The tragedy that took place in Kenmore with the death of a local cyclist is unfortunately nothing new.

Kenmore resident Gordon Gray, 70, who was an avid triathlete, was struck by a cement truck and died later at Harborview Medical Center.

Gray was riding his bike southbound on 65th Avenue Northeast after turning off of the Burke-Gilman Trail when he apparently failed to stop at the stop sign and was struck by a cement truck heading west on Northeast 175th Street, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident is sad and impacts so many lives. The most obvious is Gray, his family and friends, who we send our sincerest condolences for their loss.

It also impacts the driver of the truck and his friends and family in a different way.

It also impacts all of us in Northshore and those in the cycling community.

I saw in many community postings online some great tributes to Gray. I also saw many people posting insensitive things about cyclists that are not appropriate when, not only has the investigation not concluded but there are people grieving for the victim.

There always seems to be a divide in our community between motor vehicle drivers and cyclists that rears its ugly head when incidents like these take place. There are those who drive cars and resent cyclists for obeying the law by driving on city streets and slowing motor vehicles down. Those aggravations are exacerbated when cyclists ride in groups, instead of single file, blow through red lights or don’t signal when changing lanes. Not all cyclists do these things but it only takes one or two to make someone upset.

Cyclists get upset because they do have a right to drive on city streets and most obey the rules of the road. Riding on the side of the road in bike lanes or with traffic can be dangerous. There are hazards that only cyclists understand, like broken glass and debris, among other things. Not all drivers obey the rules either, and some feel the protection of a couple-ton vehicle when riding along side or behind a cyclist. Some also feel the need to exert their dominance.

I am not a cyclist. I have rarely, if ever, ridden a bike with traffic, but I have friends who ride.

Our area has a lot of cyclists. Juanita Drive in Kenmore is one of the busiest in the area for street cyclists and we all need to be aware of the potential dangers. During the past six years as a reporter and editor for the Bothell, Kenmore  and Kirkland Reporter newspapers I have covered far too many cyclist fatalities. Six to be exact, and frankly, one is too many.

Commuter cycling is getting more and more popular with how congested our traffic has become.

We all have to be more sensitive to the needs of other cyclists and motor vehicles when driving or riding, and obey all laws. This is not a problem that is going to get better until we all realize that we have to share the roadways.

The investigation into the cause of Gray’s death is still pending a full conclusion by the Sheriff’s office and everyone should check their opinion at the door. Think about your comments and how a family member or friend of the victim may feel.

No matter who is at fault in this case, the fact remains that a member of our community has died and we all need to be sensitive to that and find ways to prevent it from happening at all.

Matt Phelps is the regional editor of the Bothell/Kenmore and Kirkland Reporter newspapers.