Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ketoguychicago on November 13, 2019 at 11:39am

The truck driver had a duty to ensure the turn was safe, and the driver failed.  However, the design of the environment (and mis-information and mis-perception about the safety of such environments) substantially contributes to such a failure, and this isn't the first incident of this type in Chicago involving a truck and cyclist.  Our sympathies belong with her family and loved ones, and we must endeavor to prevent such tragedies.   

Elsewhere, it is dangerous to dismiss efforts or opportunities to more safely conduct our own riding as merely "victim blaming."  Individual cyclists have more control over their own behavior than of the behavior of anyone else - drivers, designers or otherwise.  Imagining that someone ELSE will necessarily behave in traffic to ensure our safety is dangerous.  Imagining that CDOT designs such as are found on Milwaukee and elsewhere are ultimately protecting cyclists, is likewise dangerous.  Inviting people into unsafe conditions, and painting an illusion of safety doesn't promote safety.  It does the opposite, and we as cyclists need to individually guard against these dangers as we cycle and with respect to policy, and encourage others to do so also. 

As such, efforts to highlight the movements, mindsets, judgements and behaviors that contribute to putting ourselves in danger (not solely cause, but contribute to danger) are extremely important to safety and to making cycling less dangerous. 

Conducting our own riding in a safe fashion - regardless of some sense of fault or blame - makes cycling safer, and thereby can substantially contribute to making cycling more popular.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Muczynaki on November 14, 2019 at 4:29am

Well put, ketoguy.

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Permalink Reply by Filka Bean on November 14, 2019 at 2:08pm

This is a well-written comment. Most telling for me is the careful intro paragraph. Might i respectfully suggest: any time you feel the need for such a disclaimer it’s your conscience trying to tell you “this is not the time or place.”

i also disagree about people “gleaning” something from this tragic death. If that were the goal, I would expect to see a lot more questions. Instead i see a lot of lectures. And that’s why “time and place” matters. On a random club ride, folks might be enthusiastic when you lecture them on safe riding and infrastructure. On a thread like this people have come to mourn and get support.

i have a lot of sympathy for you and for clp in these exchanges, ketoguy: it’s frightening and frustrating to acknowledge our mortality, and also that people don’t act the way we wish they would. I know how reassuring it can feel to vent that sadness as anger. I also understand how reassuring this very thread dynamic can be: you write your comments and people react with indignation. It’s predictable and that’s soothing. I get it, and I bet a lot of other readers do as well. So please know that we have you in our hearts. Each comment elicits a psychic hug from us to you: it’s going to be ok.

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Permalink Reply by ketoguychicago on November 14, 2019 at 5:50pm

Thank you for the insights Mike, clp and Filka B.  To add - the first paragraph of the comment isn't a disclaimer, it's integral to the post and is in the context of the thread title and circumstances (more on that at the end) especially that part about keeping a proper look-out. Especially as we include all who in addition to drivers should keep a look-out, this doesn't trigger indignation with folks on board with safe cycling guidelines.

It'd be hard to speak for all others on this, however people who wear seatbelts in cars probably aren't frightened or frustrated about their mortality for doing so, it just a matter of wisdom or prudence. Same/same for safe cycling habits.  

That said, we can observe that lots of folks remark on a self-sense of a lack of cycling safety in this space - we see terms like safe passage or safe accommodation and such -  acknowledging folks may have safety on their minds at the outset, which ultimately is a good thing.  

Now is indeed the time and the place for all of this, which I suppose is why folks tee'd up these combined subject headers in the first place, along with the discussions of cops, truck designs, optics, mirrors and so forth, or, to glean something as clp had observed others doing.

But here's why now really is the time: Now is before yet another cyclist finds themselves yet another similar circumstance on Milwaukee and elsewhere.  Otherwise the events which lead to this thread (rather, these threads over the years) will be repeated.

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