Comments about ‘Family mourns death of Michael Wright, cyclist struck by TRAX train’

Don't try to beat...

the train!

What's the deal with the trains here?

There is someone hurt or killed weekly.

Other cities have them, but you never hear of anyone getting hurt elsewhere.

Can somebody please explain what's going on??!!!

Being out in traffic requires your full attention. As nice as it is to be able to listen to your tunes while on your bike or in your car, it makes it harder to hear what's going on around you. That can put you in a very dangerous position very quickly. Trains don't stop on a dime, neither do cars and trucks. Best to be paying complete attention.

Re: LDS Liberal
I wonder the same thing, but as someone who rides the train I see how careless people are all the time. Why people have to listen to their music at such a high level, especially around a busy area (which is where the trains run) is beyond me... and I'm a 21 year old college student.
Its not as if the train conductors can stop the train on a dime, and people act like they can on a regular basis

Paying attention to your surroundings is more relevant than whether or not you're listening to a Droid or mp3 player. Not that it hasn't happened, but I don't recall a deaf person being hit by TRAX and that is because they are keenly aware of their other senses and very aware of their surroundings. This is a tragic accident but certainly preventable. Don't blame it on the headphones.

I believe Austin, Tx has the worst accident rate with thier train system.

Apparently Utah want's to be # 1!

LDS Liberal- other cities have trains and other cities have accidents too. and it seems to me that its usually the person that's hit that is at fault... except that one case when the conductor was texting- how many people died? and that wasn't here in salt lake.

Please remember these things

When driving

No Alcohol
No Texting
No loud music or other things to interfer with hearing.

Sad,

A kid from West Jordan died a couple years ago when he rode his skate board in front of a train - while wearing earphones.

Please, wake up, pay attention. The life you save could be your own.

S Liberal | 10:05 a.m. July 8, 2010
What's the deal with the trains here?

Why the trains don't have wings for "emergencies" or why Superman still working in Metropolis instead of savings lives in Salt Lake?

mmmmmm.....duh!

Wow! This is getting scary! Is there something in our drinking water causing brain-cell deterioration? Oil, perhaps?

Another sad case supporting monorail or subway in leu of 'light rail.'

When it comes to accidents there seems to be nothing 'light' about it.

Let's take out light rail and do things right.

Jash, monorail and subway are just to expensive. It was studied and just not feasible. Tracks were already in place for lightrail. I drive for UTA, see stupidity every day. Rarely UTA's fault. People just don't safety seriously.

Sorry, I'm doing what I can but there are so many careless people out there.

Sorry for your family's loss.

Jash, we have had trains for nearly two hundred years, people know to get out of the way. It is not the train it was just bad luck. No one is to blame here and your argument could be used against ear-buds, mp3 players or even bikes. The thing we should take from this is that life is fragile and eventually everyone's time is up. At least he was trying to be a better person when he died, his family can take solace from that.

Did you know why people who have hearing and vision handicaps do not have accidents? They are more aware of the surroundings. Take off the Ipods and look where you are heading.

It was NOT "bad luck"!

"Bad luck" would happen without rhyme or reason. In this case, it would seem that poor Mr. Wright elected to surrender his ability to hear his surroundings, in order to listen to "old rock legends." At the time, it probably seemed like no big deal - he probably listened to his headphones all the time. But alas, the choice ended up having huge consequences, as he failed to hear the approaching train. Tragic consequences... totally avoidable.

A cyclist is particularly vulnerable - the only way to avoid injury or death is to avoid accidents.

My fellow riders should carefully weigh the risk-vs.-reward factor before impairing their hearing. I occasionally use the headphones, but only on separated bikeways or on rural, light-traffic roads.

Condolences.

@ LDS Liberal - a young mom was crossing the MAX train tracks in our fair metro area (Portland, OR) when she was hit and killed by a train. She had ear buds in her ears, a hoodie over her head, and while her head was down -failed to look either way before crossing the tracks. The conductor was blaring his horn. Her mother claimed MAX was the culprit, and they put in gates on either side of the track so that a pedestrian had to be "active" to cross the train tracks.

It's about being alert, watchful and attentive to the environment around you, and be defensive, not complacent.

Is it possible that these TRAX trains are turning into the evil Decepticon Transformers and beginning to wreak havoc on unsuspecting humankind? Better call in Agents Scully and Mulder...the truth is out there!