$1,050 Fine to cyclist -slowed down traffic

[underpants]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEWPORT NEWS -- Kajuan Cornish didn't know he was such a danger on his bicycle, and now he's facing hefty fees that could have paid for him to have a car.

One day after Gov. Timothy M. Kaine admitted the state's so-called abusive driver fees had failed and called for them to be repealed, Cornish was ordered to pay a fee of $1,050 for recklessly operating his 18-speed Huffy in an intersection during rush hour.

"A bike with pedals -- a 4-year-old can ride a bike," Cornish said yesterday. "I could see it happen if I'm riding the wrong way down the expressway -- that's dumb."

Cornish, 19, doesn't drive and was convicted of reckless driving in Newport News traffic court. He was returning to work when he received the summons.

Officer George Evans said drivers had to slow down to avoid hitting Cornish when he crossed the intersection and that he would have written a warning if not the ticket.

"If he gets hit, then we have a mess," Evans said.

Cornish is due back in court to appeal in February.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/state.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-11-0202.html

[boricua79]

1. YESS!!!!!

Good...hate those prima donna "owners" of the road.

[bunkerbuster1]

2. delete

[wtmusic]

4. If only they gave people swinging their car doors open

$1,000 fines too, we might actually save some lives. :eyes:

[boricua79]

5. who opens their cars doors while driving?

I've never opened my car door while driving...unless I make sure there is no one near my car and it's to secure a door that is not closed properly.

[wtmusic]

8. People parked on the side of the road

who don't look first.

[boricua79]

9. how about a fine for bicyclists who don't adopt safe riding measures

and "expect the unexpected"?

I certainly don't drive next to cars at any time if I can avoid it. I expect a door to fly open or some moron to pull out of their parked space.

I have NEVER had a single biclying accident (save losing traction on a bike trail and sliding) involving cars. And I've ridden bicyles since I was 9 (I'm in my late 20s).

[Richard Steele]

14. Coming from you, that's funny as hell.

nm

[boricua79]

23. winner of the "Don't make sense" award of the year NT

[Richard Steele]

42. Perhaps YOUR OWN WORDS will provide the necessary context:

THIS is why it's funny as hell to see you calling for stricter
penalties on "vehicular assholerry":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3090530

Ring a bell?

[Ignis]

48. That poster often cheers injuries to bicyclists.

While claiming (of course!) to have been riding a bike longer than several of our 50+ year-old posters. And while claiming that all injuries to cyclists are their own damn fault. And while admitting that he runs cyclists who do not meet his speed standards off the road and laughing about it.

Color me surprised that he's doing it again. :eyes:

PS: And a :thumbsup: to you for not letting this idiocy pass unremarked, Dick. :woohoo:

[Richard Steele]

56. Thank you.

As I grow older, I try to find ways to use my natural cynicism
and confrontationality to serve "the GOOD"...

Slapping down BLATANT "WWW.LIARS" who don't bother to keep their stories straight
from one post to the next is a regular "public service", and a fine use of my free time, IMHO.


Thank you for that ":thumbsup:"- I really appreciate it. :hug:

[Ignis]

57. It's difficult to juggle the caustic with the informative.

But you do a fine job, I'd say. :thumbsup:

Me? I'm still working on putting away the bazooka when I'm only swatting flies. ;)

[boricua79]

66. you guys done having your DU orgy of backslapping?

You amuse me... :)

Take care guys.

[Ignis]

72. Nope. A community is a nice thing to have. (nt)

[NoBorders]

85. Please let me know what city you live in and what kind of car

so I can be on the lookout for you when on my bike.

[boricua79]

65. nothing inconsistent with my beliefs on this thread

I still believe cyclists should be fined for the same type of violations that slow drivers are fined for. That's why there are minimum speed limits as well.

As for MY personal ways on the road, they're irrelevant to discussions on what should be fined or not. To make it clear and not shy away from it, I'm not particular patient with slow cyclists and I'm not particular fond of them. To each their own.

and get a life...who really keeps tallies of my past threads?

[Richard Steele]

76. When you can keep them consistent across more than one thread, feel free to get back to me.

nm

[boricua79]

77. I just explained I did

I don't like slow cyclists, and I don't have patience with them, and if they don't seem to notice that they're holding up people, i'm not gonna wait behind them.

Keeping it consistent.

[wtmusic]

15. Cyclists are fined all the time

but "expecting the unexpected" is not enough. Cyclists have every right to the road the drivers do, but I have NEVER seen a driver fined for swinging their door open into traffic, which kills many cyclists every year.

I ride 5000 miles/year, and last year got hit by a woman turning left into me. She drove into me; nothing I could do.

[boricua79]

26. for that reason

1) I never ride bicyles or motorcycles on the road...the dangers are TOO prohibitive.

You have every right to ride cycle-style vehicles...and you have to expect that the dangers to you from inevitably human error are MUCH more severe than to a car-driving person.

Just reality. Ride with the dangers, or ride on the sidewalk, or don't ride at all.

[wtmusic]

35. Inevitably human error or avoidable human carelessness

is where I will make a distinction with your assessment.

BTW riding on the sidewalk is illegal. And I'll send this back your way: drive by the rules (respecting cyclists right-of-way) or don't drive at all.

[boricua79]

62. hahaha...

that'll be the day. If it is between not driving at all and ceding to the whim of every slow cyclist on the road, I'll pick making my own way on the road. I have to life to lead and I'm not taking a backseat to some 15 mph rider.

[wtmusic]

73. Great.

Please knock one down and get your ass sued. I'll be there to provide the court with these posts as testimony of your irresponsibility.

onedit: on a group ride today a moron like you cut off our group. Instead of letting this one go, one cyclist chased him down into a shopping center parking lot and gave him a piece of his mind. This tough guy driver looked like he was about ready to wet his pants. Just like you would.

Welcome to ignore. :hi:

[Richard Steele]

60. That's very much NOT what you said a few weeks ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3090530

You might want to check your pants for flames, chump.

[boricua79]

70. ooooh I'm scared, internet tough guy. NT

[alfredo]

88. My philosophy was: If there was a way for that car to get you it will.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. A friend of mine in college got hurt very badly

while on a bike when someone opened a car door. He broke several bones and was in intensive care for weeks.

[Warren Stupidity]

21. One door and three cars so far.

Door from fellow too impatient to wait for cab to get to curb - wrecked front fork of bike, didn't hurt me.

Left turn without looking into me taking out my rear wheel. Road rash but no serious damage.

Backed out of driveway without looking. Flying over a car is fun until you land! Dislocated shoulder, wrecked bike.

Car turned left from right lane without signalling. I should have known better than to try to pass a slow moving car - obviously my fault. Turned with asshole but he ran me into a wall anyhow. Dislocated shoulder, wrecked front fork.

[boricua79]

29. damn...

if I were you, I would NEVER ride a bicycle in trafficked areas anymore.

I ride bicyles never going above a controllable speed, and I stop at EVERY driveway or road where I either cannot see into the driveway (bushes,trees) or when I see a car that is parked but on. I'm always expecting them to back out or do something stupid.

no accidents in 19 years of cycling.

[Warren Stupidity]

55. Urban bike riding is very hazardous.

That took care of my first two accidents. My third accident was while riding a racing bike as fast as I could go on the streets as part of my regular work out and was the end of my doing that anymore. My last accident was over 15 years ago and was while riding at moderate speed on a weekend camping trip and as I said, I should never have passed a car no matter how slow it was going. Since then I never race, I never ride in urban areas, and I am very careful, and so far no more accidents.

The only point of all this is about the idiots here who are basically complaining that bicycle riders should be fined for slowing them down a bit - on that basis, they should be regularly getting thrown in jail for attempted murder for what they do to us on a regular basis, day in and day out.

[Ignis]

50. That's obviously your own fault, Warren...

According to the poster to whom you're replying. I mean, if he's never been in a bike accident, anyone else who has is obviously an idiot.

:eyes:

Sorry to hear about your injuries, Warren. Be careful out there! :hi:

[Richard Steele]

11. At least he wasn't riding the wrong direction, as you've claimed that you do.

[regularguy]

53. Yeah,like one bike surrounded by thousands of

cars could possibly own the road. If you gotsome exercise yourself maybe you wouldn't be so fucking stupid.

[superduperfarleft]

63. Coming from the poster

who rides on the sidewalk and rides against traffic, despite both being against the law. :eyes: That's alright, I'm just hoping there's a U-lock in your future.

Didn't you already embarrass yourself enough in the older thread?

[mondo joe]

3. If you create a traffic hazard, then bike or car you ought to be fined. NT

[sam sarrha]

7. but did he.. there was no ticket, why not, maybe he only slowed traffic an didnt commit an infractio...

to navigate traffic sometimes people have to slow down a bit, then rush off to stop at the next light

[mondo joe]

24. I don't know - that's why I said "if". I couldn't glean enough from the

story to tell.

[Kingshakabobo]

6. Good. Bicyclists like him are a menace to themselves and other drivers.

I'm all for sharing the road but the bikers need to wear proper equipment/lighting and follow ALL the rules - that includes stop-signs, stop-lights, proper lighting and not passing on the right.

My partner was broad-sided by some dickhead on a bike that blew a red light on. He was hauling ass through the intersection at night with no lights on his bike while in rainy weather. Guess who had to pay.

[HEyHEY]

20. That's what gets me

It's just stupid. They cause a traffic hazard and don't need to pay insurance. I think if the city is going to build ultra good bike lanes and what not... bikers should have to have insurance to use THOSE lanes. Especially if they'll be in close contact with traffic.

[fishwax]

10. It's hard to tell what happened from the story

was he crossing an intersection against the light or in some other way illegally?

[underpants]

28. ---YES! there is nothing that says he was doing anything illegal---

and the other cop saying that he would have just issued him a warning pretty much backs that up

[hvn_nbr_2]

41. It's the most uninformative "news" story I've seen in awhile. nt

[onehandle]

12. I don't see in this article what law he broke.

If he was riding down the middle of the lane at a much slower speed with traffic held up, he may be considered "reckless".

If he was just being careful in an intersection, he was within his rights.

And if he was riding to the right, he was perfectly within his rights to use his bike in most any traffic situation.

Here in Georgia, bicyclists have the same rights and rules as cars.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Indeed - and google doesn't help.

But this sure has brought out the anti-bicycle crowd. It seems that having to slow down to pass or wait for a bike is just a major problem for quite a few folks here.

[wtmusic]

19. Sounds like he was going too slow for a cop who was in a hurry

and suddenly "me having to respect his right of way" turned into "he's being reckless". :eyes:

[underpants]

25. Bikes have every right to the entire lane

Yes I kno wthat it is usually in their better interests not too but the law says that they have every right that a car does even though they aren't registered. It is the law.

[onehandle]

31. This is how it is in Georgia.

A bike has the same rights within limits.

40-6-294.

(a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when turning left or avoiding hazards to safe cycling, when the lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle, when traveling at the same speed as traffic, or while exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction; provided, however, that every person operating a bicycle away from the right side of the roadway shall exercise reasonable care and shall give due consideration to the other applicable rules of the road. As used in this subsection, the term "hazards to safe cycling" includes, but is not limited to, surface debris, rough pavement, drain grates which areparallel to the side of the roadway, parked or stopped vehicles, potentially opening car doors, or any other objects which threaten the safety of a person operating a bicycle.

http://www.bicyclegeorgia.com/galaw.html

[wtmusic]

37. Yes and no

In CA a cyclist has to stay as far to the right as possible unless he/she is passing another cyclist, turning left, or avoiding obstructions.

[underpants]

38. Excuse me it is the law in VIRGINIA

My brain posted that but my fingers didn't

[wtmusic]

39. A common misconception

"(Va. Motor Vehicle Code 46.2-800, 46.2-905)Every person riding a bicycle.. shall have all of the rightsapplicable to the driver of a vehicle...Any person operating a bicycle shall ride as close as practicable to the right...except when passing,. .. turning,... to avoid conditions not limited to fixed or moving objects, moving or parked vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, orsubstandard width lanes too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane."

http://www.northernneckcycling.org/tips_and_info/virginia_rules_of_the_road

[underpants]

43. Okay I am wrong

I did NOT know that

[Gormy Cuss]

47. The rules are very similar in most states: as far to the right as practicable

Exceptions are fairly similar too. What I love is when a drive flips the bird at me for being in the left turning lane, as if it would be better for me to cut across all the traffic lanes at the light to make the turn. There also seem to be many drivers who don't understand hand signals.

[gratuitous]

16. "Reckless driving"?

Unfortunately, the account doesn't detail what Cornish may have been doing, merely has the officer's vague statement that "drivers had to slow down to avoid hitting Cornish when he crossed the intersection." Was he going with or against a light? The account doesn't say. As a cyclist myself, I appreciate drivers who slow down around me rather than speeding up. I detest other cyclists who blow through lights and stop signs, if for no other reason than they make my life on two wheels harder. But my experience is also that there are cops who have a hard on for bicycles, and will write a citation for a cyclist that they'd never write for a motorist. But I don't think it's discriminatory, as I've seen motorcycles entitled tothe same treatment.

I will say, however, that practically any bicyclist of more than a couple months' experience can easily keep up with city center rush hour traffic, and I find the officer's assertion that Cornish was "reckless" to be dubious without a great deal more information.

[HEyHEY]

18. WOOHOOO! VENGEANCE!

I'm all for biking instead of driving. But that doesn't mean bikers should play a direct role in getting people out of their cars. They frustrate people, which causes accidents.

[baldguy]

22. Having been hit by a car while I was riding my bike to work

I wonder if Officer Evans is as diligent policing the reckless drivers of cars?

[Junkdrawer]

27. More details + video....

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-news_recklessbiker_0111jan11,0,2981483.story?coll=dp-travel-bothead

[underpants]

30. Well it is somewhere in Denbeigh-- it doesn't say anything about how he endangered anyone

If he didn't have a helmet on and he didn't have a light on a bike and was on a road with a speed limit over 35 (Va. law) he was wrong but THAT IS NOT WHAT THE POLICE GAVE HIM A TICKET FOR


I used to live in Denbeigh but I couldn't tell where it was. That was probably Jefferson Ave. which is not a great place to ride a bike at all!!! Rides to work to save money?? Who knows?

[sam sarrha]

32. video doesnt work for me

[onehandle]

40. From this article - THE FULL ARTICLE - it looks like this is about an abusive law, not the rider.

Sounding more like it was a zealous cop that issued the summons.

[salin]

68. I hate to ask, but I wonder how many times this cop

has given any ticket to a white cyclist, let alone a fine for more than 1k?

[dysfunctional press]

71. black cyclist...i'm going to guess it was a white cop?

the cop told the guy he was going too fast on his bike? but also that cars had to slow down to avoid him? :crazy:

[leeroysphitz]

33. Good. "Share the road" goes both ways. nt.

[HughMoran]

34. That was excessive

The folks that drive on a two-lane highway at 30-35MPH where the speed limit is 50 MPH are a menace though - that drives me insane and is extremely dangerous and people pass the bike in non-pass zones where they can't see who is coming around the corner. It's not possible to safely pass a bike on the white line on the right without crossing the median yellow line - extremely dangerous!!

[Phillycat]

36. I nearly killed a bicyclist once.

He was riding along in front of my car - I was hanging back, waiting for the road to widen a little so I could safely pass him. He was talking on a cell phone while riding, at night, with no lights on his bike. I was being extremely careful, because I didn't want to kill him just because he was an idiot. Well, he went to readjust the phone in his hand, lost his balance, and swerved directly in front of my car. It's only because I HAD been paying attention to his idiocy that I had time to both slam on my brakes and swerve to miss him. I missed him by about an inch, honestly. No exaggeration.

And of course, he flipped ME the bird.

[wtmusic]

45. Darwin Award candidate in training nt

[NeedleCast]

44. So Glad TKaine is calling for those laws to be repealed

I traded several E-mails with the (R) sponsor of the abusive driver bill (who, although he claims he wont profit personally is a partern for...wait for it...a traffic court law firm). He was a real dick over the issue, claiming that it would produce millions in additional money (read: taxes) for completing road projects, etc.

[bpj62]

46. Senator Albo

Albo is the senator from Springfield Virginia who sponsered the abuser fees. He has been an arrogant asshole when questioned about the bill. This law is nothing but a tax increase disguised as a safety issue. The state estimates that if all of the fines are enforced we could see over 300,000 people driving on suspended licensed because they cannot pay the fines.

[underpants]

49. Welcome to DU

:hi:

Richmond here

[NeedleCast]

51. Welcome to DU

I'm in Falls Church and I've gone round and round with Albo more than once. Your description of him as an arrogant asshole is dead on accurate. Looks like I deleted our E-mail exchange about the abusive driver fines (tax) but his demeanor was that he was doing north VA a great service by creating massive fines for relativly minor traffic infactions. He also insisted that his firm would receive no additional clients over it and suggested that it was inappropriate for me to even mention it. Albo can rest assured I'll be sending a significant contribution to whoever his opponent is in the next VA elections.

[backscatter712]

58. That's the true point right here - the "abusive driving fees"

In New Jersey, if you get certain traffic violations, not only do you get the points on your license and the traditional fine, you get these outrageous "abusive driving fees" which adds up to four figures frequently. This isn't a fine, it's an arbitrary fee dumped on the driver (or bicyclist) on top of the fine.

It's created a huge shitstorm in New Jersey, and hopefully, they'll be repealed before authoritarian asshats in other states decide this is something to emulate...

[Gold Metal Flake]

52. When making a left turn, a bicyclist will have to cross lanes to enter...

...the left turn lane. That might slow some traffic. I'm not gonna get into how it's done or who does it slower than who. Disruptors can fish at will.

As for me, I am a wuss. I ride to the right, but I cross at crosswalks with pedestrians. I will not do that left turn thing because I do not trust that it will always work out well. That's just me, my choice.

[bikebloke]

61. I call it the right angle crossing.

Making a left turn at an intersection like a car is risky. Sure it may take a minute longer, but you're not in the way of some eejit trying to gun through the intersection, jumping ahead of the cars in front of him.

My philosophy when riding is that everyone driving is out to kill you. Never assume they'll watch out for you, though there drivers who do. I also assume I'm invisible and ride accordingly. And always be actively perceptive - constantly look around and listen. I save day dreaming and vista savouring for empty bike trails.

[regularguy]

54. Man this thread is pissin' me off.

All these put upon drivers who (gasp) ocassionally have to see a bicycle. I hope that someday they'll be so many bikes around you when you drive that it becomes worse then unbearable. SHit I get things thrown at me, run off the road, just the other day some dude leans out the window to scream "faggot" (:wtf:) at me. But OH the poor put upon smoke spewers. Geez!

[underpants]

59. I agree with that

There are irresponsible bikers but for the most part the VAST MAJORITY of bike riders clearly are not the problem

[treestar]

64. Seems excessive

Ties should go to the bicyclist, after all, they aren't polluting.

Maybe more bike paths. California is good about that.

[IDemo]

67. I may have to give up the bike commute

On two different occasions, I have been driving on the same route I normally ride and had the motorist in front of me drift all the way into the bike lane (one almost struck the curb), over-correct into the center turn lane, and do it again within a half mile. I don't know if they were drunk or distracted by cell phone, and I doubt I would care which after they took me out.

[wtmusic]

75. Sounds like "moron on a cellphone" syndrome nt

[taterguy]

69. Bad law, bad cop, bad article

Although it's difficult to tell what happened since the article was so bad and I'm too lazy to click on any of the links in the thread.

[MrScorpio]

74. I hope he gets my lawyer

Had my reckless driving charges dropped in that same court

[KG]

78. anybody seen taterguy lately?

:shrug:

[taterguy]

79. I only clicked on this thread because I was egotistical enough to see if my name was mentioned

Thanks for the plug :)

Not that it really matters but almost all of the riding I do in Virginia is on a trail designed for bicycles and horses, the New River State Park.

I'm a traffic hazard in NC but so far I haven't gotten any tickets.

[KG]

80. you? egotistical? color me shocked!

[salin]

82. omg... KG and a post

with the word EGO in it...

:D

:hi:

[KG]

84. true.

i am the humblest sort of fella.

[salin]

87. Good to see you ...

hope all is well down in your neck of the woods.

[KG]

89. thanks, everything is great!

hoping the same for you!

[salin]

90. aside from someone stealing my central airconditioning unit

last weekend... (for the copper... big problem in my area) things are groovy!

[taterguy]

93. It's all that damn cycling I do

Taking on all those folks in their big bad automobiles gives me the delusion that I can take on the world.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

81. Joggers! WHAT ABOUT THE JOGGERS!

Smug, arrogant... HEALTHY little prigs, always running on the wrong side, not paying attention to the traffic flow, forcing me to swerve into the other lane, crossing the intersection against the lights just so they don't have to break their pace... I hope they all get shin splints...

:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :woohoo:

Oh, and BTW, I used to production weld bikes for Huffy, as if that has anything to do with anything... :rofl:

[riverdeep]

83. We look at bikes as toys in this country.

We don't look at them as actual modes of travel like they do in, say, Holland. As a result, our roadways are built around cars and bikes are fitted in, if they can. Meaning people sometimes have to ride on roadways that are pretty scary because there's nowhere else for them to ride.

Also, this attitude of bikes as not 'real' modes of transport also extends to some reckless bicyclists who ride the wrong way, cross sides anywhere, don't stop at lights or stop signs, wear black clothing while riding at night, etc. These people are as frustrating to those who advocate for legitimate cyclists as they are to drivers.

But I don't know what it is that makes people in cars or SUV's scream something or, worse, throw something at cyclists. They know they can get away with it at that moment, and use the power imbalance to inject some hate in their day.

Fortunately, there are people who are knowledgeable about the issues cyclists face. Here's an excellent forum for cycle safety:

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?s=eb24931659d9098fbb88d8d421a493d8&f=8

and general commuting:

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?s=eb24931659d9098fbb88d8d421a493d8&f=20

and for the truly un-American, living car-free altogether:

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?s=eb24931659d9098fbb88d8d421a493d8&f=226

Most people could make at least a couple of their errands they make during the week by bike, and they might find they enjoy it so much they start commuting to work a couple times a week. That is, if they don't get scared off, or killed.

[wtmusic]

86. Cops should be handing out more tickets

to both drivers and cyclists, but when justified. This one sounds like harrassment.

If cops treated cyclists like what they are -- vehicles with rights and responsibilites like cars -- cyclists would get more respect.

[melm00se]

91. two wheelers in a 4 wheel world

must drive defensively and what sounds like zipping thru an intersection against the light ain't defensive.

bicyclists and motorcyclists have to ride with the assumption that others don't see you and behave appropriately. with the driver opening the door in front of a cyclist example: you can see into the car ahead - you see a car sitting there, not moving with a head in the driver seat? assume that he/she is going to throw the door open and prepare for that possibility (its called: the "what if" method of driving).

all the whining and complaining about how auto drivers should be more careful etc isn't going to change their behavior, but we, as 2 wheelers in a 4 wheel world can modify our behavior to keep us safe (plus it makes you a better rider and IMO a better driver)

[MrScorpio]

92. I live in Newport News

This town is perhaps the most bike UNFRIENDLY environment I've ever seen.

Now remember, I'm from Detroit and I spent a few years in DC. Both cities are heads above shoulders safer and easier to ride a bike in than this town. The same can be said of Philly, NYC and Chicago, cities in which I've visited that are much better place to ride a bike than here.

I refuse to ride a bike here, because of the risks that bike riding entails.

There are hardly any bike riders in this area at all. There is practically no space between the curb and the auto traffic lanes on most streets. Sidewalks are a rarity. Traffic is usually at a rapid pace, unless there's a traffic jam, which are frequent during peak hours. Even walking is tricky in many places. There are no bike trails, outside of recreational areas, no bike lanes and the side streets are useless because they're non-connected over long distances. Which, again, leaves you only with the main and narrow thoroughfares where you have to avoid traffic which is very close to you. Intersections are arranged mostly for cars with very little regard for pedestrian or bike traffic.

In certain areas, even crossing a street WITH a light is highly risky.

Drivers in this area are also hostile to bike riders. A friend of mine related a story to me where he witnessed a truck driver harassing a bike ride rider with his (all too common) pickup truck. The truck carried a volunteer firefighter license plate.

If you don't own a car here, your mobility is severely limited, as we have a very insufficient amount of public transportation.

The Newport News police are aggressive and arrogant, as opposed to the Hampton City squad, which I have found to be more community oriented. Both towns share the same peninsula, side by side.

Not knowing the exact details, it could be conceivable that he merely rode down a busy and narrow street and the traffic slowed down behind him to avoid hitting him. If that's the case, and since a bike has just as much right to be in a slow lane as a car, a good lawyer should get his charge tossed.

[Raine]

94. I sure wish they would fine the bike riders

who ride on the sidewalk, that pisses me off so much cause they are such a hazard to people who use the sidewalk for what it's intened for ... WALKING! :mad: :grr:

[riverdeep]

95. That's because of our training.

Or really, the lack of it. Actually, most drivers I think are pissed when bike riders DON'T use the sidewalk and 'take up' the street. Their way of thinking is,' there's a perfectly good sidewalk, why are you on my road?'

It's getting to be a moot point anyway, these days in our McMansion every-one-for-themself modern suburbs, sidewalks are a rarity. Might breed community, or something.

[Raine]

96. That makes sense

as to the reasoning why so many bikers are on the sidewalks. I hadn't thought of it being because they feel unwelcome on the street. It's just really scary walking on the sidewalk and having a bike almost knock you over. :scared: