This is a perfect example of the mindless and stupid blame the victim mentality that exists in Australia regarding cycling.A MOTHER cycling without a helmet while listening to music has died after being hit by a car.
The 36-year-old woman, from Hillside, was struck while crossing Melton Highway about 6.15am yesterday.
Sgt Kevin Hickson, from Wyndham highway patrol, said it appeared the woman was listening to music as she rode her bike.
"The cyclist wasn't wearing a helmet, there are no lights on the bike," Sgt Hickson said. "We think maybe she may have had ... headphones on. There was a set of headphones with her."
The tragedy happened on the corner of Gourlay Rd and Melton Highway, Hillside. Police are investigating whether the woman was crossing the road against a red light.
"From the witnesses and what we've been told, the light has turned to amber, one driver stopped and one has gone through, and the driver that has gone through has struck the cyclist in the northern lane of Gourlay Rd," Sgt Hickson said.
"At this stage we're just trying to clarify why she was in the intersection when the drivers had ... an amber light. It would appear the cyclist has maybe entered the intersection against the red light."
Sgt Hickson pleaded with cyclists to heed warnings about helmets and lights.
"Helmets save lives, lights save lives. Sometimes you're just lost for words as to why people don't get that," he said. "Some cyclists think that because they're watching they're going to see everything, and that's not the case.
"It's just a sad day, a family has lost a daughter and a child has lost a mum."
The woman was the third cyclist killed on Victorian roads this year.
The accident happened on the same day a grandmother believed to be missing was found in hospital after being hit by a cyclist while walking along the Yarra River.
Victoria's road toll is at 35, 10 more than at the same time last year.
The woman in the above article was killed because she was struck by a 1.5 tonne car probably travelling at 50 or 60km/h, which had gone through an orange light.
And yet the entire thrust of the aricle is that it was her fault and that she was actually killed because she was not wearing a helmet, had no lights, was listening to music.
Now whatever your opinion about helmets, this much is true: there's a very good chance she would have been killed even if she was wearing one. She may have been in exactly the same situation if she had lights. We will never know.
But we certainly know that if the car did not run the orange and mow her down, she would not be dead.
If this had been a pedestrian who was crossing the road, would we say: "Well where was her helmet? Why was she not wearing a light on her body?" No. How does it make any difference that she was on her bike when a car ran into her, rather than on foot?
Sgt Kevin Hickson of the Victorian police pleads with cyclist to take actions to protect themselves from cars. Why is he not pleading with motorists to stop when the lights turn orange? Why is he not pleading with them to drive at a speed so that if the unexpected happens, such as a pedestrian or cyclist appearing out of nowhere, they can stop or avoid them? Why is all the burden of safety placed upon those who are at risk, rather than those who are the source of the risk?
) with speed sensors to catch people doing this.
) still have the right to life, and investigation of the real reasons for their death.