Martha is right Speed is often a factor. I remember when I first
moved to Albuquerque that everyone was passing me and the actual traffic
speed seemed to be about 5 to 10 MPH ABOVE the posted speed limit.
I live on a collector street with a 30 MPH posted speed. We often ask
police to bring their radar gun and increase the cities coffers. They
always do.
We don't know one way or the other if speed was a factor in the
latest cycling death, I like Martha bet it was.
Here is info from the web site Martha refers to.
Consider this example: a pedestrian walks out in
front of a car. If the car is traveling at just 30 mph, and the driver
brakes when the pedestrian is 45 feet away, there will be enough space in
which to stop without hitting the pedestrian. Increase the vehicle speed
by just 5 mph and the situation changes dramatically. At 35 mph, with the
pedestrian 45 feet away and the driver braking at the same point, the car
will be traveling at 18 mph when it hits the pedestrian. An impact at 18
mph can seriously injure or even kill the pedestrian.
--- On Fri, 3/13/09, Martha Hardman <MH at FBDLAW dot com> wrote:
From: Martha Hardman <MH at FBDLAW dot com>
Subject: RE: Cyclist death in Albq.
To: blacktiebicyclist at yahoo dot com, "Clay Davis" <cmdavis at lanl dot gov>, "Khalil Spencer" <khalil at losalamos dot com>, "Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT" <TomP dot Trowbridge at state dot nm dot us>, "Khalil J. Spencer" <spencerk at lanl dot gov>, bikefed at aol dot com, "Theresa Cull" <tcull at lanl dot gov>, board at bikeabq dot org, "Witter, Trina" <trina at solsurvival dot com>, andy at bikeleague dot org
Cc: "BikeABQ BikeABQ" <bikeabq at yahoogroups dot com>, "NM LCI Group" <nmlci at woozle dot org>, "Preston Tyree" <preston at bikeleague dot org>
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 11:02 AM
So...a car shouldn't try to cross a street from a side street? Really? This article is indistinct in what the cyclist was trying to do, but it wouldn't surprise me if the car that hit the cyclist was exceeding the speed limit as well--judging from the statements of Mr. Sanchez, who said "people were ignoring the speed limit..."People don't realize it, but excessive speed is the cause of a LOT of accidents that could have been avoided, had the posted speed limit been observed.Here's a link for your reading pleasure:
From: Black Tie Bicyclist [mailto:blacktiebicyclist at yahoo dot com]
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 10:43 AM
To: Clay Davis; Khalil Spencer; Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT; Khalil J. Spencer; bikefed at aol dot com; Theresa Cull; board at bikeabq dot org; Witter, Trina; andy at bikeleague dot org; Martha Hardman
Cc: BikeABQ BikeABQ; NM LCI Group; Preston Tyree
Subject: Re: Cyclist death in Albq.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fatal Hit-Run Scene 'Chaos'
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
Beverly Towne rushed over to help Ronald Hargrove after he was hit by a car while riding his bike.
Moments later, a second vehicle hit both of them.
Hargrove died, and Towne was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for broken ribs and a bruised hip.
Now, police are looking for the driver of the first vehicle, which sped off after hitting Hargrove.
"We don't know why he left the scene," Albuquerque police spokeswoman Nadine Hamby said. "Absolutely, if we find (him), he could be charged."
According to police, as Hargrove, 45, was riding his bike about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday and attempting to cross Zuni near Pennsylvania, he was struck by a dark gray Honda Civic traveling west. The vehicle didn't stop, even though, police say, Hargrove may have been at fault.
Towne, 35, and her fiance, Daniel Sanchez, 32, were driving on Zuni and saw sparks fly in the air as the bike "cartwheeled" when it slammed to the pavement.
"He went head over heels and rolled," Sanchez said in an interview. "He was thrown like a rag doll."
The two quickly rushed to Hargrove, who was lying in the middle of traffic. His bike was several yards away.
Towne, who had once studied to be a nurse, attempted to help him while Sanchez tried to divert traffic.
"People were ignoring the speed limit, swerving around us like nothing happened," Sanchez said. "You would think they would have stopped."
Hargrove was awake and kept thanking Towne, Sanchez said.
Suddenly, a Cadillac driven by Daryl Wilson, 56, hit both of them.
The Cadillac ran over Hargrove's head, then struck Towne, who was kneeling and taking Hargrove's pulse. Towne was thrown about 15 feet into oncoming traffic.
Sanchez quickly rushed to help her, stepping in front of a pickup that almost hit her.
"That area is just bad," he said. "It is complete chaos. Everyone disregarded the speed, and no one bothered to stop and help."
Wilson stopped after hitting Hargrove and Towne and told police he didn't see the two in the middle of the road.
Wilson has not been cited.
--- On Fri, 3/13/09, Martha Hardman <MH at FBDLAW dot com> wrote:From: Martha Hardman <MH at FBDLAW dot com>
Subject: Cyclist death in Albq.
To: "Clay Davis" <cmdavis at lanl dot gov>, "Khalil Spencer" <khalil at losalamos dot com>, "Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT" <TomP dot Trowbridge at state dot nm dot us>, "Khalil J. Spencer" <spencerk at lanl dot gov>, bikefed at aol dot com, "Theresa Cull" <tcull at lanl dot gov>, board at bikeabq dot org, "Witter, Trina" <trina at solsurvival dot com>, andy at bikeleague dot org
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 10:07 AMRead about it in today's Journal. I would link, but it requires payment. Based on the reporting in the Journal, the cops seem to have already decided the cyclist was at fault. The APD spokesperson is quoted as saying they don't know why the driver left, but IF they catch him or her, he or she COULD be charged." Could be charged. How is that possible? The statute is pretty straightforward: if you leave the scene of an accident (in which you were involved) with injuries or fatalities, it is a fourth degree felony. There is no provision exempting drivers if they happen to hit cyclists or pedestrians. It really does seem that the police just don't give a crap if a pedestrian or cyclist is hit and killed. -----Original Message----- From: Clay Davis [mailto:cmdavis at lanl dot gov] Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 7:04 AM To: Khalil Spencer; Diane Albert; 'Diane Albert'; 'Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT'; 'Khalil J. Spencer'; bikefed at aol dot com; 'Theresa Cull'; Martha Hardman; board at bikeabq dot org; 'Witter, Trina'; andy at bikeleague dot org Subject: RE: Santa Fe to add red light cameras Bad news folks, last night evidently there was a fatal hit and run vehicle vs. bike in ABQ. While we have had a good time discussing the pros and cons of red light cameras the death toll marches on. Aside a fundamental change in our culture and in ourselves we face continued challenges to our freedoms as imposed "solutions" become ever more grim. Clay At 08:47 PM 3/12/2009 -0600, Khalil Spencer wrote: >If its unconstitutional, then a court should say so. Sixth Amendment >says you have the right to face your accusers, but also applies it to a >criminal prosecution. Is there case law that expands that to a traffic >violation and an administrative process? My understanding is that >Albuquerque and other municipalities skirted that requirement. > >Who represents the 40,000 people who are killed every year on our >roads, most by traffic violators? > > > >At 07:16 PM 3/12/2009, Diane Albert wrote: >>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2187434/posts >> >> >>So Khal, you don't think it's important to be able to face your >>accuser in court? That's why these are unconstitional. >> >>Also, with the ABQ red (s)camera program, you don't contest the fine >>in a court of law, it's an administrative process, and it's toally >>stacked against any plaintiff. >> >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Khalil [mailto:khalil at losalamos dot com] >>Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 4:45 PM >>To: Diane Albert; Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT; Khalil J. Spencer; >>bikefed at aol dot com; Theresa Cull; clay Davis; DAHome; MH at FBDLAW dot com; >>board at bikeabq dot org; Witter, Trina; andy at bikeleague dot org >>Subject: RE: Santa Fe to add red light cameras >> >> I've not heard that these have been removed anywhere on >>Constitutional grounds. What would be the grounds? >> >>Will be nice to get enough cities to do this for a while and then have >>enough data to actually assert if they work or not. >> >>Khal >> >>-----Original message----- >>From: "Diane Albert" DAlbert at peacocklaw dot com >>Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:29:53 -0700 >>To: "Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT" TomP dot Trowbridge at state dot nm dot us >>Subject: RE: Santa Fe to add red light cameras >> >> > I hate these things. They are unconstitutional. >> > >> > >> > >> > ________________________________________________________ >> > >> > >> > >> > Diane E. Albert, Ph.D., J.D. >> > >> > Peacock Myers, P.C. >> > >> > 201 Third St NW, Suite 1340, >> > >> > Albuquerque, NM 87102 >> > >> > >> > >> > (http://www.PeacockLaw.com <blocked::http://www.peacocklaw.com/> ) >> > >> > voice: (505) 998-6145; fax: (505) 243-2542 >> > >> > email: DAlbert at PeacockLaw dot com >> > >> > >> > >> > NOTE -- ************************************************ >> > >> > The attorney-client privilege and/or the attorney work product >> > doctrine apply to this communication, including all attachments hereto. >> > Furthermore, this communication is confidential and intended only >> > for the named recipient(s). If you are not a named recipient, >> > please delete this communication and notify sender. >> > >> > >> > >> > ________________________________ >> > >> > From: Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT [mailto:TomP dot Trowbridge at state dot nm dot us] >> > Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 1:27 PM >> > To: Khalil J. Spencer; bikefed at aol dot com; Theresa Cull; clay Davis; >> > DAHome; MH at FBDLAW dot com; board at bikeabq dot org; Witter, Trina; Khalil >> > Spencer; Diane Albert; andy at bikeleague dot org >> > Subject: RE: Santa Fe to add red light cameras >> > >> > >> > >> > About time, in my humble opinion. I see so, so many red-light >> > runners here that hopefully this will get the violators' attention. >> > >> > Tom >> > >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Khalil J. Spencer [mailto:spencerk at lanl dot gov] >> > Sent: Thu 3/12/2009 12:58 PM >> > To: bikefed at aol dot com; Theresa Cull; clay Davis; Diane Albert; >> > spencerk at lanl dot gov; MH at FBDLAW dot com; board at bikeabq dot org; Witter, Trina; >> > Trowbridge, Tom P, NMDOT; Khalil Spencer; dalbert at peacocklaw dot com; >> > andy at bikeleague dot org >> > Subject: Santa Fe to add red light cameras >> > >> > Smile, you are on red light camera! >> > >> > http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Council-OKs-red-light >> > -came >> > ras >> > >> > Khalil J. Spencer >> > Chemistry Division, Analytical Chemistry Group Team Leader, Mass >> > Spectrometry Los Alamos National Laboratory P.O. Box 1663, MS G740 >> > Los Alamos, NM 87545 >> > 505-665-2418 >> > fax 505-665-4737 >> > spencerk at lanl dot gov >> > >> > >> > ___________________________________________________________________ >> > ___ This inbound email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email >> > Security System. >> > ___________________________________________________________________ >> > ___ >> > >> > >> > >> > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and >> > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom >> > they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please >> > notify the system manager. This message contains confidential >> > information and is intended only for the individual named. If you >> > are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. >> > >> > > >Khalil J. Spencer >1799 Camino Uva >Los Alamos, NM 87544 >505-661-8141 >LAB Cycling Instructor #1173 >http://www.labikes.blogspot.com > Clay M. Davis CIH, CSP DDL IHS - DO 505-665-9225 wire 505-231-5597 cell t