ST. GEORGE – A truck collided with a bicycle early Tuesday morning, and the cyclist was then transported to the hospital.
Just before 6 a.m., a truck hit a male cyclist traveling east on Brigham Road. He was transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center with non-on life-threatening injuries.
Sgt. Sam Despain, public information officer for the St. George Police Department, said that the SGPD Traffic Division is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. A decision has not yet been made on whether the rider or the driver of the truck will be cited or charged.
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The rider should be charged for riding in the road.
Tyler, a little respect and safety both ways is in order.
Utah law gives a bicyclist the right to use the road, just like any motor vehicle (41-6a-1102). A motorist must pass a bicyclist with a minimum of 3-feet of clearance (41-6a-706.5). A motorist that is overtaking a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance, and may not drive to the right side of the roadway or make a right turn until safely clear of the overtaken bicyclist (41-6a-705).
Justin that is a stupid law those jack wagons and I include you think they own the road. Millions of dollars have been spent for bike paths, use them.
You are right Scott, we do own the road just like every other citizen who pays taxes. Is there a bike path down along Brigham Road? So I guess your argument is pretty much lame isn’t it.
Tyler… You do realize the cyclist has rights to the road every bit as much as the driver? Oh wait you didn’t know that.
You do realize the law states the driver has to give 3 feet of space to the cyclist? Oh wait…you probably didnt know that.
You do realize that same cyclist pays the same taxes as the driver and has the same access to the road as a driver…because on other days that cyclist IS a driver? Oh wait… you didn’t know that.
I’m so sick of them on the roads! I don’t care if they can. They shouldn’t and if they are, they should take responsibility for their own lives.
He probably does know — he just doesn’t care
Rider charged for riding in the road?!?!? *Facepalm* Tyler, your ignorance is showing. Check the state laws one more time before posting about things you clearly know nothing of.
The rider pays taxes just like everyone else. By law cyclists have a right to the road. Not all cyclists obey the laws, but drivers don’t either. Respect each other and realize we are all human beings with families who love us and want us to come home.
There used to be laws against impeding traffic, it should be brought back if it’s not a law anymore.
There is a law, but slowing cars down to the speed limit is not impeding. Cyclists going a reasonable speed cannot be cited for impeding. You would probably want me cited in my truck also since I go the speed limit. 🙂
Not only do cyclists have a right to ride on the road, they are obligated by law to do so since sidewalks are for pedestrian use not bicycles. However they have to obey the same rules of the road as everyone else. I’m glad the cyclist will survive. He was lucky this time.
Strava!
While all the responses quoting scripture and verse on the “Utah Bicycle Law,” have merit, the bicycle riders need to take into account simple, proven physics. A bicycle and rider weighing in around 200 lbs, traveling at a lower rate of speed, is no way for a motor vehicle, weighing in at several thousand pounds, a match that is going to come out favorably for the bicycle. I, for one person sharing the road, would never, for safety, ever want to ride, or walk, or hike, near any high speed road. High speed meaning anything over 25 MPH. Physics will win every time. And for the cyclists planning to sue the motorists, good for you, but being crippled for a long while doesn’t seem worth the joy from riding near the travel lanes. And as for the cyclist paying taxes, I have yet to see a bicycle with a license plate and tags and carrying a current Utah Insurance Identification Card. Just Saying.
John, are you saying that cyclists don’t own cars? Perhaps they go everywhere on their bikes, with their family sitting on the handlebars?
I would like to see how bicyclists pay the road tax of around 42¢/gallon when they don’t use gas? And I don’t mind giving them three feet when they make an effort to make that possible, but when they don’t do their part I won’t do mine.
How many adult cyclists do you know, Chuck, who don’t also own a car? As for how much each pays, the numbers actually show that the cyclists pay MORE for roads than drivers do, and that’s not even counting the wear and tear on the roadways that each will cause.
.
You can see some numbers on this at the following link and at the study it references. http://www.cyclingutah.com/advocacy/who-owns-the-roads-anyway/
Really chuck? Do you run over children in the street too? We are all human. You can’t run over humans you idiot.
Of course you can run over idiots, you child you!
Maybe im a little smarter than the average biker, but i will not ride my bike in this town where my only option is to ride on the road. With how people drive there cars around here i am not willing to leave my life in there hands. There are plenty of bike paths around town to do your riding on. Leave the roads to these idiot drivers we have around here. Cause the law or not a 5,000lb car will always win not the 200lb bike and rider.
A little smarter? I would say you are a whole lot smarter. But these fools on their bicycles will continue to do exactly what they want, regardless of their safety. All the while, patting themselves on the back, and saying how smart they are for saving both money and the environment.
But listen to them whine if “natural selection” rears it’s head.
Murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide are not factors in “natural selection.”
Ignorant comments about cyclists and motorists alike aren’t going to take one another off the road. Yes cyclists own cars! Give 3 feet and be respectful of eachother,both need to pay attention. Unless you yourself are a cyclist, keep your comments about sidewalks and hugging lines to yourself.
Unless you yourself are a cyclist, keep your comments about sidewalks and hugging lines to yourself.
Another arrogant comment from an ignoramus. Probably rides down SR 18, right in the middle of the traffic lane.
Middle of the lane is the safest place to be! Off to the side you’re likely to be run down. In the middle, maybe the driver will look up from texting just long enough to see you.
I must agree with the “anti” cyclist here… There are very few of them that follow the rules/law of the road, etc… They will split lanes to get to the front of the intersection (that is, if they are riding IN the roadway) they run lights when they see fit, they slow traffic by riding as close to the travel lane as possible… I agree with the physics aspect of things, its kinda like the lug nut rule, the guy with the most lug nuts is most likely to come out unhurt in a vehicle crash. I KNOW for a fact that bicyclists don’t have to pay taxes for riding on the roads, yes they may have a vehicle at home but they only pay taxes on that vehicle, not the bike… Perspective… I KNOW for a fact that ALL vehicle non cyclists as well as cyclists do pay taxes that help maintain all of the off road trails, bike paths, etc… Anyway, just saying the cyclists should show a little more respect on the road, a lot of them act like just because they are on the road, they have the right of way… PEACE!
Well if you’d notice the way drivers drive so wonderfully reckless around here, maybe you’d understand that the cyclists are at least willing to lay down there lives like all our veterans who are overseas! The two are comparable because many of our drivers are on an extremely careless murderous rampage in case you haven’t noticed!
Did you really just compare the cyclists to the veterans that served overseas? Wow, please don’t disrespect any of them like that! Cyclists choose to ride on the road and they didn’t lay down their life for me. Those veterans are the reason we are here today. @sweet jude, those two do not compare!
Actually, “other guy,” it is the best comparison one can come up with to paint the picture of sacrifice, devotion to community and oneself esp. In the face of murderous tyrants that seem to not care about human lives being taken given the way most people drive in this town. Have you ever considered that bikers might be sending a message in the face of such tyranny? If not, you must be driving with either extremely tunnel-vision or you cannot see afar off. Do you have any care for the children who are riding bikes or walking? If so, maybe you can begin to consider the points I laid out for you. Good day, sir!
I feel for the biker and the driver. My dad unfortunately got hit and thrown 7 feet in the air 3 years ago. He will never be the same. He struggles on a daily basis. Whenever I see bikers I move over almost to the point where it is unrealistic because I have flashbacks of that horrible day. My thoughts are with the driver and the biker. May we all show more respect on the road.
Anybody for a game of “Bicycle Polo?” Works just like “Pedestrian Polo.” Of course, if you are not old enough to remember Red Skelton, you won’t have a clue about what I’m talking about. . .
Wouldn’t it make a little more sense if these cyclists rode their bikes in daylight as opposed to darkness at 6 am? Cyclists have to do their share to keep themselves safe on the roadway. Riding their bikes at 6 am in darkness is not conducive to safe bike riding. Sometimes it seems like they have a “death wish” by their actions.
They have to be at work at a certain time, regardless of daylight or darkness. I must say, that I find some of the responses on here to be not only cold, but. . . .
FUNNY AS ALL GET OUT!
Want to get to work on time, drive a car, or ride the bus. Why should you be out there impeding traffic so the rest of us are late to work?
If you weren’t so ignorant about where the accident occured you might realize that there are no buses that run in that part of town.
Just another pathetic excuse for another person who has little patience for anything …those with high blood pressure will try to come up with anything they can to weasel themselves out of personal responsibility. Hypocrisy at its worst…
My brother was the cyclist who was hit that morning. He was on his way to work at 6 am, he does not own a car or he would drive. Before, everyone was so quick to jump on whose at fault,I was just glad to see that no one was seriously injured. My heart aches for the truck driver, he should not have had to endure what he did, because my brother made a mistake and went through the light. He is not an avid cyclist and was just trying to get to work to earn a honest living. This should be a lessen for everyone just to be careful. Too many times I have seen riders also in the road, it takes a few seconds to slow down or to go around them. My prayers are with the driver, my brother, and anyone who sadly had to witness this accident. It was a tragic accident that yes could have been avoided, we are just lucky there was no fatalities.
Unless one of you are the driver or the cyclist then you cant really be on either side becuase you dont know the circumstances behind the accident. All we know is what time and where the accident was. Maybe the driver accidently swerved over and hot the cyclsit or visa versa. Did the bike have reflectors on it? I dont know and neiter do you. Everyone here should just show support for both families for what they are going through. The driver has to deal with the guilt of hiting someone and a possibility of a law suit and the cyclist has do deal with being hit by a car for the rest of his life depending on how bad the acident really was.
@kacey, sorry about your brother. When I first saw this story I was glad one of those spandex wearing fools got hit. they always ride the line of the bike lane and if you drive anything but a prius you think your going to tag them. but now that I hear itz just some guy going to work im dissapointed.
Really you were glad someone got hurt, wow I am so glad I live in Utah the most holiest place of hypocrites who cheer for people to be hurt and only change there minds when they find out wow that person that I just cheered to be hurt was someones brother, someones father, someone’s son, someone’s spouse. I hope nobody in your family has to gets hurt and you have to deal with people be glad that they got hurt for just trying to ride to work.
@Casey Do you ever take a second to go back through and read your comments? Listen to yourself!
“When I first saw this story I was glad one of those spandex wearing fools got hit. they always ride the line of the bike lane”
You what?! You wish someone to get hurt because they are wearing spandex and caring for their health? You must have digested paint chips as a child.
Second- There are so very few bike lanes that “cyclists are hugging” in this city.. Oh you mean that narrow shoulder that is barely part of the road! I get it now…
The law states a cyclist gets full access to the road. Just as much space as a vehicle. You must allow 3 feet of space.
You may not like the law, but it still exists and you still should obey it. Knowing your type though you will shoulder off a cyclist and push them into the dirt, because you are a hateful person and can’t stand the thought of slowing down for a whopping 30 seconds and because you fail to consider the fact that this person is a human…just like you. A Father, Husband, Mother Wife, Child, Friend and human.
Get real. Get a grip on your life and your mental state.
Most of those critical of cyclists are 40+ pounds overweight and have high blood pressure…true or false?
What is the difference in saying that, or saying “most bicyclists are arrogant fools with a death wish.” Neither statement makes a whole lot of sense.
A person can certainly be “critical” of another person, without it being a verbal body slam.
Except that he is right…
It’s those people who have never been on a bike that are the ones intolerant of cyclists. Those people are most often overweight and angry at the world.
It’s almost comical how sad it is that so many people could be so callous and horrible to actually be happy or glad that someone got hurt even if they were in the wrong. I commute three days a week to work because A I enjoy it, trust me get out of your medal rolling coffins and come enjoy the world B Its easy exercise that saves me money instead of me paying a gym (I lost 210 pounds several years ago and never want to be that size again) and C great way for me to get extra training in for triathlons and the half ironman in May without having to sacrifice family time to train (it takes me 15 minutes to drive to work and only 30 to ride).
And just like you see bad cyclist out there you also see bad drivers. Drivers who fail to use their blinkers, who spend the whole time on their phone, who text, who don’t pay attention to anything around them, or who just are poor drivers to begin with. Do you hope everyone of those drivers get hurt, do you pray for them to have pain and suffering too. Do you carry a crowbar in your car so you can get out at lights and bash their brains in (people swerve at cyclist because they don’t want them on the road or throw things out of their cars at them how is that different than getting out of your car and trying to physically harm someone with a crowbar, that cyclist might get freaked out and crash).
Try riding a bicycle for just a week and you might gain a greater knowledge as to why they do the things they do. Many cyclist don’t ride all the way on the shoulder because they don’t sweep or clean the shoulders very often and its unsafe to ride over there. I have had numerous flats on the shoulder because of debris on the shoulders. Or they might need to make a turn and are trying to establish themselves in the lane before they have to move across the road. Or there might be a rumble strip on the shoulder (SR18 is a great example they put a rumble strip right down the middle of the shoulder making it unsafe to ride on so much so they are spending millions to correct it and widen the road). They have every right to the road as you and they also are responsible to do their best to follow the laws of the road. I do my best to follow the laws and I do my best to be respectable to drivers. I cannot speak for others just like I won’t hold you accountable for every single horrible driver out there, but please use your blinker for pete’s sake it lets me know where your going and helps me do my part and not cut in front you if your turning.
bike riders that want to use the roads with motor vehicles need to be inspected taxed and registered along with the insurance to cover accidents just like motorists just because your have the right as you say it does not make it a smart thing to do on the contrary it is stupid to mix the two and all your arguments will not change that simple fact.
While we’re all taking potshots at one another here I’m wondering why the News hasn’t seen fit to update. What actually happened here? Was the driver at fault? The cyclist? Maybe that would help with the recriminations. And while I’m on the subject of updates, what’s up with the fugitive from California who set his car on fire? Is he still in the area? Been caught? Or what?
The cyclist was at fault, he ran a red light. That is still no reason for people to seem to get joy out of someone getting hurt nor for them to be glad he was it.
I think bikes should be no where near the road. Think about it a 10 pound bike vs a 3000 pound vehicle coming down the road at high speeds there is no comparison. I work in Zion and deal with this on a daily basis and have almost seen numerous wrecks or collisions. Bikes should be no where near the road..
I hate bikes. Down with bikes!
when a vehicle is travailing at 65 mph and then you have 3 cyclists travailing on the same highway they are suppose to be riding in a line not side by side and now move to let the driver over! then you have on coming traffic coming at you and there is no room to move over its kinda hard to do anything but slow down the cyclists have no care in the world for drivers if they did they wouldn’t be on the road and USE THE BIKE PATH THAT THE CITY MADE THEM you don’t see the vehicles driving on the bike path! we would get a ticket the biker should get a ticket for using the highway! the bikers pat taxes on there cars! not there bikes! if that’s the case they need to have licence plates on there bikes and a valid ID to ride there bikes on the highway!
Whether or not you agree that cyclists have a place on roadways is irrelevant. The law says they do. Period. Just because cars are bigger doesn’t give drivers license to bully.
The law also says that, as a vehicle, cyclists are to obey traffic laws. The viewpoint: “I will do this when they do that” is juvenile. Do what you are supposed to do and be considerate of those around you. Be safe. Be mature.
A good rule of thumb – Pass a cyclist they way you would like a motorist to pass your child as she rides down the street.
We need a pedal bike tax and a spandex tax. If these clowns want to ride on the road we need to tax them.
Let me go ahead and submit my taxes for owning a vehicle and live in this city… Like I do. Every Year. I will follow it up with a good long bike ride on the road I just paid for.
Think about what you say before you say it?
They pay taxes just like you do idiot
It’s illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk so shut … up and deal with it
Ed. ellipsis.