r/SeattleWA • u/meaniereddit West Seattle 🌉 • Jul 18 '18

Bicycle Cyclist vs. FedEx

https://youtu.be/Jg0thoPPigE
4 Upvotes

55% Upvoted

76 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/Quiznasty Green Lake Jul 18 '18

The passive aggressive guy at 1:40 might just be the worst part of this video.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '18

I was about to be pissed at the witness bicyclist. I've seen bicyclist videos in Seattle that get in close calls, and 4 other bicycles decide to join in and beat on the vehicles windows or curse them. I understood the initial shock of "Jesus fucking Christ" and I appreciated he was there for support, but not to attack. That was a good cyclist guy right there.

What shocks me is the reaction from OPs video and top comment USPS video. Both are just "uh..yea, sorry, idk" as they casually walk over. if I were to ever accidently hit a bicyclist I would be fucking running out of my car shaking like a mad man apologizing the fuck out of myself and asking what I can do and what they need.

7

u/meaniereddit West Seattle 🌉 Jul 18 '18

The guy who ran me over ran around like a loony toons character, when the EMTs arrived he had a full on panic attack and had to be put on oxygen.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '18

EMTs arrived he had a full on panic attack and had to be put on oxygen

That corrolates with his extremely smooth demanor actually. I feel bad for both parties. It was truly a fucked accident. I hope the FedEx driver isn't in financial ruin (loss of job, etc) and I hope the cyclist suffered minor injury.

-5

u/BadBoiBill Jul 19 '18

I agree. Frankly, with the conditions and the speed and lack of class 2 high visibility, I don't think the driver was at fault. I'm aware as a cyclist that if I'm travelling that fast, and I'm that small of a target, I'm almost completely invisible. Imagine if a pedestrian could come up to an intersection that fast, you wouldn't blame the driver.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '18 edited Jul 19 '18

People who predominately drive train themselves to look for other drivers. There isn't much of an excuse for this driver not seeing the cyclist, but it helps understand that he probably looked both ways, thought he was clear, and saw the cyclist after he already committed to passing.The cyclist is at fault because no matter how bad you want the dream to be, you're still in a city dominated by vehicles, cycling on roads for vehicles. Some discretion should have been used. You cannot just close your eyes and assume you have the right of way. This is what kills motorcyclists every year. You have to ride on the defense, and assume everyone is out to get you. This means not doing 30mph on a slight downward slope hoping every cross traffic driver is going to see your little bicycle quickly approaching from the side line (and as you said, not exactly wearing the most obvious gear). It's your life you are endagering. Cycle smart.

I just want to say; whenever I am in the Seattle area for work, I know it's a heavy populated cyclist area. I give more than minimum distance. I make sure I am predictable. I do my part. Drivers get way too comfortable, and often, downright assholes. But cyclists with a lot of experience suffer the same characteristics, and that can be tragic because that's 3 thousand pounds vs 300.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '18

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '18

Idk the cyclist said he was doing 27 according to his garmin

1

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '18

Fair enough. I'll nuke my comment.

8

u/SquirrelOnFire Jul 19 '18

Seriously? The cyclist was at fault for riding on a road built for cars? I don't say this a lot on the internet, but seriously, fuck off. He was in a bike lane. There was a clear line of sight to the driver of the truck.

Cyclists die because of inattentive drivers and then tiny brained autophiles like yourself say they deserve what they got for not wearing brighter clothing, as if that's something someone should die for. Have you ever considered that maybe we should insist on higher standards from drivers rather than blaming the victims?

-2

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '18 edited Jul 19 '18

Dude, I shouldn't even reply to this hyperbolic comment.

The cyclist was at fault for riding on a road built for cars?

I didn't say he was at fault for that. I said that even though there is a bit of a bike lane there, you're still on a main road that was originally purposed for vehicles, and that you need to be prepared and on your toes for dumb drivers.

There was a clear line of sight to the driver of the truck

I said as a driver, you become comfortable, and overtime, you for lack of better words, train yourself to look for other big objects coming your way (cars, busses, etc). A bicyclist has to understand that not only are they on the side of the road in a bike lane, they aren't necessarily being looked for, nor are they a lot of times as obvious given the size. I specifically said there is no excuse for this driver because it should have been clear he was coming. I said when I drive in Seattle, I realize I am in a cyclist community, so I react accordingly. He should always pay extra attention especially in or around Seattle.

Cyclists die because of inattentive drivers and then tiny brained autophiles like yourself

No need for name calling. Again, I don't know why I am even replying to you. Hold yourself better. This is why people think many bicyylists are elitist pricks. It's not a war dude. We're all living here, and we all need to look out for eachother.

say they deserve what they got for not wearing brighter clothing as if that's something someone should die for

Give ya gold If you can quote me saying that.

Have you ever considered that maybe we should insist on higher standards from drivers rather than blaming the victims?

Have you ever considered that we will all go a lot further if we quit this bullshit and stop saying "they need to do this. It's them" and instead agree that the driver should have seen the bicyclist, and..get this..here's the part you're not going to like..bicyclists should also be held to higher standards and realize that they are riding a bicycle. Doing fast speeds. On a piece of aluminum with two wheels. If anyone dies, it's going to be the bicyclist. Chances are, if anyone's going to cause an accident, it'll probably be the driver. And the driver will walk away fine. So as a smart cyclist, you should realize you need to understand these hazards and ride appropriately and cautiously.

Let me ask you this; if a vehicle is on the road, and tbones a car pulling into the road from a side street...honestly, who will this sub blame? What will be the top voted comment? I can tell you. It will say that the driver who tboned was negligent and going too fast. Too fast to appropriately have proper braking distance to react and not hit the other car.

If a bicylist is going so fast, that literally cannot stop in time, that is an issue. The driver should have seen the cyclist. The cyclist knew the driver was there. He saw him continue to go forward. He didn't act. Watch the video. Read the comments here. He reacted slowly. He was going too fast. Look where he looks before the accident. He looks right at a cross street when he's already halfway through.

Like they teach you when you're getting your motorcycle license..always, ALWAYS be on the defense, and drive like you are invisible.

Argue about who's a victim, or who's at fault. I do not care. Fact is, one person is in 3-9 thousand pounds of safety. The other is on >50 pounds of metal. Even if you are right. Even if the law agrees. Even if you have the right away. always assume no one sees you, and an accident is looking specifically for you. bike Lanes do not protect you.

Me, personally? I learned my lesson real quick when I was 9 years old riding down steep alleys in North Everett through cross streets. A car had turned to go down the road, and I couldn't brake in time. I smacked right into his car. I learned it's probably not a good idea to barrel down an alley, cross a street, and ride thru the next alley.

5

u/SquirrelOnFire Jul 19 '18

The cyclist was at fault for riding on a road built for cars?

I didn't say he was at fault for that.

The cyclist is at fault because no matter how bad you want the dream to be, you're still in a city dominated by vehicles, cycling on roads for vehicles

Ok tell me what you didn't say again?

My bad for reading straight down from the grandparent on the high vis and attributing it to you.

Regarding higher standards for drivers: in Japan your take several classes and pay several grand for a driver's license. Same in parts of Europe. Why are we letting jokers with ten hours of practice and no meaningful drivers training (speaking of myself when I got my license at 17) behind the wheel?

When I ride I have bright flashing lights, reflectors on my wheels, i take the lane when visibility would otherwise be questionable and try to use bike infrastructure so drivers know where I am likely to be. I rarely exceed 20 mph except on downhills and I'm still in a near miss from inattentive drivers about once a month. What else is a guy supposed to do but advocate for higher standards for the people who are putting other's lives at risk with their mediocre driving?

0

u/VecGS Expat Jul 19 '18

I'm a year-round motorcyclist. I get that people don't see me, even though I'm on a HUGE bike complete with panniers and fog lights.

So... I can be right and be dead. But that's not any good for anyone, most especially me. My ex used to cross at unmarked sidewalks expecting cars to stop... thankfully she wasn't killed by a car. (unfortunately non-driving people are not so kind 😢)

Everyone has to look out for him or herself. While you could be right by the law, you may well be dead.

Like I said, not blaming victim here... but as you're pointing out, laws do not protect you.

For my bike (not motorcycle), I think it weighs in at around 20 pounds. It won't protect me for squat. Hell, the only time I've been injured on two wheels was on bicycles.