Dear Friends,

My neighbor, Adam Raymond, was killed while cycling near our home in Dripping Springs on March 23. Born in Chicago, Adam was an Army veteran and was about to deploy to Iraq with his unit. As an optometrist, Adam loved his work and was very good at his chosen profession. Adam was married to Libby and recently was blessed with a son, Adrian, who is now just four months old. Adam was an avid cyclist and could often be found cycling in and around the Austin area. A college fund for Adrian has been set up to help with the future cost of Adrian’s pursuit of higher education. Details are below.


Donations can be sent directly to:



USAA IMCO

P.O. Box 659453

San Antonio, TX 78265



Checks should be made payable to: USAA College Savings Plan. It is very

important that you include Adrian's account number on the check:


500611133-01.

Aw, I hate to hear that hearbreaking news. How hard it must be for his family to bear the grief of it.

thats a shame, I read about him in the paper the other day.

Sorry to hear this.... RIP

I can't help but to wonder where/when he was killed? Was it a major roadway or on some desolate back road?

Here is the story as it appeared in the STatesman on Sat., 3/24/07.

HAYS COUNTY

Bicyclist killed in crash Friday


An Austin bicyclist was killed Friday morning in Hays County in a collision with a pickup.

Adam Raymond, a 36-year-old optometrist, was biking south on Mount Gainor Road north of Prochnow Road about 6:30 a.m. when a pickup driven by Bradley Danz of Austin hit him head-on, Department of Public Safety officials said.

Raymond, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Danz was not injured, officials said.

Originally Posted by big sky

Here is the story as it appeared in the STatesman on Sat., 3/24/07.
Adam Raymond, a 36-year-old optometrist, was biking south on Mount Gainor Road north of Prochnow Road about 6:30 a.m. when a pickup driven by Bradley Danz of Austin hit him head-on, Department of Public Safety officials said.

Raymond, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

I love how they point out that he wasn't wearing a helmet but leave out any details that could actually establish who was at fault. In a head on collision a helmet likely would have made no difference in the outcome but that is the phrase most people will instantly key in on. If he was riding with traffic then it would have taken some gross negligence on the drivers part to hit him head on and he should be held accountable.
But as we all know, in Texas there are pretty much no repercussions for a negligent driver in the case of a cyclist fatality

oh man..
that's heartwrenching

so sad to hear

Originally Posted by TBFKAHG

I love how they point out that he wasn't wearing a helmet but leave out any details that could actually establish who was at fault. In a head on collision a helmet likely would have made no difference in the outcome but that is the phrase most people will instantly key in on. If he was riding with traffic then it would have taken some gross negligence on the drivers part to hit him head on and he should be held accountable.
But as we all know, in Texas there are pretty much no repercussions for a negligent driver in the case of a cyclist fatality

Agreed

Geezus Ashley that is horrible. My deepest sympathy.

That really sucks.

That sucks.

Originally Posted by TBFKAHG

I love how they point out that he wasn't wearing a helmet but leave out any details that could actually establish who was at fault. In a head on collision a helmet likely would have made no difference in the outcome but that is the phrase most people will instantly key in on. If he was riding with traffic then it would have taken some gross negligence on the drivers part to hit him head on and he should be held accountable.
But as we all know, in Texas there are pretty much no repercussions for a negligent driver in the case of a cyclist fatality

Without details, why do we always assume it's the motorist's fault? As always, it's horrible news, but people always use these sad cases to rant about cars. Sometimes it's just poor judgement by a rider.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Ashley.

I can't speak for "we", but "I" see motorists put cyclists' lives in danger EVERY time I go riding. I only occasionally see cyclists do anything that one would think could cost them their life. Man, I keep thinking about the deaths on 360 and how psycho the drivers were.

I know that's not always the case, but the VAST majority of the time. The less I drive, the more driving seems crazy to me.

On the flip-side, why do so many cyclists ride on the white line that divides the car lane from the bike lane? So nutty.

Anyway, bad stuff. So sorry to hear that kind of thing.

-steven

Originally Posted by loco

Without details, why do we always assume it's the motorist's fault? As always, it's horrible news, but people always use these sad cases to rant about cars. Sometimes it's just poor judgement by a rider.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Ashley.

Originally Posted by unsub1

On the flip-side, why do so many cyclists ride on the white line that divides the car lane from the bike lane? So nutty.

I was wondering the same thing just this last Sunday. I saw a couple cyclists riding about a mile in front of me hugging the line. I was riding about as close as I could to the edge of the pavement (without falling off) when I passed this couple riding ON the white line. Cars were FLYING down Parmer lane and I cringed as I saw how close they come to the white line. I wanted to say something, but then...what would I say? "Hey, you might try riding further away from the line because I've been watching how close cars are coming next to you." They'd probably just flip me off.

On a sidenote...I had all but given up my road bike. Had been almost a year off of it. I was scared shitless after the cyclist deaths. But then St. Brian took me out for a ride to quell my nerves. Took some back roads, added some extra stops at intersections to make contact (a direct wave) from drivers. I had always ridden my bike from my house to take this route but decided Lakeline was just too risky. So now, I DRIVE my car and park it at the HEB so I can drop-in and ride on a huge shoulder.

I was VERY serious about road riding from 96 until 2004. I've always been into cyclocross bikes and finally sold my last road bike at the end of 2005. Don't miss it a bit. I ride my cross bike on the road occasionally but mostly ride long road rides to the trail heads around town. On the mountain bike or Monster X I won't think twice about jumping off the shoulder or on a sidewalk or cutting through a park.

I'm definitely a mountain biker again.

-steven

Originally Posted by DirtFace

On a sidenote...I had all but given up my road bike.

RIP
It's so sad to hear....my heart goes out to his family.



Road biking it seems is really life/death when you get out there. Screw that...Last time I got on skinny tires was in the 80's....of course..I'm talking about my 10 speed. I'll stick with the fatties.

Originally Posted by DirtFace

I was wondering the same thing just this last Sunday. I saw a couple cyclists riding about a mile in front of me hugging the line. I was riding about as close as I could to the edge of the pavement (without falling off) when I passed this couple riding ON the white line. Cars were FLYING down Parmer lane and I cringed as I saw how close they come to the white line. I wanted to say something, but then...what would I say? "Hey, you might try riding further away from the line because I've been watching how close cars are coming next to you." They'd probably just flip me off.

On a sidenote...I had all but given up my road bike. Had been almost a year off of it. I was scared shitless after the cyclist deaths. But then St. Brian took me out for a ride to quell my nerves. Took some back roads, added some extra stops at intersections to make contact (a direct wave) from drivers. I had always ridden my bike from my house to take this route but decided Lakeline was just too risky. So now, I DRIVE my car and park it at the HEB so I can drop-in and ride on a huge shoulder.

I road mine last Sat. for the first time since last october partially for the same reasons. I ride to relieve stress and to have fun but Its hard to remain stress free when someone buzzes you. I have found that there is a direct proportion between me wanting to stomp the living crap out of someone who buzzes me to not riding my road bike.

Originally Posted by loco

Without details, why do we always assume it's the motorist's fault? As always, it's horrible news, but people always use these sad cases to rant about cars. Sometimes it's just poor judgement by a rider.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Ashley.

Actually I never placed blame on the motorist. I simply said that the article didn't reveal any info that could lead to determine who was at fault yet they made sure to point out the lack of helmet which means every non-cyclist out there will automatically jump to the conclusion that the cyclist was at risk.

After that was just a generalization how even in cases where the driver is clearly at fault they get little more than a slap on the wrist.

Originally Posted by loco

Without details, why do we always assume it's the motorist's fault? As always, it's horrible news, but people always use these sad cases to rant about cars. Sometimes it's just poor judgement by a rider.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Ashley.

Well, the article did say he was hit HEAD ON. Just a guess, but I bet the cyclist didn't cross over the center line.

From what I know, and what has been relayed to me, the motorist did nothing wrong. I believe visibility was poor as it was very early in the morning. The driver was very, very upset about the accident. Adam had gotten up early to get his ride in because his best friend was coming into town for the weekend later that day.

Though Adam was not wearing a helmet, it would not have saved him. It was bad.