On Saturday July 29th 2006, approximately 250 feet south of the Shepherd Canyon Rd./Skyline Blvd./Pinehurst Rd. intersection in the Oakland Hills around 3:30pm bicyclist Ed Weiss was stuck and killed by a motorcycle that crossed the yellow line. Ed was riding his bicycle south in his lane when one of the motorcyclist’s struck him in the chest with his helmet. The Ninja ZX motorcyclists were riding together and both drivers were questioned by the police. The lead rider was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Despite evidence that the motorcyclist crossed the yellow line, killing an innocent bicyclist, the driver has not been charged by the Alameda County DA!
To ensure that Ed’s case is prosecuted by Tom Orloff, Alameda County DA, if you live in Alameda County, please write and either mail or fax your own short yet sincere comments on how prosecution of the case can make Alameda County streets and roads safer for bicycling. Urge your friends and members of bicycling clubs that reside in Alameda County to write the DA (sample letter). We have to question just who Mr Orloff is protecting!
A concerned resident on Skyline, Bennett Hall, has assembled a tremendous website that suggests countermeasures for reckless speeding and documents the crash scene (lower left).
A sensitive Montclarian newspaper article by Candace Murphy demonstrates that reckless behavior has returned to Skyline in 2007 with impunity. Even during the July 29, 2007 Memorial event on Skyline Blvd, a Ninja rider made threatening gestures in front of hundreds of assembled bicyclists and Council Member Jean Quan before he was heard blasting down the road!