[bro1999]

No, the headline is not incorrect. A bicyclist crashed into the rear of an autonomous Bolt EV when the Bolt had to suddenly stop when another car entered its lane. Bicyclist suffered a scrapped knee, and the Bolt some minor rear bumper damage, but the bicycle was undamaged.

http://www.thedrive.com/tech/11407/...lt-collided-with-a-bicyclist-in-san-francisco

 

[hvacman]

Bicyclist suffered a scrapped knee,

Bummer. I hate it when I have to scrap a knee after an accident

but the bicycle was undamaged.

Spoken like a true cyclist Rule #4

"The Rules"

 

[Bacardi]

From the police report:

"A Cruise autonomous vehicle ("Cruise A V") was traveling northbound on 11th Street in San Francisco in autonomous mode, turning left onto Mission Street in the outer of two left tum lanes . During the tum, a vehicle in the inner of the two left tum lanes began to cut in front of the Cruise A V. The Cruise A V braked, and a bike that had been closely crossing behind the rear of the Cruise A V ran into the back of the Cmise A V. Police were not present or called to the scene. None of the occupants of the Cruise AV were injured. The Cruise AV occupants observed the at the cyclist scraped hi s knee. At the time, the cyclist stated an intention to seek medical evaluation, but declined to seek emergency assistance. There was a minor scratch on the AV, and the bicycle had no visible damage."

No mention if the vehicle was in EV mode which will be what most people want to know...Appears another vehicle started to come into the Bolt's lane and while turning, the Bolt made an adjustment while the bike didn't...

Very far into the future and I know there are a lot of anti-AV folks on here regardless of the automaker/company who makes the tech, but wonder if in the future AV cars could sense an object coming and accelerate and/or maneuver out of the way...

 

[Qinsp]

... At the time, the cyclist stated an intention to seek medical evaluation, ...

First stop I suggest is to his optometrist. I know a Bolt is a small car, but it's not THAT small. It should be easily visible from at least 20 feet away.

 

[edk-austin]

I hate it when that happens. I was that bicyclist once.

 

[Sean Nelson]

No mention if the vehicle was in EV mode which will be what most people want to know...

Given the fact that it's a Bolt, what mode could it be in other than "EV Mode"?

 

[Qinsp]

Given the fact that it's a Bolt, what mode could it be in other than "EV Mode"?

"Christine Mode" this is the setting where not only is the car Autonomous, it is also Felonious.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Bicyclists in San Francisco have little regard for automotive traffic and even less for pedestrians. The city of San Francisco has actually had to ban bicycles on many trails because bicyclists were running down and colliding with hikers and joggers.

 

[obermd]

Cyclist was at fault, pure and simple. He was riding too close behind the Bolt and failed to respond to the Bolt's avoidance maneuver. The cyclist should be ticketed and be required to cover the repairs to the Bolt.

 

[BAZINGA]

If the cyclist/bike were a driver/car I bet the driver would have been cited. And who pays for the damage to the Bolt or is Kalif a "no fault" state?

 

[Dutch]

Bicyclists in San Francisco have little regard for automotive traffic and even less for pedestrians. The city of San Francisco has actually had to ban bicycles on many trails because bicyclists were running down and colliding with hikers and joggers.

In Wash DC they had a similar issue.

I know bike messengers who had the attitude "they know I'm coming, they'll move". Well an auto-vehicle might just NOT move (LOL)

 

[Raymondjram]

What are you saying you'd do? Point your gun out the window of your car if a biker was in your way?

wtf is wrong with people. "Oh, a biker won't get out of my way. Let me reach for my gun" ????

I was in a traffic jam around 1988 in my 1985 Old Cutlass Ciera. A motorcyclist tried to pass between lanes on the driver side (my side), but couldn't because the Ciera's left side exterior mirror (solid and non folding) pokes out over eight inches, was very close to the other car's right side mirror only inches apart, and so he couldn't pass. He started to kick my car! Luckily the Ciera is very tough, no damage happened, and he remain still and frustrated until the other lane moved. I laughed all the way to work!

 

[Jim I]

If the bicycle was also an AV, this would have never happened!

Human error to blame again.

RoboCop would have given a citation to the human operator of the bicycle.



Jim - C-5277

 

[phil0909]

Get a sense of humor, and a sense of perspective. You have ten seconds to comply. 10. 9. 8. ...

 

[Mcgsp]

Personally, at my age and demographic, a gun is no measurable threat to me, it's your cellphone that will snuff me out.

I honestly believe that if you are on the phone while driving and you injure or kill somebody, it should be treated exactly like a felony firearm assault. Attempted homicide, or voluntarily manslaughter. You absolutely knew it was a lethal situation and you acted deliberately knowing this. No different than firing a gun at me. You'll normally miss. Just like your cellphone driving.

You won't have any argument from me on that end. 40,000 traffic fatalities, distracted drivers especially young distracted drivers are a danger. And I won't argue with you about a middle age man or woman with the phone glued to their ear while driving, which scares the heck out of me as a driver a pedestrian and a cyclist. Many years ago a sociologist by the name of Nathan Glazer argued there was a clear and present danger in the US do to the 50,000+ car fatalities and million plus injuries for the decade of the 70's. In contrast it took 7 years for 59,000 US service men to die in Vietnam. He called for safer cars, raising the driving age and more rigorous testing of drivers, and tougher penalties in those who cause the incidents and he wrote before the smart phone. Many drivers forget how precious life is.

The sad fact is after years of declines in traffic fatalities in last couple years there has been a substantial rise in the number of car fatalities. So in short, yeah you have a lot to fear from distracted drivers. On another note, Cyclist and pedestrians should take note of a New York City study that followed the injuries and deaths from pedestrians and cyclists and the same thread holds true the majority of incidents are caused by everyone being on some sort of device.

 

[Bacardi]

<deleted politics reference>

I guess Dave deleted his post...There have been many accidents already while in AV mode and even the Navy Seal who unfortunately died as a result of autopilot...

Accountability or "fault" is actually determined by insurance companies, not the DMV, etc and insurance regulation varies state by state...Perhaps a national AV policy will come out, but if someone truly cares who's at fault, research the previously reported AV accidents...

 

[NYRob]

I honestly believe that if you are on the phone while driving and you injure or kill somebody, it should be treated exactly like a felony firearm assault. Attempted homicide, or voluntarily manslaughter.

Can't disagree with the above!
As a driver since 1979, I've seen the texting epidemic go from bad to worse to absolutely out of control at this point.

It's way past bad when you now see even school bus drivers and cops texting while they're driving!

 

[CurrentEvent]

There's freeway off-ramp near me where people are always changing lanes while turning. You have to really be on your toes. If an AV can handle that it's doing pretty good.

 

[Jmaj]

When an AV drives through Paris during rush hour successfully I'll be a believer.

 

[Fyodor]

I guess Dave deleted his post...There have been many accidents already while in AV mode and even the Navy Seal who unfortunately died as a result of autopilot...

Accountability or "fault" is actually determined by insurance companies, not the DMV, etc and insurance regulation varies state by state...Perhaps a national AV policy will come out, but if someone truly cares who's at fault, research the previously reported AV accidents...

It wasn't clear but that response was my absurd answer to what I thought was an absurd assertion - the idea of society being polite because it is frightened not to be.

The question of accountability for an AV's damages I don't have a good answer for. I'd be looking a current no-fault systems for a start.