If you haven't checked out today's paper, another cyclist was killed
locally last night in front of Walmart on Beal around 9:30. I had
the misfortune to pull up at the red light just after the accident
and saw the body lying in the street while rescue workers waited for
the coronor van. This morning's paper has yet to release the
victim's name, but indicated that he was riding a 3-wheeled cycle
and wasn't crossing in the crosswalk. He was struck by a silver 4
door vehicle heading southbound that left the scene of the accident.

This makes me think about 2 other things. One, there needs to be
more bicycle awareness programs/advertising campaigns in Florida.
And two, Jennifer Hoekstra Wilson still hasn't gone to trial on her
case from last year due to postponements.

On the bicycle awareness thought, I can't even tell you how many
people (not just kids) that I see riding their bikes around without
falling the laws. They ride on the wrong side of the street, they
don't stop at intersections or cross in the crosswalks. Just
yesterday at lunch I had a cyclist cross 3 lanes of traffic (not at
an intersection) to get in the lane I was in, causing me to slam on
the brakes to avoid hitting him. And a Shalimar police officer
watched him do it and didn't seem to care. It's this sort of thing
that both drivers and cyclists need to be aware of.

Sorry for the rant,

Beverly