Amen, brother!
Emiliano just posted to an older story about the L.A. doctor who has been arrested for slamming on his brakes and assaulting two cyclists. I wanted to put Emiliano’s posting out where everyone would see it. I sometimes get accused (perhaps because I am an attorney?) of always siding with the cyclist no matter what, and this is just plain not the case. I do believe in some flexibility and I do believe, contrary to many of my readers, that bicycles should in some circumstances be treated differently from cars. But as for the cycling community’s need to grow up and obey the law, I am completely on board. Here’s Emiliano making that point very eloquently:
About 3 weeks ago while in L.A. a local cyclist informed me while on a ride up an amazing climb through some upscale L.A. homes that this was in fact the road where this incident took place. It was more of a warning as a lot of cyclists consider it a “war zone” still and are very careful while riding… As such we were overly obedient of all traffic laws and respectful of cars on their way up and down. The next time I climbed the hill with a teammate of mine we witnessed a cyclist with no helmet descending (can easily be 40 + MPH descent in a 25 zone) in Aero Bars and blowing stop signs.
The problem seems that this climb is pretty amazing and it’s right in the city and about five miles off the PCH so it’s a great place to ride. It seemed to me that this doctor probably had been dealing with cyclist of both a considerate nature and those of a more selfish one for a while, and just “snapped.” Now I’m not trying to justify his actions because anytime one expresses anger and frustration using a car as a weapon I think you should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and jail time should be in your future.
But the point I would like to make is that if there are great local riding spots where there is a considerable increase in cyclist traffic certain respect needs to be given to those around. This is more about self preservation of both the community (personal injury) and the area (as a cyclist friendly community). I think that in some areas policing from within is necessary. Both reminding each other of consequences (I need reminding sometimes) and teaching those new to the area or the community the proper etiquette.
For example, the last several years whenever I’ve been in a group that goes to the top of Madera Canyon in Tucson one of the more established riders will remind the group that although the descent is 50+ MPH it should be taken at the speed limit as one year we almost lost the right to ride there and that is something that benefits no one. By now it just seems natural to descend that on the brakes the whole time and less reminding is needed.
Hopefully more cases like this can be avoided with preventative actions.
Amen!
–Erik Ryberg
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Well said.
Steve