11:00 a.m. KCPD is saying it appears the cyclist fell in front a car.  Some reports say he was not carrying any identification, so it may be awhile before police identify him.  There are conflicting news reports about whether the cyclist was on the street or on the sidewalk.

Saturday May 22nd: KCPD have released the name Carl C. Hansen, 45.  He was homeless person who is believed to have been living in a camp near the crash site. It looks like Carl was riding in the grass alongside the road when he lost his balance and fell in front of a passing car.

This laughable sentence is the result of a plea bargain with the Douglas County District Attorney. Hernandez wasn’t charged with any type of manslaughter, but rather misdemeanor DWI. So the sentence he received was the maximum amount the judge could give him.

The Lawrence Journal-World has more.

Two kids were injured in bike/truck crashes yesterday.  A nine year-old was struck on his way to school at 163rd and Warwick Road in Olathe.  And then yesterday evening another boy was involved in a wreck with a truck at Lexington and Wabash in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood in the City’s Old Northeast area. KMBC-9 reports the motorist hit the cyclist, while KCTV-5 reports the child hit the truck and his bike may have had faulty brakes.

Both boys survived with minor injuries.  Yesterday incidents remind us that with more kids out riding this spring it’s important for parents to make sure their kids have helmet and their bikes are in good repair. Fortunately there are some events coming up where they can do just that.

The City’s first Sunday Parkways event will include a helmet fitting and bike maintenance check provided by Revolve, Inc. It’s May 16th from Noon to 4 along Gladstone Boulevard between the KC Museum and the Indian Mound.

Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiative is hosting a free bike rodeo this Saturday (PDF) at 10:00 a.m. near Rosedale Middle School.  It’s on Springfield Street just north of West 39th in KCK, a block west of Rainbow Blvd.

Chris’ death is one of several instances where the IPD has been criticized for a lack of restraint in high speed chases. A similar case led to reform of the KCMO Police Department’s pursuit policies. In 2003 cyclist Toni Sena was struck in Waldo by a criminal being chased by police.  Local cyclists worked with the KCPD to craft a new pursuit policy that has become a model for the nation.  Hopefully Independence and our other suburban neighbors will follow the lead of KCPD and reform their policies.

KC Star Crime Scene: Independence settles in police pursuit death.

KCBike.Info’s previous coverage of the Chris Cooper crash.

Kansas City’s model pursuit policy (Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation).

KSHB-TV 41 reports that KCPD questioned a woman that the victim thinks works at the airport. Meanwhile, MoBikePed speculates on the possible penalties for such an alleged crime. No charges have been filed yet, but KSHB says that police are still working the case.

Bike Safety Rally and Ride
Saturday, June 27th at 7:00 a.m.
Paci’s: 1825 Buchanan, North Kansas City, MO
(Map/directions.  One block south and east of Burlington and Armour/210)
Free juice, coffee, and bagels

So, it’s not too late to contact Councilmembers on the Planning and Zoning Committee and ask them to support safer parking on 5th Street.

ALERT: Ask the City Council to support bike safety in Columbus Park.

Background info an angle parking and bicycles.

Planning and Zoning Committee
Wednesday, June 24th at 1:30 p.m.
City Council Chamber, 26th Floor of City Hall
11th and Oak, Kansas City, MO

Subject: Assistance for Doug Beisel

KCBC folks, Many, most, all of you may have heard about Doug Beisel’s recent serious bike riding accident.  There isn’t space here for all the details, but he broke several bones and needs a lot of time to recuperate.  His friends in the Prairie Village Yacht Club are doing what they can to help him reconfigure his house while he convalesces.  They need monetary assistance.  Please see below for details on the assistance they’re providing Doug.  The Yacht Club folks asked that these messages get out to riders around the area.  Feel free to directly contact Rich Davis.   Bob P.

I just returned from spending an hour and a half with Doug at Creekside.
He is feeling good, he is in good spirits and said to tell everyone
hello for him. He is also very agreeable to let people help him now and
he said to pass that along to everyone and how much he appreciates all
of the offers to do things for him. He said the cat issue was a worry
to him, so I don’t know where that stands. He said there are probably
some bills that need to be paid, so does anyone know who is getting his
mail. He told me to get the house key from whoever has it and I will
meet the utility companies along with my electricians and plumbers to
get the utilities going as he will need A/C when he gets home. He said
he wants a ramp built at his front door, so I took measurements of his
wheel chair to make sure it will fit through the front door. The wheel
chair he has is his to keep, so we should be safe with the size of it.
If it won’t fit through the front door, I will modify the door frame so
it will fit. I will go by his house and try to lay out a ramp of some
description that will work for him. The lady in charge at Creekside
told me Doug will be there through Monday or longer. That is all I know
for now. If we spend $1,000 getting him situated, that is only $20 for
50 of us and I know we have that many people willing to help.

Thanks,
Dean Huggins

If everyone is agreeable, I will volunteer to be the collector of money for
Doug. I will be at the Moose tonight so if you want to contribute see me
after the ride.

If you are not riding but want to donate money for Doug Beisel you can also mail it to me. Please feel free to forward this message on to friends of Doug that may not be on the PVYC Yahoo group site.

Rich Davis
6300 W 66th Street
Overland Park, KS 66202

Remember folks, sidewalks are one of the most dangerous places to ride a bicycle.  While it might seem counterintuitive to some, statistics show that one of the most frequent crashes are bikes on sidewalks getting hit by cars coming out of driveways.

KMBC-TV 9′s Bev Chapman, who is a cyclist herself, has a big report on the river crossing situation. MoDOT still refuses to put a bike/ped path on the new Paseo Bridge when it opens in 2011. However, they have secured federal stimulus funding to a barrier-separated bike/ped path on the Heart of America bridge in 2010.  They are also considering doing the same to the Chouteau Bridge.

While Bev’s report is good, unfortunately the only person interviewed on camera was local MoDOT chief Beth Wright.  No one from the bike/ped community was included in the story.

KMBC-TV 9: Bicyclist’s death highlights safety story and video report.