In Memoriam Johnny Gaudreau & Matthew Gaudreau killed by drunk driver while cycling (MOD WARNING. No Flaming, Trolling, or Politics.)

[barkovcanfinnish]

But we HAVE created a dangerous environment for rural cycling. That’s an inescapable reality.

Also, the term “victim blaming” has a real meaning which is not at all applicable here. Everyone in the room understands that cyclists have the right to those roads. Simply having the right doesn’t mean it’s safe, which is why cyclists are hit on rural roads all the time.

Someone I went to school with was hit and killed by a drunk driver in front of his house.

This kind of thing can happen to anyone at any time. The idiot driving recklessly and under the influence is the reason this happened. If you’re driving to work and someone high on meth hits you and puts you in a wheelchair for life are you gonna blame yourself? That’s ridiculous.

 

[LGBlues]

RIP What a tragedy. I am not too keen on hanging the guy yet - just not sure of what percent of cause was the drinking.

 

[tarheelhockey]

But I do get to tell you what what your statement comes across as regardless of how many times you try to say that what you're saying is not what you mean.

I’m saying exactly what I mean. You read something else into it, and you are rejecting clarifications that you’re reading something that isn’t there.

At this point you’re making an active choice to reject my interpretation of my own words. I don’t know why you would do that, but it is what it is. In any case, the statements are clear and I’m being crystal clear about what they mean, so your alternative interpretation is your own choice that I can’t control.

 

[Epictetus]

Yeah, this board continues to reach a new low. Read the room.

 

[Muffin]

It seems the easy solution is to make breathalyzer start ups mandator for life after the first or second DUI.

Or just make it a standard feature in all cars. Problem solved.

Too lenient. First DUI and you shouldnt be allowed to drive again

 

[pesko]

I hope I don't come out as contentious because I don't want to make it a US vs thing, but I just want to state my personal experience.

Which is that one of the weirdest cultural shocks I had when I lived in the US for a while was how socially accepted it is drink and drive. It seemed completely normal for people to go to a bar or at someone's place and have a few beers, sometimes not just a few, and everybody drove back home.

This was super weird to me, coming from a country where yes, they do drink a whole lot of alcohol, often too much, but drinking and driving is just not something you do. At all. If anyone in a group that was out having a beer or two said that they were driving, people would be shocked and intervene. I'm sure this can be a regional thing, I've only experienced living in WA suburbs, but I've heard similar stories from other expats.

 

[rmthomson21]

RIP What a tragedy. I am not too keen on hanging the guy yet - just not sure of what percent of cause was the drinking.

Yeah, if you're sober driving recklessly and striking cyclists is very legit and very cool

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Absolutely nobody is suggesting that the Gaudreaus “invited” someone to kill them, and the rape parallel is absolutely disgusting.

Not sure why so many are purposefully misunderstanding what you said, it was just an objectively true statement lol

 

[Turin]

So if a girl gets raped, do you get to say "Well, she should know that wearing a short skirt might invite some people to do this".

You're still victim blaming. All these things can be true. The "advice" you're giving can be true, but that advice is still victim blaming.

A rapist and a high speed motor vehicle are not the same thing, believe it or not.

 

[Patrik26]

It's been a rough year for the Columbus franchise. First they lose Laine in a trade and now Johnny hockey.

You're equating the two in some fashion. Sad.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

So if a girl gets raped, do you get to say "Well, she should know that wearing a short skirt might invite some people to do this".

You're still victim blaming. All these things can be true. The "advice" you're giving can be true, but that advice is still victim blaming.

Your comparison comes across as completely insensitive to victims of rape. It is actually disgusting.

 

[swiftwin]

Absolutely nobody is suggesting that the Gaudreaus “invited” someone to kill them, and the rape parallel is absolutely disgusting.

You completely miss the point. It has nothing to do about inviting.

A girls choice of clothes to wear should have zero bearing on her likelihood of getting raped by a shitty member of society

Just like the Gaudreau brothers' choice of lawfully done physical activity should have zero bearing on the likelihood of getting killed by a shitty member of society.

As much as you want to deny it, bringing it up in any capacity immediately places some of the blame on the victim.

 

[NeelyWasAWarrior]

I said earlier that in a vacuum I agree with cars having breathalyzers in them, but then I thought about it. Going that route creates all new problems. Some of those problems could cause severe traffic accidents. These interlock systems aren't perfect. They can and have shut down people's vehicles mid-commute without a failed test. If all cars have them then that relatively uncommon occurrences suddenly happens a lot more. That's not the only safety concern. What happens when someone needs to rush a person to the ER, but they can't start their car because the interlock is malfunctioning? Or because they just finished rinsing with a mouth wash that contains alcohol? Or they simply are panicked and can't control their breathing enough to blow into the machine hard and long enough?

They are also expensive to have installed, monitored, and transferred, so attaching them to someone's car for life after one or two DUIs isn't going to fly. You're effectively sentencing someone to an unknown amount of fines that can never be completely paid. Legally, you're running into some pretty stiff obstacles.

We're never going to 100% cut out the risk of impaired drivers. Trying to find the silver bullet solution is wasting time, effort, and resources that could be directed towards multiple other things that could prevent more of these tragedies.

Those are all good points. It looks to be unfeasible and not such a solid idea after all.

This is all unfortunate. I go to the bars every now and then for some wings, soda pop and jukebox tunes and I see guys getting wasted. This isn't just a Saturday night thing, this is a Monday thru Friday in the late afternoon, early evening thing as well.

Now, I remember when many people smoked and that his been curtailed significantly. That was just a normal thing that people did and then there was a societal push back on it. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if drinking alcohol someday becomes the way of cigarettes as society changes in the future. Could be wrong but wouldn't be surprised if I was right.

 

[Indy18]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829598890112532852

Today just has been a surreal nightmare where I just wish I can just wake up from...

From Kivlenieks protecting Elvis and now Johnny who chose us...is gone

We are legit sick here in Columbus

 

[NyQuil]

You completely miss the point. It has nothing to do about inviting.

A girls choice of clothes to wear should have zero bearing on her likelihood of getting raped by a shitty member of society

Just like the Gaudreau brothers' choice of lawfully done physical activity should have zero bearing on the likelihood of getting killed by a shitty member of society.

As much as you want to deny it, bringing it up in any capacity immediately places some of the blame on the victim.

Should is an aspirational word that everyone agrees with.

For me, personally, should isn’t enough to make me ride my bicycle on the roads regularly.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Someone I went to school with was hit and killed by a drunk driver in front of his house.

This kind of thing can happen to anyone at any time. The idiot driving recklessly and under the influence is the reason this happened.

I understand that, and I also went to school with someone who was hit and paralyzed in her neighborhood the week of graduation.

The notion that all places are equally safe for cyclists is just not reality. Ask someone who lives in a rural area what their experiences of mixed cycle/motor traffic have looked like.

I agree that the driver is 100% accountable for the outcome. I’m not challenging that at all.

 

[Skeletorrr]

So if a girl gets raped, do you get to say "Well, she should know that wearing a short skirt might invite some people to do this".

You're still victim blaming. All these things can be true. The "advice" you're giving can be true, but that advice is still victim blaming.

Exactly this.
"you shouldn't ride a bike because you can be mowed down by a drunk driver" is a piss poor excuse for a toxic traffic culture.
ps. I hate cyclists with a vengeance but I'm here to defend them when they've actually been civil.

 

[NeelyWasAWarrior]

I hope I don't come out as contentious because I don't want to make it a US vs thing, but I just want to state my personal experience.

Which is that one of the weirdest cultural shocks I had when I lived in the US for a while was how socially accepted it is drink and drive. It seemed completely normal for people to go to a bar or at someone's place and have a few beers, sometimes not just a few, and everybody drove back home.

This was super weird to me, coming from a country where yes, they do drink a whole lot of alcohol, often too much, but drinking and driving is just not something you do. At all. If anyone in a group that was out having a beer or two said that they were driving, people would be shocked and intervene. I'm sure this can be a regional thing, I've only experienced living in WA suburbs, but I've heard similar stories from other expats.

Maybe the laws and penalties are more stringent where you live?

 

[tarheelhockey]

You completely miss the point. It has nothing to do about inviting.

”Invite” was your word, not mine.

A girls choice of clothes to wear should have zero bearing on her likelihood of getting raped by a shitty member of society

Just like the Gaudreau brothers' choice of lawfully done physical activity should have zero bearing on the likelihood of getting killed by a shitty member of society.

Highlighted the most important words in this post. Should =/= does

As much as you want to deny it, bringing it up in any capacity immediately places some of the blame on the victim.

You don’t get to make dogmatic rules about what other people’s thoughts should mean.

 

[lettuceAA]

Just an awful, tragic and avoidable incident. How many lives does this one incendent destroy because alcohol.

 

[Ugene Magic]

All I can say is W.....ow!

RIP.

How does their sister go ahead with the wedding. Just terrible news.

 

[LGBlues]

Yeah, if you're sober driving recklessly and striking cyclists is very legit and very cool

I did not see that reported - sounded like a few cars may have been involved.

 

[Fledgemyhedge]

idiots comparing biking at night (which is inherently dangerous) to rape is certainly one of the craziest takes I’ve seen on here. Of course it’s not the victims fault

 

[AKL]

A girls choice of clothes to wear should have zero bearing on her likelihood of getting raped by a shitty member of society

Just like the Gaudreau brothers' choice of lawfully done physical activity should have zero bearing on the likelihood of getting killed by a shitty member of society.

You still don't get it.

Not one single person thinks a girls choice of clothing should increase her likelihood of being a victim. Not a single one.

Not one single person thinks the Gaudreau's should be gone because they chose to go for a bike ride. Not a single one.

Who are you arguing against with that? No one is disagreeing with you.

What they're saying is that we don't live in that society. We don't live in a utopia. People tried explaining the difference between idealism and pragmatism to you earlier and you still don't even know what pragmatism means.

We live in an imperfect society with bad people. That is an indisputable truth and something you will never change. Instead of focusing 100% of your energy on getting on the internet and talking about what should and should not be the case in a perfect world, people are choosing to focus on how we can lower our chances of becoming a victim in this imperfect world that we have to deal with.

No one is blaming the girl, no one is blaming the Gaudreau's. They are saying, "please, we need to learn from these tragedies, we need to understand why they're happening, we need to evaluate the factors that were present when they happened, we need to take steps to lower our chances of this happening again, because we don't want to see any more victims of senseless acts of violence".

 

[Bond]

RIP What a tragedy. I am not too keen on hanging the guy yet - just not sure of what percent of cause was the drinking.

Ridiculous take. The driver passed the car ahead of him on the right because he was mad about the person giving the Gaudreau's a wider berth.