This story is in Arlington, but I have been in many near misses with these lunatics on bikes at Burke Lake who think they own the paths.

****************************************************************************

Woman, 80, dies after being struck by bicyclist in Arlington
June 12, 2012 -- 10:26 AM

An 80-year-old woman died after she was struck by a bicyclist on Four Mile Run Trail in Arlington, authorities said.

Ita Lapina, of Arlington, was struck Monday morning and died from her injuries later in the day, according to Arlington County police.

About 7:10 a.m. Monday, police were called to the bike path in the area of 4900 Columbia Pike. The bicyclist and a witness told police that the cyclist was going downhill on his Next Powerclimber bike and saw Lapina in front of him.

The bicyclist, a 62-year-old man, told police that he tried to warn Lapina by yelling "to your left" and by ringing a bell. Lapina stepped to her left, turned around and was struck head on, police said.

Lapina fell backwards and hit her head on the pavement, sustaining significant head trauma, police said. She was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. Monday.

The bicyclist was treated for a minor knee injury and did not need to be taken to a hospital. No charges have been brought against him.

damn whipper snapper!
We 80 yr olds can't do anything without you 62 yr old kids trying to spoil everything for us!!

Sounds like Darwinism to me. A warning was given, move to the right!!!!!

What's the condition of the bike? I hope the bikes gonna make it.

Sounds like vehicular manslaughter to me.

I thought this was going to be about a bicyclist who killed someone while riding a mower....

That would be interesting.

Add another hazard to these park paths.
If not raped by a Hispanic , or robbed by negroes, you can be run over by a douche in tights and a funny helmet.
Next time you want to use one of these dangerous trails, go instead to the Vienna Inn and think it through while enjoying a chile dog and a draft.

Perry Mason District Wrote:
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> Sounds like vehicular manslaughter to me.


Yeah, sorry but that IS vehicular manslaughter. Bicyclist must observe the same laws as cars.

How can someone be hit, killed and no charges be brought??????

The bicyclist, a 62-year-old man, told police that he tried to warn Lapina by yelling "to your left" and by ringing a bell. Lapina stepped to her left, turned around and was struck head on, police said.


ok, so all a bicyclist needs to do is yell at a pedestrian to "move to the left" and it sucks for them if they don't listen.

How about all the people who walk with earphones?

Are they out of luck if they don't get out of this jerk's way?

I can get away with hitting and killing pedestrians?

kill all cyclists...problem solved. fucking lance armstrong wannabes

The trails are not a cycling track. If he was passing at such a great rate of speed that he hit her, he was going too fast. As a biker, I am ashamed of the indifference some of these bikers show to pedestrians.

Hey, cyclists... Share the road, assholes!

I'M A FIVE-STAR MAN!!

So who is to say what "To your left" means. Poor old lady maybe thought it meant move to your left. Not everyone is familiar with some spandex wearing bike language. The other big issue is how fast this guy was going. Maybe by the time she could hear him it was too late to do anything. He must have been going pretty fast to have knocked her down.

They do this at Burke Lake all the time flying down the sometimes very narrow path just yelling at people to get out of their way. Many people have young kids and they dont always respond to your yelling.

So you know what I pay plenty of taxes to maintain the park so go fuck yourself and your bike. I will walk where I damn well please. Go ride the paved path on 123 instead. You cried and had a hissy fit until VDOT paved that path just for you so go use it and stay out of Burke Lake.

Speed limit on that trail is 15MPH and ACPD does hand out speeding tickets once in a while. I used to ride right where that happened quite a bit. The only hill to speak of is where the 4 mile run trail goes under the bridge. W&OD trail, which is right next to it is pretty much flat.

Hopefully her family sues him for wrongful death.

Blessed are the murderous.

@eesh & youth - ha hahaha ha ha :)

+1

sick of spandex guys on bikes Wrote:
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>
> They do this at Burke Lake all the time flying
> down the sometimes very narrow path just yelling
> at people to get out of their way. Many people
> have young kids and they dont always respond to
> your yelling.
>
> So you know what I pay plenty of taxes to maintain
> the park so go fuck yourself and your bike. I will
> walk where I damn well please. Go ride the paved
> path on 123 instead. You cried and had a hissy fit
> until VDOT paved that path just for you so go use
> it and stay out of Burke Lake.

I don't bike ride at Burke Lake park anymore - too narrow, too dangerous, too many walkers/joggers/dog-walkers/runners, most of which disregard the posted rules for the path. You know, stay right, single file, all that. And since you have Burke Lake, keep off the paved path on 123...:)

Sick of two-legged deer Wrote:
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> I don't bike ride at Burke Lake park anymore - too
> narrow, too dangerous, too many
> walkers/joggers/dog-walkers/runners, most of which
> disregard the posted rules for the path. You
> know, stay right, single file, all that. And
> since you have Burke Lake, keep off the paved path
> on 123...:)
Attachments:

eesh Wrote:
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> Sick of two-legged deer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > I don't bike ride at Burke Lake park anymore -
> too
> > narrow, too dangerous, too many
> > walkers/joggers/dog-walkers/runners, most of
> which
> > disregard the posted rules for the path. You
> > know, stay right, single file, all that. And
> > since you have Burke Lake, keep off the paved
> path
> > on 123...:)


I just ride for the cool Spandex outfits.

Oh well...I was thinking of getting some exercise at Burke Lake, but I'm not willing to be run over by bikers. I don't know why, but I've been run into by bikes, inadvertently hit by strangers, and stepped on more times than I can count. I'm really short, but not invisible. Pay attention, people!

Sick of two-legged deer Wrote:
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I don't bike ride at Burke Lake park anymore - too
> narrow, too dangerous, too many
> walkers/joggers/dog-walkers/runners, most of which
> disregard the posted rules for the path. You
> know, stay right, single file, all that. And
> since you have Burke Lake, keep off the paved path
> on 123...:)


there are no such signs telling people to walk single file. Burke Lake is way too narrow a path for speeding bikes yet they do it anyway. I paid for 123 as well as Burke Lake so I will walk wherever I damn well please. I am not aware of any state code or county code that says I must walk to the right on a foot path so get used to me being in your way.

yeah...............I wonder how that attitude is gonna work out for ya?

I bet I know LoLz

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/930274.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2012 05:24PM by Gordon Blvd.

It has so far. I hear them yelling and ringing those annoying bells, I stay put. They get pissed and I dont give a shit. Go around me or better yet stay on the regular road and dodge cars.

Those tight shorts must cut off blood flow to their balls and somehow that makes them stupid.

Smud assholes.

I see a civil suit coming up in the near future.

BEH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Add another hazard to these park paths.
> If not raped by a Hispanic , or robbed by negroes,
> you can be run over by a douche in tights and a
> funny helmet.
> Next time you want to use one of these dangerous
> trails, go instead to the Vienna Inn and think it
> through while enjoying a chile dog and a draft.


fkin LOL'ed

I wonder if the 80 year old was listening to "Pumped up Kicks" on her Ipod, thus causing some distraction of sorts. Things to ponder.

It's pretty obvious from many posts here that someone has biker envy. Perhaps you're a fat-assed, lazy couch potato who despises people who aren't losers like you?

Jealous Much? Wrote:
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> It's pretty obvious from many posts here that
> someone has biker envy. Perhaps you're a
> fat-assed, lazy couch potato who despises people
> who aren't losers like you?

ok if you say so
Attachments:

.
Attachments:

> The bicyclist, a 62-year-old man, told police that
> he tried to warn Lapina by yelling "to your left"
> and by ringing a bell. Lapina stepped to her left,
> turned around an was struck head on, police said.


Great Job!

lance armstrong my ass Wrote:
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> It has so far. I hear them yelling and ringing
> those annoying bells, I stay put. They get pissed
> and I dont give a shit. Go around me or better yet
> stay on the regular road and dodge cars.


well, that's cool it's working for ya so far, I guess.

I wonder what could happen on the day it doesnt though/

I bet I know LoLz

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/930274.html

So.. um...next time i'm speeding down the road and come up on a bicyclist all I gotta do is holler "to your left".....
cool!

Loser bikers. A grandmother was run over.

Have you no moral compass? Get off the paths.

If you were real men you would ride on a real road.

I like the bicyclists off the road, although on a plus note, I do like being able to clean off the lint from my mirrors on Braddock Road near Wakefield Rec Center from bike helmets I hit along the way. Safety first!

Bicyclists have to be the must disrespectful people I've ever seen.

If you hit and kill somebody with a car you get charges, even if you toot your horn before hand.

This guy needs to be charged!

Was the guy who hit her upset or remorseful? I would have been a wreck if I'd injured someone like that, even if they didn't die. RIP, 80yr old lady. What an awful way to go. Reminds me of one of those random death scenes on Six Feet Under.

Sorry but those paths and trails aren't bike "roads". I ride on them with pedestrians and it's not hard to get around people without even having to yell ahead or ring a bell--but then I'm not speeding right by them, either. That's rude.

For this douche not to be charged indicates he's probably connected locally.
The cops don't prosecute their friends.
My guess is he's not remoreseful, probably annoyed at the inconvenience that poor womans death caused him.
Sometimes, what comes around goes around. Hopefully, some douche in a car will get impatient , blow his horn, and run down this offensive asshole, just like he did to the old lady.

"Probably" and "my guess is " Thats why you can come here and get so much inside factual information.

BEH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For this douche not to be charged indicates he's
> probably connected locally.
> The cops don't prosecute their friends.
> My guess is he's not remoreseful, probably annoyed
> at the inconvenience that poor womans death caused
> him.
> Sometimes, what comes around goes around.
> Hopefully, some douche in a car will get impatient
> , blow his horn, and run down this offensive
> asshole, just like he did to the old lady.

Don't give up just yet -- the whole damn country blew up in moral outrage when we found out George Zimmerman killed someone and wasn't charged. A tip to the right media outlet could get the ball rolling.

I'M A FIVE-STAR MAN!!

jhey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BEH Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > For this douche not to be charged indicates
> he's
> > probably connected locally.
> > The cops don't prosecute their friends.
> > My guess is he's not remoreseful, probably
> annoyed
> > at the inconvenience that poor womans death
> caused
> > him.
> > Sometimes, what comes around goes around.
> > Hopefully, some douche in a car will get
> impatient
> > , blow his horn, and run down this offensive
> > asshole, just like he did to the old lady.
>
> Don't give up just yet -- the whole damn country
> blew up in moral outrage when we found out George
> Zimmerman killed someone and wasn't charged. A tip
> to the right media outlet could get the ball
> rolling.

Now if they had she the old lady was black, this would be a different story.

How the fuck are you supposed to know what "to your left" means? I can totally understand how some 80-year-old woman wouldn't understand bullshit bicyclist jargon. Maybe "stay to your right" would make more sense.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

do you hear yourself? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Probably" and "my guess is " Thats why you can
> come here and get so much inside factual
> information.
So kill me for specualting...as if it's going to change the movement of the universe. If you want the facts, read the Washington Post.

Sometimes an accident is just an accident. No need feign moral outage just because you favor idiocracy over bicycles.

No moral outrage, feigned or not.

I just hate douche cyclists, and I hope this particular scumbag gets squashed by a semi.

I run on the W&OD and also along the Potomac from TR Island past the airport. Both places are filled with bikers who evidently get their jollies by seeing how close they can come to runners when going by. No warning no nothing and I don't believe the asshole who ran over the woman yelled any warning. My solution is to start throwing out brass tacks all over the pathway. These won't hurt walkers or runners but should at least blow out a tire or two. Maybe then these jerks will slow down.

In my experience, most adult bicyclists are completely irresponsible, with results as in this case. These arrogant idiots also think they are exempt from road laws and in VA are not even required to wear helmets, so when they get head injuries, guess who pays most of their medical bills for the rest of their lives - us, the taxpayers. There should be a law requiring each bicycle owned by an adult to be licensed for a one-time fee of $500, dedicated as a token amount to maintaining the roads they use, with a $2,000 fine for violation. (This would also make it easy to return stolen bikes to their owners.) BTW, did you know a quarter of federal gas taxes go to biking trails and transit? So motorists are subsidizing cyclists...

Was she an illegal?

kardiac Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No warning no nothing and I don't
> believe the asshole who ran over the woman yelled
> any warning.

I think he did. I think he yelled "to your left," and the woman didn't understand what he wanted her to do and stepped left right into him.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

BEH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No moral outrage, feigned or not.
>
> I just hate douche cyclists, and I hope this
> particular scumbag gets squashed by a semi.


Can you imagine the outrage that would have happened if a car hit and killed a bicyclist in Arlington?

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kardiac Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No warning no nothing and I don't
> > believe the asshole who ran over the woman
> yelled
> > any warning.
>
> I think he did. I think he yelled "to your left,"
> and the woman didn't understand what he wanted her
> to do and stepped left right into him.

The biker said he did. Thats what he told the cops. I don't believe him.

kardiac Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> > > any warning.
> >
> > I think he did. I think he yelled "to your
> left,"
> > and the woman didn't understand what he wanted
> her
> > to do and stepped left right into him.
>
> The biker said he did. Thats what he told the
> cops. I don't believe him.


Like I said, who the fuck knows what "to your left" means? If you weren't used to bikers yelling it, I could totally understand an 80-year-old lady thinking he was telling her to go to her left.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

This is why I don't wince at the thought of these douches being scraped off the road. I haven't seen, for at least the last five years, a cyclist stop at a stop sign. If you want to share you the road, you gotta obey the same laws as everyone else.

You might have a point if every automobile driver obeyed every law but practically EVERY driver drives above the speed limit whenever possible, a good percentage of them fail to indicate turns or lane changes, and many drivers roll through stop signs as well. These utterly commonplace infractions are far more dangerous to our community than bicyclists coasting through a stop signs.

This particular unfortunate bicyclist was obeying the laws. Not every unfortunate accident has a villain.

Take a good look at the direction this country is headed in terms of transportation alternatives to the automobile and then get used to seeing more and more bicycles around you as you learn to share the road.


NOVAJovah Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is why I don't wince at the thought of these
> douches being scraped off the road. I haven't
> seen, for at least the last five years, a cyclist
> stop at a stop sign. If you want to share you the
> road, you gotta obey the same laws as everyone
> else.

judd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You might have a point if every automobile driver
> obeyed every law but practically EVERY driver
> drives above the speed limit whenever possible, a
> good percentage of them fail to indicate turns or
> lane changes, and many drivers roll through stop
> signs as well. These utterly commonplace
> infractions are far more dangerous to our
> community than bicyclists coasting through a stop
> signs.
>
> This particular unfortunate bicyclist was obeying
> the laws. Not every unfortunate accident has a
> villain.
>
> Take a good look at the direction this country is
> headed in terms of transportation alternatives to
> the automobile and then get used to seeing more
> and more bicycles around you as you learn to share
> the road.

I think it's fair to say most drivers don't speed more than 5 over. And I believe most other drivers who post on this forum will agree with my estimates. I guess you time on your bike has left you out of touch with how drivers in this area are. Most of them like doing 45 in the left lane on the parkway. And for people "rolling" through stop signs, I'd say at least 75 - 85 percent reduce their speed down at least 2 - 5 mph, before making sure the intersection is clear and proceeding, if not stopping completely. What I have personally seen is about 85 to 95 percent of cyclists not stopping and blowing through stop signs and red lights at at least 20 - 30 mph. Granted I'm sure they stop when others are in or approaching the intersection (which I've never seen), but unlike car drivers who stop and or slow down signifcantly even though they don't see anybody else in the vicinity of the intersection, cyclists blow through entirely, not slowing down but rather completely disregarding the sign if they think no one else is near.

Now I don't care if people want use bikes instead of cars. But you must make a conscious effort to bike safely if you wish to use the same roads and paths as everyone else. It's not just you on that path, and it's not just you approaching that intersection. So think twice before you blow that stop sign.

But in this specific case, the helmeted, tight wearing douche didn't exercise due caution. If you're going to ride a speeding vehicle among walkers and strollers extra care is called for. Especially if you see someone that old.
I really hope the cyclist gets a bit of his own medicine and winds up maimed and disemboweled under a dump truck. In fact, if I found out he did, I'd buy a round for the house at the Vienna Inn.

If a pedestrian crosses in the middle of the street and gets hit by a car, we know the pedestrian is to blame.

If a car blows a light and hits someone, we know the driver is to blame.

If a bicyclist blows a stop sign and gets honked at for nearly hitting a car...by God, the cyclist is RIGHT! Fuck you haters in cars! How DARE you honk and ME the CYCLIST!

Seriously, that's their fucking attitude.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

I ride bikes. I have a roadie I use when I want to go fast (mostly on the road, but at times on the W&OD) and a mountain bike I've converted to a commuter/errand running bike.

Do I announce that I'm passing on the trails? Every single time. If there's no acknowledgement the first time (a hand gesture, glance over the shoulder), I announce again. Loudly. If there's still no response, I carefully make my way by the person, especially if they're wearing headphones.

Do I stop at stop signs? Rarely (it depends on the cross street). Do I stop at stop lights? More often than not.

I also wear spandex on my longer rides (the compression shorts help reduce fatigue, as well as aid in recovery -- they most definitely aren't worn for style!) and bright shirts on all my rides. The loud colors are to help alert drivers that I'm there (as if the blinking lights on my bikes aren't enough -- they're not...I almost got taken out by a driver last weekend who not only didn't look when he turned right on red, he didn't even stop at the stop light!).

The reason why I'm sharing this is that there are all kinds of riders out there. Some announce as they pass. Others stop at stop lights and stop signs (yes, I've seen them) Just like there are all kinds of drivers out there. Some use their signals, others are like those that were highlighted in the the recent video posted here on Fairfax drivers. But I'm sure every single one of you posting above is a perfect driver on the road. Each of you stay within the speed limit, never cut it close when merging, always yield the right-of-way when necessary and always, I repeat, ALWAYS, use your turn signal when changing lanes or making turns.

The facts of the case aren't all known. How fast was he going? We don't know. Did he signal? According to him he did. The mere fact that he had a bell on his bike indicates to me that he's probably a somewhat courteous rider who erred and caused an accident. There's no evidence that he did this on purpose, nor is there any evidence that he's not remorseful.

Should he be charged? In my min, yes. Will he be charged? That's another story and one left for the prosecution.

This story has nothing to do with Fairfax. It's from Arlington.

Please move this piece of garbage recycled story to the proper forum.


"Bicycles are dumb"
"Hurrr durrr we have the same rights as cars"
"spandex fags hurrrr durrrr"
"durrrr"
"hurrrr"


God this blog is getting dull.

not lance Wrote:
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> Do I stop at stop signs? Rarely (it depends on
> the cross street). Do I stop at stop lights? More
> often than not.

At least you admit it. That makes you a way better person than all those other clowns who try to deny everything and pretend like cyclists are saints who never do wrong, and that it's all the drivers around them.

And I'll admit I strive to go 5 to 10 over, but I always try to signal. It's a big pet peeve of mine, and I hate it when I see people not using their signals. I can only imagine it must be doubly frustrating for cyclists.

judd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> This particular unfortunate bicyclist was obeying
> the laws. Not every unfortunate accident has a
> villain.

Maybe maybe not. It depends on how fast he was going. He might be able to slip by on the accident but not so sure about how he would do in a civil trial. I would not accept his yelling "To your left" as enough to justify running into the old woman.

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If a pedestrian crosses in the middle of the
> street and gets hit by a car, we know the
> pedestrian is to blame.
>
> If a car blows a light and hits someone, we know
> the driver is to blame.
>
> If a bicyclist blows a stop sign and gets honked
> at for nearly hitting a car...by God, the cyclist
> is RIGHT! Fuck you haters in cars! How DARE you
> honk and ME the CYCLIST!
>
> Seriously, that's their fucking attitude.

Sometimes I think about buying a bike, that it would be a fun way to get some exercise and see the area. Then I remembered that I have a sense of decency, so I can't be a cyclist.

======================================

HEY KIDS: TIME 4 JOKEZ!!! ¡ Ja ja ja ! :)

Q: What do you call a jerk on a two-wheeled toy intended for children?
A: A cyclist!

Q: What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?
A: A drummer!

Q: What do you call someone who hangs out with no one?
A: A cyclist! Because they're obnoxious and they wear those stupid spandex outfits!

Q: What's the difference between a gypsy and a cyclist?
A: One is a social parasite who actively resists integration into modern civilization, playing off of the basic human decency of others in order to perpetuate his selfish, insustainable, warped lifestyle. The other is called a "Romani," you racist.

Q: Now there's nothing funny about the atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II. The Holocaust represents the worst impulses of humanity, and while it is an ugly stain on history, it must be acknowledged if only to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again. That said, who should Hitler have killed 6 million of instead?
A: Cyclists!

I'M A FIVE-STAR MAN!!

I liked the Romani joke.

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http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Well, anyone can sue anyone for anything in civil court but on this particular path, there is no speed limit, therefore, he did not break any laws. The fact that he had a bell and witnesses is going to complicate matters for the plantiff. However as a general rule, pedestrians have right-of-way over bikes and bikes have right-of-way over automobiles.

The important thing to note here is that this NEVER happens in this area. A bicyclist KILLING a pedestrian on a mixed-use path? That's crazy, not an epidemic.

I like to think that this could not happen to me but accidents happen. Maybe I would be more cautious going downhill on a blind curve? I don't know.




barry c Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> judd Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > This particular unfortunate bicyclist was
> obeying
> > the laws. Not every unfortunate accident has a
> > villain.
>
> Maybe maybe not. It depends on how fast he was
> going. He might be able to slip by on the accident
> but not so sure about how he would do in a civil
> trial. I would not accept his yelling "To your
> left" as enough to justify running into the old
> woman.

judd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, anyone can sue anyone for anything in civil
> court but on this particular path, there is no
> speed limit, therefore, he did not break any laws.
> The fact that he had a bell and witnesses is going
> to complicate matters for the plantiff. However as
> a general rule, pedestrians have right-of-way over
> bikes and bikes have right-of-way over
> automobiles.


I can cut down a tree on my property and what if it falls on a neighbor. No criminal offense but you can be sure the civil liability is there. You need to get over the speed limit thing. He has to exercise caution. I think yelling at someone to move to your right isnt enough especially if he uses bicycle jargon. Suppose the woman didnt speak English or was deaf. Is it her fault he ran into her? I dont think so.

I think based upon the information we've been given, there's just not enough to deduce anything of reason. Its up for the prosecutors office to decide, if and when charges are applicable, and of course the family has the civil court right, with a much lower standard for evidence.

As for this area, I like to bike on occasion. You have to be cautious regardless of where you are, and yes you are considered a vehicle. Yet, to bike on the streets is fucked up, due to not only the roads, but mostly the shithead drivers around here.

Until we can improve the infastructure, trails are your best option, and due dilligence by bikers, and also folks on foot, please stick to the right, its two to tango in many regards, then we all can have fun on even congested trails. Its all about environment and taking the proper measures.

As one who rides Burke Lake, and has ridden the lake for 30 years, I can tell you that it's gotten worse over the more recent years...

Walking duos/groups refusing to share the trail, dog walkers letting the dog walk on one side of the trail and the dog on the other, and others just ignoring the obvious, make it difficult to ride at any real speed.

I use the trail with my family and we ride often - and fast!

Anyways, common sense on both sides should be used. If I encounter a dummy on the path who can't, won't, and does not move over, I slow down. It isn't a big deal. Usually it is the 65+ y/o dudes who yell. Wah...

...in the 22039 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As one who rides Burke Lake, and has ridden the
> lake for 30 years, I can tell you that it's gotten
> worse over the more recent years...
>
> Walking duos/groups refusing to share the trail,
> dog walkers letting the dog walk on one side of
> the trail and the dog on the other, and others
> just ignoring the obvious, make it difficult to
> ride at any real speed.
>
> I use the trail with my family and we ride often -
> and fast!
>
> Anyways, common sense on both sides should be
> used. If I encounter a dummy on the path who
> can't, won't, and does not move over, I slow down.
> It isn't a big deal. Usually it is the 65+ y/o
> dudes who yell. Wah...

You,sir, are an asshole. A mixed use trail is no place to go fast. I intend on making it difficult for you to ride at any speed. You want to do that? Get your spandex rearend up and out at 6am. Maybe the trail will be empty. But anyone on foot has the right-of-way over you and your silly expensive bike. I run on the right but I still get buzzed by assholes like you trying to liven up their boring day. Great exercise I bet...coasting downhills. No wonder I see so many fat bikers.

I see a lot of people in this thread using the term "biker." Just to be clear:

"Bikers" are the smelly guys with a leather fetish.

"Cyclists" are the sweaty guys in tight little pants.


We wouldn't want anybody to show up at Kilroy's tonight riding a Canondale, after all.

The path at Burke Lake is no place to ride fast or for that matter to ride at all. There are parts that are just too narrow. But you cannot tell these spandex riders anything, they will continue to ride like the self important pricks they are. To hear them tell it bikes have the right away over everyone.

You cannot really expect a family of five to march in single file so you can zoom by almost knocking down little kids. You cried and whined until VDOT paved a nice wide path for you on 123 and you hardly ever use it. I think you prefer to ride where you can exercise your total freedom to be a douche.

judd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> to complicate matters for the plantiff. However as
> a general rule, pedestrians have right-of-way over
> bikes and bikes have right-of-way over
> automobiles.

Come again? The only legal categories are pedestrian and vehicle.

A bicycle that is being ridden is just another vehicle with the same rights and responsibilities as any motorcycle or car. The only way a bicyclist has any claim to right of way is if they are walking the bike rather than riding it, in which case they are a pedestrian.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is bringing doping charges against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, questioning his victories in those storied cycling races.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, could face a lifetime ban from the sport if he is found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.

The story was first reported Wednesday by the Washington Post

Their hero takes a fall too Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AUSTIN, Texas (AP)
> The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is bringing doping
> charges against seven-time Tour de France winner
> Lance Armstrong, questioning his victories in
> those storied cycling races.
>
> Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year,
> could face a lifetime ban from the sport if he is
> found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
>
> The story was first reported Wednesday by the
> Washington Post


Hmmm, wondering what Barry Bonds and Mark Mcgwire have to say about this

BEH FUCK YOU FUCKING ARROGANT NIGGER ASSHOLE

Reports say the woman jumped in front of the biker. I wonder how many of you fat-assed retards would have the reflexes to avoid a pedestrian who jumped in front of your car before you hit them. No doubt none of you couch-potato zombies could avoid hitting the jumper.

the woman was like 80 years old, jumped? I think not.

I walk the trail around the lake all of the time. I have a hearing problem and many times cannot hear people coming up behind me. Sometimes a family will come up behind me on bikes, kids first of course, and they make no effort to warn you at all or if they do I cannot hear them. So, I should just be mowed down by some rug rats!

Please,

You are worst ever when it comes to kindness to others.

Can you share the road?

I think not.


BTW: Lance has many kids by many baby mommies. God help us all.

Near GM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I walk the trail around the lake all of the time.
> I have a hearing problem and many times cannot
> hear people coming up behind me. Sometimes a
> family will come up behind me on bikes, kids first
> of course, and they make no effort to warn you at
> all or if they do I cannot hear them. So, I should
> just be mowed down by some rug rats!

Don't jump in front of them, dickhead! Unless you want to die!

you spandex wearing, to old to be riding bikes, fake ass Lance Armstrong faggots need to die!.....you assholes think you own the road, you drive in the middle of the lanes & force cars to go around you into the next lane! At the W&O trail you faggots NEVER stop at the stop signs and run them all the time. It's way to dangerous having you spandex faggots out here!....I hope you all die!!!!

When you win all the tour de france races that I have, you can ride anywhere anytime you want. By the way, I get all the hot chicks, so go fuck yourself.

kardiac Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...in the 22039 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As one who rides Burke Lake, and has ridden the
> > lake for 30 years, I can tell you that it's
> gotten
> > worse over the more recent years...
> >
> > Walking duos/groups refusing to share the
> trail,
> > dog walkers letting the dog walk on one side of
> > the trail and the dog on the other, and others
> > just ignoring the obvious, make it difficult to
> > ride at any real speed.
> >
> > I use the trail with my family and we ride often
> -
> > and fast!
> >
> > Anyways, common sense on both sides should be
> > used. If I encounter a dummy on the path who
> > can't, won't, and does not move over, I slow
> down.
> > It isn't a big deal. Usually it is the 65+ y/o
> > dudes who yell. Wah...
>
> You,sir, are an asshole. A mixed use trail is no
> place to go fast. I intend on making it difficult
> for you to ride at any speed. You want to do
> that? Get your spandex rearend up and out at 6am.
> Maybe the trail will be empty. But anyone on foot
> has the right-of-way over you and your silly
> expensive bike. I run on the right but I still get
> buzzed by assholes like you trying to liven up
> their boring day. Great exercise I bet...coasting
> downhills. No wonder I see so many fat bikers.


Riding the trail this evening, I slowed for ALL walkers, even the two groups who looked back and remained in place, taking up the whole path. Who is the a$$ Really?

You have made way too many generalizations in your rant. Allow me to help...
- I am courteous, not an a$$. I have 20/20 vision and recognize hazards, real or perceived.
- A mixed use trail is a place for bikes and walkers/runners alike.
- Silly and expensive bike? Actually, my bike is so cool, the last time I had it in for "tune-up", the shop put aside all work, just to get mine on their stand. Silly, ha!
- Wake-up at 6 AM? Not anymore... I ride sometimes in the eve., sometimes in the AM, but never at 6 AM. I'm out of that daily grind, thankfully.
- Buzzed by people like me? You don't know me, and I am sure you wouldn't talk your trash to anyone's face. Wow, internet is serious tonight...

For 30 years, I have ridden this trail. Maybe tomorrow, I'll stop and read the rules of the trail, seeing if I missed anything.

Biker? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see a lot of people in this thread using the
> term "biker." Just to be clear:
>
> "Bikers" are the smelly guys with a leather
> fetish.
>
> "Cyclists" are the sweaty guys in tight little
> pants.
>
>
> We wouldn't want anybody to show up at Kilroy's
> tonight riding a Canondale, after all.


On a cannondale, that would be pretty funny to see... Someone put it on Youtube, if it happens!

all I know if that if a cyclist hits my kid on the Burke lake trail, he/she better be as contrite as HELL.................................or else I'll just tell the cops later that when you crashed, you split yr head open on the rock, is how all that happened and that you never regained consciousness.........

Obligatory bicycle crash photo...
Attachments:

Pic happened in Matamoros in 08. Dude was drunk and plowed into a cyclist event.
if you look near the left taillight you will see a man upsidedown. He is about to die. :(

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How the fuck are you supposed to know what "to
> your left" means? I can totally understand how
> some 80-year-old woman wouldn't understand
> bullshit bicyclist jargon. Maybe "stay to your
> right" would make more sense.


I was always told that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way. Bike riders are and cars are supposed to yield to them, not the other way around.

Pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way.

Do we need a refresher course on driving in Nova for adults?

I think we do.

Can someone upload the current driving test from the DMV on here?

Let's see who can pass on the FIRST try.

don't know the bike rider, but many are very militant and have a chip on their shoulder. Have nearly gotten into fights with a couple of them.

How many normal people would react quickly to "on your left"?

LetsRock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> I was always told that pedestrians ALWAYS have the
> right of way.


No they don't. They only have the right of way when it is legal (marked crosswalk). They don't have the right of way if they are crossing in the middle of a major road with a speed limit in excess of 35 mph or if they disregard traffic lights or oncoming traffic.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-924

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

I ride over 100 miles a week on roads and trails. Some of you anti-bike people are atrocious in your commenting.

Pedestrians need to stay to the right but I frequently encounter fat couch potato fags who stroll right down the center of the path or 3 abreast. I ring my bell and use proper pass notice procedure but I've grown tired of this because almost half the time they ignore it or cuss at me when I go by them. As a result I have decided I don't give a fuck. I whiz by people as fast as possible in hopes of "teaching" them how to properly walk the path on the right in single file. I really don't give a fuck if you like it or not. There ARE signs for pedestrians at park entrances. It is EVERYONES job to accomodate others. I deal with enough hatred on the road from drivers and I'm fed up with it.

"They don't have the right of way if they are crossing in the middle of a major road with a speed limit in excess of 35 mph or if they disregard traffic lights or oncoming traffic."

More and more pedestrians seem to think they always have right of way even with oncoming traffic.

...in the 22039 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kardiac Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ...in the 22039 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > As one who rides Burke Lake, and has ridden
> the
> > > lake for 30 years, I can tell you that it's
> > gotten
> > > worse over the more recent years...
> > >
> > > Walking duos/groups refusing to share the
> > trail,
> > > dog walkers letting the dog walk on one side
> of
> > > the trail and the dog on the other, and
> others
> > > just ignoring the obvious, make it difficult
> to
> > > ride at any real speed.
> > >
> > > I use the trail with my family and we ride
> often
> > -
> > > and fast!
> > >
> > > Anyways, common sense on both sides should be
> > > used. If I encounter a dummy on the path who
> > > can't, won't, and does not move over, I slow
> > down.
> > > It isn't a big deal. Usually it is the 65+
> y/o
> > > dudes who yell. Wah...
> >
> > You,sir, are an asshole. A mixed use trail is
> no
> > place to go fast. I intend on making it
> difficult
> > for you to ride at any speed. You want to do
> > that? Get your spandex rearend up and out at
> 6am.
> > Maybe the trail will be empty. But anyone on
> foot
> > has the right-of-way over you and your silly
> > expensive bike. I run on the right but I still
> get
> > buzzed by assholes like you trying to liven up
> > their boring day. Great exercise I
> bet...coasting
> > downhills. No wonder I see so many fat bikers.
>
>
> Riding the trail this evening, I slowed for ALL
> walkers, even the two groups who looked back and
> remained in place, taking up the whole path. Who
> is the a$$ Really?
>
> You have made way too many generalizations in your
> rant. Allow me to help...
> - I am courteous, not an a$$. I have 20/20 vision
> and recognize hazards, real or perceived.
> - A mixed use trail is a place for bikes and
> walkers/runners alike.
> - Silly and expensive bike? Actually, my bike is
> so cool, the last time I had it in for "tune-up",
> the shop put aside all work, just to get mine on
> their stand. Silly, ha!
> - Wake-up at 6 AM? Not anymore... I ride sometimes
> in the eve., sometimes in the AM, but never at 6
> AM. I'm out of that daily grind, thankfully.
> - Buzzed by people like me? You don't know me, and
> I am sure you wouldn't talk your trash to anyone's
> face. Wow, internet is serious tonight...
>
> For 30 years, I have ridden this trail. Maybe
> tomorrow, I'll stop and read the rules of the
> trail, seeing if I missed anything.

Well asshole you have missed something. Horses have the absolute right of way then pedestrians then asshole bikers. Yes I have asked many riders to please stop and explain why brushing by me was fun. No one seems to want to stop. Like you I have used Fairfax trails and the W&OD for 30 years. I bet you are one of the chickenshit Reston bike riders who speed up afraid of a skinny dude at the end of a 20 mile run. They set aside other work because your bike is so cool? Really? That's just the mind set that brings this shit about. You think you come first ahead of all others. Reston is like "Animal Farm" Everyone is equal we are just more equal than anyone else. Asshole.

kardiac Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Well asshole you have missed something. Horses
> have the absolute right of way then pedestrians
> then asshole bikers. Yes I have asked many riders
> to please stop and explain why brushing by me was
> fun. No one seems to want to stop. Like you I have
> used Fairfax trails and the W&OD for 30 years. I
> bet you are one of the chickenshit Reston bike
> riders who speed up afraid of a skinny dude at the
> end of a 20 mile run. They set aside other work
> because your bike is so cool? Really? That's just
> the mind set that brings this shit about. You
> think you come first ahead of all others. Reston
> is like "Animal Farm" Everyone is equal we are
> just more equal than anyone else. Asshole.

Well there, internet tough guy, wrong again with your continual A$$umptions...

I am not from Reston, can't stand Reston, and certainly no chicken, afraid of anything I have ever come across in a lifetime of living in Fairfax County.

The guys at the bike shop worked on my bike first, but it was their choice, as they wanted to get their hands on my bike. Is it my fault I have a bike which they thought was cool enough to move to the front of the line, ahead of any of their other work? Again, it was THEIR choice.

So stop with your assumptions, please. You don't know me and I am sure you have never asked me to do anything in life, tough guy.

FWIW, I missed my morning ride, as I am just now starting my day. Maybe I'll ride later, as I still need to go and read that sign.

Geezus the savior Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "They don't have the right of way if they are
> crossing in the middle of a major road with a
> speed limit in excess of 35 mph or if they
> disregard traffic lights or oncoming traffic."
>
> More and more pedestrians seem to think they
> always have right of way even with oncoming
> traffic

no, I think they were just referring to the trails, not the street.

cause pedestrians do have right of way there, ya know LoLz

I walk on the bike trail all the time and the bicyclists think they own it.
On more than one occasion they blow past when traffic is coming from the other direction, not yielding to the on coming bikes or the pedestrians.
They think that saying "on your left" is yielding enough.
Then when the local police come out to write some tickets for them not stopping or even slowing for the stop signs at the street intersections they get all pompous and arrogant, thinking the signs should not apply to them.
They should have charged that bicyclist.

Restonite Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I walk on the bike trail all the time and the
> bicyclists think they own it.
> On more than one occasion they blow past when
> traffic is coming from the other direction, not
> yielding to the on coming bikes or the
> pedestrians.
> They think that saying "on your left" is yielding
> enough.
> Then when the local police come out to write some
> tickets for them not stopping or even slowing for
> the stop signs at the street intersections they
> get all pompous and arrogant, thinking the signs
> should not apply to them.
> They should have charged that bicyclist.




The worst are the ones that get those Share the Road vanity plates on their cars and then ride like some self-entitled douchebag.
Attachments:

Schwinn biker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I ride over 100 miles a week on roads and trails.
> Some of you anti-bike people are atrocious in your
> commenting.
>
> Pedestrians need to stay to the right but I
> frequently encounter fat couch potato fags who
> stroll right down the center of the path or 3
> abreast. I ring my bell and use proper pass
> notice procedure but I've grown tired of this
> because almost half the time they ignore it or
> cuss at me when I go by them. As a result I have
> decided I don't give a fuck. I whiz by people as
> fast as possible in hopes of "teaching" them how
> to properly walk the path on the right in single
> file. I really don't give a fuck if you like it
> or not. There ARE signs for pedestrians at park
> entrances. It is EVERYONES job to accomodate
> others. I deal with enough hatred on the road
> from drivers and I'm fed up with it.


^ Typical chip-on-shoulder cyclist. That's why there are only two types of people - asshole cyclists and those who hate them. lol

...in the 22039 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kardiac Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Well asshole you have missed something. Horses
> > have the absolute right of way then pedestrians
> > then asshole bikers. Yes I have asked many
> riders
> > to please stop and explain why brushing by me
> was
> > fun. No one seems to want to stop. Like you I
> have
> > used Fairfax trails and the W&OD for 30 years.
> I
> > bet you are one of the chickenshit Reston bike
> > riders who speed up afraid of a skinny dude at
> the
> > end of a 20 mile run. They set aside other work
> > because your bike is so cool? Really? That's
> just
> > the mind set that brings this shit about. You
> > think you come first ahead of all others.
> Reston
> > is like "Animal Farm" Everyone is equal we are
> > just more equal than anyone else. Asshole.
>
> Well there, internet tough guy, wrong again with
> your continual A$$umptions...
>
> I am not from Reston, can't stand Reston, and
> certainly no chicken, afraid of anything I have
> ever come across in a lifetime of living in
> Fairfax County.
>
> The guys at the bike shop worked on my bike first,
> but it was their choice, as they wanted to get
> their hands on my bike. Is it my fault I have a
> bike which they thought was cool enough to move to
> the front of the line, ahead of any of their other
> work? Again, it was THEIR choice.
>
> So stop with your assumptions, please. You don't
> know me and I am sure you have never asked me to
> do anything in life, tough guy.
>
> FWIW, I missed my morning ride, as I am just now
> starting my day. Maybe I'll ride later, as I still
> need to go and read that sign.

Who cares about your day? I do know you. You are the face of asshole bikers going as fast as they like where they like regardless of who is in the way. I have seen assholes just like you plow through families on the W&OD without slowing down. Do you not see on this thread NO ONE supports asshole bike riders like you. Yes it's fun being an internets tough guy. I did not know how much fun it is to get under someone's skin by just telling them the truth. You are as easy to read as the phonebook. You will be out on the trail looking to see who it is that can tell you are an asshole just by what you write. LOL

jim143 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Obligatory bicycle crash photo...


I'm glad someone caught my driving. It was only a matter of time. How many points is that?

kardiac Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Who cares about your day? I do know you. You are
> the face of asshole bikers going as fast as they
> like where they like regardless of who is in the
> way. I have seen assholes just like you plow
> through families on the W&OD without slowing down.
> Do you not see on this thread NO ONE supports
> asshole bike riders like you. Yes it's fun being
> an internets tough guy. I did not know how much
> fun it is to get under someone's skin by just
> telling them the truth. You are as easy to read as
> the phonebook. You will be out on the trail
> looking to see who it is that can tell you are an
> asshole just by what you write. LOL

Who cares? Clearly, coming back to this thread, you do, tough guy... But this thread really isn't about me, so please stop day dreaming about me and if you can figure me out (clue, you are not even close...)

Back to the topic originally posted:

We are from 22207 so we can do what we want.

Sad that this poor Latina was killed, bikers are arrogant, almost like kayakers in San Francisco Bay. SMH

me laugh at you, tight pant sit on small seat up ass.
funny you under truck tire brain on sidewalk, stupid wheel
still turning.
haha

I am a cyclist who rides mostly in Loudoun County on the W&OD trail and on the road. About once a week, I commute 22 miles to work on the W&OD. It takes constant vigilance to avoid hazards, whether it is other cyclists riding 2 abreast, pedestrians and joggers running in packs or people who make sudden lane changes, etc. A careful reading of the story indicates that a witness corroborated the cyclist's statement to police that he warned the pedestrian before the accident. Signs on the W&OD train instruct cyclists to warn as they pass others, and to pass slowly. It was an unfortunate accident for which the police did not find grounds for charging the cyclist. If they had been justified doing so, they would have. The intensity of the animosity in these comments and from some motorists on the road toward cyclists is a startling indication of intense selfishness and lack of self restraint. It's shameful and unhelpful toward constructive dialogue. Some motorists can't stand to be delayed behind a bicycle. Fortunately, many others show a great deal of courtesy. This accident is unfortunate, regrettable and awful for all concerned. Wouldn't it be nice if such a news story didn't bring out such ugly dialogue?

Got curious and Googled what a Next Power Climber bike is. It's probably not what you think it is - it's an entry level Wal Mart mountain bike, so for those of you who have been associating this accident with the high speed road bike crowd, the truth isn't even close. I have seen a few guys who could push a mountain bike to a high speed, but not many. It's a sad situation, but unfairly characterized by the headline saying that the woman was 'mowed down'.

Cyclist,

I for one, have no problem with you riding your bike on public roads wearing outfits that didn't fit you when you were in High School. Just like I don't have a problem with the people that drive a prius on the public roads. The problem I have is when you douche nozzles cannot maintain the speed limit of road in which you choose to ride on. Maintain the speed limit and we won't have any problems. If you cannot maintain the speed limit, buy yourself a bicycle trainer and stay in your basement until you can.

As for this story, you hit the nail on the head when you said the signs indicate to "pass slowly" this self centered douche bag thought he was training for the tour de france and killed an innocent pedestrian.

Also, no grown man, participating in a recreational sport should ever wear spandex.

Cyclist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am a cyclist who rides mostly in Loudoun County
> on the W&OD trail and on the road. About once a
> week, I commute 22 miles to work on the W&OD. It
> takes constant vigilance to avoid hazards, whether
> it is other cyclists riding 2 abreast, pedestrians
> and joggers running in packs or people who make
> sudden lane changes, etc. A careful reading of
> the story indicates that a witness corroborated
> the cyclist's statement to police that he warned
> the pedestrian before the accident. Signs on the
> W&OD train instruct cyclists to warn as they pass
> others, and to pass slowly. It was an unfortunate
> accident for which the police did not find grounds
> for charging the cyclist. If they had been
> justified doing so, they would have. The intensity
> of the animosity in these comments and from some
> motorists on the road toward cyclists is a
> startling indication of intense selfishness and
> lack of self restraint. It's shameful and
> unhelpful toward constructive dialogue. Some
> motorists can't stand to be delayed behind a
> bicycle. Fortunately, many others show a great
> deal of courtesy. This accident is unfortunate,
> regrettable and awful for all concerned. Wouldn't
> it be nice if such a news story didn't bring out
> such ugly dialogue?

Kind of interesting how all the cyclists give this douche a pass just because he yelled out that he was passing. No consideration was made as to WHO he was announcing his presence to. You know an old woman isn't going to have the reflexes or physical ability to react to a speeding vehicle racing towards her.
This spandex adorned asshole killed that poor woman with arrogance , impatience and carelessness.

The cyclist haters here are angry and ashamed with themselves because they secretly get turned on at the sight of guys in cycling shorts, hence their diatribes and frequent references to spandex. Their homophobia kicks in as they try to deny their own dirty thoughts and they overcompensate by posting hate here.

@ It's Clear - You're correct! These passive aggressive wusses who whine and complain about cyclists are indeed unsatisfied with their own fat-laden and predictable lives sitting in traffic and listening to this nation's worst range of FM radio in their slow-moving cars.

Cyclists, on the other hand, have important business at hand and are well rewarded for their efforts.
Attachments:

Thats the rapist homo hillbilly guy from Deliverance!

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cyclists, on the other hand, have important
> business at hand and are well rewarded for their
> efforts.


I fixed it for you
Attachments:

The warning was ambiguous, using the short form for the expression "passing to your left".

The warning was given too late for bicyclist to respond. He was coming downhill on a cheap Walmart mountain bike. You speed up to pass a bicyclist. You slow down to pass a jogger or walker.

Walkers have the right to turn around on the path and go back to the start of their walk.

Lester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The warning was ambiguous, using the short form
> for the expression "passing to your left".

That's why I always give my first warning (in the form of "passing!") about 20-30 yards back. There's no ambiguity in my mind.


> Walkers have the right to turn around on the path
> and go back to the start of their walk.

Walkers also have the responsibility that when they do turn around, they aren't putting themselves at risk of being hit. But I doubt seriously that was what happened in this case.

That being said, based on my experience with passing walkers, more than likely, she heard the warning and turned into the cyclists line of travel. Even if he were traveling past her at 5 mph (which is a little faster than walking pace), that's enough to knock an elderly woman over.

Cyclist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am a cyclist who rides mostly in Loudoun County
> on the W&OD trail and on the road. About once a
> week, I commute 22 miles to work on the W&OD. It
> takes constant vigilance to avoid hazards, whether
> it is other cyclists riding 2 abreast, pedestrians
> and joggers running in packs or people who make
> sudden lane changes, etc. A careful reading of
> the story indicates that a witness corroborated
> the cyclist's statement to police that he warned
> the pedestrian before the accident. Signs on the
> W&OD train instruct cyclists to warn as they pass
> others, and to pass slowly. It was an unfortunate
> accident for which the police did not find grounds
> for charging the cyclist. If they had been
> justified doing so, they would have. The intensity
> of the animosity in these comments and from some
> motorists on the road toward cyclists is a
> startling indication of intense selfishness and
> lack of self restraint. It's shameful and
> unhelpful toward constructive dialogue. Some
> motorists can't stand to be delayed behind a
> bicycle. Fortunately, many others show a great
> deal of courtesy. This accident is unfortunate,
> regrettable and awful for all concerned. Wouldn't
> it be nice if such a news story didn't bring out
> such ugly dialogue?

The disconnect here is that you knuckleheads want it both ways. You want to rule the road and have slower traffic (walkers) to be responsible for watching out for you when you're on a trail where you're the relatively faster moving traffic. Then you also want drivers to accommodate and yield to you when you're at a disadvantage as the slower traffic on the road. YOU need to yield to and be responsible for operating in a way that's safe for walkers just as you expect drivers to do for you. So they slow you down. Tough. Deal with it just like we have to deal with your slow asses in our way.

Notice how the bikers try to blame the old lady?
And is the dialog merely ugly, or just truthful and unpleasant to face?

BEH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Notice how the bikers try to blame the old lady?
> And is the dialog merely ugly, or just truthful
> and unpleasant to face?

I'm not blaming the old lady anymore than I'm blaming the rider. I'm calling it an unfortunate accident. An accident that could have been avoided if both parties had been more diligent.

Don't use a broad brush to paint a detailed picture...which is what most of the cyclist-bashers on this board do the vast majority of the time.

It's not an accident when someone uses poor judgement.
The old lady deserved some extra leeway, just like you'd give a little kid.
Thinking that a doddering old person would react appropriatly to a barked command
isn't reasonable.
What is reasonable is considering what is ahead of you and trying to do everything possible to avoid a collison.
Which the cyclist in question apparently failed to do.

This morning driving into work I saw a bicyclist (spandex, helmet, expensive bike-the whole bit) come to a crossing point where the W&O trail meets a well travelled road. At this particular cross point the W&O trail has stop signs for individuals on the trail. Did the bicyclist stop as they are supposed to do by law? Nope. Did she even slow down? Nope. She zipped halfway out into the road, made a hard left and proceeded along the right hand side of the road traveling in the opposite direction of me. When I saw her come out into traffic, make the left and heads towards me I realized she had one of those yellow baby wagon things attached to the back. Nice going mommy. You are lucky the person ahead of me was paying attention and was able to slow down for your jackassery. If they weren't your little yellow wagon would be flat and your precious snowflake would be splat. Selfish twat.

This is a wake up call to all jurisdictions.

I have been in enough near misses at Burke lake with these jackasses on bikes to know that this could easily happen at another park.

I say it's time for bikes to be banned from certain trails. Hikers and bikers cannot co-exist safely on these trails.

The FC Park Authority better be paying attention to this story.

wake up call Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is a wake up call to all jurisdictions.
>
> I have been in enough near misses at Burke lake
> with these jackasses on bikes to know that this
> could easily happen at another park.
>
> I say it's time for bikes to be banned from
> certain trails. Hikers and bikers cannot co-exist
> safely on these trails.
>
> The FC Park Authority better be paying attention
> to this story.

I second this. Walkers/Joggers can not safely use the trails at Burke Lake due to speed-demon cyclists tearing up the trail. I've been brushed by, side swiped and scuffed up plenty of times and I can't even complain to anyone cause I can't identify the bike/cyclist due to lack of tags.

Now if bicycles were required to have Tags on them so they can be identified then I'd give sharing the walking path with them another chance. As it stands, give me a petition to sign to bar Bicycles from Burke Lake Park path.

That was all the cyclist's fault. It is your responsibility to ride at a safe enough speed to maneuver around any potential obstacles, and in that regard the cyclist was completely in the wrong. I've had cyclists come up on me before as well and say: "Passing on your right/left!", and they were only 5-10 feet behind me when they said it and I didn't have any time to move over.

When I'm riding, if I say I'm going to pass someone, I do so well in advance (At least 30 feet away). I also slow down enough in order to mainain control, and one time in fact I said "Passing on your left" to two mothers pushing strollers, and the one on the left-hand side actually moved directly into my path on the left, but because I planned ahead for it I was able to go off the path and around in the turf, and get back on without causing an incident. Sure, the lady apologized, I said it was alright, and nothing bad happened as a result of such.

Then again, I'm a mountain biker and I don't think that I own the road, and I'm also good at being able to toss my bike around obstacles to begin with. I used to freestyle bike too, so I guess that helps somewhat.

==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).

This is clearly a case of suicide-by-bicycle. Wish people would just jump in front of a metro train rather than traumatize some innocent passing cyclist.

Cyclist suck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cyclist,
>
> I for one, have no problem with you riding your
> bike on public roads wearing outfits that didn't
> fit you when you were in High School. Just like I
> don't have a problem with the people that drive a
> prius on the public roads. The problem I have is
> when you douche nozzles cannot maintain the speed
> limit of road in which you choose to ride on.
> Maintain the speed limit and we won't have any
> problems. If you cannot maintain the speed limit,
> buy yourself a bicycle trainer and stay in your
> basement until you can.
>
> As for this story, you hit the nail on the head
> when you said the signs indicate to "pass slowly"
> this self centered douche bag thought he was
> training for the tour de france and killed an
> innocent pedestrian.
>
> Also, no grown man, participating in a
> recreational sport should ever wear spandex.
>
> Cyclist Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am a cyclist who rides mostly in Loudoun
> County
> > on the W&OD trail and on the road. About once a
> > week, I commute 22 miles to work on the W&OD.
> It
> > takes constant vigilance to avoid hazards,
> whether
> > it is other cyclists riding 2 abreast,
> pedestrians
> > and joggers running in packs or people who make
> > sudden lane changes, etc. A careful reading of
> > the story indicates that a witness corroborated
> > the cyclist's statement to police that he
> warned
> > the pedestrian before the accident. Signs on
> the
> > W&OD train instruct cyclists to warn as they
> pass
> > others, and to pass slowly. It was an
> unfortunate
> > accident for which the police did not find
> grounds
> > for charging the cyclist. If they had been
> > justified doing so, they would have. The
> intensity
> > of the animosity in these comments and from
> some
> > motorists on the road toward cyclists is a
> > startling indication of intense selfishness and
> > lack of self restraint. It's shameful and
> > unhelpful toward constructive dialogue. Some
> > motorists can't stand to be delayed behind a
> > bicycle. Fortunately, many others show a great
> > deal of courtesy. This accident is
> unfortunate,
> > regrettable and awful for all concerned.
> Wouldn't
> > it be nice if such a news story didn't bring
> out
> > such ugly dialogue?


Seriously! You argue that cyclists, should not ride on the road unless they can go as fast as the cars (e.g. the speed limit). How do you figure this guy was training for the tour de france while riding a Wal Mart mountain bike? And who is in a position to call him a 'self centered douche'? Has anyone other than the police who deemed that charges were not in order, talked with him about the accident? Why the name calling? Perhaps you should get a bike and ride - it'll help clear your head. Try dodging the cars like I do for a while. You'll feel alive for a change. Maybe, your health and your self image will improve and you won't feel a need to call names and condemn the actions of people without the relevant facts. I hope you get the help you need. All the best.

Cyclist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Seriously! You argue that cyclists, should not
> ride on the road unless they can go as fast as the
> cars (e.g. the speed limit). How do you figure
> this guy was training for the tour de france while
> riding a Wal Mart mountain bike? And who is in a
> position to call him a 'self centered douche'?
> Has anyone other than the police who deemed that
> charges were not in order, talked with him about
> the accident? Why the name calling? Perhaps you
> should get a bike and ride - it'll help clear your
> head. Try dodging the cars like I do for a while.
> You'll feel alive for a change. Maybe, your
> health and your self image will improve and you
> won't feel a need to call names and condemn the
> actions of people without the relevant facts. I
> hope you get the help you need. All the best.

You want relevant facts? How 'bout there's a dead person, and a jackass cyclist with old lady guts on his tires. That seems pretty revelant. If this guy was travelling at an appropriate speed and excerised due caution when approaching a pedestrian, this accident would not have happened. End of story. Now I've ridden plenty in my day, so I know that when you approaching people, you ought not to assume they know you're there and where you're going. Clearly this guy didn't feel like having to stop and then start up again so he decided to disregard the rules of the road. Therefore he's a self-centered douche.

NOVAJovah Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cyclist Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Seriously! You argue that cyclists, should not
> > ride on the road unless they can go as fast as
> the
> > cars (e.g. the speed limit). How do you figure
> > this guy was training for the tour de france
> while
> > riding a Wal Mart mountain bike? And who is in
> a
> > position to call him a 'self centered douche'?
> > Has anyone other than the police who deemed
> that
> > charges were not in order, talked with him
> about
> > the accident? Why the name calling? Perhaps
> you
> > should get a bike and ride - it'll help clear
> your
> > head. Try dodging the cars like I do for a
> while.
> > You'll feel alive for a change. Maybe, your
> > health and your self image will improve and you
> > won't feel a need to call names and condemn the
> > actions of people without the relevant facts. I
> > hope you get the help you need. All the best.
>
> You want relevant facts? How 'bout there's a dead
> person, and a jackass cyclist with old lady guts
> on his tires. That seems pretty revelant. If this
> guy was travelling at an appropriate speed and
> excerised due caution when approaching a
> pedestrian, this accident would not have happened.
> End of story. Now I've ridden plenty in my day, so
> I know that when you approaching people, you ought
> not to assume they know you're there and where
> you're going. Clearly this guy didn't feel like
> having to stop and then start up again so he
> decided to disregard the rules of the road.
> Therefore he's a self-centered douche.

While it is unlikely that you have been in an accident resulting in a fatality, would it be safe to assume that you have never been surprised, never made an error, never had an accident, never driven under the influence and got away with it, or have never hurt anyone? How do you know anything about this individual's motives or what was going on? All I know is that he was over 60, riding an entry level mountain bike and followed the recommended procedure to warn a person being passed. We don't know how experienced he was on the bike, how fast he was going (although the witness may have shared the fact with the investigating officer if he were going unreasonably fast), etc. We don't know whether the individual on the bike feels regret (who wouldn't have deep feelings of regret over something like this?) It gets down to this - there are numerous factors that are unknown to us, but apparently enough facts for the police to judge the situation as an accident. Yet, you feel compelled to render a judgment with less information than law enforcement had and use vulgar language to convey it. It lacks credibility and it is an example of unnecessary hostility toward a person who could be your neighbor or a member of your own family, or you one day. Unless you believe that you will always be in complete control of every situation. When the day comes when you or someone close to you is involved in something like this, you will wish for at least some restraint if not mercy.

NOVAJovah Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You want relevant facts? How 'bout there's a dead
> person, and a jackass cyclist with old lady guts
> on his tires. That seems pretty revelant. If this
> guy was travelling at an appropriate speed and
> excerised due caution when approaching a
> pedestrian, this accident would not have happened.
> End of story. Now I've ridden plenty in my day, so
> I know that when you approaching people, you ought
> not to assume they know you're there and where
> you're going. Clearly this guy didn't feel like
> having to stop and then start up again so he
> decided to disregard the rules of the road.
> Therefore he's a self-centered douche.

I have no love for bicyclists, because most of them -are- self centered douches, but you are so full of shit that I can smell you from here. The old lady could just as easily have been bumped into by a passing jogger, hit her head and died. Hell, she could just as easily have tripped on a downed tree branch, hit her head and died. If the cyclist had been riding too fast then the witnesses would have said so and the police would have hauled this guy into jail.

113ci Wrote:

> I have no love for bicyclists, because most of
> them -are- self centered douches, but you are so
> full of shit that I can smell you from here. The
> , hit her head and died.
> Hell, she could just as easily have tripped on a
> downed tree branch, hit her head and died. If the
> cyclist had been riding too fast then the
> witnesses would have said so and the police would
> have hauled this guy into jail.

really? REALLY? You are so ignorant that you'd beleive that slamming full speed into an old lady on a bike is the same to you as her being "bumped" by a passing jogger?

DONT BE SO FUCKING STUPID!!

A passing jogger would have EASILY sidestepped an old lady, jackass. Show me where witnesses state whe "WASNT" going too fast. Cops cant just haul the guy off into jail all likity-split like that - they have to investigate it first. Sorry no, it's not like on TV LoLz

Walker TX Ranger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The disconnect here is that you knuckleheads want
> it both ways. You want to rule the road and have
> slower traffic (walkers) to be responsible for
> watching out for you when you're on a trail where
> you're the relatively faster moving traffic. Then
> you also want drivers to accommodate and yield to
> you when you're at a disadvantage as the slower
> traffic on the road. YOU need to yield to and be
> responsible for operating in a way that's safe for
> walkers just as you expect drivers to do for you.
> So they slow you down. Tough. Deal with it just
> like we have to deal with your slow asses in our
> way.

I'M A FIVE-STAR MAN!!

Are you sure it wasn't the KGB? Or Charles Bronson ala Telefon?

113ci Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have no love for bicyclists, because most of
> them -are- self centered douches, but you are so
> full of shit that I can smell you from here. The
> old lady could just as easily have been bumped
> into by a passing jogger, hit her head and died.
> Hell, she could just as easily have tripped on a
> downed tree branch, hit her head and died. If the
> cyclist had been riding too fast then the
> witnesses would have said so and the police would
> have hauled this guy into jail.

I didnt read where there were any witnesses. But with joggers they usually pass around the slowing moving people without making a big thing out of it like bicycle riders.
There are alot of ways the old lady could have been killed but that day it was being hit by a bike that did her in. I hope her next of kin looks into this for the possiblity of suing the bike rider. The path is for everyone not a bunch of spandex wearing Armstrong wannabes.

lance armstrongy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 113ci Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have no love for bicyclists, because most of
> > them -are- self centered douches, but you are
> so
> > full of shit that I can smell you from here.
> The
> > old lady could just as easily have been bumped
> > into by a passing jogger, hit her head and died.
>
> > Hell, she could just as easily have tripped on
> a
> > downed tree branch, hit her head and died. If
> the
> > cyclist had been riding too fast then the
> > witnesses would have said so and the police
> would
> > have hauled this guy into jail.
>
> I didnt read where there were any witnesses. But
> with joggers they usually pass around the slowing
> moving people without making a big thing out of it
> like bicycle riders.
> There are alot of ways the old lady could have
> been killed but that day it was being hit by a
> bike that did her in. I hope her next of kin looks
> into this for the possiblity of suing the bike
> rider. The path is for everyone not a bunch of
> spandex wearing Armstrong wannabes.

You didn't read that there were any witnesses because you didn't read the story. There was a witness who gave a statement to the police that corroborated the cyclist's account. The 62 year old cyclist was riding an entry level Wal Mart mountain bike, gave the recommended warnings to the walker - and that's what we know. Everything else that you are assuming, like that he is a spandex clad Armstrong wannabe is supposition, and unlikely, given the bike he was riding (the make and model of the bike is listed in the story and if you took the time to google what it is, you would find out that he is far from an Armstrong wannabe.) Sad that such vitriol has to come from this unfortunate accident. Time to stop with the self righteous anger and go do something useful.

"gave the recommended warnings to the walker "

Is that right? Just where do I go to find out what a recommended warning is? If someone is bearing down on me and yells out "To your left" and they are behind me I just may move to my left. You also assume the following:

The woman heard his warning

She understood his warning

She understands English

She isn't deaf



Now go back to school

is that right Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "gave the recommended warnings to the walker "
>
> Is that right? Just where do I go to find out what
> a recommended warning is? If someone is bearing
> down on me and yells out "To your left" and they
> are behind me I just may move to my left. You also
> assume the following:
>
> The woman heard his warning
>
> She understood his warning
>
> She understands English
>
> She isn't deaf
>
>
>
> Now go back to school

I have been to school - having logged close to 9,000 miles of cycling in the past 4 years, some of it on local trails, more of it on the roads. The warn when passing recommendation is a part of common practice, is posted on trail signs and given on the Friends of the W&OD web site. I question the helpfulness of warning in some cases, because it can startle others, who may react in unpredictable ways. I have never made contact with another pedestrian or cyclist during that time, but there have been instances where vigilance was required to prevent a mishap. I try to do my speed work on the roads, because of the unpredictability of some pedestrians and cyclists.

A lost life is an incalculable misfortune and contrary to the opinions of some commenters on this forum, a collision with another person is a cyclist's nightmare. I don't know statistically how often it happens, but there is no doubt that there is room for improvement in our community. I have reconsidered my cycling practices in light of this event and discussed safety practices with my training partner during our ride this morning. Among other things, we prefer to take our chances with the cars on the road than risk collisions with others on the trails - especially during high trail traffic times, such as late this morning, when we were returning from a training ride in western Loudoun County and chose to ride east from Purcellville on Business highway 7 rather than the W&OD. If any good can come from this accident, it would be that all concerned give renewed consideration to safety and see if we can raise the bar in safety and civility.

Burn in hell you fucking black retarded piece of shit punk ass nigger

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 113ci Wrote:
>
> > I have no love for bicyclists, because most of
> > them -are- self centered douches, but you are
> so
> > full of shit that I can smell you from here.
> The
> > , hit her head and died.
> > Hell, she could just as easily have tripped on
> a
> > downed tree branch, hit her head and died. If
> the
> > cyclist had been riding too fast then the
> > witnesses would have said so and the police
> would
> > have hauled this guy into jail.
>
> really? REALLY? You are so ignorant that you'd
> beleive that slamming full speed into an old lady
> on a bike is the same to you as her being "bumped"
> by a passing jogger?
>
> DONT BE SO FUCKING STUPID!!

Gordo you ignorant slut, we are talking about an 80 year old woman who lived in an "assisted living facility." It would not take much energy at all to topple her.

And I mentioned being knocked over by a jogger because I remember reading a news report of it happening within the past couple years.

@113 - well you kinda miss the point, jackass. Most of us normal ppl would be able to SIMPLY JOG AROUND THE LADY!!!

NOT. ROCKET. SCIENCE o_0

Cyclist would have hit ANYONE who wasnt quick enough to get out of his way, fuck the age.

That was the cyclist's attitude that day - that you would get hit if you were not quick enough to get out of his way. It's not like it's that hard to operate a bicycle ...............

GB - you and the other dumbfuck trolls here should take a reading comprehension course for the learning disabled. It might help you. The old woman stepped right in front of the cyclist. The result was the same as if she stepped in front of a car or train.

LD Teacher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GB - you and the other dumbfuck trolls here should
> take a reading comprehension course for the
> learning disabled. It might help you. The old
> woman stepped right in front of the cyclist. The
> result was the same as if she stepped in front of
> a car or train.

Oh yeah... that octogenarian just leaped in front of him! I'm sure her catlike movements were so hard to avoid.

Face it. The killer was on the bicycle.

An 80 year old woman suddenly changes lanes and turn around. In that scenario a bike was going 5 miles per hour would likely be enough to knock her over and for her to hit her head. These trails typically have striped lines down the middle to show that they are for passing and two directional traffic. If the lady did change lanes without looking then she is just as at fault as the biker. What would have been the result of the biker dying in that scenario and the lady being ok. In my opinion the lady is negligent since everyone knows that people are constantly passing and there is a striped line to separate traffic in the same manner as automobiles. It really does not matter whether the guy is on a bike or on foot unless he was speeding which we really do not have that information to pass judgement.

Facts as we know them:

Old woman walking.
Man riding bike.
Man hits woman with bike.
Woman dies.

= Man on bike kills woman.

If you see an 80 year old woman walking down a bike trail, do you:

1) Slow down and give her a wide berth?
2) Continue riding at full speed and shout, "On your left!"

Who said that he did not slow down?

That's my point. He didn't.

--------------------

From the article:

"The bicyclist and a witness told police that the cyclist was going downhill on his Next Powerclimber bike and saw Lapina in front of him.

The bicyclist, a 62-year-old man, told police that he tried to warn Lapina by yelling "to your left" and by ringing a bell. Lapina stepped to her left, turned around and was struck head on, police said."

--------------------

How do you know that he did not slow down?

Ito Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's my point. He didn't.
>
> --------------------
>
> From the article:
>
> "The bicyclist and a witness told police that the
> cyclist was going downhill on his Next
> Powerclimber bike and saw Lapina in front of him.
>
>
> The bicyclist, a 62-year-old man, told police that
> he tried to warn Lapina by yelling "to your left"
> and by ringing a bell. Lapina stepped to her left,
> turned around and was struck head on, police
> said."
>
> --------------------

Does it say that witnesses saw him slow down? They said he shouted and rang a bell. He was going downhill (which implies that he was going at a higher speed than on a flat road).

Read this story carefully and think of the scene. This was an 80 year old... 80 is fuckin' old and unless this woman was some sort of power walker, she probably looked elderly.

If you're trying to say that the bicycle rider is somehow not at fault, you are missing the potential life lesson of this story. If you see someone who is old, handicapped or perhaps a small child on the bike path, slow down and perhaps even stop your damn bike until you see that they know you are coming and are safely past them.

If you don't, you can kill someone too and live with that for the rest of your life.

I guess you have never rode a bike on a trail then. There are times when it is impossible to stop if someone makes a sudden movement, especially on hills. I have seen people do some really irrational and stupid things on the trails.
I have had a walker make a sudden u-turn on me even though they were warned that we were approaching and passing single file. Often times people are too busy talking to the people they are with. Also, you certainly cannot expect a cyclist to completely stop when they see a pedestrian walking on the right side of a down-hill portion unless there is no room to pass or the person is acting unsteady.

I certainly agree that cyclist need to be more careful. I see guys that act like if they stop or slow down they will not win some theoretical race. They are a real problem out there. The worst offenders are the one's that ride double file even when passing. They don't seem to understand or care that many riders are uncomfortable with crowding.

Its easy to pass judgement without knowing all the facts. The cops appear to have made the determination that is was simply an accident of no-fault.

As I wrote in my last post there are certain people on the trail that you should take special precautions with:

elderly
disabled
small children
pregnant women

Does this sound right?

Chantilly Resident Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess you have never rode a bike on a trail
> then. There are times when it is impossible to
> stop if someone makes a sudden movement,
> especially on hills. I have seen people do some
> really irrational and stupid things on the trails.
>
> I have had a walker make a sudden u-turn on me
> even though they were warned that we were
> approaching and passing single file. Often times
> people are too busy talking to the people they are
> with. Also, you certainly cannot expect a cyclist
> to completely stop when they see a pedestrian
> walking on the right side of a down-hill portion
> unless there is no room to pass or the person is
> acting unsteady.
>

Which is exactly why you shouldn't be there then.

And, yes, you can expect a rider to completely stop if the circumstances dictate. If you don't then you're responsible for whatever happens.

LD Teacher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GB - you and the other dumbfuck trolls here should
> take a reading comprehension course for the
> learning disabled. It might help you. The old
> woman stepped right in front of the cyclist. The
> result was the same as if she stepped in front of
> a car or train.

Wow....what a quote: "result was the same as if she stepped in front of a car or train"
Ok, fuckhead. Listen and listen good. All you cyclists - this one is for you. And I'll try to put in in such a way as even a cyclist should be able to understand................then again, I dunno since you seem to be incapable of figuring this little simple fucking thing:

YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE YOUR BICYCLE, OR ANY VEHICLE!! THAT FAST AROUND PEDESTRIANS YOU IGNORANT, SELFISH, FUCKWADS!!!!

And that mentality is why ppl hate cyclists. Share the Road Share the Trail, Share Share Share!! But if yr in a car, get out of my way. If you are a pedestrian, get out of my way. WTF!?!!?
GotDAMN, what a fuckwad! "same as if she stepped in front of a car or train"..............cause you see, that's how fast you should be going on a trail that YOU KNOW ppl are walking on, you see........ o_0



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2012 10:42AM by Gordon Blvd.

113ci Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have no love for bicyclists, because most of
> them -are- self centered douches, but you are so
> full of shit that I can smell you from here. The
> old lady could just as easily have been bumped
> into by a passing jogger, hit her head and died.
> Hell, she could just as easily have tripped on a
> downed tree branch, hit her head and died. If the
> cyclist had been riding too fast then the
> witnesses would have said so and the police would
> have hauled this guy into jail.

Give it time. The cops in San Fagcisco just arrested and charged that asshole cyclist who killed a 70 something year old in March when he ran a red light and plowed into people legally crossing in the crosswalk (then took to the internetz to complain about pedestrians)

As an avid cyclist, these are the practices I employ while riding among pedestrians:

1. Slow down while approaching anyone from the rear.
2. Always loudly announce your presence at least 40 meters from folks ahead of you if their backs are turned.
3. Always check for some kind of acknowledgement from pedestrians of your presence and direction after providing a loud verbal warning. If no acknowledgement, then slow down to walking speed and pass on the left side if room is given.
4. Slow down to walking speed under any circumstance and from any direction when approaching children, elderly, disabled, folks with pets.
5. Never pass anyone until they recognize and acknowledge to you that they are not going to compete for the same space as you.
6. Be aware of path branches from which children and animals can dash onto your path unexpectedly.
7. Pedestrians and those on horseback have right of way.

I have been riding for several years on the W&OD, and have found plenty of opportunity to crank the speed to 53x12 on long stretches - but in the right places. You simply cannot do this in high-volume parts - don't even try. Never once have I have I been close to an accident with others, because I take the responsibility for making sure that no accident happens.

SAFETY FIRST. All cyclists should follow this rule.

Have the identified the guy who ran the old lady down?

If I were him, I would request segregated accomodations in jail. Even the child molesters would look to do him harm as a granny killer.

He was in his sixties. No spring chicken himself. He should have never been riding in the first place.

I ran the old bitch down. She should've known better than to get in the way of someone as important as me. I'll mow down anyone who stands in the way of bigger government. I'm on a mission from Obama!

More reckless cyclist kill pedestrians... this is getting out of hand!

SAN FRANCISCO -- A cyclist charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of an elderly pedestrian at a busy San Francisco intersection pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Software developer Chris Bucchere, 36, is accused of recklessly speeding downhill through a red light and into an intersection crowded with pedestrians in the city's Castro District on March 29. He struck Sutchi Hui, 71, who was crossing the street with his wife and died of his injuries four days later.

The case, a rare felony prosecution of a bicycle rider for a fatal accident, comes amid a 71 percent increase in bike traffic in San Francisco in the past five years. It also marks the third instance in which a pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist during the past year in the Bay Area.


Evidence against Bucchere, who is free on $150,000 bond, includes several eyewitnesses and a surveillance video that have helped investigators put his estimated speed at up to 35 miles per hour.

A spokeswoman for District Attorney George Gascon's office, Stephanie Ong Stillman, said investigators had evidence Bucchere also ran a number of stop signs on his way downhill to the intersection where the crash occurred.

'Plowed through'
Authorities also suspect Bucchere was the author of an online blog post about the accident in which the cyclist recalled being "too committed" to stop at the traffic light before going through it.
"I couldn't see a line through the crowd and I couldn't stop, so I laid it down and just plowed through the crowded crosswalk in the least-populated place I could find," the post said, going on to describe a "river of blood on the asphalt" in the aftermath of the collision.
The post drew criticism from other people in the forum when Bucchere wrote that the moral of the story was that it was important for cyclists to wear helmets, local station KTVU Channel 2 News reported. The post was later removed.

The San Francisco Chronicle said Bucchere had been trying to set a speed record for a popular bike route through that neighborhood, and an electronic monitoring device on his bike provided investigators with some of their evidence against him.

In a written statement issued to reporters at the courthouse on Wednesday, Bucchere's lawyer, Julie Salamon, said her client "anticipates the day when he may express his deepest condolences to the Hui family for their tragic loss. But for now, while the case is ongoing, he will continue to cooperate with the authorities and to respond responsibly to the charges in court."

Bucchere, who left the courthouse without speaking to reporters following his 10-minute arraignment, is due back in court on July 27, when the judge will set a date for a preliminary hearing.
Stillman said Bucchere was the first bicyclist charged by Gascon with felony vehicular manslaughter, an offense for which prosecutors must show gross negligence and is punishable by up to six years in prison.


In March, cyclist Randolph Ang, 23, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for running down a 67-year-old woman who died a month later. He was sentenced to three years' probation and 500 hours of community service.

In a more recent accident, a 92-year-old woman was struck and killed by a cyclist in a crosswalk near El Cerrito, east of San Francisco.

Nut Bag Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> More reckless cyclist kill pedestrians... this is
> getting out of hand!

u dont get it a**! its sooo har d for us to slow down and then get back up to speed again. the courteous thing to do would be to yield or slow down when you see us on the road. people who are walking should know this too. for drivers to accelerate all they have to do is push down on the accelarator, for us we have to bust our a**!

Well as a cyclist I feel that at many times I am also in danger from those who believe that they are God's gift to the two wheels. I find myself riding among the likes of stupid people who believe they are constantly riding in a peloton via the Tour d' France getting superior headwind. It is these fools who all feel as though they are contributing to the greater good of society by reducing their minuscule "carbon" foot print.

To the left is a fair standard warning. If you do not comprehend such instruction, I usually counter this with to your right. Or simply MOVE! I am not a want-to-be faggot from Europe. Therefore, I do not require a bell to ding on my worth more than your Toyota bicycle. I sport an air horn. That being said, I usually slow down around pedestrians, as I value my bike and it's totally superior components more than I value your worth. However, once I do pass you, I usually spin the rear tire extra hard as to kick up a dust storm for you slow pokes to feast on.

It is sad that the elderly lady died, but the real problem here is that that this Web site is plagued with the ill-informed and highly delusional. Now feel free to slander my post your sodomites.

Just because you are on a bike does not mean you are exempt from the law. That means you have to stop at red lights, you have to signal turns just like other people. Get over yourselves and how imortant you think you are on a bike.

While I appreciate those who bike to work, I get pissed when they use the sidewalk in busy downtown streets.

Hello? The sidewalks are for pedestrians----not bikes..too bad about the one way streets, but they need to go around the block and stay off the sidewalks.

Johnny Law Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just because you are on a bike does not mean you
> are exempt from the law. That means you have to
> stop at red lights, you have to signal turns just
> like other people. Get over yourselves and how
> imortant you think you are on a bike.


Amen! Start issuing tickets to these asshole cyclist!

80 year old woman?
He should have yelled "To your right!"
She would have stayed on the frickin' right!

Vance Strongarm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well as a cyclist I feel that at many times I am
> also in danger from those who believe that they
> are God's gift to the two wheels. I find myself
> riding among the likes of stupid people who
> believe they are constantly riding in a peloton
> via the Tour d' France getting superior headwind.
> It is these fools who all feel as though they are
> contributing to the greater good of society by
> reducing their minuscule "carbon" foot print.
>
> To the left is a fair standard warning. If you do
> not comprehend such instruction, I usually counter
> this with to your right. Or simply MOVE! I am not
> a want-to-be faggot from Europe. Therefore, I do
> not require a bell to ding on my worth more than
> your Toyota bicycle. I sport an air horn. That
> being said, I usually slow down around
> pedestrians, as I value my bike and it's totally
> superior components more than I value your worth.
> However, once I do pass you, I usually spin the
> rear tire extra hard as to kick up a dust storm
> for you slow pokes to feast on.
>
> It is sad that the elderly lady died, but the real
> problem here is that that this Web site is plagued
> with the ill-informed and highly delusional. Now
> feel free to slander my post your sodomites.


I like the air horn idea. That way you don't have to run them over to kill 'em just scare them to death

DC is worse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> While I appreciate those who bike to work, I get
> pissed when they use the sidewalk in busy downtown
> streets.
>
> Hello? The sidewalks are for pedestrians----not
> bikes..too bad about the one way streets, but they
> need to go around the block and stay off the
> sidewalks.


FWIW, it *is* illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalk in DC, but *only* in the downtown business district. Good luck getting a cop to give a ticket though, he's prolly too lazy to care.

Just don't hit any fire hydrants.

bikegrrl1598 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nut Bag Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > More reckless cyclist kill pedestrians... this
> is
> > getting out of hand!
>
> u dont get it a**! its sooo har d for us to slow
> down and then get back up to speed again.

if it is sooo hard to use the damn thing, get your ass OFF OF IT!!!!

the
> courteous thing to do would be to yield or slow
> down when you see us on the road. people who are
> walking should know this too.

Or what? You will kill them? The COURTEOUS thing for YOU to do is FOLLOW THE GOTDAMN LAW! On the road AND on the trail

for drivers to
> accelerate all they have to do is push down on the
> accelarator, for us we have to bust our a**!

Yes, that is the DIFFERENCE between a car and a bicycle. Again, if it is that much of a CHALLENGE for you to operate a bicycle, I suggest you STAY THE FUCK OFF OF ONE!

and understand this: Using a bicycle is NOT the same as using a car. No comparison. Dont carry that attitude around that you are showing here - that an automobile driver should adjust the way they drive just because you cant accelerate as quickly as a car can............that's just fucking stupid.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2012 07:53PM by Gordon Blvd.

@Vance, Kardiac - and yet you'll be all mad at me if I do the same thing to you with my car..................... Think about it. If you would do to others what you would hate to be done to you, then you are an ASSWIPE! Just letting you know.

@Berd - you hang in there, yo. Just keep doing what yr doing and passing the word to yr fellow cyclists................

@Gonads - San Fran, Portland & Seattle all have MEGA-bike issues.

Listen up people!
To all those who wish to be like me, stop trying. You don't have the natural talent, money, support or will power that I have. So, to all those "Walter Mittys" of the world- slow down when you are on a path with pedestrians.

To all the haters out there- Real cyclists avoid cars, bike paths, congested areas, people in general, USADA, the media like the plague.

Can't we all just get along? If not, I'm going to have my bodyguards beat the living piss out of you.

Maybe throwing some tacks down on the pathways at Burke Lake will slow these idiots down.

Tips from TDF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe throwing some tacks down on the pathways at
> Burke Lake will slow these idiots down.

My advice is bring along a very sturdy 'walking stick', shove it in between the assholes' spikes as they try to speed by you, and enjoy. If they manage to remain conscious after the spill and start giving you some lip give them a couple of good raps right up aside the head (below their faggy helmet) for good measure. Don't offer to stick it up their ass, 90% of them will drop trough within seconds.

Like most every problem, clearly a case of humanoid over-population.

And it will only get worse until we have serious birth control AND border control.

But you're not ready to hear that, are you?

:-)

@Pat - bringing up a Final Solution is a little stupid when all that's really needed is some basic common courtesy.
@fart - now, now :)
@tips - might annoy the ppl in the flipflops somewhat LoLz
@Lance +1

@anybody - does anyone know if the asshole who killed this lady is getting charged with anything?

Pat Kittle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Like most every problem, clearly a case of
> humanoid over-population.
>
> And it will only get worse until we have serious
> birth control AND border control.
>
> But you're not ready to hear that, are you?
>
> :-)


I DESPISE these overpopulation nutjobs. Hey, if the planet is too crowded---you be the first volunteer to leave, ok?

Too bad YOUR parents didn't practice what you preach.

As I said, you're not ready to hear that, are you?

:-)

I said NOTHING about killing people -- I spoke about birth control AND border control, didn't I?

THAT is how we AVOID killing people -- which happens to be the subject of this story, isn't it?

Band-aid solutions to overpopulation ultimately don't work -- as these furious comments make clear. (Irony is lost on you, isn't it?)

:-)

(BTW, if I took your advice about killing people to stop population growth, I'd logically have to start with you, and THEN myself. Good thing I don't take your advice!)

:-)

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @Pat - bringing up a Final Solution is a little
> stupid when all that's really needed is some basic
> common courtesy.
> @fart - now, now :)
> @tips - might annoy the ppl in the flipflops
> somewhat LoLz
> @Lance +1
>
> @anybody - does anyone know if the asshole who
> killed this lady is getting charged with anything?


============================================

I didn't bring up a "Final Solution" -- YOU did.
:-)

Look up "Godwin's Law" -- you just demonstrated it!
:-)

You say "all that's really needed is some basic common courtesy" -- and then you call someone an "asshole"!
:-)

@Pat - yr reading a little too much into what I'm saying so relax I aint calling you a nazi - Lordy.........and as for the asshole............we, yeah he killed a woman on the bike trail - that kinda fits the definition of asshole alright since yr really not supposed to do that sorta thing...............

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @Pat - yr reading a little too much into what I'm
> saying so relax I aint calling you a nazi -
> Lordy.........and as for the
> asshole............we, yeah he killed a woman on
> the bike trail - that kinda fits the definition of
> asshole alright since yr really not supposed to do
> that sorta thing...............

You said I brought up the "Final Solution" -- BUT (somehow) -- you "aint calling [me] a nazi." That's a good one!
:-)

You say "all that's really needed is some basic common courtesy" -- then you justify calling someone an "asshole." That raises some questions:
1) Is calling someone an "asshole" still "basic common courtesy" if, in your opinion, they deserve it?
2) If that's not "basic common courtesy" you clearly are incapable of practicing "basic common courtesy" yourself -- overpopulation does that to people. As I said, you're not ready to hear that, are you?
:-)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2012 10:33PM by Pat Kittle.

@Pat - if you want to focus on the semantics, then ok. I mean I SAID I wasnt calling you a nazi but if you really really want it that way, then ok - yr a nazi. that make you feel better?

Anywho, courtesy is an behaviour that can be both earned and lost. Asshole killed a woman and to me, has lost my respect and in turn, any courtesies I will afford him on the interwebz. He can earn them back if he so chooses - but that is up to him.
but to answer your questions directly:

1)no. I think yr confused on who needs to be more courteous in this situation. You see me calling him an asshole has (and pay attention now because you seem to be confused on this little part) NOT KILLED HIM!!! He is still alive from me calling him an asshole. That is the courtesy I afford him. He, however could not afford that same courtesy to the ppl on the W&OD trail as evidenced by his actions...........which is why he's an asshole.

2) The only overpopulation that's going on is are the confused thoughts overpopulating in yr skull. But you're not ready to hear that, are you?

pic unrelated
Attachments:

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @Pat - if you want to focus on the semantics, then
> ok. I mean I SAID I wasnt calling you a nazi but
> if you really really want it that way, then ok -
> yr a nazi. that make you feel better?
>
> Anywho, courtesy is an behaviour that can be both
> earned and lost. Asshole killed a woman and to
> me, has lost my respect and in turn, any
> courtesies I will afford him on the interwebz. He
> can earn them back if he so chooses - but that is
> up to him.
> but to answer your questions directly:
>
> 1)no. I think yr confused on who needs to be more
> courteous in this situation. You see me calling
> him an asshole has (and pay attention now because
> you seem to be confused on this little part) NOT
> KILLED HIM!!! He is still alive from me calling
> him an asshole. That is the courtesy I afford
> him. He, however could not afford that same
> courtesy to the ppl on the W&OD trail as evidenced
> by his actions...........which is why he's an
> asshole.
>
> 2) The only overpopulation that's going on is are
> the confused thoughts overpopulating in yr skull.
> But you're not ready to hear that, are you?
>
> pic unrelated

I asked:
Is calling someone an "asshole" still "basic common courtesy" if, in your opinion, they deserve it?

You (in your round-about way) answered "yes." Now you can go back to calling people "assholes" if you think they deserve it, as you call for "some basic common courtesy."

And since overpopulation doesn't exist in your mind, you can stop complaining about overcrowded trails -- by your "reasoning" it just doesn't matter if there are 1/10th as many trail users, or tens times as many.
:-)

And in your world there are no such things as "traffic jams" -- there are only people with "confused thoughts" about overpopulating. Golly, I sure wish I could think as clearly as you do!
:-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2012 09:15AM by Pat Kittle.

LiverLips Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bicyclists have to be the must disrespectful
> people I've ever seen.
>
> If you hit and kill somebody with a car you get
> charges, even if you toot your horn before hand.
>
> This guy needs to be charged!


Not true. Most times motorists get off scot free when they hit and kill pedestrians and cyclists. If the driver is DUI, then they will get some penalty. Otherwise, I didn't see him/her tends to get them off.

Cases in point: 24 year old cyclist killed while in shoulder bike lane by motorist who went off the main road for whatever reason. http://www.gazette.net/article/20110913/NEWS/709159980/1010/police-bowie-woman-24-killed-in-friday-collision-was-not-at-fault&template=gazette No charges.

Woman driver kills female cyclist by running into her from behind. I can not find any further news of charges filed. http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/05/bicyclist-dies-after-maryland-crash-75567.html

2007 rider hit by pickup truck on the Civil War century ride. Hugh Macintosh. I came upon the scene shortly after the accident occurred. Straight road, fast downhill. Cyclist could have been going 40mph, motorist still felt need to pass him but too close and hit him with his side view mirror. I talked with the officer a few days later. No charges filed.

2010 Natasha Pettigrew hit and killed by Christy Littleford. Driver left scene. Returned to look at the scene while it was under investigation. Then left again. Bicycle was wedged into her wheelwell. Claimed she thought she hit a deer. Two years later convicted of felnoy hit and run. Not vehicular manslaughter. The jury found her guilty of leaving the scene of an accident. The death of the cyclist. Pfft. apparently not a crime. Four year jail sentence, three years suspended. http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/05/trial-begins-in-hit-and-run-death-of-bicyclist-senate-candidate-76286.html and http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/08/christy-littleford-convicted-in-natasha-pettigrew-death-to-be-sentenced-78426.html

NYC. No charges against the driver. Completely botched police investigation. Admittance by city official that evenif the driver had been cited for a traffic violation, the killing would typically be ignored. As in the Natasha case above, where the charge wasn't related to killing but hit and run. The gravity of the hit irrelevant.

Alice Swanson, 22. Sturck and killed by a garbage truck at R and 20th NW in 2008. Four witnesses say she was ahead fo the truck when it turned right into
her path and killed her. Police didn't amend their report that says she rode into the truck. Driver arrested two years later. Charge -- illegal alien. Killing the cyclist. No charges. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x492181661/Northborough-family-wants-justice-in-daughters-death

Woman kills cyclist gets $287 negligent driving fine plus some court fees. Then asks for it to be reduced. The prosecutor decided that since the bicyclist was riding ion the road he was a major contributiry factor to his being struck from behind by a woman driving a car with a partially iced/fogged up windowshield and looking in her purse for a cigarette lighter. http://ww2.somdnews.com/stories/12232009/entetop160043_32219.shtml and http://www.marylandmotorcycleaccidentlawyerblog.com/2009/12/ Search page for December 16, 2009 entry.

A friend of mine riding on the shoulder on an Arizona road struck from behind by a driver who veered off the road. No charges. Cyclist broken hip, jaw, ribs, deep cuts on the face.

I could go on for pages. hitting cyclists and pedestrians with a car usually doesn't get you charged, unless you were drunk or drugged.

Understand that riding a bicycle on the highway with automobiles and trucks is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Pedestrians crossing a busy street are risking their lives as well.

When you do this, you are taking your own life into your own hands. The world is not going to change because you are riding your tricycle. Understand that cars have engines, weigh more and there are many more of them, by a factor of a million, on the roads.

The burning rubber "on your left" bullshit has got to stop. I was riding on the Mt. Vernon trail with my wife last night and we passed a mother and her daughter. I slowed down to scarcely faster than a walking speed and told them "there's somebody else coming on your left," then pedaled by. When you're on a trail that is only four people wide, that should be common courtesy.

The other day I was riding through the tunnel under Lee St. in Alexandria and a young couple were walking their baby in a stroller. I had to FULLY STOP my bike and hug to the wall because two yuppie fucks, both older than me no doubt, decided the most reasonable maneuver (being "IN THE ZONE" and all) was to try and split the lane. In a fucking tunnel, again, 4-5 people wide at best.

I swear it gets harder to live in this area every day.

Back in the 80's I think I remember a cyclist hating guy in Arlington twisting piano wire between trees to decapitate cyclists. Someone saw him doing it and he got like 12 years in prison for that crazy ass stupid shit.

I run on the trail regularly. I stop at every stop sign but I don't think this is the norm for cyclists except at busier intersections with lights. I've seen motorists honk and almost hit them when they don't yield. It's usually the guys that have those $5000.00 bikes and dress like they want to be Lance Armstrong. Maybe they should have a yuppie-douchebag speed limit.

Posted by: Perry Mason District ()
Date: June 12, 2012 12:37PM


Sounds like vehicular manslaughter to me.


---
Is that how you feel when a cyclist is killed by a driver? Cause i bet your feelings would change.

"Next Powerclimber"

Cheap piece of garbage... anyone who rides it has no skills. Beware!

Cyclist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am a cyclist who rides mostly in Loudoun County
> on the W&OD trail and on the road. About once a
> week, I commute 22 miles to work on the W&OD. It
> takes constant vigilance to avoid hazards, whether
> it is other cyclists riding 2 abreast, pedestrians
> and joggers running in packs or people who make
> sudden lane changes, etc. A careful reading of
> the story indicates that a witness corroborated
> the cyclist's statement to police that he warned
> the pedestrian before the accident. Signs on the
> W&OD train instruct cyclists to warn as they pass
> others, and to pass slowly. It was an unfortunate
> accident for which the police did not find grounds
> for charging the cyclist. If they had been
> justified doing so, they would have. The intensity
> of the animosity in these comments and from some
> motorists on the road toward cyclists is a
> startling indication of intense selfishness and
> lack of self restraint. It's shameful and
> unhelpful toward constructive dialogue. Some
> motorists can't stand to be delayed behind a
> bicycle. Fortunately, many others show a great
> deal of courtesy. This accident is unfortunate,
> regrettable and awful for all concerned. Wouldn't
> it be nice if such a news story didn't bring out
> such ugly dialogue?

Tuche