UPDATE: Thanks to Tom Wald who sent out the link to this video from a Twin Cities TV station of the tunnel in question. Reminds me of issues with the Shoal Creek Trail at the tunnel around 14the Street and the sharp blind turn at 3rd Street.
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I has been stated in the comments section of this site that I somehow condone illegal or reckless behavior by cyclists because I point out that cars are the biggest threat to life on the road or that inconsistent enforcement of laws is no way to make streets safer or that maybe we should change the law. While cars are the most dangerous vehicle on the road, that does not give you free rein to ride like maniac or anarchist. Just because you the rider are the most likely to be injured or killed does not mean your actions are without consequence.
To remind us of the need for safe riding, comes this sad story from the Minneapolis- St Paul Star Tribune.
An Excelsior woman out biking with members of her book club collided with a passing cyclist and died Friday.
Lisa A. Roden, 50, was biking on a trail in Hyland Lake Park Reserve about 6:10 p.m. Thursday when she crashed with a man biking through a tunnel under E. Bush Lake Road at 86th Street, said Bloomington Police Cmdr. Dave Olmstead.
“The man was slowing down and announced his presence as he was going into the tunnel” and was coming out when they collided, Olmstead said.
The cyclists hit heads, and Roden’s head struck the ground, Olmstead said, adding that both were wearing helmets and that no one was ticketed.
The story goes on to say that Ms. Roden was kept on life support so her organs could be donated.
This sounds like a freak accident where 99 times out of 100, Ms. Roden would have walked away with only some scrapes or a broke bone. This just reminds us a little of our own mortality and to be safe and respect others on the road out there.
on Sep 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
It is a sad story.
I can only make guesses about what happened and I don’t expect a news story like this to cover every little detail, second-by-second of what happened.
I agree that this is somewhat of “a freak accident”. However, just from what I read in the story, I get the impression that just a little more could have been done to help prevent the worst. My point is not to vilify the bicyclists involved, but to give possible suggestions for avoidance, even if such avoidance measures could/would not be followed 100% of the time. It is easier to look in hindsight at these incidents, than to have 100% perfect behavior and foresight all of the time. Given these qualifications, here are my suggestions for possible avoidance measures:
* The man could have given an audible signal when _exiting_ the tunnel.
* The man or the woman could have been traveling more slowly when approaching the exit/entrance of the tunnel.
* The woman could have given an audible signal when approaching the tunnel.
* Perhaps some collision mitigation training would have helped, i.e. what to do when a head-on collision with a bicyclist or pedestrian is imminent.
on Sep 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
What a terrible tragedy. My thoughts are with their families.