Word is just coming in that a second Inland Empire bike rider has lost his life today, this time in Canyon Lake.
According to the Press-Enterprise, the victim was struck by a vehicle shortly before 10 am in the eastbound lanes of Railroad Canyon Road near Blackhorse Drive, a street described as a virtual freeway. A satellite view shows what appears to be a bike lane in both directions.
He died sometime later at a nearby hospital.
No other information is available at this time, including the name or any description of the victim.
This is the 35th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh already this year in Riverside County, compared to just two this time last year.
Update: The victim has been identified only as a man in his 60s.
Update 2: The Valley News identifies the still unnamed victim as a 61-year old Menifee resident, and places the location in Perris, on the 3100 block of Railroad Canyon Road. According to the paper, he was attempting to cross the eastbound lanes from the center median when he was struck by a car driven by a 21-year old Yucaipa resident.
A Riverside County Sheriff’s sergeant reports that the victim suffered major head trauma and internal injuries, despite wearing a helmet.
It’s important to note that while bike helmets can provide protection in solo falls and low speed impacts, they are not designed to protect against high speed collisions, and offer no protection against injuries to any other part of the body.
While I am a firm believer in helmet use, they should be considered a last line of defense. It’s far better to avoid collisions than to count on your helmet to protect you.
Update 3: The coroner’s office has identified the victim as 61-year old Conrad Pasco of Menifee.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for Conrad Pasco and his family.
Thanks to Zak for the heads-up.
Thanks for posting the photo of the road.
This is actually a critical road dilemma situation that we all find ourselves in if you cycle on the city streets.
I was studying your photo before the intersection and after the intersection.
I don’t bike ride in the area of this fatality, but I do in the OC and the OC has a lot of these bike-lane configurations and I hate them–they have a high level of danger to them.
Here is why:
The cyclist can be properly on the right shoulder bike lane and then there is a car`right hand turn lane casting the cyclist out into traffic when the bike lane continues to the left of the right hand turn lane. Cars wishing to exit who are not paying attention can collide with a cyclist because the cyclist heading straight will be crossing in front of exiting cars in order to stay in the bike lane.
Who is supposed to yield to who?
Then on the other side of the intersection in your photo, there is an on-right hand turn lane and the cyclist needs to watch for cars entering the roadway, then the cyclist needs to return to the right shoulder bike lane.
Again, who is suppose to what for who?
Too many opportunities for danger to the cyclist in a short period from cars exiting and entering the roadway.
Wish there was better traffic engineering–it’s defective in my opinion but probably the best they could configure.
You will find these a lot in OC and Santa Monica Blvd in West LA has a couple.
What is needed are clear signs that say: “Cars yield to bikes” or vice versa so everyone is clear.
I always yield to the cars in this situation, bc I don’t know if they know the rules.