Out of the Blue: Learn from tragedy, emphasize bike safety
It’s been a sad week in Laguna. We have learned that the man accused of driving the car that killed cyclist John Colvin in June is Dylan Randluby, one of our own. Just 20 years old.
Police alleged that he made things infinitely worse for himself when he sped off after the accident. The Orange County district attorney’s office charged him earlier this month with felony hit-and-run and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
We can only speculate on what Randluby is experiencing. While not a physical death like Colvin’s, what he’s going through must be a soulful one.
He will do a maximum of four years, if convicted. But he will live in a certain prison the rest of his life.
Not to mention his family. It’s got to be shattering.
As it was to Joan Colvin, her two daughters and so many others who are feeling the unfathomable agony of Colvin’s absence and now have to live it all again with the upcoming trial.
It’s unclear what Randluby was doing wrong behind the wheel, if anything, but it only takes a split second for a tragedy to happen.
We’ve all blown it. I do so far too often. Texting, primping, eating or just zoning out. There but for the grace of God (or luck) go I — or any of us.
Get it together, people. In a civil society we are all responsible for each other.
The city is doing an admirable job of responding to the unconscionable spate of bicycle and pedestrian deaths.
Witness the parade of bike route signs and sharrows that have sprouted, giving us unimpeded egress from Crescent Bay to Nye’s Place — without ever spinning a rotation on Coast Highway.
We even have our first dedicated bike lane on Monterey Street, though the city is considering changing it to a “share” lane with pedestrians. Good idea.
Credit the city for responding to the voices at the bike rally following Colvin’s death. And to hearing the heartfelt plea from Joan Colvin to not let his death be in vain.
Credit Paul Deem for memorializing his late wife, Debra, who was hit and killed a year earlier on Coast Highway. He spoke eloquently. He said that driving through Laguna is akin to driving through a theme park (with all the distractions) and that cars must be forced to slow down.
You may have noticed the digital signs that the police have placed on Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road signaling motorists to give three feet to cyclists.
They are also conducting a bike rodeo from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 22 at the old employee parking lot, in front of the Festival of Arts.
The intent is to make families aware of how to operate bicycles safely and legally. A BMX stunt show will be presented. Bring your bike and have it inspected.
Immediately after, Transition Laguna plans to stage a Critical Mass bike ride on the north-south bike route. Come on down and join your community of bikers. Wear a costume if you want.
But the city can’t rest on its laurels. More still needs to be done. We need many more bike racks. And wouldn’t it be nice if some of them were works of art? Here’s a chance for the Arts Commission to dedicate its considerable resources to something new and needed.
Hopefully Mayor Bob Whalen will unveil his and Councilwoman Toni Iseman’s plan for remaking Laguna Canyon Road, and hopefully it will include a safe bike and pedestrian lane.
And then the final stroke in this reimagining of our city as a multimodal, progressive, sustainable and safe town will be to put Coast Highway on a diet to slow the cars, make the road safer for pedestrians and give bikers some space.
It’s the right thing to do. And it’s good for business. Just ask Long Beach.
BILLY FRIED has a radio show on KX93.5 from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursdays called “Laguna Talks.” He is the chief experience officer of La Vida Laguna and member of the board of Transition Laguna. He can be reached at [email protected].