Comments on: Asheville firefighter shoots cyclist over argument about safety

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:14:15 +0000

> emergency vehicles do not have the right of way

545.156. VEHICLE APPROACHED BY AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE.
(a) On the immediate approach of an authorized emergency
vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements
of Sections 547.305 and 547.702, or of a police vehicle lawfully
using only an audible signal, an operator, unless otherwise
directed by a police officer, shall:
(1) yield the right-of-way;
(2) immediately drive to a position parallel to and as
close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway
clear of any intersection; and
(3) stop and remain standing until the authorized
emergency vehicle has passed.
(b) This section does not exempt the operator of an
authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard
for the safety of all persons using the highway.

By: dinpo

dinpo — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:39:14 +0000

emergency vehicles do not have the right of way…they are merely asking for it..but the next time that you see an emergency vehicle and decide not to move over keep it in the back of your mind that you may need them to come to your aid and they cant get there because someone refuses to give them right away…

By: Safe Bicyclist

Safe Bicyclist — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:49:14 +0000

@ Jake: Please comment if safety vehicles without sirens or flashing lights are not required to yield to bicycles in crosswalks. I will update the bicycling world to beware. Also, a firetruck clipped a cyclist this summer in Newport Beach. The problem was the city being frugal on bike lane and laxed on street parking to maximize retailing. Thanks.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:14:29 +0000

@ safe bicyclist: That “paramedics van”? it’s called an ambulance. They usually have the right of way when it comes to that sort of thing.

By: Safe Bicyclist

Safe Bicyclist — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:26:04 +0000

The North Carolina firefighter incident might indicate a broader problem of negative bicycle attitudes among safety employees across many cities. An example is Southern California’s Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) that is located above a state wetlands preserve used by thousands of bicyclists each week. Both traffic signals entering into the California state preserve have been altered to not detect bicycles. Newport Beach’s Principal Civil Engineer Tony Brine and Traffic Engineer George Bernard replied to my email that the left-turn signal at the south entrance had been set back to not detect bicycles. For over a decade, motion sensors had detected bicycles to safely use the left lane to enter the California state preserve. NBPD police vehicles hide in a condominium driveway to chase bicyclists and fabricate vehicle citations. At the other preserve’s entrance, the bicycle button has been disconnected. If only one car is using the light, a bicyclist has four seconds on the green phase and one second for the yellow pause. The situation is dangerous. A bicycle cannot even make it across three lanes to the median, and has to do a 360 degree turn back to the curb as the traffic roars. Meanwhile, police cars park at the corner gas station. Mayor Ed Selich is not interested in bicycling. In a telephone call with Sergeant Mike James, he supported police engagement in chasing bicyclists at non-detecting signals. California has Statute AB-1581 for bicycle detection of traffic signals upon first placement or replacement. Sgt. James was oblivious to Statute AB-1581. During a similar call with Lieutenant Steve Shulman, he laughed. Lt. Shulman sent me a letter recommending that bicycles first test left-turn signals and then go across the traffic to the pedestrian button. While using the Lieutenant Shulman’s recommendation, a Newport Beach Fire Department paramedics van turned in front of me while at the median in a crosswalk. And a Park Ranger in a NBPD vehicle cut me off in a crosswalk at a local high school. His windows were rolled up, but I could read his lips saying “Get out of there”. City employees and safety officers have to get over resisting bicycles for everyone’s safety.

By: Paul -V-

Paul -V- — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:27:38 +0000

Something worth mentioning – there is a local guy running for city council who wrote a blog post about the incident:

http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/07/27/shoot-a-cyclist-for-safety/

Considering his support for bike-issues, he’s worth supporting, and hopefully, a link in the OP.

By: tom

tom — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:43:31 +0000

Can we add this to the “helmet saved my life” file.

By: Aron

Aron — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:09:32 +0000

This cyclist is my brother. We, including my dad are all avid cyclists. This is really a strange occurence.