Another bike hit by a car

**Katman** · 10th December 2009, 13:49

Originally Posted by riffer

DomPost reports car was at fault:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3148...fter-collision

Really?

I don't see any apportioning of blame in that article.

Was the motorcyclist in the cycle lane legally? Was he overtaking (undertaking) the vehicle at the time?

**riffer** · 10th December 2009, 14:01

Originally Posted by Katman

Really?

I don't see any apportioning of blame in that article.

Was the motorcyclist in the cycle lane legally? Was he overtaking (undertaking) the vehicle at the time?

Yeah possibly Steve, but most people read "hit by car" as assigning blame to the car.

**meowmix** · 10th December 2009, 14:39

Originally Posted by Katman

Really?

I don't see any apportioning of blame in that article.

Was the motorcyclist in the cycle lane legally? Was he overtaking (undertaking) the vehicle at the time?

I may have exaggerated for dramatic effect. The motorcyclist may have been in an illegal position, but as others have pointed out, it could have been a cyclist just as easily. The car driver's lack of attention in this respect caused the incident; had they payed attention (and they should have to avoid hitting cyclists), the incident would not have happened.
It is easy to lawyer the motorcyclist as the one to blame, but the fact remains.

**YellowDog** · 10th December 2009, 14:46

None of us know what happened and thew Police are appealing for witnesses.

All I would say is that the guy was 59 years old and not a stupid kid.

Whilst that doesn't mean he wasn't a manic 'Born Again' his age indicates that he may have had an idea as to how to ride responsibly.

The other factor is that whilst you can easlily you hurt, you generally don't loose your life whilst riding through traffic.

**wbks** · 10th December 2009, 14:46

If a dude gets hit by a car it always seems to be that he was travelling 3km/h faster than legal, or not wearing visible enough gear, or not riding outside of the drivers blind spots... God forbid any fuckwit that happens to be driving should check their mirrors and blindspots before turning, rather than assuming nothing is there because it didn't tap them on the head and say hello

**Kiwi B** · 10th December 2009, 14:52

I really feel for this guys family - I have been there and done that but very very luckily walked away (well was carried away in a stretcher) with a broken leg, concussion and some nasty cuts. The car driver turned into a road through a gap in the traffic in the next lane and the rest is head on and history - I was young and not a very defensive rider. The driver didn't even look (according to witnesses) and was charged with careless driving causing injury - I got off with 4 months in plaster.

Too often car drivers are not paying attention to their surroundings - there is no excuse for hitting someone even if they are in the wrong. I tell you what, surviving a crash like that has made me a very defensive rider

Lesson learned: never trust that some moron won't try to run the gap even if you are in flowing traffic.

**Katman** · 10th December 2009, 15:00

Originally Posted by wbks

If a dude gets hit by a car it always seems to be that he was travelling 3km/h faster than legal, or not wearing visible enough gear, or not riding outside of the drivers blind spots... God forbid any fuckwit that happens to be driving should check their mirrors and blindspots before turning, rather than assuming nothing is there because it didn't tap them on the head and say hello

Doesn't change the fact that it appears to be an accident that could very easily have been avoided with better management on the motorcyclists part.

**YellowDog** · 10th December 2009, 15:07

Originally Posted by Kiwi B

I really feel for this guys family - I have been there and done that but very very luckily walked away (well was carried away in a stretcher) with a broken leg, concussion and some nasty cuts. The car driver turned into a road through a gap in the traffic in the next lane and the rest is head on and history - I was young and not a very defensive rider. The driver didn't even look (according to witnesses) and was charged with careless driving causing injury - I got off with 4 months in plaster.

Too often car drivers are not paying attention to their surroundings - there is no excuse for hitting someone even if they are in the wrong. I tell you what, surviving a crash like that has made me a very defensive rider

Lesson learned: never trust that some moron won't try to run the gap even if you are in flowing traffic.

Good post.

It's the reality of riding that the inexperienced need to learn from before it happen to them.

**wbks** · 10th December 2009, 15:09

Originally Posted by Katman

Doesn't change the fact that it appears to be an accident that could very easily have been avoided with better management on the motorcyclists part.

Yes of course, it would be stupid to deny that, but I was just saying that I hate how no mater the circumstances the motorcyclist is always at fault. If not stated directly, then through word selection i.e his motorcycle hit a car. The stuff.co.nz link was the only article I can remember reading, even if the car was clearly at fault, where it didn't state "motorcycle crashed into car" etc. Surely the car driver was somewhat involved by turning into his path...

**Ronin** · 10th December 2009, 15:22

Originally Posted by Katman

Doesn't change the fact that it appears to be an accident that could very easily have been avoided with better management on the motorcyclists part.

Or the drivers, or if his family had talked to him for 5 minutes longer.....

you can be such a troll.

**Katman** · 10th December 2009, 15:35

Originally Posted by Ronin

Or the drivers, or if his family had talked to him for 5 minutes longer.....

you can be such a troll.

I'm curious to know why you'd think my post was trolling.

The reality is that being in the right or wrong means nothing once you're dead.

**Ronin** · 10th December 2009, 15:46

Originally Posted by Katman

I'm curious to know why you'd think my post was trolling.

The reality is that being in the right or wrong means nothing once you're dead.

Because you made this statement knowing that it is inflamatory. Knowing you would get a bite.

The reality is that it matters greatly to his family and if I am correct, site rules are quite firm about bike down threads and apportioning blame.

**The Everlasting** · 10th December 2009, 16:02

Not good.

I sometimes use the cycle lanes,but upon reading this I'll stay away!!

**Guzza** · 10th December 2009, 16:09

The victim may have been riding a scooter. Neither article suggested he shouldn't have been in the cycle lane.

In regard to what can and cant be said in the forums about accidents; In the climbing community websites, accidents are dissected and debated to the nth degree. There are lessons to be learned with every accident, regardless who is to blame. The reading may get repetitive but that may be what it takes for the message to sink in for some people.