story was terribly biased and point out door safety.  I need to get back to work and this should be done as soon as possible.  Thanks!!

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 5, 2012 at 10:49am

Here's my email to Colleen Mastony in response to her update.  I plan to send a slightly modified version as a letter to the editor to the Trib and Sun Times.

I was greatly disappointed to read your extremely biased, fear-mongering update on Neil Townsend's tragicallly preventable death.  Accidents like this should not happen, and they wouldn't if more drivers were educated about the dangers of dooring.  Other cyclists have died in the same way in recent years. 

On more than one occasion, I have been doored, or swerved to avoid being doored, and was saved from Mr. Townsend's fate by the fact that the driver who could have run me over or hit me head on was paying attention and was able to stop quickly, avoiding a potentially deadly collision.  None of those incidents would have happened at all if each of the parked drivers had looked before opening their doors.  Many cyclists I know have had similar experiences.

To put this into context, I have ridden over 15,000 miles over the last 15 years - most of those miles within the city of Chicago.  In that time, I've had a total of 4 (yes, FOUR) accidents requiring medical attention. Three of those accidents involved dooring.  I have avoided hundreds of *potential* accidents through observant, defensive riding.  Paying attention saves lives.  Most of the year round cyclists and bike commuters I know have similar safety statistics.  It sounds like Mr. Townsend may have also had similar numbers - until today.

One of the best things that could come out of Mr. Townsend's death is EDUCATION.  Can we afford to waste yet another opportunity to educate a lot of people and save lives?  I don't think so.  Cycling *can* be a safe, healthy means of transportation - if drivers learn how to share the road safely.  Learning to look in the side mirror EVERY TIME and wait if necessary is such a small thing, but it could have a huge impact on bike safety. 

I hope that you will revise your story accordingly.  The local cycling community would be grateful.

Anne Alt
President
Chicago Cycling Club

April said:

Here is the reporter's email: Colleen Mastony, CMastony@tribune.com.


Someone, please write them and tell them their story was terribly biased and point out door safety.  I need to get back to work and this should be done as soon as possible.  Thanks!!

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