Cops Bust Woman for Hitting Cyclist After She Brags on Twitter

[Mr Kram]

Okay, but I don't think you can equate dare devils to those who cycle on the open road. Some are commuting and to do that they have to be on those roads. Maybe paths will lead them to their destination, but it takes a lot longer. If this is your idea then we all, in some capacity, should reasonably expect catastrophe just by walking out the door.

It is reasonable for me to believe that I am in more danger while on my motorcycle than I am in a car, but even still, I don't believe I should accept catastrophe. Same as cycling. Just because I choose to cycle, I stick as close to the shoulder as possible, and I am only using roads when I need to, I don't think I should accept my possible fate of injury or worse.

I think I see what you're saying but your initial sentence basically suggested that while not deserving, your approach is "whatever, you asked for it" when it comes to those "putting themselves in danger."

i am not talking about the average common sense cyclist. in fact, i specifically referred to "idiot bicyclists" in my initial statement. and yes, my stance is that these guys are asking for danger (not intentionally), and i would have very little sympathy for them. darwin is just doing his job in these instances.

 

[sl33t]

What a complete idiot she is. This is also why I stick to trail riding on my MTB. There's no idiotic drivers in the woods .

 

[zioxide]

wow what? do stupid stuff and you should expect dire consequences. i'm not saying people should intentionally hit these fools, so please don't put words in my mouth.

That would mean like 98% of the people in cars on the road deserve to crash off a bridge and die with the amount of distracted and just generally ignorant drivers in this world.

Just because there are some bikers who are reckless and weave in and out of traffic or whatnot doesn't mean automobile drivers can completely neglect the rules of the road. It's that old saying... two wrongs don't make a right.

On top of that, a guy on a bike cruising through a stop sign because he looks and nobody is coming is a hell of a lot less dangerous than some idiot texting, messing around on their phone, eating, trying to put on makeup, shaving, etc while driving a 3000 pound death machine. It's not just bikers they're oblivious to then, but other vehicles and pedestrians too.

This country needs to start seriously cracking down on distracted driving. Start suspending licenses after a set number of offenses in a certain time period and then maybe people will start taking it seriously.

 

[Mr Kram]

That would mean like 98% of the people in cars on the road deserve to crash off a bridge and die with the amount of distracted and just generally ignorant drivers in this world.

Just because there are some bikers who are reckless and weave in and out of traffic or whatnot doesn't mean automobile drivers can completely neglect the rules of the road. It's that old saying... two wrongs don't make a right.

On top of that, a guy on a bike cruising through a stop sign because he looks and nobody is coming is a hell of a lot less dangerous than some idiot texting, messing around on their phone, eating, trying to put on makeup, shaving, etc while driving a 3000 pound death machine. It's not just bikers they're oblivious to then, but other vehicles and pedestrians too.

This country needs to start seriously cracking down on distracted driving. Start suspending licenses after a set number of offenses in a certain time period and then maybe people will start taking it seriously.

what? LOL. tangent anyone?

 

[MegamanX]

in this instance yes, but we've all seen idiot bikers too. i don't want to say they deserve to get hit, but...

again, i'm not getting into it.

statically speaking. They have found a cyclist is much more likely to be following the law than a motorist. Just there are fewer cyclist so we remember the ones that break the law.

 

[Mr Kram]

statically speaking. They have found a cyclist is much more likely to be following the law than a motorist. Just there are fewer cyclist so we remember the ones that break the law.

Agreed. I am only referring to "idiots" who knowingly and intentionally break the laws and put themselves in imminent danger.

 

[smithrh]

statically speaking. They have found a cyclist is much more likely to be following the law than a motorist. Just there are fewer cyclist so we remember the ones that break the law.

I'm not sure what "statically speaking" is, nor do I know who "They" are, but in my experience, I regularly - REGULARLY - see bicyclists run stop signs and traffic signals.

In fact, almost had someone cycle right in front of me just yesterday. It was a 4-way intersection, 2-way stop, no stop in my direction, but a stop sign for the cyclist. They blew right by the stop sign and only just barely stopped in time before I would have quite possibly T-boned them. This was with eye-to-eye contact the whole time.

If someone wants to tell me that drivers routinely run red lights and stop signs to the same frequency that cyclists do, that would be laughable.

It's this kind of behavior that ticks people off - there are many cyclists out there that would seem to want protection from other vehicles, all while flaunting the rules of the road.

 

[mobilehaathi]

wow what? do stupid stuff and you should expect dire consequences. i'm not saying people should intentionally hit these fools, so please don't put words in my mouth.

Language is funny in that you can say one thing and yet distinctly imply the opposite.

 

[sim667]

Language is funny in that you can say one thing and yet distinctly imply the opposite.

Sarcasm and Ironicism are very rarely suited to the realm of text communication remember.

 

[Happybunny]

If she had done that **** here, well the results would have been very different.

"Strict liability", supported in law in the Netherlands, leads to driver's insurance being deemed to be responsible in a collision between a car and a cyclist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_in_the_Netherlands

If she was found to have done it on purpose, she could be had for assault, or even attempted murder, she would most certainly lose her car licence, for up to two years. She would also have to take a court mandated "Management Anger Seminar"

 

[gnasher729]

When you have a small road with no shoulder and a bike rider going half the speed limit with no room for a car to pass what else is going to happen. Either we build bigger roads or the bike has to keep up with traffic.

When you have a small road with no shoulder and a bike rider going half the speed limit with no room for a car to pass, then as the driver of a car what I have to do is wait patiently, keep a reasonable distance, don't behave in any threatening way, until it is possible to pass safely. As the driver of the bicycle, if you obstruct other people, you'll have to eventually find a place where you can get out of the way even if it means you have to stop, and let the traffic pass you.

No need to build bigger roads or for the bicycle rider to undertake olympic training. Just a bit of patience.

 

[steiney]

http://mashable.com/2013/05/21/cops-bust-woman-hitting-cyclist-twitter/

As an avide cycling this is a big deal to me and way to go on the cops. This girl deserves everything she gets for this. Far to many people in cars do not give me the respect or even the room safely on the road.

Like 3ft min when passing me on the road. Do not cut me off ect. Sorry but I do not have a big metal cage to procect me and with the bike and gear I am maybe 200 lb to your cars 3000+lb. I have been almost clipped more than once by mirrors and honk at by drivers who had the room to get over and go around me. there was no traffic but they did not want to OMG change lanes to pass me or in one case wait 10-15 extra for me to clear the interestion so they gun it around me then cut me off forcing me to slam on my so I on my bike would not slam into them doing 20 mph. That one oddly enough got multiple middle fingers at the guy from witnesses in cars which were waiting for me and my fellow riders to make it clear. We though it was great that we had their support.

Sorry for the rant to many dumb asses out there who do not know how to treat cyclist or have any clue on the law.

You should try a couple alternatives:

1. Stop riding a bicycle on motor vehicle passageways.

2. Stop feeling so entitled.

I just don't get the road bicyclist mentality. It's illegal for to ride a >50cc scooter on the motor vehicle passageways because they go too slow and it creates a danger for everyone. But somehow, cyclists are allowed to go even slower with no motor. If you're going to ride a bicycle on a motor vehicle passageway, you got to be okay with getting hit by cars. The riding annoys me when I have to swerve around you by three feet or slow down a bunch to wait for an opportunity to swerve. But what's even more annoying is listening to a bicyclist belly aching when he/she gets hit by a car.

I ride a dirt bike very aggresively (off-road), and I didn't complain once when I broke my leg last year. I chose to do something with an inherent risk of danger, and it's no one's fault but my own that I broke my leg.

Forgot to add: That woman who hit the cyclist should definitely go to jail. Not for hitting the cyclist but for leaving the scene. It's one thing to hit a cyclist accidentally. I wouldn't feel guilty about that for a second. But if I hurt anyone in this world, you better believe I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing and help that person and make sure medical assistance is on its way.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

What next?!

 

[Zombie Acorn]

I do a lot of inner city travel and I have had near accidents with cyclists much more than with cars. When you get off the street car the cyclists zoom past because they think they are immune to road laws, and they dodge in and out of being on the roadways and pedestrian walkways.

I don't even drive anymore and cyclists still piss me off, the next cyclist who tries to blow through a pedestrian walkway on a red light is going to get a clothesline

 

[steiney]

I do a lot of inner city travel and I have had near accidents with cyclists much more than with cars. When you get off the street car the cyclists zoom past because they think they are immune to road laws, and they dodge in and out of being on the roadways and pedestrian walkways.

I don't even drive anymore and cyclists still piss me off, the next cyclist who tries to blow through a pedestrian walkway on a red light is going to get a clothesline

Amen! I've come to realize that all road cyclists are completely self-absorbed, entitled *******s that think they own the road. I really can't figure out where they all get that sense of entitlement. It's baffling.

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I'm not sure what "statically speaking" is, nor do I know who "They" are, but in my experience, I regularly - REGULARLY - see bicyclists run stop signs and traffic signals.

In fact, almost had someone cycle right in front of me just yesterday. It was a 4-way intersection, 2-way stop, no stop in my direction, but a stop sign for the cyclist. They blew right by the stop sign and only just barely stopped in time before I would have quite possibly T-boned them. This was with eye-to-eye contact the whole time.

If someone wants to tell me that drivers routinely run red lights and stop signs to the same frequency that cyclists do, that would be laughable.

It's this kind of behavior that ticks people off - there are many cyclists out there that would seem to want protection from other vehicles, all while flaunting the rules of the road.

Agreed. Just this morning on the way to work, a cyclist on the sidewalk blew through a street crossing when I had the right-of-way. He had the "do not cross" sign, yet he didn't even look and just went right across the street. It would have been so sweet to smear him against the pavement and teach him a lesson. Unfortunately I'm just not that guy.

 

[Plutonius]

I admire cyclist who follow the rules of the road but there are too many out there that don't. Car drivers should be (and are for the most part) held accountable for their driving but unfortunately, cyclist are not. When cyclist are tested / licensed, police will be able to do something about the cyclist who are not aware of the road rules or choose not to follow them.

 

[question fear]

Wow, that girl was crazy. Hope the police throw the full force of the law at her.

I've actually been in a traffic accident with a cyclist, and I can't imagine blithely driving off and then bragging about it later. Our accident was a bit unusual though-we saw the cyclist ahead of us on a narrow road, and we were heading over a small hill. My wife was actually driving, and she slowed to maintain a distance from the cyclist.

After the hill, she saw there was no one coming and moved into the middle of the road to pass the cyclist, who very abruptly swung into our lane from the shoulder (no warning). My wife had the good instincts to swing all the way into the opposing lane, at which point the cyclist continued into that lane and clipped the corner of my car. Nothing is scarier than seeing a person hit your car and slide across the hood. We obviously stopped immediately, called 911, and checked on the guy, who thankfully was ok. When the police arrived, we explained our side (that we were trying to give him space, and actually were forced all the way into the opposing lane before the accident occurred) and the cyclist backed us up and took full responsibility for the incident, explaining he was avoiding an obstacle on the shoulder and didn't notice we were there, then lost control of his swerve and that's how he wound up hitting us.

I STILL freak out driving past people on bikes and won't pass a cyclist unless I have plenty of space to give them room. So even if she hit that guy totally accidentally, I cannot believe she drove home and thought it was funny.

 

[MegamanX]

You should try a couple alternatives:

1. Stop riding a bicycle on motor vehicle passageways.

2. Stop feeling so entitled.

I just don't get the road bicyclist mentality. It's illegal for to ride a >50cc scooter on the motor vehicle passageways because they go too slow and it creates a danger for everyone. But somehow, cyclists are allowed to go even slower with no motor. If you're going to ride a bicycle on a motor vehicle passageway, you got to be okay with getting hit by cars. The riding annoys me when I have to swerve around you by three feet or slow down a bunch to wait for an opportunity to swerve. But what's even more annoying is listening to a bicyclist belly aching when he/she gets hit by a car.

I ride a dirt bike very aggresively (off-road), and I didn't complain once when I broke my leg last year. I chose to do something with an inherent risk of danger, and it's no one's fault but my own that I broke my leg.

Forgot to add: That woman who hit the cyclist should definitely go to jail. Not for hitting the cyclist but for leaving the scene. It's one thing to hit a cyclist accidentally. I wouldn't feel guilty about that for a second. But if I hurt anyone in this world, you better believe I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing and help that person and make sure medical assistance is on its way.

Just going to point out that those 50cc bikes are allowed on the exact same roads here as bikes. Now they might have extra restrictions put on them like you require a licences or other certain things for them to be on the road but they are allowed on the road.

Also legally bikes are allowed on the roads END OF STORY. You in the car are the entitled one thinking you are the only one allowed on it. I am as a cyclist am legally entitled to be on the road. And you are required by law to share the road.

Also if you ever hit a cyclist I hope they sue the crap out of you. I find to many people like you are the problem. You refuse to give us the 3ft clearance when you pass. You are the reason I ride in the middle of the road as you will chance lanes completely to pass me.

----------

Wow, that girl was crazy. Hope the police throw the full force of the law at her.

I've actually been in a traffic accident with a cyclist, and I can't imagine blithely driving off and then bragging about it later. Our accident was a bit unusual though-we saw the cyclist ahead of us on a narrow road, and we were heading over a small hill. My wife was actually driving, and she slowed to maintain a distance from the cyclist.

After the hill, she saw there was no one coming and moved into the middle of the road to pass the cyclist, who very abruptly swung into our lane from the shoulder (no warning). My wife had the good instincts to swing all the way into the opposing lane, at which point the cyclist continued into that lane and clipped the corner of my car. Nothing is scarier than seeing a person hit your car and slide across the hood. We obviously stopped immediately, called 911, and checked on the guy, who thankfully was ok. When the police arrived, we explained our side (that we were trying to give him space, and actually were forced all the way into the opposing lane before the accident occurred) and the cyclist backed us up and took full responsibility for the incident, explaining he was avoiding an obstacle on the shoulder and didn't notice we were there, then lost control of his swerve and that's how he wound up hitting us.

I STILL freak out driving past people on bikes and won't pass a cyclist unless I have plenty of space to give them room. So even if she hit that guy totally accidentally, I cannot believe she drove home and thought it was funny.

sounds like a line of unexpected events. Cyclist did not hear you or was not aware of what was going on. About the only time I really ever jerk is if there is obstacle that shows up unexpectedly and swerve. Otherwise I hold mine line

 

[Menel]

You should try a couple alternatives:

1. Stop riding a bicycle on motor vehicle passageways.

There is no such thing as a 'motor vehicle passageway'.

There are roadways, for all vehicles, bicycles included in that definition. Which were originally paved for cyclist because of the danger of riding on sidewalks among pedestrians. It is still illegal for an adult to operate a bicycle on a sidewalk due to the danger.

We could ask you to stop operating your Terrorist funding 3,000lb murder machine on public roadways.

 

[steiney]

Just going to point out that those 50cc bikes are allowed on the exact same roads here as bikes. Now they might have extra restrictions put on them like you require a licences or other certain things for them to be on the road but they are allowed on the road.

Also legally bikes are allowed on the roads END OF STORY. You in the car are the entitled one thinking you are the only one allowed on it. I am as a cyclist am legally entitled to be on the road. And you are required by law to share the road.

Also if you ever hit a cyclist I hope they sue the crap out of you. I find to many people like you are the problem. You refuse to give us the 3ft clearance when you pass. You are the reason I ride in the middle of the road as you will chance lanes completely to pass me.

I said >50cc scooters. That means "less than 50 cc". They are not allowed on the roads here, and rightfully so.

Yes, bikes are legally allowed on the roads. The fact is that they shouldn't be. They create a hazard for both parties. If you weren't a road bicyclist you would see it my way. Everyone I've ever talked to about it that is not a road bicyclist agrees with me. The only people who thing bicyclists should be allowed on the roads are road bicyclists.

I always give the 3ft clearance, by the way. Nice assumption. But I only do it because I don't want to have to deal with the legal side of hitting one of you.

There is no such thing as a 'motor vehicle passageway'.

There are roadways, for all vehicles, bicycles included in that definition. Which were originally paved for cyclist because of the danger of riding on sidewalks among pedestrians. It is still illegal for an adult to operate a bicycle on a sidewalk due to the danger.

We could ask you to stop operating your Terrorist funding 3,000lb murder machine on public roadways.

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I know you don't actually believe that.

 

[chown33]

I said >50cc scooters. That means "less than 50 cc". They are not allowed on the roads here, and rightfully so.

No, ">50cc" means "greater than 50cc". "Less than" would be "<50cc".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater-than_sign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less-than_sign


You might want to state what country you're referring to with "motor vehicle passageways".

Here in the USA, motorcycles <50cc and bicycles are prohibited from most (but not all) of the Interstate Highway System (aka interstate freeways). They may also be prohibited from other roadways, but these must be marked as such. On all other roadways in the USA, bicycles have as much right to use the road as any motor vehicle.

 

[steiney]

No, ">50cc" means "greater than 50cc". "Less than" would be "<50cc".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater-than_sign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less-than_sign


You might want to state what country you're referring to with "motor vehicle passageways".

Here in the USA, motorcycles <50cc and bicycles are prohibited from most (but not all) of the Interstate Highway System (aka interstate freeways). They may also be prohibited from other roadways, but these must be marked as such. On all other roadways in the USA, bicycles have as much right to use the road as any motor vehicle.

Haha! Yeah, I feel like an goofball for getting those signs backwards.

I am referring to the USA. I might be wrong about the scooters. Who knows. I've been wrong before.

And I know bicyclist have the legal right to use the roadways. I just think that is an incredibly stupid decision on the part of our government. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right or safe. It goes against the ethos of our government so strongly. The whole protecting people from themselves thing. I mean think about this:

It's illegal to ride in a car without a seatbelt on. Somewhat dangerous, but you're in a big steel box. But, you're allowed to ride a bicycle down the side of a road where cars are driving 65 mph and the road is barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other.

 

[chown33]

It's illegal to ride in a car without a seatbelt on. Somewhat dangerous, but you're in a big steel box. But, you're allowed to ride a bicycle down the side of a road where cars are driving 65 mph and the road is barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other.

I don't know of any roads like that. Certainly none I've ever bicycled on, and I can't think of any I've driven a car on, either.

I know of roads with narrow lanes and no shoulder, but the speed limit isn't 65 mph. I know of roads with 65 mph speed limits and two lanes, but all the ones I can think of have wide shoulders (the unpaved part adjacent to paved roadway) and paved margins (the paved part to the right of the lane-edge strip).

I can also think of roads where people drive 65 mph (or higher), with two narrow lanes, and narrow shoulders or margins. This is illegal (over the posted limit, often by 20 mph or more), and both the crash rate and the death rate on those sections of road is much higher than average, just for motor vehicles (including cars, trucks, and motorcycles >50cc).

 

[steiney]

I don't know of any roads like that. Certainly none I've ever bicycled on, and I can't think of any I've driven a car on, either.

I know of roads with narrow lanes and no shoulder, but the speed limit isn't 65 mph. I know of roads with 65 mph speed limits and two lanes, but all the ones I can think of have wide shoulders (the unpaved part adjacent to paved roadway) and paved margins (the paved part to the right of the lane-edge strip).

I can also think of roads where people drive 65 mph (or higher), with two narrow lanes, and narrow shoulders or margins. This is illegal (over the posted limit, often by 20 mph or more), and both the crash rate and the death rate on those sections of road is much higher than average, just for motor vehicles (including cars, trucks, and motorcycles >50cc).

I live in Florida. My city has a lot of rural areas surrounding it that have roads like what I described. Bicyclists are very fond of them because they like the scenery, etc., but probably two or three people get killed her each year riding on them. Last year, one of them was during one of those big events where a huge amount of road cyclists get together and all ride at once. The "daredevil" ones all get ballsy and start egging each other on and people will ride way out in the middle of the lane, and then boom! One gets creamed.

Yes, I can think of roads where people drive over the speed limit too. All of them. Speeders speed everywhere.

I would have to see that statistic you used quoted somewhere to believe it. That just sounds way too much like something made up on the spot.

 

[MegamanX]

Haha! Yeah, I feel like an goofball for getting those signs backwards.

I am referring to the USA. I might be wrong about the scooters. Who knows. I've been wrong before.

And I know bicyclist have the legal right to use the roadways. I just think that is an incredibly stupid decision on the part of our government. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right or safe. It goes against the ethos of our government so strongly. The whole protecting people from themselves thing. I mean think about this:

It's illegal to ride in a car without a seatbelt on. Somewhat dangerous, but you're in a big steel box. But, you're allowed to ride a bicycle down the side of a road where cars are driving 65 mph and the road is barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other.

You are wrong about the scooters.
So I take it you want people to fat and lazy or keep spending money on cars and gas.

As for bikes on the road. Sorry it is more a stupid decision for our government not to build roads to account for something other than cars.

Also I had this view before I became a heavy cyclist less than a year ago. It aways been my view that people are rude to them. It only got more strongly reenforced because I have seen it from both sides.

The reason you see cyclist have that view is we have seen both sides. Rude motorist who are so self entitled that they believe they own the road.