Boston's bicycling community is abuzz this morning.  A cyclist was hit and killed by a bus yesterday, and whenever something like this happens in Boston, everybody jumps in and takes sides.  People who drive blame the cyclists.  Cyclists blame the buses.  The whole debate is a little sordid, to tell you the truth.  I mean, have a little respect for the dead.  Seriously.

We know which side the MBTA is on.  Unfortunately, while the T has a new GM who's trying to be more sympathetic, they have the same old spokesman.  You know the one: Joe Pesaturo, the guy for whom someone hit by a train is a "trespasser".  Well, the morning headline says it all:

Bicyclist dies after falling under T bus

The Globe says Pesaturo told them that the 22 year-old cyclist "lost control and fell under the moving bus."  Well, that's a, um, creative way of putting it.  I mean, come on, all liability aside, the kid was hit by a bus.  Hit and then run over by a bus.  That's what killed him. 

Falling off a bike usually doesn't result in death.  Even falling off a bike and under a bus doesn't result in death unless the bus is moving.  Admit it, Pesaturo: the kid was hit by a bus.  At some point in the proceedings. 

Personally, I take nothing for granted on the streets.  I go out of my way to avoid areas with heavy mixed traffic, but if I can't avoid it, I use extra caution.  I never take on a bus.  It's too easy to "fall under" them. 

Maybe someday we'll get the streets a great city deserves — streets designed to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorists.  Until then, let's all try not to fall under any moving buses.