The Real Issue: Letter to the Stranger
Dear Stranger:
Your recent article, "Collision Course" skirted the real issue by focusing on fixed-gear bikes. Bicyclists Bryce Lewis and Caleb Hall were struck by a dump truck which dragged them nearly 25 feet. Focusing on the bike type is like blaming a rape victim for wearing a short skirt.
Bryce Lewis was killed while riding in the bike lane on flat ground with dry pavement. The truck driver took a right turn directly into his path. We believe the focus should be on the negligence of the driver of a dangerous truck, not on the difficultly of learning to ride a fixed-gear bike.
The Seattle Municipal Code states “The operator of a motor vehicle shall not drive in a bicycle lane except to execute a turning maneuver, yielding to all persons riding bicycles thereon.” Had the truck driver followed the law, this tragedy would have been avoided.
Fixed-gear bikes can be ridden safely. Bryce Lewis was not "asking for it" by riding a fixie. In fact, Erica Barnett, the article author, now acknowledges that his bike had a front brake in addition to the direct braking inherent in a fixed-gear rear wheel. Apparently this fact was edited out of the story.
A clarification on the Stranger blog is not enough. An investigation into Seattle's many "trouble spots" such as the Eastlake corner would be a good start. Seattle claims to be bicycle friendly, but these claims are often inconsistent with reality. More bike riders means fewer drivers. This is good for everyone, so long as bicyclists' rights are respected. The Stranger should become part of the solution, not be part of the problem.
Niki Hurley, Mobius Cycle
Bob Anderton, Bike Lawyer
