TODAY: Bicycle ride in memory of Georgetown crash victim

| Georgetown | Safety | West Seattle news

(SPD photo, March 24th)

The West Seattle Bridge closure detours have linked the peninsula and Duwamish Valley communities – South Park, Georgetown – more closely than ever. Two weeks ago, we reported on a deadly crash in Georgetown, in which a 54-year-old man riding a bicycle was hit and killed by a semi-truck driver. Today community members are organizing a ride in the victim’s memory. From the announcement:

Georgetown residents have organized a Community Ride “Critical Mass” bike ride event, (after a) vehicle-related fatality which took place March 24th. The meetup is at 4:00 pm, Friday, April 9th, in the parking lot of the Georgetown Campus of South Seattle College, 6737 Corson Ave S. This event will be a legal and peaceful 1 1/2-hour ride on public streets, highlighting the dangers of biking in the Georgetown neighborhood.

The event organizers aim to:

–Remind drivers in an area of both heavy vehicles and heavy traffic that they need to share the road;

–Remind the city and the community that biking in and through Georgetown is dangerous and scary

–Ask city leaders that Georgetown improvements are prioritized and centered for bike infrastructure, especially as we experience West Seattle Bridge detour traffic

–Create a safe space to bike in and around our community

The ride was announced at two local meetings in the past three days – District 1 Community Network on Wednesday and West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force on Thursday, which also had a moment of silence both for the victim in this crash and for the scooter rider killed on Beach Drive last week.

dunnkld April 10, 2021 (12:08 pm)

However this collision happened (investigation pending), it seems the truck driver did not see the cyclist. If the driver was not inattentive, then the cyclist must have been in their blind spot. How is it that there is a law against biking without a helmet in this county, but vehicles are allowed on the streets without equipment to eliminate blind spots? I am not opposed to the helmet law, but the disparity in the way laws are applied to vehicle drivers versus vulnerable street users is a gross injustice. To be safe, people walking and biking are forced to try to stay far away from trucks. I tweeted Secretary Pete that we need better safety features on large vehicles.

Spoked April 10, 2021 (1:53 pm)

Helmets are way overestimated in their protectiveness, by drivers and cyclists too.

The reality is, it might not do much for you if you are hit by a car.

Might help you if you have a minor bike accident AND are wearing a properly well fitting helmet, AND you’re lucky enough that the helmet doesn’t kill you by causing a concussion.

A helmet is essentially a piece of styrofoam and plastic that might protect a very small area of your body. The rest of you is still very vulnerable to injury, including life altering and threatening injuries.

Motorists like to hyper focus on the helmet issue and criticize cyclists who don’t wear one, because it makes them feel less culpable for their responsibility to not hit us.

Bikes make drivers nervous, and impatient. It takes focus and responsibility to make sure you look out, slow down, and share the road safely.

Helmets are of much less safety significance than… safer roads, responsible car drivers who share the road, and attentive/experienced bike riding – which takes a little time – so motorists, please share the road safely and give us a break.

Bicyclists aren’t out there to be in your way. We are trying to get somewhere and have a right to the road, too. We just choose a different vehicle, and, many don’t have another choice but to bike.

Next time you see someone on a bike not wearing a helmet, ask yourself why you aren’t wearing one, as a driver or pedestrian. Believe it or not, your noggin is just as important AND at risk in an accident.
Spoked April 10, 2021 (3:13 pm)

Commentary on helmets and safety…

Helmets are unfortunately overestimated in their protectiveness, by drivers, and cyclists too.The reality is, it might not do much for you if you are hit by a car.

Might help if you have a minor bike accident and are wearing a properly well fitting helmet, and the helmet doesn’t kill you by causing a concussion.

A helmet is essentially a piece of styrofoam and plastic that might protect a very small area of your body. The rest of you is still very vulnerable to injury, including life altering and threatening injuries.

Some motorists focus on the helmet issue and criticize cyclists, even shout at riders who don’t wear one, maybe subconsciously it makes them feel less culpable for their responsibility to not hit bike riders. It takes focus and responsibility to make sure you look out, slow down, and share the road safely.

Helmets should be of much less safety significance than… safer roads, responsible car drivers who share the road, and attentive/experienced/skilled bike riding.Bicyclists aren’t out there to be in your way. We are trying to get somewhere and have a right to the road, too. We just choose a different vehicle, and, many don’t have another choice but to bike.

Please share the road safely and give bicyclists a break. And, keep in mind, it could be someones first day/week/month learning to navigate the roads on a bike.