apple strudel

I'm sure nobody here has been following this story but it's a big one in the cycling community. Last year in LA a doctor ran down a group of cyclists who were riding three abreast at the tail end of a charity race (they had stopped and waited for a cyclist who had either crashed or had a mechanical).

More specifically, he pulled alongside them, rolled down the passenger window and told them to ride single file. He got the finger in return and that pissed him off so he decided to pull in front of the pack and brake hard. The front rider nearly had his nose amputated after crashing into the rear window, the second rider flew over the car and dislocated his shoulder. The driver apparently has a history of trying to run down cyclists, and at the scene he told a cop that he wanted to "teach them a lesson". To this day, nobody understands what lesson he was trying to teach.

The DA pressed felony charges and today he was convicted on 6 of them, including a misdemeanor. In my view this is absolutely the right decision. While nobody is saying that it's cool for the cyclists to give him the finger, they certainly didn't deserve what happened to them. I don't think enough drivers understand how vulnerable cyclists really are. So drivers, please drive safely.

http://www.velonews.com/article/9981...-victims-speak

patsfan13

Certainly road rage isn't an excuse to asult someone with your vehicle.

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BelichickFan

Obviously this guy has an issue but cyclists have to ride single file. I know this is a personal issue for you but cyclists are second class citizens on the road, sorry. I am not a "cyclist" but I ride 20-30 minutes a day to get a little exercise and I'll ride off the road if I have to. Riding non single file is just asking for trouble.

apple strudel

In MA the law states that cyclists can ride two abreast. This is a good law, designed to protect the cyclists. Further, I believe the cyclists in this case moved to single file after the driver pulled up. Why get upset for something that really only costs you 30 seconds of time, tops?

Not according to the law.

These guys were riding 3 abreast and the main reason for that is that there were at the end (a ways back) of a charity ride. In those rides obviously they don't ride in pacelines.

BelichickFan

I'm not talking about the law, I'm talking about what makes sense. It makes no sense to ride 3 wide. If it's lawful, great, but it's still dangerous. I wouldn't dream of riding 2 wide.

Harry Boy

If your a Bike Rider be very careful there are some real Crazy People driving cars today, country roads can be just as dangerous as City Streets (Mass Ave).

How in the name of God do some of these weird looking crazy freaks get drivers licenses, is that another "political thing"-------------------

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

PatsWSB47

A similar thing happened (though no arrests or injuries) in a 5K race (running) I was in a couple of years ago. It's similar because I think the same mentality exists in a lot of people.

The route was marked and signs were up and there were even cops at some of the intersections. There was a group of 4 runners a little ahead of me that were almost hit as a car full of young girls veered at them at hollered "get out of the Fukcing road!"

I think a lot of drivers take on ahole personalities behind the wheel. You'd never see them behave that way in almost any other facet of their lives. I understand some frustration of having a commute interrupted but so many people become unreasonably irate. What is it? I don't get it.

BelichickFan

AFAIC, (my opinion, not the law), the road is for cars. Anyone else is "a guest". That's how I treat it when I'm on my bike. I try to be respectful of bikers when I'm driving but IMO bikers or runners are asking for trouble if they consider themselves to be equal. Again, I'm saying what makes sense to me not what the law says.

apple strudel

Actually, if you think about it, it does make sense. For cyclists and motorcycles visibility is key, and riders riding 2 or 3 abreast are more visible from the rear than a paceline is, especially around curves. It's the same idea that says that it's actually safer for the cyclist to take the lane or for the cyclist to keep a straight line even if there's space on the right between parked cars (if you veer right in this case you're obscured by the cars). If you try riding solo through a mountain pass you'll see that your biggest worry is that cars won't see you.

apple strudel

Bicycle Safety: How to Not Get Hit by Cars

Check out the number of "ride to the left" recommendations.