Driver gets 5 years for assaulting line of cyclists

'But there are an inordinate number of cyclists who act like jerks where I live'

Are you a runner? How would you feel if you were in danger of being mown down every time you go training?

They ride 2 abreast party so drivers can see them, as in single file they are often not seen and get knocked off the road. Also if they are in a group its a social thing can't you wait 2 mins. As for flipping you the bird - big deal! Are you going to start crying about it!

I jacked in cycling (to do running) partly because its too dangerous. Granted if somebody nearly knocked over my daughter I would flatten them but that's a seperate issue. Did you do anything?

When you are cycling the cars are coming from behind and you never knew how close the next driver was going to come. Then its time to overtake a parked car and they cut you up so you slim into the back of the car

But on the other hand when you are cycling pedestrians will walk in front of you when there are no lights, just like people suddenly become blind when you are running towards them

When I'm driving I've seen cyclists nip in and out but I couldn't give a toss, they are the one who will get hurt

In the uk the roads are really narrow, but in the States the roads are generally a lot wider. There should be a dedicated bike lane and footpath for walkers runners then this would not happen

By the way what the hell are doing on the bike path. 1st its a bike(!) path they can be doing 30mph plus. 2nd What are you the concrete runner - get on the beach or trail!

part of the problem is bicyclists are completely unpredictable--

with motorists i can generally expect they will stay, more or less, in their respective lanes---and, if not come to a complete stop, they'll at least slow down at intersections...

u never never know with bicyclists--they ride anywhere they want--including sidewalks--they make no signals--they blow through intersections with impunity...

i went to a college that had a "bike patrol"--campus cops on bike who issued tickets to wayward cyclists--laughed at the idea at first--"how silly"--very soon saw the wisdom in it--the roads filled with students on bikes were orderly and safe--

conclusion--if u ever want cyclists to start obeying any sort of known traffic regulations, they must be suceptable to being given a summons

you know, in this current economy that's actually a pretty good idea.

Mr. Lo-Fat wrote:

conclusion--if u ever want cyclists to start obeying any sort of known traffic regulations, they must be suceptable to being given a summons

Maybe the hate for bikers stems from the knowledge that every cyclist out there truly believes they are better than drivers just because they ride a bike. You really think people are jealous. That's where the hate stems from. If you think people are jealous of you, you must think you're hot s&!t and something worth being jealous of. Thereby making you an arrogant something or other. Those people aren't trying to run you down, just take you down a peg.

Maybe its you wrote:

Maybe the hate for bikers stems from the knowledge that every cyclist out there truly believes they are better than drivers just because they ride a bike...

Wow that's an impressive insight into the mind of "every cyclist out there" ... insecure much?

Maybe its you wrote:

Maybe the hate for bikers stems from the knowledge that every cyclist out there truly believes they are better than drivers just because they ride a bike. You really think people are jealous. That's where the hate stems from. If you think people are jealous of you, you must think you're hot s&!t and something worth being jealous of. Thereby making you an arrogant something or other. Those people aren't trying to run you down, just take you down a peg.

Oh my god, guys! He's serious!

The incident occurred during a winding descent of a canyon road frequently used by local residents of the area and cyclists. I used to ride with a group awhile back so I can understand the frustration from both views. Most of the time when descending downhill, cyclists are going fairly fast ( > 35mph). It's hard to say if they can keep up with cars , but most of the time they're going to take up the full lane when going through turns. Seriously, can you expect them slow down and hug the shoulder so a car can wizz by inches away from them? The only safe way for a driver stuck behind a cyclist cruising downhill is to wait for a straight section of road. If it's a winding road with no straight sections, the driver needs to be patient.

Lawyer wrote:

Cyclists are entitled to a full lane, so they can ride right down the middle of it. If they aren't, they are being POLITE, which should be appreciated.

Good one.

Hmmm... Well, at least in California that doesn't seem to be the case, exactly. The California Department of Motor Vehicles says the following (one of the few times, it seems, when the law is really written to let common sense win):

"Operation on Roadway

21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997."

What state are you from, Lawyer? (Note: Tone is a question, not an accusation.)