[CTD50]

A cyclist in Miami was plowed on the causeway down there, left for dead, while the bike was dragged by the car; some say a few blocks, others say 4 miles. The driver was drunk, a habitual scofflaw, and not even a citizen! The cyclist died at the scene. There was a delay of 22-30 minutes before EMS showed up (inexcusable, delay because of jurisdictional questions!).

Another rider, near retirement age, was gunned down in Vegas while on an evening ride. 4 shots. No amplfying information at my last check.

Another older man was killed in SoCal by a truck. Again, no cause, no reason for him to die. Just careless, inattentive driver.

For all of our moral victories -- the CA ER doc, the 3rd win in court in Ohio, the Commuter Credit, etc., we still have targets on our backs, placed there by drivers turning their heads and eyes away from their overriding responsibility.

Maybe, come summer, a few idiots will get headslapped while they text behind the wheel....

 

[Industry_Hack]

When you say "not a citizen", do you mean illegal immigrant, or resident alien?

 

[CTD50]

Hack, I'm guessing resident alien, he's facing deportation after being here with full official knowledge for over a decade.

Ian, you just read War & Peace between the lines there. And since I have more time in the saddle than you do in the world, I'm not inclined to accept your 'admonition' about 'not good thinking.'

 

[Industry_Hack]

Hack, I'm guessing resident alien, he's facing deportation after being here with full official knowledge for over a decade.

I spent over $15k bringing in my resident aliens, (Aussies) and my reward for doing the right thing was to be in a car accident with illegal aliens.

 

[Xela]

Come on, guys. Obviously we don't expect everyone to agree about everything (would probably be a pretty boring place if that was true), but let's not resort to personal attacks and insults.

 

[TxCyclist]

Please keep the personal banter out of threads and in PM's. Also in general please no personal attacks anywhere on the forum, even in PM.

It seems to be that more and more cyclists are getting killed then before. Either it's the media reporting them more often or the sport becoming more popular and thus more on the road or I guess drivers are getting worse.

 

[Industry_Hack]

Do not guess in situations like this, it doesn't matter if he was citizen or resident illegal that's another story. So you mean If he was citizen it's ok? he should go to jail to pay for the tragedy he caused and get deported if he wasn't citizen. That's all

It's a lose/lose either way, if he's not a citizen. It's not fair that the US has to incur the costs associated with incarcerating another country's criminals, but if they send him back, he'll probably just sneak over again.

 

[funetical]

He will definitely. I don't understand why we don't incarcerate them here .

 

[Industry_Hack]

He will definitely. I don't understand why we don't incarcerate them here .

That would cost taxpayers roughly $40k/year. For someone who never paid taxes, broke the law, and should not be in this country.

I'm all for legal immigration. I've been an immigrant myself in another country. But I did it right, and met all the legal requirements. And in the back of my mind, there was always the knowledge that I could be sent back to my country of origin. That doesn't seem to be a concern for illegal immigrants. The guy that hit us got a ticket for a moving violation, when it should have been a one way bus ticket.

 

[funetical]

So they can use the same money on fighting a losing border war but not to incarcerate the prisoners of that war? That don't make no sense.

 

[Industry_Hack]

They need to legalize marijuana, and stop throwing money at that war. Then they need to make legal immigration easier, while cracking down harder on individuals/companies hiring illegal aliens. And people need to accept that if they don't want immigrants coming and taking the crappy jobs in the US, they should be prepared to pay more for a head of lettuce and a clean toilet.

 

[funetical]

Here here! Don't disagree with a word of what you said. In an industry with dropping wages due in part to illegal immigration I beg people to pay a little more so I can feed my family. We can't all live above the poverty line but I cook your food. You would think you would want me taken care of. You do put this stuff in your body. Demand to know where it comes from and how it's being prepared and who's preparing it.

 

[Industry_Hack]

Here here! Don't disagree with a word of what you said. In an industry with dropping wages due in part to illegal immigration I beg people to pay a little more so I can feed my family. We can't all live above the poverty line but I cook your food. You would think you would want me taken care of. You do put this stuff in your body. Demand to know where it comes from and how it's being prepared and who's preparing it.

At which McDonalds do you work?

 

[funetical]

Harsh... I'm the Kitchen Manager for a Local Quasi Italian place. I have an education and everything. Thanks.

 

[CTD50]

OK, guys, a bit back OT....

The Miami hit&run 'specialist' is Carlos Bertonatti, and from what I was able to discover, he has a recording contract with Sony. He's described as a 'John Mayer-like artist'. He's also got a vehicular infraction record as long as the last State of the Union address.

OK, I do have to amend what I said earlier; the truck accident victim was in a crosswalk when the truck hit him. Pretty much his own fault, but he still didn't need to DIE.

Now I can't find the info on the Vegas shooting -- must be going blind. But I do remember the rider being a well-liked 59-y-o. Somebody said it was just random....

Sad state of affairs.

 

[Industry_Hack]

Harsh... I'm the Kitchen Manager for a Local Quasi Italian place. I have an education and everything. Thanks.

Fazoli's?

 

[funetical]

No local. I'm not saying. I put it some where on the internet once and some one came up there to eat. I don't know if they were expecting to eat for free or what but it was awkward. They also tipped poorly, so the waitress though it was my fault due to fact they were my "friends".

CTD50: I agree with you halfheartedly. I think some of the cases last year are definitely cycling advocacy issues that need to be addressed. At the same time I see a lot of them as wrong place wrong time with the cycle either not directly involved or involved in an asinine way like the shooting. I do mourn for all those who have lost some one due to the negligence of others. It's not easy to think you lost some one because the offending party wasn't paying attention. Unfortunately though that's how it is more often than not. We are a neglectful self involved species.

 

[ruggedscotsman]

They need to legalize marijuana, and stop throwing money at that war. .....

you had me at hello.

 

[Industry_Hack]

you had me at hello.

Sadly, my state will be the last to decriminalize it.

 

[funetical]

Sadly, my state will be the last to decriminalize it.

Maybe not. If it gets decriminalized on the national level it may not be worth the time to prosecute. I love being in Austin "No Body Cares, Mind your own Business" Texas.