KC-area cyclist killed in early-morning crash

Early Monday morning Rita Hahn, a 49-year-old nurse who was training for the MS150 bicycle ride, was killed by a delivery truck in Lenexa, KS.

At 5:15 AM, the time the crash occured, it was very dark and the delivery truck driver, who was traveling at approximately the posted speed limit of 45 MPH, reported that he did not see the cyclist at all. News reports indicate that Hahn's bicycle had two red, read reflectors that were in proper working order.

This crash highlights two well-known problems with bicycle reflectors and riding at night:

• The CPSC-approved reflectors that come installed on bicycles give cyclists the impression that nothing beyond the standard reflectors is required for safe night riding. Most experienced cyclists who often ride at night use both front and rear lights in addition to the standard reflectors. I myself never ride at night with less than three red "blinky" lights in addition to rear reflectors that go well beyond the CPSR's minimum requirement.
  
• CPSC-approved bicycle reflectors are much dimmer than regular automotive reflectors. They are too dim to make you visible in many common situations. They are about 1/3 as bright as automotive reflectors, at best.

The collision was covered on KCTV5 and in the Kansas City Star.