Seattle memorial for cyclist Bryce Lewis, who died Sept. 7, when he was struck and killed by a garbage truck making a right turn through a bike lane. Photo: Alan Berner for the Seattle Times.
Both Seattle and Portland are a very bike friendly towns. But in the past 2 months, both cities have had tragic truck vs. bicycle related deaths, and strangely both happened in the same manner. Both incidents were caused by garbage trucks turning right on a green light across bike lanes. Both times riders crashed into the trucks. There was a memorial ride in Seattle.
If it can happen in a bike friendly town, better watch your ass here… where they don’t even think we should be on the streets….
Ride safe, be careful out there.
- “Bicyclists honor fallen friend” [seattletimes.nwsource.com]
- “Garbage truck crushes cyclist” [oregonlive.com]
thanks for posting this. it’s good to have a reminder of what kinds of hazards to be aware of out there. it’s sad that people have to die for cities to start TALKING about making our streets more bike friendly. maybe they’ll learn from these tragedies and actually start DOING something about it. stay safe out there. we don’t need anymore stories like this.
Ghost bikes? we should do this here in L.A. should a tragedy occur…
http://ghostbikes.org/
Been there and done that. See http://tinyurl.com/yqr7p3
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Actually, two bicyclists crushed by trucks (one garbage truck crushed Brett Jarolimek, and a cement truck crushed 19 year old Tracey Sparling) this fall in Portland. Both bicyclists acting legally, both truck drivers breaking the law. Neither cited by the Police.
“Bike friendly” on the ground only means so much. It has to go so much deeper.