Cyclists use cameras to document reckless driving
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
Cyclist Alan Crocker regrets flipping off the driver of the blue pickup that buzzed past him on a recent Saturday morning in Rome, Ga.
He’s not proud of it, and he’ll never do it again — especially now that he knows how unpredictable the response might be.
Crocker was wearing a helmet camera that recorded the driver getting out of his vehicle and knocking him over on his bike. He showed the footage to the Floyd County police officer who responded to his 911 call. According to a police report, the footage convinced the officer that the driver was “the aggressor,” refuting his claim that Crocker provoked him by kicking his car.
It’s National Bike to Work Week, but bike-friendly roads are still hard to come by in many states, according to rankings released Monday by the League of American Bicyclists. The uneasy relationship between drivers and cyclists can also keep would-be riders off the road.
It’s rare for drivers to respond to bicyclists with intentional acts of aggression. But with more bicycles and cars sharing the road, some cyclists are arming themselves with helmet or mounted cameras for the worst-case scenarios.
Maybe cyclist should ride in the bike lane, not ride side by side, and obey all stop signs and traffic laws. Not to mention stop endangering families on the road so they can work out.
business owner: would be nice for all to obey traffic laws, but I think you will be hard pressed to find many drivers that obey all traffic laws. A good many drives speed (regularly – I think even leaving their driveway), roll through stop signs, text while driving, do not use hand free devices when chatting on phone, drink/drug and drive, pass when not suppose to and on and on and on. Keep in mind there were nearly 33,000 deaths on our nations highways in 2013.
So if drivers drive more safely, then they can accommodate even stupid cyclists. I drive and ride and frankly, I and most of my friends obey more traffic laws while riding then we do while driving. If for no other reason it is for self preservation as car-bike accidents rarely work out well for the cyclist even if they were obeying all laws and were 100% in the right.
Rick
I am an avid mountain and road biker, however…some of these these Lycra clad dummies need to stay out of the middle of the road, follow the laws and stop holding drivers hostage on the road cause they are on vacation or think they are lance Armstrong on the tour.
Tahoeblue – I never have trouble with cyclist taking over the road (which they should do when there is not a sufficient shoulder), my problem is the numnuts in cars that choose to illegally pass other cars on Luther Pass, around the Lake, elsewhere. I have had more daunting moments from those morons then being held up for a moment or two on the road by a cyclist.
Focus on the real problem on the road – cars.
Rick
Rick, your right. The difference is that my vehicle weighs over a ton and im not driving down the road to work out or for fun. If a suicidal arrogant biker makes a wrong move and i kill him while he is joy riding, alot of peoples lives are gonna change for the worst. And what if my family is in the vehicle with me? Not cool for all parties. Go cross country mountain biking…its safer and theres no car exhaust to suck on.
Cars are bad we should pass laws against them. Make it safe for all the old boomers parading around in their stretch panties.
Haters are gonna hate
Don’t agree. The roads were built for cars, not bikes. Some accommodation can be made to fit bikes into the system, but there is no doubt that bikes are the interloper on roads. Compromise requires both parties to change their behavior.
On a local note, I often drive through the intersection at Country Club Drive where they built a bike trail several years ago. The bike trail crosses Country Club Drive very near to Highway 50. It is a dangerous intersection as the cars pulling out onto Highway 50 have to pull out into traffic that is moving very quickly from both directions. There are also stop signs on the bike trail. I have never seen a bike stop at either of those stop signs. The riders cruise right through the stop signs and indignantly cross the intersection glaring at any car that may be there. I have been “flipped off” for merely being there by bicyclists. The attitude and behavior has done nothing to encourage cooperation or compromise.
I have several avid cyclists in my circle of friends and family. I try to be aware of and courteous to all bikes on the road. That being said, I have been flipped off for tooting (not honking) my horn to alert the cyclists I am passing. I even had a cyclist flip me off for stopping and NOT hitting him as he blew through a stop sign on the bike path to cross the street.
I have seen many cyclists blocking cars as they ride along the narrow highways. This is a recipe for disaster.
Most cyclists ride safely and follow the rules but, as with cars and motorcycles, there are those few who will always be di*kheads and challenge the system.
They are often a complete nuisance, being too far in the CAR lane. Bike vs car…the car will always win. Keep your skinny tires and the tights you wear in the Bay Area where you belong.
Wow, Business Owner and Kit Carson, really? Open your eyes, open your mind, please. “Car” lane? Road. Many cyclists, lycra clad, professional, recreational, commuter, are utilizing bicycles to travel for whatever purpose, as a societal and God-given right. Most often, cyclists do – and must by law – obey traffic laws. Yes, there are the few bad apples spoiling for the many.
It is extremely hedonistic and arrogant (read that Business Owner) for auto drivers to assume and dictate that they are the only people, because they choose to travel in an automobile, that the road belongs to. Please share. Peace, Dub
PS Tahoe is a cycling mecca, both for road and MTB. Locals, in addition to the valued Bay Area, and other origin, visitors, enjoy this form of recreation as well. You should try it!
Kits, you are clueless. Most cyclists also own cars and drive a fair amount. A fair chance I drive more then you as I drive 25,000 plus miles a year. Based on your comments, I also ride a heck of lot more as I ride a few thousand a year. In other words, I have a lot more experience on both sides of this discussion then you. It is actually pretty easy to be respectful while driving and accept bikes as part of the greater landscape as they have a clear legal right to be on the road. Only a completely uptight, self absorbed moron would get overly exited about bikes on the road. They are for the most part easy to avoid and get around.
Rick
c.dub was somehow able to embed both ‘god’ and ‘mecca’ within a missive about cyclist’s rights.
I like the new stunt the kids have pulling the last year or two. They come in from your side acting like they’re going to ride into or in front of your car. Then make a sharp right turn just before you hit them and then ride along side of you.
A haiku about bikes:
Move your stupid bike
I will run you over bruh
Go back to the bay
I just wonder how often they will record themselves running red lights. . . I see it. Every. Damn. Day.
I think the finger pointers are jealous because they look like stuffed sausages in lycra. REALLY!!!!! and im sure dogzilla sees bikes running red lights here every day because she said she moved to nevada, land of the untaxed so there are no bike lanes. What a bunch of whiners.
did the Mr. Mustache just threaten to run people over?
This guy is a massive stroke waiting to happen! And a massive douche’.
Wow. The GET OFF MY LAWN crowd think “they” own the roads?! LOL!
From California DMV:
Bicycle riders on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and are subject to the same rules and regulations. Refer to the California Driver Handbook to become familiar with these rules.
Motorists Passing Bicyclists.
Be patient when passing a bicyclist. Slow down and pass only when it is safe. Do not squeeze the bicyclist off the road. If road conditions and space permit, allow clearance of at least three feet when passing a bicyclist.
From Nevada NDOT:
When bicycles are ridden with other traffic, cyclists must obey the same rules and regulations as other types of vehicles. The safe interaction between bicyclists and motorists is the responsibility of both parties.
Motorists are not allowed to intentionally interfere with the movement of a person lawfully operating a bicycle; bicyclists may not intentionally interfere with the movement of a motor vehicle.
;)
Rock. you must have pulled the Cali part off of and outdated DMV book, because last year they put in a 3 Ft law.
Relo, I think that is mentioned… “at least three feet when passing a bicyclist.”
The bigger point was “Bicycle riders on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists…”
Considering comments like …
“cyclist should ride in the bike lane”
“these these Lycra clad dummies need to stay out of the middle of the road”
“my vehicle weighs over a ton and im not driving down the road to work out”
“Make it safe for all the old boomers parading around in their stretch panties.
“The roads were built for cars, not bikes.”
“Bike vs car…the car will always win.”
“Move your stupid bike I will run you over bruh Go back to the bay”