Bicyclist Killed By Car Door In Hollywood

@Cris Paul Tsch  "The League of American Wheelmen was formed in 1880, as a powerful voice for bicycling. The League was successful in lobbying to improve and pave roads to make them passable and smooth in all weather. The League of American Wheelmen exists today, now called The League of American Bicyclists. 

Bicycling became the rage in Europe and in the US in the 1890s. There are estimates of 10 million bicycles in use in the US by the 1890s, this in a population of 75 million. A new vehicle known as the horseless carriage began appearing on the paved roads that bicyclists had lobbied to create. In another twist of fate, bicycle mechanics J. Frank and Charles E. Duryea of Springfield, Massachusetts, had designed the first successful American gasoline automobile in 1893. They went on to make the first sale of an American-made gasoline car in 1896. The car really emerged as America's vehicle of choice when Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908."

In summary: The paved roads was 1st created and lobbied by BICYCLISTS in 1880. Then automobiles was invented in 1896 and along come Ford model 1908, which then took over the roads that belong originally to bicyclists. So who came first, the chicken or the eggs? Under the vehicle code law, cars are supposed to share the roads with bicyclists. LAPD watch videos on biking laws & rules of the road while in training to become a cop. They know that bikes are allowed on the road and when there is insufficient road, the bicyclists can take the whole lane to themselves.

SOURCE: http://www.history-magazine.com/bicycles.html

Holy excuses.  What happened to just plain paying attention when you are responsible for an automobile on the road, and looking before you do something?

I won't ride in bike lanes for that very reason, too narrow. Sharrows are a better, cheaper, and safer alternative. Driver education is the cheapest and most effective way to stop this from happening. In Amsterdam, drivers are trained to use their right hands to open their car doors. This automatically tuns the driver's head and allows them to see if a cyclist is riding next to them on the street. It works.

that "bike lane" is such a joke on vine. its just the road where cars travel except every quarter mile has a bike logo painted on the pavement. drivers dont know its a bike lane. so stupid and such a waste of money.

that being said, this situation is the result of a dumb bitch not checking her mirror before opening her door, she is at fault and should pay one way or another. what a shitty way to go out.

In 1915, Los Angeles conducted a traffic study and one of its main conclusions was that different modes of transportation were incompatible and needed to be separated from each other.  The most lethal danger was street car system which had an unacceptable high injury and death rate and seriously interfered with the flow of traffic.

Bicycles are also incompatible with autos, and Bike Lane make the streets more dangerous for Bikers. Bike Lane do not separate bikes from cars and trucks, but instead mandates they they occupy essentially the same space. Los Angeles has had almost 100 years to address this problem, but it has not.  The main obstacle is that developers felt that the room to create truly separate bike lanes would require City right of way easements that would encroach too much on their property and besides dead cyclists were not their problem.

Psychologists have established that drivers can look directly at both motorcycles and at bicycles and NOT see them.  The mind tends to screen out irrelevant information and people who are looking for cars often do not receive a motorcycle or bike.  Fortunately, bikes make a noise, but bicycles do not.

The personal injury and deaths claims should be brought against The City as it created the unreasonably dangerous situation of Bike Lane and lured cyclists to use Bike Lane.

The facts of this case are not presented in sufficient detail.  Since the bicyclist died, it is likely there was a lot of momentum which means the cyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed.  From this we may conclude, that the bicyclist was a considerable distance behind the motorist.  Thus, when the driver turned around to see if anything was approaching, the bicycle was too far back for him to see, (assuming he took the time to look).  This raises the likelihood that the bicyclists was exceeding the Basic Speed Law VC 22350 and the cyclist may be solely liable for his own death.

I totally agree Larry! I cant tell you how many times bicyclist have flipped back my passenger side mirrors while i was at a red light for no god damn reason and they would never fix it but have the audacity to get pissy. Sometimes even bang on my car! Additionally, some people dont know how to drive that well and get stuck behind someone riding their bike then creating a bottle neck of slow moving traffic. It's ridiculous!

Roads were made for vehicles!!

'Opening a car door when unsafe'?  Ever notice how there's a law that can fuck you for basically any thing you do on the road, and that you only hear about once someone wants to splash some blame around?  If they charged the driver with that it means, what, he's going to get a fucking manslaughter charge?  Because that is some complete fucking bullshit.  Cyclists are welcome to do what they want, but the fact is that this city does not have an infrastructure that was designed for their presence in any way.  Hell, this city's infrastructure doesn't accomodate the cars, let alone bikes.  

The problem is... most drivers in LA have they head up they ass while driving.

the problem and responsibilty is the drivers if the bicyclist was traveling within reason. Its scary wether you drive a bicycle or motorcycle. I commuted daily by both and would not been seen constantly and I made the efforts to be as visible as possible.

Happened to me too in LA around '88. I flipped over the handlebars and landed on my back. Just bruised ribs though. Haven't ridden a bike there since.

It's true. Bust in my way daring me to hit them. Inferiority complexes.

Cyclists bully cars? That's like saying mice bully elephants.

I don't know about this situation, but cyclists try and bully cars like they have some sort of right a way.

This article is written in a really insensitive fashion.  I'm sorry, "striking the rider and ending his two-wheeled journey forever"?  Really?  The author needs to remember that someone had to die for him to be able to write this.  Have a little bit of respect, Dennis.  Cut the cheesiness.  

This is a tragic event and just more proof that LA needs to improve its roadways to keep bicyclists safe and increase awareness of drivers about watching for cyclists.  I'm a bicycle commuter and this has almost happened to me numerous times.  Drivers just don't look.

I've had some close calls. When I do have to ride next to parked cars I'm instinctively looking for any passengers inside or someone that looks like they are about to get out. I'm also very wary of cars with someone just sitting there with the lights on and engine running. Never know if they will just suddenly pull out. Be careful out there folks!

Dan Mar 'danimal' Aguilera becareful out there

....on the subject of sidewalks.....I was just thinking that you CAN'T ride your bike on the precious sidewalks of Hollywood....maybe now they will change this....sad though

We need more bike lanes and bikes on the streets of LA. That way car drivers will over time be educated to watch out for common dangers with cars vs bikes, such as opening your car door or doing a right turn. Until then, can everyone reading this please learn to check your mirrors and use your damn turn lights? I've never been anywhere in the world where drivers are so bad at using their turn lights.

....Kelsey Rose....SLOW DOWN THEN....i "dislike" it when drivers speed up around me just to slam on the brakes to STOP

Thanks LA Weekly...for putting this out there.

im sorry but sometimes when i open my door AND check to see if anyone is coming, a bicyclist can still come out of nowhere at a fast speed. IM watching out, they should too if they see a car just parked and the person inside is most likely to exit.

@Kelsey...girl, you need a chill pill. Most cities don't allow cyclists to ride on the sidewalk...i.e. it's illegal. Second, we pay taxes for the same infrastructure and governed by the same rights laws that cars are. Is it SOOOO hard to steer your car to the left briefly? Really?

Tragic. I have been doored before and feel lucky to be alive. Bikers need to be very sharp and aware while biking, but the drivers carry the highest responsibility and need to be in tune with their surroundings. Give bikers a break. While you're sitting in inside your relatively safe crash-tested vehicle with air bags, while your adding smog and carbon emissions to our air, at least have the courtesy of giving these clean riders, who travel without a protective cage, plenty of space. Biking is a wonderful way to get around. I used to commute to school 15 miles each way; it's great exercise, and it's a very clean mode of transportation. I encourage everybody to hop on a bike and be courteous and respectful of bikers while driving.

LA is not equipped for bicyclist and bicyclist need to be educated on their right and responsibilities (Helmet, Lights, Reflective Gear, Rules of the Road like stop at a RED LIGHT ALWAYS)

It's almost unbearable, adding and extra 10-20 seconds onto a 45 min commute to have to go around a cyclist

My friend's girlfriend died in a biking accident. People need to watch those bike lanes. It only takes a second and you can avoid killing someone.

Actually Kelsey by law bikes are not suppose to be on the sidewalk.

its tragic, in this case it was the driver of the cars fault but in many cases byciclist seem to go as fast as they.chose.disregarding surrounding danger. My son was hit by one and ive escaped being hit by a few myself. just the other day i witnesses two bycicles collide into eachother . we have to watch out for cars now.bicycles too.