Cyclist killed by truck on San Pablo in Oakland (warning: graphic photo)

Why are we so worried about terrorism when so many more people are dying on our highways?
By By Gregg Easterbrook
August 5, 2007

Suppose 245,000 americans had died in terrorist attacks since Sept. 11, 2001. The United States would be beside itself, utterly gripped by a sense of national emergency. Political leaders would speak of nothing else, the United States military would stand at maximum readiness, and the White House would vow not to rest until the danger to Americans had been utterly eradicated.

Yet 245,000 Americans have died because of one specific threat since 9/11, and no one seems to care. While the tragedy of 3,000 lives lost on 9/11 has justified two wars, in which thousands of U.S. soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, the tragedy of 245,000 lives lost in traffic accidents on the nation's roads during the same period has justified . . . pretty much no response at all. Terrorism is on the front page day in and day out, but the media rarely even mention road deaths. A few days ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that 42,642 Americans died in traffic in 2006. Did you hear this reported anywhere?

This phenomenon is not just American, it is global. Traffic deaths are the fastest-rising cause of death in the world. Yet you've heard far more about H5N1 avian influenza, which has killed 192 people worldwide since being detected five years ago, than about the 6 million people who have died in traffic accidents in the same period. Last year alone, 1.2 million people were killed on the world's roads, versus about 100,000 dead as a result of combat. The last decade is believed to be the first time in history that roads posed a greater danger to human beings than fighting (which is partly a reflection of the decline of war).

Continued: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-op-easterbrook5aug05,0,1379980.story?coll=la-opinion-center

Twice as many pedestrians & cyclists are struck and killed by cars every year in America as died on 9/11. In fact, more pedestrians are struck and killed by cars EVERY YEAR as US troops have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since they began. Yes, it is safer to be a soldier in Iraq than it is to be a pedestrian or cyclist on a US public roadway.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2005/11/25/17855401.php

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2005/11/25/17855401.php

surveillance video - http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_333193443.html

Any more details on this? My heart goes out to the rider and his or her relatives and friends.

This shows that we need more education for non-bicyclists... in particular, Portland DMV has fully 1/3 bicycling related questions on the drivers license quiz.

This should be added to the California test too!!

Bicyclist hit by dump truck dies
Staff reports
Article Last Updated: 08/09/2007 10:18:23 AM PDT

OAKLAND — A bicyclist was killed instantly this morning when she was hit by 13-ton dump truck in West Oakland.

Police are trying to determine the woman's identity. The fatality happened about 8:25 a.m. at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and West Street. Police said the bicyclist, who had on a helmet, was riding northbound in a marked crosswalk. Police said she was struck by the dump truck that had just turned on to West Street from the southbound lanes of San Pablo. The impact pulled the woman under the truck, where she was run over by its wheels before the truck was able to stop about 20 feet farther on.

The incident is still under investigation.

We are so damn behind where we need to be.

Business as usual grinds on killing us.

Go ask the government to help and they laugh quietly.

Sometimes loudly.

This makes me sick.

Once again.

Her name was Elena Castaneda, 55, of Berkeley. Incident is still under investigation.
Source: NBC11 News

some people who witnessed the accident and other residents placed memorial items at intersection

What would Martier & Ross, the Comical, network news, etc., say if two motorists were killed by cyclists in one week? Damn right, there would be police investigations and lead stories questioning continued tolerance of the "bicycle menace," complied with anecdotes about illegal biking.

And now that the shoe is on the other foot?

These are not "accidents," they are collisions and unnecessary deaths. We cannot expect society to abandon old technology if we cannot safeguard people who negotiate traffic without rolling in huge metal cages. I had police last night tell me that it was illegal to take my bicycle on a BART escalator, but no one to tell motorists that it is illegal to cut across a cyclist's path of travel on 19th avenue.

I will sorely miss my dear friend Elena for the rest of my life. When I found out today, I was crushed. Tonight I said a rosary for her, and lit two candles at St. Mary Catholic Church in Richmond, IN. The two candles are to signify the gift from God that Elena has been to me, and my gift back to God of my dear friend. I am deeply grateful for the gift of Elena in my life, and also for the great gift of having seen her July 3-5. Even though we had kept in touch, we had not seen each other in over 15 years, and by the grace of God, we both recieved the gift of seeing each other with me clean and sober. My most sincere condolences to her family and our friends.
Peace - Vera

I don't think it showed up here, but a cyclist was killed by a big rig on 3rd St at the end of July in SF. Lame-ass Chronicle tidbit below. Note that NO CHARGES WERE FILED.

A big-rig truck struck and killed a bicyclist in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Police said Alvaro Aguilera, 39, of San Francisco was riding beside the truck, headed north on Third Street, at about 2:20 p.m. when the truck made a right turn onto Marin Street and hit him.

"The right front wheel of the truck and the bicyclist collided,'' police Sgt. Steve Mannina said.

No charges were filed against the truck driver, a 45-year-old Tracy man whose name was not released.

I took portraiture with Elena and had spent time with her once of class as well. She was a lovely person, very positive and vibrant. I will miss working on art with her, and value the spirit she brought to the class and to her art.