2-wheeled cortege rides to honor fallen friend

Shortnorther wrote:

Mixing vehicular traffic of significantly different speeds is a recipe for disaster. We don't allow slow-moving tractors, etc. on the interstates, so we should try to keep bicycles off roadways such as the one shown in the picture. A tribute to the killed cyclist is fine, but what were the organizers thinking? Common sense needs to prevail.

Do you know which specific road that was on? Could be one of the typical 35 MPH roads we have. And considering they were traveling from Westgate to Upper Arlington, I doubt any of the roads went past 45.

Where do you draw the line? And why should you randomly determine what is safe for someone else?

Andrew wrote:

<quoted text>
He's judging based on one photo. Was he on the ride?

Maybe I'm just like you Andy, you and your ilk had no problem judging from one photo the driver trying to get by a large group of self-absorbed bicyclists demanding there right to block traffic. Your self righteous defenders of the rolling road block rained down venom on that driver who dared not to be happy to be stuck behind you.

There is an oncoming car practically in the ditch due to that passing car who couldn't wait. Please tell me where the drivers right is to pass on a double yellow with oncoming traffic.

And please keep in mind that those self absorbed cyclists were on their way to a funeral home to honor a friend who was killed by a self absorbed driver too irresponsible to determine his level of impairment.

Pardon us if we are a little sensitive.

Shortnorther wrote:

Mixing vehicular traffic of significantly different speeds is a recipe for disaster. We don't allow slow-moving tractors, etc. on the interstates, so we should try to keep bicycles off roadways such as the one shown in the picture. A tribute to the killed cyclist is fine, but what were the organizers thinking? Common sense needs to prevail.

You know, you're exactly right. We shouldn't have such extreme variations in the speeds of cars and bikes. We should lower the speed limit for cars so that everyone is a bit more safe. The speed limits that are set at 45 mph currently should be lowered to 35, sure it will cost drivers 30 more seconds on their way home, or to wal mart to buy some crap they don't need, but maybe they wont kill as many pedestrians and cyclists. Common sense should prevail, but in a culture rife with instant gratification-entitlement syndrome having idiots, what do you expect? A driver to slow down for 10 seconds to safely pass a cyclist? Or road rage out on some YOU ARE SLOWER AND SMALLER THAN ME I OWN THE ROAD MOVE NOW idiocy? As several of us have said, whats wrong with having a little kindness and compassion for fellow human beings?

Shortnorther, we allow "slow-moving tractors, etc." on 55mph highways. We also don't allow cyclists on interstates. So your argument doesn't even make sense.

If you want to make sure you don't have to slow down for cyclists, get on the freeway. Otherwise, sometimes you just have to slow down and wait every now and then. When driving on the freeway, I sometimes get stuck behind a line of semis for miles. Miles! I don't argue that trucks should be banned. If you can't handle waiting a bit in traffic, you don't belong behind the wheel.

You ask what the organizers of this ride were thinking of? Perhaps they were thinking of people so lacking in basic common decency that they would take the perspective of a criminal who killed someone, and then use the crime victim's funeral procession to attack something the victim held dear.

Your post shows that both common sense and common decency need to prevail. Unfortunately, your post exhibited neither quality.

If there is a time for motorist humility, it is now. A drunk motorist killed a lawful cyclist. Once again, a drunk motorist killed a lawful cyclist.

Heckling a funeral procession is just plain bad form. Grow up.

My sympathy to Steve's family and friends.

concrete wrote:

Persons riding bicycles on a roadway shall not
ride more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for that.Ohio law look it up.Those bike people illegal.

Can tell u are overwieght and out of commission!!!

Militant Cyclist wrote:

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You don't have an agenda huh? Funny coming from someone who posts under the name "NO bikes". Your agenda is obvious. Drivers of motor vehicles NEED to be licensed for the simple fact that taking an object that weighs 2000 pounds, accelerating it to speeds of up to 65 m.p.h. and aiming it at another person is pretty dangerous, as evidenced by the amount of traffic fatalities worldwide. A bike generally wont kill someone if there is a collision. This is not even the important part however, what about a little human decency? A little compassion? Whats the big deal about slowing your car down for a few seconds to make sure you pass a cyclist safely? Do drivers really need to get to starbucks 15 seconds sooner that its worth risking another human beings life? If everyone followed the rules of the road it would be great, but thats not going to happen and cyclists will always be the losers in a fight with a motor vehicle. Let people mourn the loss of a fellow cyclist and get over it.
militantcyclist.wordpress.com/

If you want compassion, don't refer to yourself as a "militant". Pretty simple.

For those who wish to heckle the funeral procession, riding two-abreast is the limit, but here, the cyclists were doing motorists a favor. Riding two-abreast still takes the full lane, so it does not give motorists any more lateral space. But in a FUNERAL procession of 74 cyclists, a two-abreast line is 37 cyclists long, a three-abreast line is 25 cyclists long. That takes up less space. So, it's more convenient for motorists without raising any safety hazards.

But as long as we are on the topic of strict adherence to traffic laws, I hope the heckling motorists use this as an opportunity to look at their own driving. Most motorists I see regularly:

1) Run red lights (morally and legally, it's the same to run a red light in the middle of a cycle as to run it just after it turns red);

2) Treat residential stop signs as yield signs;

3) Drive above the speed limit (most assume they have a God-given right to drive 5 mph above the limit);

4) Fail to signal turns and lane chances far enough in advance (if at all);

5) Fail to maintain an assured clear distance (you always have to be ready for the vehicle in front of you to stop suddenly; when going around blind curves or over hills, you always have to be ready for a stopped vehicle in your path);

6) Etc., etc., etc.

Yes, some cyclists break traffic laws. When we do, we can get tickets like everyone else. No whining allowed. But when cyclists break the law, we are mere nuisances to others on the road. We are a danger pretty much only to ourselves. By contrast, motorists leave a record of carnage behind for their mistakes. Steve Barbour is now part of the carnage motorists inflict on themselves and others.

Also, motorists, remember Edward Miller (and his drinking buddy Gabe Siegel) the next time you have a drink or two or three. Even if you are below the legal limit, alcohol decreases your ability to drive safely. If you know you are going to drink, plan a way home that does not involve driving. If you have no choice but to drive, don't drink.

And for those motorists thinking about hitting the "Post Comment" button in this thread, show the common decency not to heckle a funeral procession. A drunk motorists killed a lawful cyclist. A little humility from motorists is in order.

Our condolences to Steve's family & friends... My husband rode in the cortege for our family and to honor a fellow cyclist who died while doing what he loved - cycling!

Riding to calling hours is a fitting tribute to someone who loved biking as much as Steve.

Perhaps his death will raise awareness of safety issues for both bicyclists and motorists allowing Steve to make one last contribution to the community

steve stiffler wrote:

<quoted text>
If you want compassion, don't refer to yourself as a "militant". Pretty simple.

What does that have to do with anything? It refers to my commitment to riding a bicycle. I ride upwards of 60 miles a day, at least 5 days a week. I am adamant about cycling, why would I not deserve compassion for the sole reason of referring to my self as militant? Quit trolling, grow up.

Steve Stiffler - this is not for you or any other negative person to be so vicious at a time of grief...grow up all, we have a man who died too soon because of drinkimg and driving (a car mind you not a bike). Let's focus on the REAL issue:

Support for Steve and DRINKING & DRIVING!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats to Bob Waddell for coming up with the idea for this ride. I really think the family was very appreciative for the huge turnout. There were all kinds and all ages of cyclists who paid tribute to Steve. As the article says, Steve probably would have been embarrassed at the show of support. He will certainly be missed by his family and the bicycling community.

As an avid cyclist, I must admit I was disappointed when I saw the picture associated with this article. Certainly the driver of the passing car was breaking the law in a callous and reckless manner, but how much more powerful and how much more of a tribute to Steve would a photo showing dozens of Columbus cyclists obeying the letter of the law while honoring their fallen friend have been?

That being said, I am appalled at the level of anger that occasionally being inconvenienced by a cyclist seems to generate in many of the motorists commenting here.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Steve's family and friends.

Incommunicado wrote:

As an avid cyclist, I must admit I was disappointed when I saw the picture associated with this article. Certainly the driver of the passing car was breaking the law in a callous and reckless manner, but how much more powerful and how much more of a tribute to Steve would a photo showing dozens of Columbus cyclists obeying the letter of the law while honoring their fallen friend have been?
That being said, I am appalled at the level of anger that occasionally being inconvenienced by a cyclist seems to generate in many of the motorists commenting here.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Steve's family and friends.

I'll say again-that picture is very hard to judge as small as it is. There are pockets in there that certainly look like people are riding two up. By all accounts from folks who are on the ride I have heard they were keeping a fast pace between 16-20 MPH and by and large abiding by the law.