Fit City

By zap

October 14, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this

Wonder if the laws/police in Mississippi will give a citation to the driver.. or if this is just another cyclist=deer incident.

By john La Touf

October 14, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this

While I appreciate The writer for keeping us informed of the death of another Austin cyclist, They way in which she ended the story “Be careful out there” was a bit shallow as to his death. He was someones Dad,son and loved one and she treated it at the end with a bit of disregard. Definitely not a writing style I appreciate or admire.

By John La Touf

October 14, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this

Thanks for informing us of the death of one of our own but the way the writer ended the story-“Be careful out there” seemed a bit shallow and really uncaring for this great dad,son and friend. Not a writing style that I really can appreciate.

By john La Touf

October 14, 2009 3:14 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the story on this tragic death but the closing statement could have been left off. “Be careful out there”! was a bit shallow and insincere considering the circumstances of a loss of life. Definitely not a writing style I can appreciate.

By john la touf

October 14, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this

Never can post on here for some reason?

By B G Fryer

October 14, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this

Btw-he was also a member of the Hash House Harriers, which I believe you did an article on. Needless to say we are quite sad about this news.

By You're Not Lance

October 14, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this

My deepest sympathies go out to the family. I’ve got to say it though, cities and towns around the country, especially Austin, have spent MILLIONS on bike trails and yet we still get to deal with the “Share the Road” contingent who make a point to be a spectacle and a nuisance. Riders constantly refuse to yield to vehicles that outweigh them by thousands of pounds and travel at significantly higher speeds, so this is what we get. Personally, I will share the road when cyclists can travel the speed limit.

By kgbean

October 14, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

You can rest assured that a reaction will come from cycling advocates along the entire length of the NTP. We’re in Tennessee where we have a significant portion of NTP and we are closely monitoring the situation and the park service and local police response to the issue. Clearly this is “Single Witness Suicide Swerve” case. However, NTP is a good safe place to ride. It’s ridden night and day by cyclists logging hundreds of thousands of miles. Bicycling is a safe sport - much safer than living a lifestyle fraught with heart disease, diabetes and other diseases from a sedentary lifestyle.

By David Nehme

October 14, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this

This is one road where cycling is actually encouraged. What a shame that cyclist can’t even bike there safely. There’s always an excuse: no helmet, the cyclist was in the blind spot,…. This time, it’s “the cyclist swerved into the car”. I biked on this beautiful road a few years ago. It was full of RV’s, many of them passing other RV’s (one smiled and waved after he forced me off the road).

By Angry Bicyclist

October 14, 2009 10:47 PM | Link to this

To the gentleman above who commented that he will only share the road when cyclists go the speed limit…

Get over yourself. All is heard in your rambling comment was, “OH MY GOSH, I GOT TO MY DESTINATION 20 SECONDS LATER THAN I SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF A BICYCLIST! HOW DARE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD SLOW ME DOWN! LOOK AT ME, I’M MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU!!”

Granted, some bicyclists are extremely disrespectful and do their best to hinder drivers. Unfortunately, those drivers who are anti-bicycle tend to focus solely on the actions of this small minority of cyclists. The same people who rant about bicyclists hindering them also seem to be the type of driver we all hate; the type who is overly aggressive, never obeys the speed limit, and gives angry glances to other drivers who fail to recognize the fact that his or her time is more important than that of other drivers.

By Upperhand

October 16, 2009 12:49 AM | Link to this

This is terrible…I often observe cyclists as I’m passing them up on Parmer or downtown if I happen to be in these areas I make sure to move over if possible to avoid hitting someone…this is the last thing I need in my life.

From my observation a few questions come to mind, Why do cyclists feel they have to pedal their bikes along the edge of yellow line closest to the passing vehicles? What are you trying to prove by this behavior? Is this the safest way to cycle?

I mean its just as easy to ride along two-three feet over closet to the edge of the shoulder and play it safer…those two-three feet may just save your lives. Getting hit by a distracted, alcohol or drug induced driver with a 2,000lb-3,500lb vehicle is never going to bring about a beautiful conclusion to any accident much less one involving a cyclist on a bike.

Point being! Drivers and cyclists can argue the rules of the road till their tongues fall out…but at the end of the day…whether you like it or not the one going home to his family will be the driver of the 2,000lb vehicle.

Cycle it safe…its not worth risking your very life for the gain of trying to prove a point!

By ed

October 16, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this

Does anyone know the exact date of this accident?

By Pam LeBlanc

October 16, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this

Ed, the accident was Friday, Oct. 9.

By you're a dunce

October 20, 2009 11:27 PM | Link to this

Dear Angry Bicyclist, don’t be surprised by angry driver. I google cycling accidents regularly to remind myself why I do not train on unsafe roads anymore. No matter how egregious the driver is at fault or how horrible the cyclist(s) is killed, there is always some redneck bike bigot that thinks a memorial comment area is the appropriate arena to advertise his stupidity. Then there are the erudite critics that use the same arena to show they could have written the article better. I love all your work Pamela.

P.S. Be careful out there!

By Carl Wade

October 21, 2009 6:02 PM | Link to this

My heart was sadden to hear of a second cyclist was killed cycling the Natchez Trace this year.. May the Lord provide comfort to his loved ones and family. I just completed cycling the Natchez Trace from Natchez to Nashville on October 3rd. The one thing I noticed about motorist on the Trace 97% when passing me would pass in the other lane. The other 3% passed providing the three feet as stated by law. There are a few potential hazard on the Trace with winding road, Deer, wild Turkeys, Red foxes and others. That is why the speed is 5O miles per hour. The Natchez Trace is a parkway not a freeway. Its there to enjoy nature, the landscape and the history of the Trace. If you are in a hurry to get there where every that maybe then travel the interstate or old US highways. Did you know that in 1880, more than 100,000 cyclists from across the United States joined the League of American Wheelman to advocate for paved roads. The success of the League in its first advocacy efforts ultimately led to our national highway system. Thanks for sharing the road.