Cyclist intentionally hit by car caught on GoPro camera

By the way I always used a mirror on the left side of my road bike, and was often chided for it by the other cyclists, yet they'd try to "hide" on the right to draft me (which didn't work) on breakaways. Had this cyclist been using a mirror, he would have been aware of the car and moved over. Personally I think having a mirror should be a requirement on bicycles, if it isn't already, and that the cyclist not having one should be a consideration in this case.

Imagine trying to drive a car in traffic with no rear view mirrors... yikes!

It's great that cyclists there are allowed to use the full lane.

It's also perfectly legal in SC to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. Doesn't make it a prudent decision.

old guy 71 wrote:

This thread should serve as a wake up call to all of you arrogant cyclists out there (not that all cyclist are arrogant. I'm a cyclist).

Think about this fact: all of the flak you are receiving here is coming from other runners. People engaged in healthy physical activity just like you. Now imagine what kind of attitude that couch potatoes, druggies and drunks probably have about you. All you need to be is considerate.

And am also 71.

However that type of cyclist will never get it, but always will blame someone else.

Did any of you guys watch the whole news report?

The arrest report of the motorist states that he claimed two people were standing at the side of a road and threw a bicycle at his car.

The video clearly shows that did not happen.

He hit a cyclist who was obeying the rules of the road (whether or not you you agree with the spirit of the law), left the scene without checking to see if the cyclist was okay, and then lied to police about what happened.

And the cyclist is in the wrong?

You are delusional.How can anyone watch that video and not notice the car cutting things short and that at the moment just before impact the cyclist is moving back towards the right.If the driver didnt see both cyclists why did he move so far over prior to hitting the cyclist? If it was an honest mistake why did he not stop? He either did it on purpose or was under the influence and drove off to cover his ass.Again those of you defending the motorist are defending a coward.

Sorry, read the law. Just because it's a vehicle, doesn't mean that special rules also apply.

Both Tennessee and Federal Parkway laws say this. "Shall" means shall.

It is designated as a scenic highway. It is not "specifically designated" as a cycling destination (if it were, it would likely have a bike-only thru-way, no?). It is a "designated bike route" (officially according to NPS), which is true for all kinds of byways in USA, and means nothing legally. Pro-bike websites erroneously term it a "bike path" or something, again BS.

That "sign" is not applicable to this situation. It is taken from a different part of the Parkway.

It is an appalling act of misguidance (about what to except from Fraud News) to act as if a sign in another part of the 444 miles is relevant.

Star wrote:

Looks like full justice all around.

+1

Working Harder wrote:

One of the many reasons I quit cycling a long time ago.

If that's the main take-away from this, I think we can all be happy

asdfasdfasdfasdfasdf wrote:

The arrest report of the motorist states that he claimed two people were standing at the side of a road and threw a bicycle at his car.

I heard the guy speaking, and heard exactly what he said, not second hand information from a news report, that probably came from the cyclists.

He hit a cyclist who was obeying the rules of the road (whether or not you you agree with the spirit of the law), left the scene without checking to see if the cyclist was okay, and then lied to police about what happened.

How exactly did he lie? Because his story doesn't match up with yours

BobbyAxelrod wrote:

How can anyone watch that video and not notice the car cutting things short and that at the moment just before impact the cyclist is moving back towards the right.

If the driver didnt see both cyclists why did he move so far over prior to hitting the cyclist? If it was an honest mistake why did he not stop? He either did it on purpose or was under the influence and drove off to cover his ass.

Actually the cyclist moved into the space after the car was already there. Had the cyclist been driving a 3000 pound car he would have crashed into the side of the car that was passing. To answer your question, he driver obviously saw the cyclists from the back, and judged the room needed to pass them, but the guy who was cycling with no mirror kept moving forward and left, and when the car was to the left, didn't see the cyclist still there due to blending with the trees. If the cyclist had a mirror like someone else said, would he have kept moving into the car's space? Probably not, and your conjecture about under the influence shows how stupid cyclist will make up any type of crazy stories to try and cover their actions.

real biker wrote:

This was that guy's first road ride ever. Terrible introduction.

And to think a dean of the most expensive, prestigious private school in Nashville intentionally tried to kill him.

Absurdity at the highest level .

Amazing how the LRC "jury" interprets actual facts.

He didn't "intentionally tr[y] to kill him", likely he didn't even see the idiot riding in the wrong part of the road (illegally) with dark colours. But you ascribe bogus motives, because you're a hater.

Clearly people need to have more common sense before riding on the road. Maybe we should demand bike licenses like the DMV.

Crazy Stupid Driver wrote

The driver claims that the cyclist was standing on the side of the road and threw his bike at his car. This, of course, was before he learned of the video.

More made-up Fake News from the bike brigade.

I just now watched the video wrote:

By the way I always used a mirror on the left side of my road bike, and was often chided for it by the other cyclists, yet they'd try to "hide" on the right to draft me (which didn't work) on breakaways. Had this cyclist been using a mirror, he would have been aware of the car and moved over. Personally I think having a mirror should be a requirement on bicycles, if it isn't already, and that the cyclist not having one should be a consideration in this case.

Someone made the point 100 posts ago, that often the second car in a series is difficult, because you HEAR the first one, and this drowns out the second, and if you look over left shoulder (naturally) you drift that way. Looks like what happened here. But he should have been riding near the white line behind his GoPro buddy in the first place.

To those who believe the famous "full lane" sign, here is the OFFICIAL statement from the Park Ranger.

"The Natchez Trace Parkway is a designated bicycle route, and bicycle traffic increases dramatically on the weekends and holidays," said Calvin Farmer, Acting Chief Ranger. "In Mississippi and Tennessee, bicyclists are allowed to use the full lane of traffic to ride in when necessary. Federal regulations require bicyclists to ride single file, and riders are encouraged to move to the right to allow for vehicles to pass. It is also highly recommended riders wear high-visibility clothing and flashing front and rear lights. Vehicle drivers must provide a safe distance when overtaking and passing a bicyclist.”

In the lack of necessity, there was no allowance (in MS/TN) to use the full lane of traffic. Then the guy broke required federal regulations by not riding single file (kind of a no-brainer, you'd think even the most amateur bikie would find this out before setting out). Finally he failed to take the high recommendation of hi-vis clothing (again a less-than-newbie error).

+1 for Karma.

Only when necessary wrote:

In the lack of necessity, there was no allowance (in MS/TN) to use the full lane of traffic. Then the guy broke required federal regulations by not riding single file (kind of a no-brainer, you'd think even the most amateur bikie would find this out before setting out). Finally he failed to take the high recommendation of hi-vis clothing (again a less-than-newbie error).

+1 for Karma.

No flashing front and back lights. No wonder the guy was not visible.

Too bad, LRC already declared he "intentionally" hit the bike, with hyperbolic "murderous intent" according to multiple posts.

As already noted, the cyclist was doing just about everything possible wrong, riding illegally and wearing bad camoflauge. It just makes sense to think the other bike guy (the one with the GoPro camera) was the only one there, especially after the previous truck passed.