Too often, we get word that someone had been killed riding a bicycle, but struggle confirm the story.
This time, we have the opposite problem.
According to the Orange County Coroner’s office, a 31-year old man was killed when he was hit by the driver of a semi-truck in Garden Grove just before 6 pm last Friday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene ten minutes later.
Unfortunately, that’s all we know.
No location was given, other than some street, somewhere in Garden Grove. No word on how the crash happened or who was at fault.
And no name or city of residence was given for the victim; that much, at least, should eventually be provided once they notify his next of kin.
Hopefully, the press will finally get around to the story and give us a little more information.
This is at least the 78th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 13th that I’m aware of in Orange County.
The victim was also the third Orange County bike rider to be killed in the last three weeks, and the 11th SoCal bicyclist killed in what has been a very bloody holiday season.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
Somehow, we missed the news that an 87-year old man was killed while riding his bike in San Bernardino on Monday.
According to the San Bernardino Sun, the victim was critically injured while allegedly crossing an intersection against a red light at 4:16 Monday afternoon.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he died sometime later.
Reports indicate Moreno was riding through cross traffic when he was hit in the left lane on the four lane street; the driver claims he didn’t see him before the crash.
As always, the question is whether there were independent witnesses other than the driver who saw which direction had the right-of-way, or if there actually were other cars in the intersection.
It simply doesn’t make sense that an 87-year old man would blow a red light, especially with cross traffic flowing through the intersection, unless he was unable to stop for some reason.
But chances are, we’ll never know why this crash occurred, or if it really happened the way it’s been described.
Anyone with information is urged to call San Bernardino Police Detective Dan Costa or Sgt. Jeff Harvey at 909/384-5792.
This is at least the 77th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.
Nothing like marking the holidays with yet another fatal hit-and-run.
Even if officials are unlikely to call it that.
According to the Whittier Daily News, 64-year old Whittier resident Alfred Tiscareno Jr. was riding west on Whittier Blvd when he was struck by a driver near the onramp to the 605 Freeway in unincorporated LA County near Whittier, around 6:50 Monday evening.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.
There’s no explanation for how the crash occurred; hopefully, more details will be available after the holiday.
And even though he he failed to stop and render aid, as required by law — or presumably, even call 911 to report the crash — he probably never will be.
Especially since Bhakta is not believed to have been under the influence, which too often seems to be the only thing that matters.
The crash is still under investigation; anyone with information is urged to call CHP Officer G. De Luna at 562/868-0503.
December 24, 2019 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on Morning Links: Thanks for a successful fund drive, a perfect Peloton Wife sendup, and wide bike lanes on Forest Lawn
While we fell a little short of last year’s total, you helped set a new record for the most donations with 57.
So please accept my personal and heartfelt gratitude for each and every donation, regardless of size; $5 from someone struggling to give means every bit as much as a larger donation from someone more comfortable.
Your generosity will help fund this site for the next few months, while ensuring I can pay for the medications I need to keep working, and keep riding.
As usual, I’ll be taking off between the holidays to rest and recharge from the stress and carnage on our streets — unless there’s breaking news, of course.
So ride safely and defensively, and have a warm and happy holiday season. And we’ll see you back here after New Years.
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LA journalist Alissa Walker nails it with her response to the recent Peloton Wife ad, with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
Our fund drive may be over, but LA Streetsblog’s isn’t. And deserves your support, too. They were my university when I got started in advocacy, and taught me much of what I know about equity and Complete Streets.
The NYPD is belatedly cracking down on truck drivers, after four of the six pedestrians killed in collisions over a 48 hour period last week were killed in collisions with trucks. But if the victims had been riding bicycles, they’d be cracking down on the people on two wheels, instead.
Even though the US and Britain can’t even decide if she has diplomatic immunity.
Anne Sacoolas allegedly fled the scene after crashing into the 19-year old motorcyclist while driving on the wrong side of the road. Then promised to cooperate with investigators before fleeing the country under cover of darkness, claiming diplomatic immunity.
And has refused to return to the UK to face charges, despite still more promises to do so.
In other words, using her questionable immunity to avoid taking responsibility for killing a young man. And making her no better than any other hit-and-run driver.
Needless to say, our president has tried to turn the whole mess into a particularly messy episode of reality TV.
And written the whole thing off by saying “American drivers often get confused because motorists in Britain drive on the left side of the road.”
Thanks to John M, Tim Z, Robert L, Risers Music, John H, Anne K and Brian N for their very generous donations. In fact, we’ve already set a new record for the greatest number of donations, and we’re just a few hundred dollars short of our goal for this year.
So don’t let this last day — and the Corgi’s last days as this site’s official spokesdog — pass by unnoticed.
Wolfpack Hustle’s Don Ward, aka Roadblock, talks with vegan dietician, LA bike scene OG and founder of the famed Feel My Legs, I’m a Racer hillclimb Matt Ruscigno, as well as CD14 city council candidate Cyndi Otteson on this week’s Bike Talk podcast.
A new book tells the horrifying story of a Hawaiian woman who was apparently intentionally run down while riding her bike in 1991, then raped, beaten and murdered. Nearly a decade later, two men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison, though some still believe they’re innocent.
A coroner in the UK questions whether posted speed limits should apply to bicyclists, after a 79-year old man was killed when he stepped in front of a bike rider doing 38 in a 30 mph zone. Short answer, yes. Longer answer, absolutely. It’s up to you to ride safely when pedestrians are around. And your responsibility if you if you don’t.
December 20, 2019 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on Morning Links: Bike journalist Frank Berto dead at 90, BMC bike recall, and Pasadena hit-and-run vic needs your help
Just four days left in the 5th Annual BikinginLA Holiday Fund Drive! Donate today via PayPal, or with Zelle to ted @ bikinginla.com.
The bikes have been recalled for a possibly defective fork steerer tube that can fracture during use.
Definitely not a good thing.
………
A 9th grade Pasadena hit-and-run victim and his family need your help.
Angel Lopez, a 9th grade Pasadena student was struck by a hit & run driver while riding his bicycle on Nov 14, 2019. He's recovering in the hospital, but it's hurting his family financially. Please help Angel and his family during this difficult time. https://t.co/M29ZPhOsnqpic.twitter.com/zLAFqCAOuE
— Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition (@PasadenaCSC) December 20, 2019
If you still haven’t given to the BikinginLA Holiday Fund Drive, give me a little less, and send some of it his way.
It may not be a sleigh ride, but maybe a slow ride along the river will do.
Our friends @LARiverCEE are hosting the last Elysian Valley Slow Ride of the year! When: Saturday Dec 21, 2019 Time: Meet up at 10:00 am Where: La Colombe at the entrance to the path (Newell St at the LA River Path). For info & to RSVP: https://t.co/wLPkgZ07LI#bikeLApic.twitter.com/kfep2gPUDx
So don’t put it off any more. Donate today to help keep SoCal’s best source for bike news and advocacy coming your way every day.
Not to mention the occasional corgi pics as we say goodbye to our late, great fund drive spokesdog.
My heartfelt thanks to Gabrielle M and David S, and everyone else who shared their hard earned funds this year, for their generous contributions to help keep this fund drive going strong in its final days.
That new protected bike lane can’t come soon enough for a North Park bike shop, which lost an estimated $10,000 worth of bikes when it was burglarized for the second time this year.
Trump’s tariffs will mean higher prices for bikes this holiday season, but you can bypass the tariffs by ordering directly from a foreign site. Which kind of defeats the purpose of tariffs, doesn’t it?
Bike lawyer Bob Mionske is back with advice on what to do if you’re hit by an Uber or Lyft driver. My take — make sure whoever hits you has a passenger onboard or is on the way to pick one up, since liability coverage increases ten fold.
That’s right. Just five days left to show your support for SoCal’s best source for bike news and advocacy. Along with the late Corgi’s last days as spokesdog for this site.
A member of San Diego’s Mobility Board questions if the city is doing more harm than good by removing 430 parking spaces to make room for protected bike lanes in the North Park neighborhood. Short answer, no.
Nice story. When someone stole a bike belonging to a high school student in Half Moon Bay, he soon spotted someone riding it and confronted the thief, but decided to let him keep it because the other kid probably needed it more that he did. When the local sheriff’s department heard about it, they found an abandoned bike, refurbished it and gave it to him as a reward for his selfless act.
National
Unbelievable. Omaha, Nebraska ripped out a bike corral after the bike shop it fronted closed down, preferring to regain one lousy car parking space instead of parking for a dozen bicycles; bike riders tried to halt the removal by rushing to lock their bikes to the racks, but the city took them out anyway.
A somewhat strange New Hampshire letter writer says only give your wife a Peloton bike if you’re a man’s man; otherwise, be a girly man and go to a jewelry store.
A three-year old girl from the UK born with a severe birth defect is now walking and riding a bike, after doctors had given her zero chance of ever walking.
Life is cheap — and grossly unfair — in Australia, where a 20-year old Iranian refugee got just 10 months in a youth facility for falling asleep at the wheel and killing a 49-year old father riding his bike to work; his short sentence means he won’t be deported. His victim’s family won’t be so lucky; after losing their husband and father, they face deportation because they were in the country on his employment visa.
And if you’re using a distinctive pink and purple kid’s bike as your getaway vehicle following an armed robbery, you probably don’t want to ride it back past the scene of the crime a few minutes later.
This is at least the 75th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in San Bernardino County.
Update: The Victor Valley News has identified the victim as 50-year old Hesperia resident Armando Salinas.
The paper reports he was killed in a hit-and-run by the driver of a pickup traveling south on Seventh. Paramedics found his body lying in the southbound lane just below Cactus Street.
Anyone with information is urged to call Deputy D. Whitson or Deputy D. Caudle at the Hesperia Sheriff’s station at 760/947-1500.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the Armando Salinas and all his loved ones.
December 18, 2019 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on Morning Links: Two charged with Rancho Mirage street racing death, Peloton Wife gets a part, and someone stole an ELF
It’s the last six days of the 5th Annual BikinginLA Holiday Fund Drive! Donate today via PayPal, or with Zelle to ted @ bikinginla.com.
That’s going to be hard to sell. And harder still to break into parts at the local bike chop shop.
But at least an ELF is appropriate for this time of year.
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A London woman gets well-deserved revenge on an obnoxious van driver who harasses her — sexually and otherwise — and repeatedly reaches through his window to touch her as she’s on her bike.
I can’t bring myself to endorse violence or vandalism. But only a jury of obnoxious assholes like him would ever convict her.
Gothamisttells the stories of New York’s fallen bike riders, where 28 people have lost their lives simply for riding a bicycle, compared to just ten last year. Go ahead, tell me again how distracted drivers and massive SUVs aren’t making the streets more dangerous for everyone. Except the people in them.
Streetsblog complains that New York police caught the driver who allegedly fled the scene after killing professional wrestler Matt Travis as he rode his bike in Harlem earlier this year, but only charged him with minor traffic infractions.
You, too, could be the next editor of Road.cc and work in lovely Bath, England. Seriously, I loved that town, even if it was overrun with tourists. Like me.
Nice piece from Bicycling on American Shannon Galpin, who’s ready to move on to her next chapter after surviving blot clots in her brain, and the collapse of the Afghan women’s cycling team she helped found and fund.
Clearly, the best way to remove course tape in a ‘cross race is let someone else run into it — sets you free while taking taking out the competition. Without stopping, no less.
