Mary Horton
August 26th 04, 07:00 PM
Bicyclists' anguish
Another rider killed on day of Critical Mass, protest over earlier death
Matthew Yi and Larry D. Hatfield, Chronicle Staff Writers Friday, April 27,
2004
The first Critical Mass gathering of bicyclists since charges were reduced
in the alleged death of a CM biker last November took on added drama today
when another biker was struck and killed by a motorist just blocks from the
site of a planned memorial and protest.
San Francisco police said the female bicyclist was killed as she was weaving
through heavy traffic near the corner of Oak and Franklin streets at 9: 15
a.m. Her handlebar snagged a moving pickup, knocking her off her bike into
the path of a Sunset Scavenger Co. garbage truck.
The accident happened only a couple hours before a noon rally at City Hall
at which angry bicyclists protested last week's dismissal by Judge Herb
Donaldson of a manslaughter charge in the November biker death. Donaldson
also reduced felony assault charges to misdemeanors.
San Francisco police were bracing for serious traffic problems since the
planned rush hour Critical Mass was to come at the same time people were to
begin arriving for a Giants-Cubs game at Pac Bell Park.
Today's City Hall rally drew more than 70 bikers wearing black armbands and
carrying such signs as "We Ride to Live, Not to Die." It included angry
denunciations of the dropping of the voluntary manslaughter charge and the
reduction of the assault charges against Reuben Espinosa, 42, of Fremont.
The18-wheeler crushed bicyclist Chris Robertson, 30, in what he said to
authorities was a "game of chicken" with a group of bicyclists and
18-wheeler.
No one was arrested and no citations were issued against either driver
involved in this morning's fatal bike accident, said Police Department
spokesman Dewayne Tully.
"She was cutting in and out of traffic. . . . She was crushed," Tully said
of the unidentified bicyclist, who he said was in her 20s.
"There is a lot of anger on the part of the bicycle community," Leah Shahum,
"but it was her fault"
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition program director, said of last week's ruling
by Donaldson.
Espinosa said he had not seen Robertson as he and other bikers rode in front
of the big rig. Witnesses said the cyclists were riding slowly as the truck
attempted to pass them. At some point, a wooden block was thrown from the
crowd, according to witnesses. That resulted in the assault charges.
Defense witnesses testified that Espinosa, who had two passengers, could not
see Robertson from the driver's seat.
Other witnesses said the truck's brake lights were on as the big rig was
surrounded by taunting cyclists.
Others at the rally said today's fatal accident would increase
participation.
Anticipating the increased traffic from the ball game and the bike ride,
Officer James McKeever of the police traffic division said, "We'll be
expending twice the manpower we normally do."
Another rider killed on day of Critical Mass, protest over earlier death
Matthew Yi and Larry D. Hatfield, Chronicle Staff Writers Friday, April 27,
2004
The first Critical Mass gathering of bicyclists since charges were reduced
in the alleged death of a CM biker last November took on added drama today
when another biker was struck and killed by a motorist just blocks from the
site of a planned memorial and protest.
San Francisco police said the female bicyclist was killed as she was weaving
through heavy traffic near the corner of Oak and Franklin streets at 9: 15
a.m. Her handlebar snagged a moving pickup, knocking her off her bike into
the path of a Sunset Scavenger Co. garbage truck.
The accident happened only a couple hours before a noon rally at City Hall
at which angry bicyclists protested last week's dismissal by Judge Herb
Donaldson of a manslaughter charge in the November biker death. Donaldson
also reduced felony assault charges to misdemeanors.
San Francisco police were bracing for serious traffic problems since the
planned rush hour Critical Mass was to come at the same time people were to
begin arriving for a Giants-Cubs game at Pac Bell Park.
Today's City Hall rally drew more than 70 bikers wearing black armbands and
carrying such signs as "We Ride to Live, Not to Die." It included angry
denunciations of the dropping of the voluntary manslaughter charge and the
reduction of the assault charges against Reuben Espinosa, 42, of Fremont.
The18-wheeler crushed bicyclist Chris Robertson, 30, in what he said to
authorities was a "game of chicken" with a group of bicyclists and
18-wheeler.
No one was arrested and no citations were issued against either driver
involved in this morning's fatal bike accident, said Police Department
spokesman Dewayne Tully.
"She was cutting in and out of traffic. . . . She was crushed," Tully said
of the unidentified bicyclist, who he said was in her 20s.
"There is a lot of anger on the part of the bicycle community," Leah Shahum,
"but it was her fault"
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition program director, said of last week's ruling
by Donaldson.
Espinosa said he had not seen Robertson as he and other bikers rode in front
of the big rig. Witnesses said the cyclists were riding slowly as the truck
attempted to pass them. At some point, a wooden block was thrown from the
crowd, according to witnesses. That resulted in the assault charges.
Defense witnesses testified that Espinosa, who had two passengers, could not
see Robertson from the driver's seat.
Other witnesses said the truck's brake lights were on as the big rig was
surrounded by taunting cyclists.
Others at the rally said today's fatal accident would increase
participation.
Anticipating the increased traffic from the ball game and the bike ride,
Officer James McKeever of the police traffic division said, "We'll be
expending twice the manpower we normally do."