| |
An emergency room medical doctor who cut in front of two bicyclists on a steep
hill in Los Angeles and then slammed on the brakes on his car causing them to
crash into the back of his car resulting in serious injury to both of them was
held to answer on felony charges in Los Angeles municipal court. He admitted to
an investigating police officer at the scene that he wanted to teach bicyclists
a lesson. He had also had a similar incident with two other bicyclists earlier
this year but they avoided injury by veering off the road in time to avoid a
collision. The news commentator on the station I was viewing commented about the
doctor forgetting his Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. No tandem content the two
riders were on singles. Injuries icluded a broken nose and knocked out front
teeth and a severly dislocated shoulder requiring surgery on the second rider.
The doctor seems to have found it necessary to hire a body guard. In addition to
private attorney
fees, the smashed back window on his BMW -- which most likely will not be
covered by insurace -- not counting possible jail time, I wonder how much
satisfaction this nitwit got from his act. Is this the kind of jerk you want
treating you when you go to the ER with a serious cardiac incident? With his
lack of good judgment, the medical board should jerk his license too.
Chuck Voigtsberger
Ventura CA
|
What a jerk. And I'm being nice
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 15, 2008, at 7:48 PM, charles voigtsberger
<charles_e_voigtsberger@yahoo.com
> wrote:
> An emergency room medical doctor who cut in front of two bicyclists
> on a steep hill in Los Angeles and then slammed on the brakes on his
> car causing them to crash into the back of his car resulting in
> serious injury to both of them was held to answer on felony charges
> in Los Angeles municipal court. He admitted to an investigating
> police officer at the scene that he wanted to teach bicyclists a
> lesson. He had also had a similar incident with two other bicyclists
> earlier this year but they avoided injury by veering off the road in
> time to avoid a collision. The news commentator on the station I was
> viewing commented about the doctor forgetting his Hippocratic Oath
> to do no harm. No tandem content the two riders were on singles.
> Injuries icluded a broken nose and knocked out front teeth and a
> severly dislocated shoulder requiring surgery on the second rider.
> The doctor seems to have found it necessary to hire a body guard. In
> addition to private attorney
> fees, the smashed back window on his BMW -- which most likely will
> not be covered by insurace -- not counting possible jail time, I
> wonder how much satisfaction this nitwit got from his act. Is this
> the kind of jerk you want treating you when you go to the ER with a
> serious cardiac incident? With his lack of good judgment, the
> medical board should jerk his license too.
> Chuck Voigtsberger
> Ventura CA
>
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This is on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZfydzXx9P0
On Dec 15, 2008, at 8:48 PM, charles voigtsberger wrote:
> An emergency room medical doctor who cut in front of two bicyclists
> on a steep hill in Los Angeles and then slammed on the brakes on
> his car causing them to crash into the back of his car resulting in
> serious injury to both of them was held to answer on felony charges
> in Los Angeles municipal court. He admitted to an investigating
> police officer at the scene that he wanted to teach bicyclists a
> lesson. He had also had a similar incident with two other
> bicyclists earlier this year but they avoided injury by veering off
> the road in time to avoid a collision. The news commentator on the
> station I was viewing commented about the doctor forgetting his
> Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. No tandem content the two riders
> were on singles. Injuries icluded a broken nose and knocked out
> front teeth and a severly dislocated shoulder requiring surgery on
> the second rider. The doctor seems to have found it necessary to
> hire a body guard. In addition to private attorney
> fees, the smashed back window on his BMW -- which most likely will
> not be covered by insurace -- not counting possible jail time, I
> wonder how much satisfaction this nitwit got from his act. Is this
> the kind of jerk you want treating you when you go to the ER with a
> serious cardiac incident? With his lack of good judgment, the
> medical board should jerk his license too.
> Chuck Voigtsberger
> Ventura CA
>
|
|
|
Dave Whitmon posted a link to support Charles' post:
> This is on youtube
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZfydzXx9P0
Being assaulted by a doctor wins the "Irony o' The Day" award. Of course, it
seems, individuals from most every other profession are vying for that award
daily.
Surely, everyone on this list has a story or a dozen about similar situations. I
do recall that BMW drivers have been the most egregious but maybe that's just me
and that doesn't imply all BMW drivers are cyclist killers. Indeed, my stoker,
best friend and wife who all happen to be the same person, drove a BMW when I
met her and, to my knowledge, she's never tried to kill a bicyclist but that
doesn't mean she wouldn't if I crossed her. So I behave. But that's not my
point.
My point is: There are all kinds of road users. The ones with chips on their
shoulders don't all drive white vans and pickup trucks so you can't spot them
easily. Wait, that's not my point either. I guess what I really want to
emphasize is that the driver of the car apparently has a pent-up rage that was
based on a number of incidents not just with bicyclists but with other
motorists. Also his lack of physical prowess and certain anatomical
short-comings make him feel small and powerless as a man. He compensates by
driving a sports car and hiring a body guard. He's frustrated, he's angry. His
wife or girlfriend, if one exists, laughs at his failures to satisfy her. He
can't engage with another mano-a-mano so he uses his vehicle as a powered
extension of his body. At some point he breaks and tries to harm two riders,
easy targets really, for some offense real or imaginary. He's a sad and pitiful
man driven to a breakdown by demons spawn of his own
tortured spirit.
Or maybe he's just a jerk.
Regardless, best that he's put away for some time. I hope he finds the special
kind of love that only a state penitentiary can offer.
Dave "Jung" Burckhard
San Jose
|
charles voigtsberger wrote:
> ...the smashed back window on his BMW...
David Burckhard wrote:
> I do recall that BMW drivers have been the most egregious
> but maybe that's just me and that doesn't imply all BMW drivers
> are cyclist killers...
It doesn't matter at all, but the bad guy in the Mandeville Canyon
story was driving an Infiniti. We good guys can often be found
driving and riding BMWs. Bad guys drive them too.
> My point is: There are all kinds of road users...
Right, and they drive and ride all sorts of things. The problem is
the person, not the vehicle.
--
Bob Sutterfield
1995 BMW 525i (BMW CCA)
1985 BMW K100RS (BMW MOA)
197? Melton tandem (TCA)
Saratoga California
|
wow, that was a most elegant post!
Kurt
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Burckhard" <iluv2podcast@yahoo.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:19 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
bicyclist
> Dave Whitmon posted a link to support Charles' post:
>> This is on youtube
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZfydzXx9P0
>
> Being assaulted by a doctor wins the "Irony o' The Day" award. Of course,
> it seems, individuals from most every other profession are vying for that
> award daily.
>
> Surely, everyone on this list has a story or a dozen about similar
> situations. I do recall that BMW drivers have been the most egregious but
> maybe that's just me and that doesn't imply all BMW drivers are cyclist
> killers. Indeed, my stoker, best friend and wife who all happen to be the
> same person, drove a BMW when I met her and, to my knowledge, she's never
> tried to kill a bicyclist but that doesn't mean she wouldn't if I crossed
> her. So I behave. But that's not my point.
>
> My point is: There are all kinds of road users. The ones with chips on
> their shoulders don't all drive white vans and pickup trucks so you can't
> spot them easily. Wait, that's not my point either. I guess what I really
> want to emphasize is that the driver of the car apparently has a pent-up
> rage that was based on a number of incidents not just with bicyclists but
> with other motorists. Also his lack of physical prowess and certain
> anatomical short-comings make him feel small and powerless as a man. He
> compensates by driving a sports car and hiring a body guard. He's
> frustrated, he's angry. His wife or girlfriend, if one exists, laughs at
> his failures to satisfy her. He can't engage with another mano-a-mano so
> he uses his vehicle as a powered extension of his body. At some point he
> breaks and tries to harm two riders, easy targets really, for some offense
> real or imaginary. He's a sad and pitiful man driven to a breakdown by
> demons spawn of his own
> tortured spirit.
>
> Or maybe he's just a jerk.
>
> Regardless, best that he's put away for some time. I hope he finds the
> special kind of love that only a state penitentiary can offer.
>
> Dave "Jung" Burckhard
> San Jose
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.18/1849 - Release Date:
> 12/15/2008 9:01 AM
>
>
|
In my experience, the BMW & Infiniti _sedans_ aren't the the biggest problem;
it's the SUV drivers on their cellphones (& women SUV drivers are much worse
than men). These people have no clue how far out their vehicles protrude, and
having only one hand on the wheel and no eyes on the road doesn't help their
driving.
BTW, my personal, unscientific survey of drivers in Los Angeles does not portend
good things for L.A. cyclists. ***Better than 50% of the people I've spoken
with think that the cyclists got what they deserved!*** What in the world have
cyclists done to deserve this kind of hatred? I've seen cyclists do a number of
dumb things, but these were primarily dumb things that would get themselves
killed -- but not the sorts of things that should piss off drivers.
The _motor_ cyclists do far, far worse things to piss off drivers, but for some
reason, they don't get quite the same level of hatred.
At 07:18 AM 12/16/2008, David Burckhard wrote:
>Dave Whitmon posted a link to support Charles' post:
>> This is on youtube
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZfydzXx9P0
>
>Being assaulted by a doctor wins the "Irony o' The Day" award. Of course, it
seems, individuals from most every other profession are vying for that award
daily.
>
>Surely, everyone on this list has a story or a dozen about similar situations.
I do recall that BMW drivers have been the most egregious but maybe that's just
me and that doesn't imply all BMW drivers are cyclist killers. Indeed, my
stoker, best friend and wife who all happen to be the same person, drove a BMW
when I met her and, to my knowledge, she's never tried to kill a bicyclist but
that doesn't mean she wouldn't if I crossed her. So I behave. But that's not my
point.
>
>My point is: There are all kinds of road users. The ones with chips on their
shoulders don't all drive white vans and pickup trucks so you can't spot them
easily. Wait, that's not my point either. I guess what I really want to
emphasize is that the driver of the car apparently has a pent-up rage that was
based on a number of incidents not just with bicyclists but with other
motorists. Also his lack of physical prowess and certain anatomical
short-comings make him feel small and powerless as a man. He compensates by
driving a sports car and hiring a body guard. He's frustrated, he's angry. His
wife or girlfriend, if one exists, laughs at his failures to satisfy her. He
can't engage with another mano-a-mano so he uses his vehicle as a powered
extension of his body. At some point he breaks and tries to harm two riders,
easy targets really, for some offense real or imaginary. He's a sad and pitiful
man driven to a breakdown by demons spawn of his own
> tortured spirit.
>
>Or maybe he's just a jerk.
>
>Regardless, best that he's put away for some time. I hope he finds the special
kind of love that only a state penitentiary can offer.
>
>Dave "Jung" Burckhard
>San Jose
|
FWIW, on the youtube, it shows a Lexus with a smashed rear windshield, not a
BMW.
kurt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Sutterfield" <bob@sutterfields.us>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:43 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
bicyclist
> charles voigtsberger wrote:
>> ...the smashed back window on his BMW...
>
> David Burckhard wrote:
>> I do recall that BMW drivers have been the most egregious
>> but maybe that's just me and that doesn't imply all BMW drivers
>> are cyclist killers...
>
> It doesn't matter at all, but the bad guy in the Mandeville Canyon
> story was driving an Infiniti. We good guys can often be found
> driving and riding BMWs. Bad guys drive them too.
>
>> My point is: There are all kinds of road users...
>
> Right, and they drive and ride all sorts of things. The problem is
> the person, not the vehicle.
> --
> Bob Sutterfield
> 1995 BMW 525i (BMW CCA)
> 1985 BMW K100RS (BMW MOA)
> 197? Melton tandem (TCA)
> Saratoga California
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.18/1849 - Release Date:
> 12/15/2008 9:01 AM
>
>
|
oops, I mean an Infinity...jap cars....can't tell 'em apart.
Kurt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Sutterfield" <bob@sutterfields.us>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:43 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
bicyclist
> charles voigtsberger wrote:
>> ...the smashed back window on his BMW...
>
> David Burckhard wrote:
>> I do recall that BMW drivers have been the most egregious
>> but maybe that's just me and that doesn't imply all BMW drivers
>> are cyclist killers...
>
> It doesn't matter at all, but the bad guy in the Mandeville Canyon
> story was driving an Infiniti. We good guys can often be found
> driving and riding BMWs. Bad guys drive them too.
>
>> My point is: There are all kinds of road users...
>
> Right, and they drive and ride all sorts of things. The problem is
> the person, not the vehicle.
> --
> Bob Sutterfield
> 1995 BMW 525i (BMW CCA)
> 1985 BMW K100RS (BMW MOA)
> 197? Melton tandem (TCA)
> Saratoga California
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.18/1849 - Release Date:
> 12/15/2008 9:01 AM
>
>
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|
From: "David Burckhard"
Snipped from a great post--
I guess what I really
> want to emphasize is that the driver of the car apparently has a pent-up
> rage that was based on a number of incidents not just with bicyclists but
> with other motorists.
Which is why I get really annoyed at the boorish behavior I see from fellow
cyclists very often. It does make it worse for the rest of us--sometimes
dramatically so. Many of the descriptions of this incident and similar
encounters on this road start with ; we were riding 2 abreast when a car
came up from behind and honked so I moved out of the way. The road is also
described as narrow and busy. I have never been there but in a case like
this it seems that the best policy would be to ride single file at all times
on this stretch of road if only to be considerate of others.
No excuse for this driver who might get what he deserves.
Len Diamond
Ridgewood, NJ
|
If you wish to lump all the cars from the particular country together then
please use the correct term, Japanese cars. The term you used is most often
utilized in a derogatory sense.
===========================================
Rich Shapiro Gear-To-Go Tandems
850 W. Clinton St. Elmira, NY 14905 607-732-4859
http://www.gtgtandems.com
Rich@gtgtandems.com
Southern Tier Tandem Rally July 31 - August 2, 2009
http://www.gtgtandems.com/sttr.html
Tandem Tours:
http://www.gtgtandems.com/tours.html
Santana, Calfee, Co-Motion, Cannondale, Rans test rides by
appointment
===========================================
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kurt Andersen" <andersens@rmi.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:45 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
bicyclist
> oops, I mean an Infinity...jap cars....can't tell 'em apart.
> Kurt
|
Plus, the real issue isn't so much as where the cars are made, as it is whe=
re the drivers are made.
Some drivers look as though they came out of a Wheeties packet.
-----Original Message-----
From: tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu [mailto:tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of G=
ear-To-Go Tandems
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:23 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving bicycl=
ist
If you wish to lump all the cars from the particular country together then =
please use the correct term, Japanese cars. The term you used is most ofte=
n utilized in a derogatory sense.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Rich Shapiro Gear-To-Go Tandems
850 W. Clinton St. Elmira, NY 14905 607-732-4859
http://www.gtgtandems.com
Rich@gtgtandems.com
Southern Tier Tandem Rally July 31 - August 2, 2009
http://www.gtgtandems.com/sttr.html
Tandem Tours:
http://www.gtgtandems.com/tours.html
Santana, Calfee, Co-Motion, Cannondale, Rans test rides by appointment =3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kurt Andersen" <andersens@rmi.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:45 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving bicycl=
ist
> oops, I mean an Infinity...jap cars....can't tell 'em apart.
> Kurt
|
it was meant to be tongue in cheek, a parody, not to be taken seriously.
Kurt, not hitting on all cylinders today.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gear-To-Go Tandems" <Rich@GTGtandems.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:22 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
bicyclist
> If you wish to lump all the cars from the particular country together then
> please use the correct term, Japanese cars. The term you used is most
> often
> utilized in a derogatory sense.
> ===========================================
> Rich Shapiro Gear-To-Go Tandems
> 850 W. Clinton St. Elmira, NY 14905 607-732-4859
>
> http://www.gtgtandems.com
> Rich@gtgtandems.com
>
> Southern Tier Tandem Rally July 31 - August 2, 2009
> http://www.gtgtandems.com/sttr.html
>
> Tandem Tours:
> http://www.gtgtandems.com/tours.html
>
> Santana, Calfee, Co-Motion, Cannondale, Rans test rides by
> appointment
> ===========================================
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kurt Andersen" <andersens@rmi.net>
> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:45 AM
> Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
> bicyclist
>
>
>> oops, I mean an Infinity...jap cars....can't tell 'em apart.
>> Kurt
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.18/1851 - Release Date:
> 12/16/2008 8:53 AM
>
>
|
Without really getting into the current thread, I want to share something
most of us probably don't consider.
Many of these situations involve double yellow lines.
A relative of mine, (who drives her bike and her car very well) waited until
it was clear and pulled over the double yellow line to pass a cyclist. She
hadn't noticed the officer behind her, who pulled her over and ticketed her.
The judge upheld the ticket.
I have no idea how often this happens, but perhaps it's a factor in why some
motorists are reluctant to pull over far enough.
- Wyatt Wood
(Northern California)
|
But double yellow lines & a single lane are precisely the times when a cyclist
may need to take the entire lane.
There is a stretch of Mountain Drive behind the Mission in Santa Barbara which
is very twisty & has no real shoulder. When I'm going uphill, I'm not going
very fast, but it isn't safe to not take the lane, so cars _have_ to cross the
double yellow to pass. When going downhill, it's even more important to take
the lane, as I'm already going 25mph, and there's not enough room to pass
_without_ crossing the double yellow lines.
At 12:48 PM 12/16/2008, Wyatt wrote:
>From: "Wyatt" <wyattw@jps.net>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
>Subject: [T@H] Double Yellow Lines (Was: Re: Driver held to answer on felony
charges)
>Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:48:38 -0800 (PST)
>
>Without really getting into the current thread, I want to share something
>most of us probably don't consider.
>
>Many of these situations involve double yellow lines.
>
>A relative of mine, (who drives her bike and her car very well) waited until
>it was clear and pulled over the double yellow line to pass a cyclist. She
>hadn't noticed the officer behind her, who pulled her over and ticketed her.
>The judge upheld the ticket.
>
>I have no idea how often this happens, but perhaps it's a factor in why some
>motorists are reluctant to pull over far enough.
>
>- Wyatt Wood
>(Northern California)
|
Re: " But double yellow lines & a single lane are precisely the times when a
cyclist may need to take the entire lane. "
Oh yes, you won't get any argument here, but I wasn't even addressing the
issue of when to take the lane or not.
I was merely trying to point out that even when motorists are patient and do
pass safely, they may be exposing themselves to a ticket.
I do not have a "one size fits all" solution to this problem, but I think
it is a part of the puzzle we should understand.
- Wyatt Wood
(Northern California)
|
There are many judges...mostly justices of the peace, who have no legal
training, and are unaware, that in an emergency, breaking the law is not
only necessary, but completely legal...They're like toggle switches...it's
either on or it's off....
The problem is that the woman could win the case on appeal, but it would
cost a lot more to appeal it, than it would to pay the fine.
|
|
|
The only States that actually allow crossing the double yellow line
when passing a cyclist are those who have a 3' bicycle passing law
but even that doesn't mean you can pull out in front of on coming
traffic.
In Massachusetts you cannot cross a double yellow line to pass a
cyclist but it happens all the time.
Even to the point of running oncoming traffic onto the side of the
road to avoid a head on collision and even then, I've not heard of to
many tickets being given out.
Here on Martha's Vineyard on the east end is a smaller Island called
Chappaquiddick. Though it's part of one of the six Island towns
(Edgartown) to live there is rather expensive. Lots of VERY rich
Summer folk who think of Chappy as their own private enclave.
Some of the residents of Chappy want to build a bike path from the
little 3 car ferry to the Dyke Bridge on a narrow two lane road with
a 25 mph speed limit. Perhaps 3 +/- miles long
I've attended a number of meeting ( another one just this evening)
representing cyclists on this issue telling them what they need to
build a proper bike path and that it would have a rather large impact
on the rural nature of the road way.
I also brought up the issue of why build a path on a road that has
ferry traffic feeding onto Chappy three cars at a time.
To push their rational of why they need to get bikes off the road
they sent me a picture of a cyclist riding on the right hand side
with a car passing the cyclist and crossing the double yellow line
into on coming traffic.
I told them that the motorist in the picture was the problem and the
cyclist was behaving perfectly in compliance with common sense and
state traffic laws.
What they need to do is rein in the motorists who travel the roads
with such reckless abandon.
But what the hey? It's a national problem.
David Whitmon
On Dec 16, 2008, at 3:48 PM, Wyatt wrote:
> Without really getting into the current thread, I want to share
> something
> most of us probably don't consider.
>
> Many of these situations involve double yellow lines.
>
> A relative of mine, (who drives her bike and her car very well)
> waited until
> it was clear and pulled over the double yellow line to pass a
> cyclist. She
> hadn't noticed the officer behind her, who pulled her over and
> ticketed her.
> The judge upheld the ticket.
>
> I have no idea how often this happens, but perhaps it's a factor in
> why some
> motorists are reluctant to pull over far enough.
>
> - Wyatt Wood
> (Northern California)
>
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----- Original Message -----
From: "David Burckhard" <iluv2podcast@yahoo.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <tandem@hobbes.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 7:18 AM
Subject: [T@H] Re: Driver held to answer on felony charges involving
bicyclist
> My point is: There are all kinds of road users. The ones with chips on
> their shoulders don't all drive white vans and pickup trucks so you can't
> spot them easily.
I have a white van *and* a pickup truck...so what's your point? ;-)
Jim Jaarsma
Victoria, BC
Host city of the 2009 Northwest Tandem Rally
Apply early for those passports, don't be disappointed
http://www.nwtr.org/2009/index.html
|
This brings up a funny situation from a few years ago.
I was climbing a local hill next to a cyclist who is a member of a group
that has its own "driving stereotype".
A Volvo passed us and the cyclist started in on Volvo drivers. I didn't say
a word, but it was really funny was when he said: "I should watch myself.
We have a stereotype of our own."
- Wyatt Wood
(Northern California)
|
Yes, it's illegal to cross over the double yellow line. The "straddle
pass" is also entirely commonplace.
Passing zones vs. non-passing zones are selected based on sight
distance, traffic speed, and how much time and space a motor vehicle
would need to accelerate to overtake a slower-moving motor vehicle
that consumes the entire lane. A climbing bicycle is moving much
slower than most slow-moving motor vehicles, and the overtaking
vehicle requires much less space to accomplish the pass. That's why
drivers commonly overtake a climbing cyclist by merging partially into
the oncoming lane, straddling the double yellow line.
This is why California cyclists are resisting the installation of
center line rumble strips on certain state highways. They would
rigidly encourage compliance with the double yellow line, resulting in
fewer straddle passes, therefore more motorists squeezing by in the
lane. Cyclists who take the entire lane (to avoid being squeezed)
will be subjected to increased road rage from those drivers bottled up
behind.
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