The Brahan Seer Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 A guy from the Melbourne EUC riders group has just died, his name was James, I have no other details other than this at present. My condolences to his family and friends. Ride safe everyone... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Very sad, all my condolences to his family and friends. There is a thread that tries to list EUC fatalities, I suggest adding this there when we have a bit more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robse Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 https://www.3aw.com.au/man-dies-after-crashing-electric-unicycle-in-melbournes-north-east/ sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brahan Seer Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 9 News coverage... https://www.9news.com.au/national/bellfield-man-dies-after-losing-control-while-riding-electric-unicycle-in-melbourne/274f4564-c7c5-425f-a8f6-5e087fc3f189#:~:text=A man has died after,5pm when the incident occurred. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 We lack details but I really wish cyclists would stop taking both lanes by riding side by side. Never going to happen tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frolic0415 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 He was a good friend, I will miss you heaps James. Much love 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Cobar Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Aw crap. I feel bad for his family, especially his kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbera Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Yeah, terrible for all concerned, and a very sad day for the hobby overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoboFixIt Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 (edited) So sad to hear about this RIP! We pray for healing for all impacted! Edited February 21 by RoboFixIt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 (edited) 12 minutes ago, RoboFixIt said: Would it be better / safer to ride smaller wheels? At equal speed a smaller wheel will have less safety headroom as well as be more prone to bumps, so save a few exceptions, IMO, no.. Edited February 21 by null 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterwheel Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 1 hour ago, RoboFixIt said: So sad to hear about this RIP! We pray for healing for all impacted! Would it be better / safer to ride smaller wheels? Big wheels are fine as long as one chooses the right speed for conditions. Bike paths are generally unsafe at speeds over about 40kmh. Easy to go too fast for those conditions when the top speed on your wheel is more than double than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 18 minutes ago, winterwheel said: Easy to go too fast for those conditions when the top speed on your wheel is more than double than that. And yet, fast cars aren't banned from city centers, so at some point it has to be the rider to be responsible for choosing his speed. (I’m mentioning this because I have read several times that powerful PEVs should be banned from cycle lanes, as if the rider didn't have any control over the speed, and I just find this unreasonable, hence the analogy) 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 (edited) Stop talking about: small vs big wheels, speed, bike lanes, what's safe or not safe.. Leave this tread alone. Say some good, heartfelt words to passed one. Otherwise zip it. Show some respect?! Edited February 21 by Funky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post null Posted February 21 Popular Post Share Posted February 21 (edited) 1 hour ago, Funky said: Stop talking about: small vs big wheels, speed, bike lanes, what's safe or not safe.. Leave this tread alone. Say some good, heartfelt words to passed one. Otherwise zip it. Show some respect?! I don’t see why one shouldn't be allowed to comment on news on this forum, or where you get the authority to police this thread. AFAIK neither the riders family nor himself where part of this community, and as tragic as it is for the close ones (and I know this first hand), at this distance it is just sad news that touch us because EUC. If OP (or other mods) wants this to be a condolence thread he can decide so as far as I’m concerned, and those who are interested in investigating the reasons of this can make a separate thread. In the meantime, you, @Funky, are not in a position to order people to “zip it”. Edited February 21 by null 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Oh sorry for wanting to show some respect. By wanting this tread to stay "on topic". Otherwise it would get derailed as all other treads.. (Forgetting altogether that we are commenting in tread about someone's death.) But as you where folks - keep small taking non trivial things over one's death.. Sorry for butting in. Who cares if he was/wasn't a member of this community. It's a death! Not some trivial thing like a cut-out, or wheel stopping working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoboFixIt Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 This is really upsetting news and everyone is sad to hear about what happened. Sending prayers out for healing for anyone impacted by this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post UniVehje Posted February 22 Popular Post Share Posted February 22 9 hours ago, Funky said: Oh sorry for wanting to show some respect. By wanting this tread to stay "on topic". Otherwise it would get derailed as all other treads.. Says the guy responsible for derailing more threads than probably any other user.. Anyway, on the topic: It's sad news indeed. My condolences to anybody who knew him. We've had a few fatalities before but most of them have been collisions with cars. I remember just one fatality without cars and that was someone practising backwards riding without helmet and hitting his head. This one hits deeper as there's no cars involved and he was using protection. But I think it's also worth discussing how this happened. Maybe it's too soon but someone needs to say it. We don't know all the details, but it's fairly safe to say that something like this would not have happened without irresponsible riding. One should always be able to come to almost complete stop within the visible range. Even if the cyclists were riding side-by-side he should have been able to slow down enough to safely pass. And judging by the video, he was most likely riding way over any speed suitable for bike paths. Protection is not always enough and there are other people using the same roads. This time the only casualty was the one responsible. It could have been one of the cyclists. Just because you have a fast wheel doesn't mean you can ride fast. We have to be responsible or we get banned and for good reason. All the other local riders will have harder time riding in public now. And about smaller and bigger wheels, bigger is usually more stable. But that also allows for faster speeds. We need bigger wheels for range also, not just for speed. Limiting the speed is our responsibility until it's forced by regulation. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) 4 minutes ago, UniVehje said: Says the guy responsible for derailing more threads than probably any other user.. Yup. And if that's coming from me - it says something.. <3 Edited February 22 by Funky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frolic0415 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 14 minutes ago, UniVehje said: he was using protection. He wasn't wearing his helmet and was riding very fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) 1 hour ago, Frolic0415 said: He wasn't wearing his helmet and was riding very fast. Aren't unicycles illegal in Victoria? Edit: Found this online. The following devices are not considered legal devices and are not allowed to be ridden in public areas: e-scooters capable of travelling faster than 25 km/h devices powered by a petrol motor electric skateboards electric unicycles or monocycles electric roller-skates self-balancing motorised devices other personal mobility devices which don’t meet the above definition. The above devices can only be ridden on private property. The fine for riding an illegal device in a public area is $925. Other penalties may also apply Edited February 22 by DavidB Additional info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterwheel Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 56 minutes ago, Frolic0415 said: He wasn't wearing his helmet and was riding very fast. wrong on the helmet part. If we don't learn the correct lessons from this then it will happen again. And again. And again. I have no issue with large wheels whatsoever; I was saying that riders have to be doubly careful about how and when they use all that power and speed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robse Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 19 minutes ago, DavidB said: Aren't unicycles illegal in Victoria? Edit: Found this online. The following devices are not considered legal devices and are not allowed to be ridden in public areas: other personal mobility devices which don’t meet the above definition. The above devices can only be ridden on private property. The fine for riding an illegal device in a public area is $925. Other penalties may also apply it must be said that the legislator here has secured all rights to declare illegal and hand out fines. This sentence (bold above) basically says that anything that can be considered a personal vehicle regardless of means of propulsion is illegal. In reality, it is open to personal interpretation what a personal vehicle is. This then leaves only two opportunities: Stay at home on the sofa and be sure not to get a fine, or go out and enjoy the world with your vehicle. It is again and again sad to see how gullible and uncertain about the future those who rule the country can be, and are. And what is even worse, there is certainly someone who will now come forward (not in this forum) with sly comments that this would not have happened at all if the law had been observed. But these kinds of comments do nothing to change the very sad situation, and you can get into an accident everywhere, regardless of how hard you try to be "law-abiding". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post The Brahan Seer Posted February 22 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 22 This thread can be used for condolences, reflection, and for discussion. From these experiences we can all validate or learn from. The news article above is also a news item that was broadcast on TV and shows the narrative that the media takes and the general public see. This is a sad time for the entire family and the EUC community. Both have lost either in death or in the consequences it will have in life for the rest of us. James is not the first, and others will die soon and its only going to get more frequent. It could be you or me if we are unlucky or if we can learn something from this it will be the other person. Neither is acceptable. So what have I had validated. That bike paths are more dangerous at speed than open roads. Seems pretty obvious eh? So why are many people still riding so high on them? Next time you are on one, a path or even a road, take a look at everything that can hit you and make a choice. What have you got to lose?... Safe rides everyone. 7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frolic0415 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) 7 hours ago, winterwheel said: wrong on the helmet part. If we don't learn the correct lessons from this then it will happen again. And again. And again. The helmet was found dozens of metres away from the crash site and he was known for riding whilst holding his helmet in his hand. His head trauma also shows pretty concrete signs of this as well. Source: He's passed me multiple times on rides at high speeds whilst holding his helmet, including on this specific trail. Why talk about the learning from the correct lessons if you then proceed to not learn from them? Why would you tell me I'm wrong if you have no idea? Quite rude, please don't spread misinformation. Edited February 22 by Frolic0415 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planemo Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 2 hours ago, Frolic0415 said: The helmet was found dozens of metres away from the crash site and he was known for riding whilst holding his helmet in his hand. Thanks for that information. Whilst I appreciate it isn't conclusive I feel it's worthy evidence. It struck a chord with me because a few guys I have ridden with do the same, it makes no sense to me. I'll never berate anyone for their gear (or lack of) but I don't get why you would go to the faff of carrying a piece of protective equipment when it's generally far easier to just wear it. The only time my helmet comes off during a ride is if I get a bug in it and at that point I've slowed to a max of 10mph whilst I'm distracted sorting out the critter. Other than that, modern lids are so light and airy (especially full face MTB types) I just can't imagine not wearing one now and I genuinely don't even notice it. That said, I'm no saint because if I was serious about helmets I would be using full face MC types but of course something is generally better than nothing. This is such a sad incident and will echo around the fraternity for some time I feel. My condolences to the family and those that knew James 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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