Two Cyclists Dead After Being Hit By Trucks June 19 - R.i.p.

sham · *by **sham** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:20pm*

WTF? Shit man, the second guy is now also dead? This is seriously messed up and just speaks so loudly about what seems to be a growing issue in our country. especially with more people turning to bikes as a way of commuting.

Thoughts go out to the family.

Joel · *by **Joel** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:21pm*

sifter wrote: I just called CAN's media liaison guy. They are putting out a press release tomorrow morning, despite the awkwardnesses of "capitalising" on tragedy.

i know it's awkward, but they have to do it and Kick up a BIG stink.

istepinyards · *by **istepinyards** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:23pm*

It seems per capita NZ drivers kill or maim more cyclists than any other country. Whats with drivers over there.

sifter · *by **sifter** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:25pm*

istepinyards wrote: It seems per capita NZ drivers kill or maim more cyclists than any other country. Whats with drivers over there.

"we're" generally a bunch of impatient and "I'm in a car so I'm more important than you" cunzors

E Dogg Capizzle · *by **E Dogg Capizzle** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:28pm*

A real tragedy.

What are the real stats on cyclist deaths on the roads in NZ?

istepinyards · *by **istepinyards** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:29pm*

sifter wrote:
istepinyards wrote: It seems per capita NZ drivers kill or maim more cyclists than any other country. Whats with drivers over there.

"we're" generally a bunch of impatient and "I'm in a car so I'm more important than you" cunzors

No one is more impatient than the Americans and No one more important than them. But they don't go around writing off humans at will. Is there going to be a backlash toward cyclists for "being on our roads not the footpath where they belong"

Oli · *by **Oli** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:31pm*

Oli wrote:Hi.

After two more terrible tragedies on Wellington roads today with two cyclists being killed, I feel it is long overdue for Land Transport to take a leadership role in educating motorists regarding the vulnerability of cyclists in relation to the tonnes of steel that encase drivers.

I feel that the Don't Burst Their Bubble campaign was largely a waste of time, with a few posters in bus stops and small print ads. As far as my own personal straw poll can tell it had little to no impact on anyone but people who already are aware of cyclist's needs.

With the price of petrol going up daily, and not looking like decreasing for a long, long time, there will only be an increase in cycle commuting and general numbers of bikes on the road so it's now time to make a BIG noise about our rights on the roads, and the great danger that careless use of motor vehicles puts cyclists in...

I have cc'ed this message to several media outlets.

Thanks for your time, Oli

Oli Brooke-White
blah, blah, blah
Wellington

Joel · *by **Joel** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:33pm*

nicely written oli

sifter · *by **sifter** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:34pm*

perfect. I'm going to go get drunk in front of the TV now...

Roma · *by **Roma** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:45pm*

What a tragic day. This is despicable.

With the advent of gas prices going up meaning there is more and more people giving cycle commuting a go, I wonder if there also needs to be some public 'advice' on how to cycle defensively.

I would venture to say some of these commuters are people who are not regular riders on the road and may be a little naÃ¯ve in their trust of motorists to be obeying the road code and always 'seeing' them.

I don't mean that to sound callous or to be in any way reflective of the two who died today.

wachtourak · *by **wachtourak** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:49pm*

This whole situation is pretty ratshit

SlackBoy · *by **SlackBoy** on Thu 19/Jun/08 8:54pm*

I think I might have to re-start educating drivers on how not to drive around cyclists :satan:

slidecontrol · *by **slidecontrol** on Thu 19/Jun/08 9:02pm*

my latest interaction with a truck seems to demonstrate that the truckies ( at least the one I encountered this evening ) is that they don't give a toss about anyone.

I was out running this evening, on the footpath and in a well lit area, as i come past the local supermarket a Halls truck swings straight off the road across the foot path and into the supermarket, with little apparent reduction on speed forcing me to back up real fast...

I was not happy about this, and went to the cop shop ( which happened to be next door to the supermarket) only to be given the brush off by some disinterested cop. maybe he was more concerned about making his shift as easy as possible? his words were, "if you had been hit, then we could do something"

my worry here is that the motorists as a group don't give a rats arse and the one group empowered to administer our laws are apathetic ( at least in Hamilton anyway)

It seems that because supposedly minor infractions go on ignored and allowed to continue unabated when the dice finally roll badly the individuals involved have no idea why some one is injured or dead, because they have always driven/ridden that way. ( yes i am getting at cyclists as well)

my sympathy goes out to those who were killed today, and i thank my lucky stars i didn't end up joining them.