SF Cyclist Convicted of Vehicular Manslaughter - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skippy · #1 07-24-2013, 05:37 PM

Cyclist Convicted Of 'Vehicular Manslaughter'

Guy on bicycle runs two stop signs and a red light before colliding with an old man. Old man dies. Cyclist convicted.

I ride and I obey the rules of the road for the most part. I see a lot of other cyclists doing dumb stuff, and making us all look bad, resulting in a lot of negative perception of all cyclists. I think this conviction is a step in the right direction.

spdrun · #2 07-24-2013, 05:49 PM

I don't do dumb things, but I won't wait for a red light like a fawking chump if there are no peds or cars around either.

Skippy · #3 07-24-2013, 05:57 PM

You probably don't plow into a crowd of pedestrians either.

aklim · #4 07-24-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Cyclist Convicted Of 'Vehicular Manslaughter'

Guy on bicycle runs two stop signs and a red light before colliding with an old man. Old man dies. Cyclist convicted.

I ride and I obey the rules of the road for the most part. I see a lot of other cyclists doing dumb stuff, and making us all look bad, resulting in a lot of negative perception of all cyclists. I think this conviction is a step in the right direction.

In WI since 91 when I moved here, I have yet to see 10 bicyclists that do obey the rules of the road. They think they are ok cutting across lanes even in the snow, run lights, etc, etc so I guess I am not going to feel sorry for them. In this case,

Quote:

"I was already way too committed to stop ... I couldn't see a line through the crowd and I couldn't stop, so I laid it down and just plowed through the crowded crosswalk in the least-populated place I could find," the post said.

BS. If you can't control your vehicle, stay off the streets. He got off easy as far as I am concerned. Either one of use with that stupid excuse would have been laughed out of the court.

aklim · #5 07-24-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I don't do dumb things,

but I won't wait for a red light like a fawking chump if there are no peds or cars around either.

Kinda contradictory unless there is a rule that says the laws of the road do not apply to you. Ask Mr Hui.

Quote:

"Just because you are riding a bicycle doesn't mean all bets are off. All of the rules of the road that apply to everyone else apply to you, too."

. Bet Chris feels like the chump you are or will be when something bad happens, not to you but to someone who decides to make it their personal mission to make your life miserable because you gave them the excuse.

spdrun · #6 07-24-2013, 06:27 PM

As long as no one is injured, I'm fine with rules being broken. The cyclist was stupid not because he broke the law, but because he did it in a crowded area.

t walgamuth · #7 07-24-2013, 07:14 PM

Cyclists are supposed to obey the same rules cars do. If they don't they risk causing accidents by being in unexpected places.

One day I had the right front fender dented by a cyclist who was riding very quickly on the sidewalk. It was a one way street running from my left to right so I had stopped and cleared traffic and was pulling out to turn right on red and he just plowed into me.

Jim B. · #8 07-24-2013, 07:19 PM

Those San Francisco bicyclists are an arrogant mob, made more so by their weekly Friday takeover of Market Street, where, under the eyes of the SFPD, literally commandeer the streets and deliberately break ALL traffic laws. With NO consequences whatsoever.

In one instance, a soccer mom in a minivan had the misfortune to be trapped in the middle of an SF intersection, during the "critical mas" event and an angry cyclist stopped, took his bicycle and used it to shatter all the windows of the stopped vehicle, with the small children screaming in terror inside!

And yes, on two separate occasions, I was MOWED DOWN by a speeding bicyclist on Market Street.

..WHILE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK!!!!

Bunch or ba$tards.

Jim B. · #9 07-24-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

As long as no one is injured, I'm fine with rules being broken. The cyclist was stupid not because he broke the law, but because he did it in a crowded area.

I am very disappointed to read that.

The rules of the road *DO* apply to bicyclists.

I personally think that, based on your statement above, you are part of the problem. NOT part of the solution - which is to obey the rules.

aklim · #10 07-24-2013, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

As long as no one is injured, I'm fine with rules being broken.

The cyclist was stupid not because he broke the law, but because he did it in a crowded area.

BS. It's called rationalization because you don't have the guts to say out loud that you don't care who might have to pay the price. If a cop let a guy who was driving drunk but nobody was hurt AT THE TIME and 5 mins later, he plowed into your family, you'd be screaming bloody murder. Or would you accept "At the time, he was intoxicated but nobody was hurt so I was fine with the rules being broken and I let him off with a warning. 5 mins later, he plowed into your family. Whoda thunk it?".

More BS. He broke it not once, not twice but 3 times THIS RIDE. Who knows long long he has been doing it. He just got lucky every time including this time since someone else picked up the tab.

aklim · #11 07-24-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I am very disappointed to read that.

The rules of the road *DO* apply to bicyclists.

I personally think that, based on your statement above, you are part of the problem. NOT part of the solution - which is to obey the rules.

When you expect things, you won't be disappointed.

Sure they do but he chooses to break it because he doesn't want to feel silly like the guy who chose to drive home drunk. Sure, we can have an "oops" moment. We all do. However, deliberately doing it is another story.

It applies to everyone except when he gives himself an excuse. Not news. I'll bet if he is getting the short end of the stick, he'd squeal like a pig.

Jim B. · #12 07-24-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Cyclists are supposed to obey the same rules cars do. If they don't they risk causing accidents by being in unexpected places.

One day I had the right front fender dented by a cyclist who was riding very quickly on the sidewalk. It was a one way street running from my left to right so I had stopped and cleared traffic and was pulling out to turn right on red and he just plowed into me.

The identical thing happened to me, on Market Street, and the guy was flying down the sidewalk to my right on his bicycle. No way I could have seen that in time...

But at the last second he saw me turning right, and applied his brakes.

And to my amazement, I got a glimpse of him go flying over the handlebars into the air.

I got out of there fast, did NOT hang around to find out what happened. In that car hating, lawsuit-crazy city, San Francisco..

kerry · #13 07-24-2013, 07:59 PM

I have a tenant who was hit by a bicyclist and seriously injured--permanently disabled. Cyclist drove away while she was unconscious.
Bicyclists constantly break the law in Denver.

SwampYankee · #14 07-24-2013, 08:17 PM

Cyclists obeying the rules of the road are certainly in the minority here in CT as well.

My brother would be in the majority. He was hit by a car recently and totaled his Trek, which the vehicle driver's insurance paid for within a week after receipt of the bill for a new bike. I'm sure they were just glad to not be dealing with an ambulance chaser (he was unhurt but I'm sure some enterprising victim would have milked it into a sizable payday). I've seen him ride. The only surpise was that it took so long for him to get hit and that it wasn't his fault.

spdrun · #15 07-24-2013, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I am very disappointed to read that.

The rules of the road *DO* apply to bicyclists.

I personally think that, based on your statement above, you are part of the problem. NOT part of the solution - which is to obey the rules.

You're implying that I actually CARE about being part of the solution. I'm not blindly law-abiding, nor do I expect society to be. (And NY generally has a bit more latitude as far as biking and traffic laws than say LA, where they'll fine you for jaywalking. Seriously. Jaywalking.)