Tonight we take a glimpse at the ongoing debate over Kansas City street life and the push for greater accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists over the complaints of motorists -- An often maligned group which comprises the overwhelming majority of local transit.
Crash report . . .
And then . . . Midtown cyclist seriously injured after being struck by car on Christmas Eve
Deets:
Kansas City police say the cyclist was riding near Southwest Trafficway and Valentine. The driver allegedly hit him from behind, but stayed on scene to speak with investigators.
The victim is identified by friends as Pablo Sanders Jr. They say he's suffering a number of injuries and being treated at a hospital.
Sanders is a leader in the Critical Mass riding community. Once a month dozens of riders hit the streets of Kansas City en mass to travel together and bring awareness to cycling. Friends through the group said they're hoping for the best.
More on feedback reaction to public policy . . .
Bike/Walk KC sends love to the victim and then advocates for better local policy. Here's their word:
“We sincerely hope that the victim will be alright,” said Michael Kelley, BikeWalkKC’s policy manager. “We also hope the city will use this crash as an opportunity to look for ways to improve the built environment for vulnerable road users.”
You decide . . .
why wasn't he using a street with bike lanes? Seems to me that that bike lanes aren't making roads any safer. So why have them? There's a real need to rethink this plan.
ReplyDeleteThere's very little thinking going on with any city policy. Why should this be any different?
DeleteThink about it.
^^^^ +100
DeleteWe are now required to use a bike lane. And bike Lanes are not available on most streets where we need to go.
DeleteBikeWalkKC's "policy manager"?
ReplyDeleteHahahaha!!
Is "Critical Mass" the group that rides four abreast through the Northland to deliberately block traffic?
ReplyDeleteLet's have some statistics!
ReplyDeleteIs the active membership of Bike/"Walk" KC greater than the number of resident left-handed Bosnian immigrants who wear bifocals?
(My money's on the Middle Europeans.)
^^^^^
ReplyDelete@ 8:47 That's illegal. They are suppose to be single file. Call the police the next time you see this. And also lay on your horn!
Better yet, get off the sofa, and get some exercise.
DeleteWhat was the person wearing? Did the bike have lights? What lane were they riding in? It is time for them to have a license if they want to be on a multi lane road.
ReplyDeleteThe man died today. He was a good friend of mine. He always wore a helmet and used lights on his bike. Are you so threatened by bicyclist that you would demand barriers like li ences and insurence, etc, etc, or are you fat, lazy and jealous?
DeleteCarpet tacks work well. Bike fags.
ReplyDeleteOh, a homophobe showed up. I wonder what's on his computer. ( not out of the closet, but post anonymously)
DeleteRiding on Southwest Trafficway at midnight?
ReplyDeleteIf he's that stupid he's better off dead.
He was a good friend of mine, you anonymous coward. He had more balls than any of you chicken shots who make anynonymous post online
DeleteI would take some of these comments more seriously if the people who left them weren't a collection of fat, angry suburbanites who still drive station wagons.
ReplyDelete9:48 I’d take your comment more seriously if you weren’t so damn stupid.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s a station wagon?
9:48 how do you know how much they weigh or what they drive? I find you guilty of stupidity. Now...Shut The Fuck Up.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Pablo Sanders died today. He was a good friend to a lot of people. His family is in mourning. I don't know if you are fat, butI do know that you are a coward.
DeleteThe city put a 10-foot wide bike trail in front of my house near Swope Park. It really irks me when I still see these bicyclists still riding in the street when a trail has been provided for them. They do this in Johnson County too. I feel bad for the driver that hit this guy.
ReplyDeleteLet me take a wild guess... bicycle Bob wasn’t riding in the bike lanes?
ReplyDeleteHis name was Pablo. He was not riding on the Traffic Way. He was crossing on Valentine Road. No bike lane. He was legally riding on the city street.
DeleteBicycle, Southwest Boulevard, near midnight....what could go wrong ?
ReplyDeleteHe was riding on Valentine, and crossed South West TRAFFIC WAY,you troll.
Delete^^^ @8:52 Call the Police? In the Northland?
ReplyDeleteHell even on bicycles they'd be in Colorado by the time the Police arrived! This happens most frequently in Eric Bunch's District, so they're safe from any consequences anyway.
Hope he makes a full recovery from injuries.
ReplyDeleteAs radish did not witness it , no opinion on who is at fault.
Thoughts. Christmas Eve glorious weather Radish took two long training rides ... little traffic, best riding is to seek out lesser traffic streets ...
Never have participated in those critical mass rides. No interest in deliberate vexing motorists, riding three abreast, having some kind of silly chip on My shoulder about taking over streets, etc. groups like this make it harder for us to get around by bike. Whatever happened to “share the road.”
-Radish
8:58 and 9:12 It is too bad that your parents were able to "contribute" to the gene pool.
ReplyDelete^^^ The "Gene Pool"?
ReplyDeleteYou mean that thing all adult Bicyclists come from the shallow end of?
11:29- No the gene pool meaning its to bad that his parents were able to produce a knuckle dragging idiot.
ReplyDeleteBike Walk KC has no credibility. Everything they have done doesn't work for cyclist or car drivers. They do planning by an incestuous process of only listening to members of thier cult. They use false data, hate cars and then ride wherever want. Sorry this guy got injured, but what the.....?????
ReplyDeletePablo Sanders Jr. died today. The cowards who post anonymously can't even wait a day and let his body get cold. Pablo never had a harsh word for anyone. He had more courage than the anonymous trolls who post here.
ReplyDeleteHe was not riding on a bike lane because there are only a few bike lanes in town, and there wasn't one where he needed to go. Believe it or not, most cyclists you see out there on the streets are just trying to get someplace. We're not trying to inconvenience, annoy, or scare you. We're just doing our normal day-to-day stuff. Going to work, to school, to the store, or back home. He was heading home from a holiday party. He was literally blocks from his front door.
ReplyDeleteWould it be nice if there were bike lanes everywhere people wanted to go by bike? Hell yes, it would. But in the meantime, we're gonna ride where we're gonna go, bike lanes notwithstanding. Because most of us out there on two wheels are just trying to take care of business.