Cycling Deaths

[fdimike]

This from the BP this morning:

<removed link>

Very very sad.

[malathione]

Yup, read that earlier this morning. Sad, indeed. Early Saturday and Sunday mornings are to be avoided, unfortunately. Too many drunks going home.

[redandyellow]

That's why I only ride my bike down small Sois now - and just have to deal with a few odd dogs now instead of legions of bad drivers.

I almost got killed a few times, when a driver opened his car door wide open just as I was approaching on my bicycle - just like clockwork

Please don't call this Thai bashing again - it's called the Fk'ing Truth.

[fdimike]

Another "wonderful" display of Thai driving "skills". Of course the totally useless police will continue to do nothing to enforce the driving laws here.

[Myaimistrue]

Getting hit from behind has got to be the worst way to go. When I hear something loud, big or fast coming up behind me, I take a look around and think, " Is this the last thing I'm going to see?"

[moonoi]

I came off my bike yesterday after hitting a small bump in the road that I didn't notice, traveling at over 30kmh. Hit my head hard on the Tarmac and slide across the inside lane. I feel lucky that I wasn't knocked unconscious as all the car drivers did was swerve to avoid me, not even slow down.

I saw a video of this accident in Chiang Mai, and saw exactly the same thing, only swerving to avoid dead bodies and an upside down car.

What is wrong with people in Thailand? This is supposed to be a Buddhist country, I'd have expected more compassion and people stopping to help.

I'm so very sorry for the cyclists involved, nothing I can say or do will change anything. I just hope they died without knowing what happened and no pain, so at least they went out doing something they loved.

As for the student driver, I'd say she deserves everything she gets, except we all know that it'll probably just be a token fine and it'll be forgotten about by next week, when she should be banned from driving for life and a lengthy jail term for essentially murdering those cyclists.

[h90]

I came off my bike yesterday after hitting a small bump in the road that I didn't notice, traveling at over 30kmh. Hit my head hard on the Tarmac and slide across the inside lane. I feel lucky that I wasn't knocked unconscious as all the car drivers did was swerve to avoid me, not even slow down.

I saw a video of this accident in Chiang Mai, and saw exactly the same thing, only swerving to avoid dead bodies and an upside down car.

What is wrong with people in Thailand? This is supposed to be a Buddhist country, I'd have expected more compassion and people stopping to help.

I'm so very sorry for the cyclists involved, nothing I can say or do will change anything. I just hope they died without knowing what happened and no pain, so at least they went out doing something they loved.

As for the student driver, I'd say she deserves everything she gets, except we all know that it'll probably just be a token fine and it'll be forgotten about by next week, when she should be banned from driving for life and a lengthy jail term for essentially murdering those cyclists.

First of all she wasn't murdering those cyclist. It was a tragic accident, not on purpose.

On one street I like to go there are metal (?) bumps on the side in the white line. Maybe to wake up driver who fall asleep, but horrible for the bike.

Buddhist??? Christians are also not allowed to kill, both monks bless the weapons of the military......

[black fox]

i got knocked off my bike by a moterbike about 3 months ago sustaining a broken wrist,it still hurts a bit and i dont have any strength in it yet so cant ride yet for maybe another month,the driver stopped and helped me up then got on his bike and rode away but a man who lived nearby came and took me to the hospital and then brought me and my bike back to pattaya.(i paid him for his trouble) so there are some good samaritans about.

[malathione]

First of all she wasn't murdering those cyclist. It was a tragic accident, not on purpose.

With all due respect, h90, I disagree with that. Tragic, yes. Accident, no. She was drunk. In my books, that is murder. Any time someone drives drunk, it is on purpose.

[h90]

First of all she wasn't murdering those cyclist. It was a tragic accident, not on purpose.

With all due respect, h90, I disagree with that. Tragic, yes. Accident, no. She was drunk. In my books, that is murder. Any time someone drives drunk, it is on purpose.

So half of all Thais are murder, 30 years ago almost everyone drove back home drunk after a dinner in a restaurant....all murder?

You can call it irresponsible, but not murder unless you can proof she intended to kill them. She also speed too much.

If she would have went home drunk and drove a speed that she can control (say 40 km/h) it would be complete safe.

[malathione]

First of all she wasn't murdering those cyclist. It was a tragic accident, not on purpose.

With all due respect, h90, I disagree with that. Tragic, yes. Accident, no. She was drunk. In my books, that is murder. Any time someone drives drunk, it is on purpose.

So half of all Thais are murder, 30 years ago almost everyone drove back home drunk after a dinner in a restaurant....all murder?

You can call it irresponsible, but not murder unless you can proof she intended to kill them. She also speed too much.

If she would have went home drunk and drove a speed that she can control (say 40 km/h) it would be complete safe.

So you're saying half of all Thais ran over people while drunk and killed them? I think not. But, yes, if you run over someone while driving under the influence, you are a murderer and will be charged as such in several countries.

If you disagree, fine. The twain shall never meet...

[T_Dog]

There is no doubt Thailand is extremely dangerous for cyclists. In my nine years here in Chiang Mai:

2006 American cyclist killed by a drunk policeman in the early morning just south of Mae Rim.

2008 American cyclist hit by a drunk truck driver south of CM on one of the lesser ring roads at 2:00 in the afternoon. Months in the hospital with some permanent disability.

2010 I got knocked over by a police truck turning into Lanna 3 apartment on Huay Gaew Road. Even though the cop passed me just before turning, he claimed he never saw me.

2014 Two friends got hit by pick up trucks both requiring a trip to the hospital.

Other: Two separate events of motorcycles clipping the handle bars on the Canal Road south of Chiang Mai. Both friends broke collar bones hitting the pavement.

My closest calls came about six months ago during the holiday season when drivers were using the shoulder on the Pai road to overtake traffic. I happened to be there and was missed by much too small a margin. Have to admit that I was in tears when I saw those images on CM108 of the cycling comrades whose lives were so quickly snuffed out. The families must be suffering horribly. Although I enjoy mountain biking here immensely, I would never suggest to friends abroad to come here for cycling as I would never want their demise to be due to me.

[Tywais]

Topic already running in News here - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822236-three-cyclists-killed-two-others-injured-when-hit-by-speeding-car/

Also link to Bangkok Post removed.

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