Comments on: Who’s to blame for the biker’s death?

By: PL

PL — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:51:58 +0000

I say blame Club Space for selling drinks and drugs (booze) to kids. It is inevitable Club Space’s customers will kill bikers.

By: @j2dahizzay

@j2dahizzay — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:59:43 +0000

I agree Eddy.. it is without a doubt the drivers education that kill cyclists. The driver in this case, which is so aggravating, should not have been allowed to be in a car. Otherwise, it is less about separation and more of a need for education. Portland, Long Beach, Copenhagen, are all examples of how we exist peacefully using the roads provided.
The title of this article is easy..Carlos.. Let’s not forget HE is the one on trial. Lack of traffic enforcement and emergency care did not help. But let’s not pass the buck. DMV should have revoked this kids license a long time ago. PERIOD.
Club Space should be fined for over serving. 24 hour alcohol license? Sure just take the keys of every patron and provide a free shuttle service at a fee. Who does this serve, really? Partying at 8am? is that necessary? So many other options to keep drunks off the road. But still not to blame.
Putting a wall so speeding cyclists who train for triathlons in the same confined space as a grandma walking a poodle is not a solution. 30 miles an hour speed limit with police presence on high traffic spans for a limited part of weekend mornings is a great short term solution. I like the closing of right lanes on either side as well. And if your in rush to go to church on Sunday morning than God will forgive you if your late, just don’t hit somebody.
For me I don’t trust Miami drivers and to enjoy my active lifestyle I have moved from South Florida and live in a much more friendly town. Until you guys get with it and keep criminal’s off the street, This will continue. I would suggest controlled rides with police escorts as your main objective. I know it’s not the freedom you would imagine for yourself, but you have a corrupt legislative community down there. Illegals with false papers and licenses litter the roads. Criminals out on bail on the road. Tourists in rental cars on the road. I would not subject myself to that mayhem ever. Come North to train. Pick up and straight up leave down there. As long as Miami values money more than human lives that town is doomed. If enough of you leave and Miami gets hit in the pocket from all your tax dollars, they are not going to budge. Take your fund raisers, take your celebrity Tri-events, take all that makes Miami hip and move it else where. Get the city’s attention and I suppose something may just happen. I pray for you all everyday. I really hope it gets better. I miss South Florida. I just won’t bike there anytime soon.

By: MrSunshine561

MrSunshine561 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:20:11 +0000

It won’t make justice for the dead and injured to point the finger at one single cause for the problem. The Rickenbacker presents multiple challenges, all of which contributed in this particular case. Trying to simplify or steer public opinion toward one cause undermines the other challenges which must also be addressed.

An all-inclusive approach would be most beneficial. But let’s not be shocked if in typical Miami fashion, our politicians decide to bring the barrier out a few feet (enclosing everyone including racers, recreational cyclists, runners, skaters, pedestrians, etc. into a narrow path of chaos) just to appease those advocating for separation… Just to throw a little something at the cyclists, until the next accident occurs.

Even if the barrier went up, how would that bring a positive, tangible change for users of other causeways or regular streets? Next thing we know, we’ll be yelled at to get off the street and go to the Rickenbacker.

While the Rickenbacker was the scene of the latest tragedy and must be fixed for the safety of all its users, let’s not lose sight of the big picture. It was poor attitude, apathy and careless driving -all stemming from sucky driver education- which ultimately killed Christophe LeCanne, Rodolfo Rojo, Yasmany Alfonso and everyone before them.

Somehow, I don’t see how the barrier will contribute to change that.

Eddy.

By: L Brody

L Brody — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:13:24 +0000

I nominate Club Space as the reason a biker was killed. Didn’t the guy who killed the biker spend his morning drinking and doing who knows what at Club Space? Why is that place still open?

By: bikes are traffic

bikes are traffic — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:40:04 +0000

No Barricades for bikes! Bikes are traffic! The outer shoulder/ bike lane could be made larger as the speeds increase such as Rickenbacker but this is not Miami Avenue in a city, its a causeway. I wish we had bike lanes on the other causeways in Miami-Dade County.

By: To be honest though, some of these bike-haters have a point « BikingInLA

To be honest though, some of these bike-haters have a point « BikingInLA — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:55:08 +0000

[...] but why so few women ride. Riding Miami’s life-risking Rickenbaker Causeway, two weeks after another rider is killed; and who is to blame. Are bikes expensive toys or serious transportation? A Kiwi Olympian is [...]

By: Felipe Azenha

Felipe Azenha — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:42:16 +0000

I posted the above comment. Tks.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:41:38 +0000

I would not be against a protected bicycle lane if the bicycle lane was at least a 12ft wide. (Imagine a 12ft bicycle greenway connecting our parks). Anything less than 12ft would make it too dangerous for bicyclists. That being said reducing speed limits and enforcement will not solve our problems either. They are important and necessary steps to addressing the problem, but as long as we have a road designed to induce speed, the speeding will continue, particularly on the bridges. Some sort of protection should be considered for the bridges.

By: Grayson Peddie

Grayson Peddie — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:27:15 +0000

True. We don’t need anything barricaded for bicyclists.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:25:15 +0000

Brody,

If the Rickenbacker is unsafe, then measures should be taken to make it safer. The most effective way of doing that is to reduce speed limits, and enforce the laws on the books. More barricading is not the solution, greater awareness and respect for all those using the infrastructure that everyone pays for through taxes for is.