WSP seeks witnesses to bicycle accident on SR-202 near Redmond

dr_tim said on January 4, 2010 at 10:47 PM

The bikes were riding in a single file on the right side of the road when this van crossed a no-passing yellow line at over 70 MPH, thereby creating a dangerous situation. They were NOT riding double across the road as some have assumed. They were on the shoulder. The bikes even had lights. "...they have no right to ride on the road. " They do have the right. If you don't like it, write your legislator requesting to have the laws changed or run for Congress. "...clear the road of irritating vermon (sic)" A very sick and sad reflection.

dr_tim said on January 4, 2010 at 10:44 PM

The bikes were riding in a single file on the right side of the road when this van crossed a no-passing yellow line at over 70 MPH, thereby creating a dangerous situation. The bikes were NOT riding double across the road as some have assumed. They were on the shoulder. The bikes even had lights. "...they have no right to ride on the road. " They do have the right. If you don't like it, write your legislator requesting to have the laws changed or run for Congress. "...clear the road of irritating vermon (sic)" A very sick and sad reflection.

stryker said on January 4, 2010 at 8:22 AM

They were on 202? That’s a 50mph area. Did the minivan cross the WHITE line on the oncoming side? I bet the bike was in the roadway going WAY under the posted speed limit also. Sounds like the minivan has some violations coming but the bike rider should too. STAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC LANES OR KEEP UP TO THE LIMIT. I have no empathy for the riders who force everyone else to slow down for them as if they think they have the right. Sorry people, but if the road was not built to accommodate bicycles then your taking your chances. Ride at your own risk.

john_mccartney said on January 4, 2010 at 8:22 AM

justapointofview: What's license tabs on bikes have to do with this story? That comment has no place here.

justapointofview said on January 3, 2010 at 9:30 PM

I want to ask a question. Why is it that bicyclist can ride on the road with no license plates, no tabs, no turn signals, no brake lights and most of the time no mirrors. I have to have a license plate on my dirt bike and pay for tabs every year but yet i cant ride on the road. Why is that? It doesnt sound very fair. Cause i can even keep up with traffic unlike a bicyclist . I feel that they have no right to ride on the road. Now to be clear im not saying that drivers should hit them. But things need to change. At the very least make them get plates and tabs, that way police can issue and keep track of thier violations.

ringostarrr said on January 3, 2010 at 4:15 PM

As always, the uneducated leave ignorant comments here. There is NO excuse for the actions of the vehicle.

rtrickler said on January 3, 2010 at 12:53 PM

The two bills in the Sweetpea Three that deal with hit and run legislation are written to apply to cyclists as well.

rtrickler said on January 3, 2010 at 12:46 PM

This is exactly the kind of crime two of these Sweetpea Three bills are intended to address. Help us get them passes http://www.komonews.com/news/local/80515672.html http://www.king5.com/news/local/HitandRunLegislation-80376252.html http://home.comcast.net/~justiceforheathertrickler/index.htm

tcoleman said on January 3, 2010 at 12:45 PM

@ hubbahead - if it was the Starbucks racing team, they were riding in a line. I ride on that hwy with my team often - always in a single file line. But it's a moot point - riding in a single file line wouldn't have done much good against a mallicious driver crossing the center line in oncoming traffic with the idea of deliberately taking the life of a cyclist(s). The drivers actions are still not justified.

hubbahead said on January 3, 2010 at 12:37 PM

@tcoleman The news report made sure they stated that the riders were riding in a "single file" line. Seeing as how they went out of their way to say that just means the cyclists were not riding in a single file line. They never do. I know I know, they have every right to take up the whole lane, but isn't it better to be the safe rider instead of the "right" rider. Same goes for driving a vehicle. You could be right, but is it really the safest? Just like passing vehicles isn't illegal.

tcoleman said on January 3, 2010 at 12:27 PM

aolaolaol & organdonor - what about this situation indicates that the cyclist was acting irresponsibly? How can you justify and condone the actions of the minivan driver? Cyclists deserve to "get hit or run off the road" for sharing the road with cars? aolaolaol - you should brush up on your WSL: "A bicyclist should ride in the middle of the right lane when the lane is too narrow to permit side by side sharing of the lane with motor vehicles and hazards prevent safe operation of the bicycle on the shoulder or at the right edge of the lane."

smilingsnowman3 said on January 3, 2010 at 12:23 PM

I actually live in redmond...being the "bicycle capital of the northwest" most and all of our roads have some sort of bicycle lane. Bicycle riders technecally are in their right using the road like any other driver. In fact it is illigal to use the side walk for biking. I was actually was driving right infront of the red minivan when police pulled it over and it crossed right in front of my car fairly recklessly freaking me out!

confndr said on January 3, 2010 at 10:04 AM

What if the speeding mini-van hit a car and severely injuried a motorist? Would that motorist have deserved it? What if the speeding mini-van hit a runner? Or someone walking on the side of the road? Would they deserve it? Or, what if a motorist breaks multiple laws, would they deserve possibly dying from an accident they caused? What is it that really bothers all of these people about cyclists? Being slowed a few seconds once in a while by a group when you are driving?

organdonor said on January 3, 2010 at 9:56 AM

I agree, aolaolaol. I would have more sympathy if bicycle riders did not act like they own the road. I also agree with domesticdreamer. When you ride on a two lane road with no shoulder then you risk getting hit or run off the road. There are plenty of bike trails, including a paved trail that runs from redmond to seattle, called the burke gillman trail.

domesticdreamer said on January 3, 2010 at 6:55 AM

It is unfortunate that this accident happened, but isn't that risk they take when they ride a bike on a road occupied by motor vehicles? Personally, I would not ride a bike on a major road, just walking on one makes me feel uncomfortably. It was a good thing he was paying attention.

aolaolaol said on January 3, 2010 at 2:20 AM

I think cyclist should act responsibly on the roads too though, like not taking up an entire lane holding 5 cars behind them which is illegal. Not condoning this kind of wreckless driving either tho!

irideevryday said on January 2, 2010 at 11:59 PM

It saddens me to know that people so insensitive would leave such a comment like grannyra about someone getting hurt! Hey granny I bet you would be singing a different tune if you said that with your real name! What is wrong with people these days? The motorist was totally in the wrong and needs to be brought to justice!

btuck said on January 2, 2010 at 9:34 PM

really? when is it ever OK to break the law and run people over?

grannyra said on January 2, 2010 at 8:09 PM

Give the guy a medal for trying to clear the road of irritating vermon.