Simple rules for a great event.
1. Yield to all emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances.
2. Be aware of the type of ride. If riding in procession with a police escort blocking side traffic for the mass, you may pass through lights and stop signs. If riding without an escort, obey all stop signs, stop lights, and other rules of the road. When in doubt, obey the usual rules of the road.
3. Do not antagonize pedestrians or motorists, either verbally or physically. If a motorist is confronting you, do not escalate the situation. Speak softly and calmly, and explain that this is a peaceful protest.
4. Some accidents and arguments will happen. Don't join in confrontations with others. Try to defuse tension whenever possible.
5. Do not block any cars that in turn, block the mass. Letting these cars pass will lead to a smoother, safer ride. Please let trapped pedestrians pass. You might help them by escorting them across the road.
6. Talk to drivers. Explain why you participate in Critical Mass, and let them know others cycle for many reasons: to bring attention to everyday transportation problems such as steadily increasing congestion, to promote cycling and mass transit, to improve the environment, and for fun.
7. If you witness a crime by another rider or motorist, notify the police so they may deal with it accordingly.
8. Don't be a hero. You are not invincible, and an angry motorist in a car creates a dangerous situation for everyone.
9. Relax and enjoy the ride.
10. Encourage other riders to do the same.
People I'd like to meet, but can't.
1.) Patrick Caurant, 28, Teacher
2.) Michelle Mazzei, 34, Teacher
3.) Matthew Wilhelm, 25, Engineer
Woman is sentenced for bicyclist's death
By Mary Schenk
Thursday November 30, 2006
URBANA – Jennifer Stark wiped away tears and nodded that she understood the maximum sentence a Champaign County judge gave her Wednesday for improper lane usage.
The 19-year-old Urbana woman appeared in court, flanked by her parents, to plead guilty to a petty offense and be sentenced for actions that led to the death of Matthew Wilhelm.
The 25-year-old former Champaign resident, a University of Illinois mechanical engineering graduate working for Caterpillar in Peoria, died on Sept. 8 from head injuries he received Sept. 2 when Stark hit him with her car because she was downloading ring tones to her cell phone instead of paying attention to driving.
Mr. Wilhelm was bicycling north on Illinois 130 east of Urbana when he was struck from behind about 7:15 p.m. Stark was so far off the road that she hit Mr. Wilhelm from behind with the driver's side of her car. He was wearing a helmet.
"I can only apply the law I have in front of me, not as I wish it would be," Judge Richard Klaus told Stark and the approximately dozen others who had gathered to see her sentence. They included the parents of Mr. Wilhelm and other friends and relatives of the Wilhelm family who have mobilized forces to try to get the law changed regarding distracted drivers.
"I am appalled by your conduct and the manner in which you have driven in the short time you've had a license," Klaus told Stark, who had three prior convictions since May 2005 one for disregarding a traffic light and two for speeding. The last speeding conviction came about five weeks before she hit Mr. Wilhelm.
State's Attorney Julia Rietz made the call not to lodge any more serious charge than improper lane usage against Stark, saying that the legal definition of recklessness, to sustain reckless homicide or reckless driving, did not fit her actions.
But Rietz argued for the maximum sentence of six months of conditional discharge a form of probation without reporting to an officer a $1,000 fine and traffic safety school.
"This is a tragic case and one which has demonstrated to us there are many things we can't adequately resolve in this building, unfortunately. The law doesn't give us an adequate remedy to address the loss to the Wilhelms and society," she said.
Stark shook her head no when Klaus asked her if she wanted to say anything before being sentenced.
But Gloria Wilhelm, the mother of the victim, was not reticent. She calmly read to Klaus a statement in which she chided the system that allowed Stark to continue driving even though her "irresponsible behavior continued to worsen."
And she took a diplomatic jab at Rietz for her decision not to prosecute Stark for more than a petty offense.
"Julia Rietz said it would be hard to prosecute 'willful and wanton' (behavior) and the driver could have 'no reasonable expectation of a bike on the side of the road,' yet every single time we visited the accident site we saw bikers and joggers in the area. The driver took this path to and from work and had to see others out there. Disregarding the obvious is a total lack of responsibility.
"In addition to a mere fine, we implore you to recommend community service and continued education to improve her driving. She needs more than just to 'live with this the rest of her life.' She can celebrate holidays and birthdays with her family. We can't do this with Matt."
Stark's mother sobbed as she listened to Mrs. Wilhelm continue:
"We have nightmares of Matt's last moments when he was riding way off to the side of the road on a clear beautiful day and was hit with no warning. ... Another person told me they saw the accident scene and it was something no mother should have to witness all for a cell phone ring tone. ... All for a self-indulged driver who has her priorities ridiculously out of order."
After the hearing, Stark went upstairs at the courthouse to make an appointment with the probation office. Her mother told The News-Gazette that Stark didn't want to make any public comments because "she's afraid her words will get twisted."
Stark sent a letter to The News-Gazette that was published in September in which she apologized to the Wilhelm family for what happened and said she took full responsibility for her actions.
"I never meant to do anything like this. I know that no matter what I say or do I can never take back what has happened or undo the hurt and grief I have caused. However, I still wanted to say that I am very sorry," she wrote.
Find this article at:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/2006/11/30/woman_is_sentenc
ed_for_bicyclists_death
Though this world's essentially an absurd place to be living in
It doesn't call for total withdrawal
I've been told it's a fact of life
Men have to kill one another
Well I say there are still things worth fighting for
La Resistance!
Though this world's essentially an absurd place to be living in
It doesn't call for (bubble withdrawal)
It said human existence is pointless
As acts of rebellious solidarity
Can bring sense in this world
La Resistance!
Stereolab - French Disco Mary Hansen of Stereolab was riding a bicycle when a truck strcuk and killed her in 2002.