Oh, I’m posting on this. I don’t do that very often, just recycle other people’s posts, but my God…
Scott says:
20 mph on the sidewalk = DUMB
Rick says:
While I don’t agree with him riding through packs of pedestrians and other cyclists on an electric bike at 20 miles per hour, I do like him putting the idea into people’s heads that a bicycle might be a better way to go. Let’s try to at least look at that positive side.
Unfortunately, he demonstrates mainstream popular thinking that bikes belong on the sidewalk. Personally, I would like to have seen a crash while trying to carry the iced tea, but then I don’t watch NASCAR highlights unless there’s a crash involved 🙂
Come on! He timed them! He included the time spent at the coffee counter! He spilled iced tea on himself! He said traffic isn’t a problem for bicycles! He promoted wearing a helmet for safety and then gunned down a sidewalk at 20 mph, all while taking video with his hands full! There’s so much more! My brain is boiling! AAAhggggh.
Someone also needs to tell that moron it’s ILLEGAL to drive a motorized vehicle on a sidewalk. Yes, that includes electric bikes. You can pedal one on the sidewalk, but you can’t run the motor.
It’s wrong on so many levels… I stare at it in disbelief. It’s a tragic, unintentional parody of idiot reporters, impatient drivers, stupid cycling practices and the culture of speed all in one video.
uh, no says:
let’s see what lesson this idiot has taught us…
buy a $5,000 bicycle that you don’t pedal
handhold bulky cargo
use a motorized vehicle
go the wrong way
illegally on a sidewalk for pedestrians
don’t put the helmet on correctly
don’t invest any effort to transport yourself
enjoy a cup of tea after endangering everyone around you including yourself.
FAIL
fred_dot_u says:
I was surprised that his helmet wasn’t on backwards. I did also post to the comment section the suggestion that he take a TS101 course and repeat the test. How likely is that to happen?
What is this, speed week on bike blogs? I just shake my head and conclude that Doohickie is right.
john says:
It’s all about convenience in the USA, not the quality of life, that determines our choices (and reporting too).
Romanmica’s bio: “Former print and television reporter, turned triathlete, turned endurance sports blogger, turned automotive journalist.” Definitely a hot prospect for FoxNews (my apologies to Fox lovers but News Corp has largely destroyed the quality reporting that once represented the WSJ).
John said: “It’s all about convenience in the USA, not the quality of life, that determines our choices (and reporting too).”
That was my exact thought before I even saw the horrifying bike ride. I don’t ride a bike because it’s faster. It usually isn’t. I go by bike because it enhances my quality of life by making the journey interesting, fun and connected to my community vs frustrating lost time.
Kevin Love says:
Sidewalk cycling is illegal in most places, and incredibly foolish everywhere.
The only nitpick I’d have is stating that bright clothing is a must. I like bright clothes, they’re effective in certain circumstances, but they should never be promoted as a requirement. Maybe not as much an issue in Canada, but that’s the kind of thing a defense attorney for a negligent motorist’s insurance company would love to use to deny compensation to an injured cyclist in the U.S.
Amen to what Keri said. I’m getting a lot more color aware recently (I even got a high vis jersey now), but I’ve got a lot of BLACK cycling stuff and I hate to think I need to throw it all away. A 1/4 of the way aware motorist ought to be able to see a combination of steady & blinking rear lights and reflectors, regardless of the cyclist’s color choices.
Kevin Love says:
Yes, Keri, not an issue here because of the laws that automatically assign liability to the motorist in a car/bike crash.
Is the USA the only country in the world that does not have such liability laws? I’m not an expert. All I know is European and Canadian law, which clearly states that the motorist is liable. I really like the Ontario statute which reads:
“When loss or damage is sustained by any person by reason of a motor vehicle on a highway, the onus of proof that the loss or damage did not arise through the negligence or improper conduct of the owner, driver, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle is upon the owner, driver, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle.”
john says:
Not to wander off from the selling of convenience but to add to KL’s point about accountability: As the high-profile attorney general for Ontario, Michael Bryant had championed severe and controversial traffic safety laws. Earlier this week he was charged with criminal negligence causing death in an unusually violent episode of road rage involving a bicyclist.
In 2007 he gave the police the power to seize and destroy cars modified for racing even if no charges were lodged against their owners.
Later that year the province passed a bill to deem any vehicle traveling more than 50 kilometers an hour faster than the speed limit to be racing. The legislation, under which more than 10,000 charges have been brought, allows the police to immediately seize vehicles and suspend licenses.
Sopchoppy Robby says:
Darwin award winners—-it will be a rough first step out of the car and off the oil for most americans. Guys like this with be the transition people unless we market up and smarten up our message about the bike and its uses.
Kevin Love says:
Yes, this is a bizarre episode. Ontario’s politicians usually don’t go around killing people. Particularly politicians who brought in laws cracking down on violent motorists.
As John correctly noted, as Her Majesty’s attorney-general for Ontario, Mr. Bryant was a key player in getting in place a law that car drivers going more than 50 km/hr over the speed limit would be automatically deemed “racing,” even if there was no other vehicle around. This means that the offender would have their car impounded on-the-spot, their driver’s license suspended on-the-spot and be charged with “racing,” which is good for up to six months in jail.
I was at the memorial to Mr. Sheppard on Wednesday. Then I went to the Ward 20 meeting at City Hall to help redesign the road network in that ward to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and discourage private car use. A lot of ideas from Groningen were used.
Mr. Bryant is facing two charges. “Dangerous driving causing death,” which is good for up to 10 years in jail. And also “Criminal negligence causing death” which is good for up to a lifetime sentence.
As attorney-general, Mr. Bryant advised Her Majesty as to whom she should appoint as Crown attorneys in Ontario. To avoid any appearance of bias, an out-of-province Crown attorney is being brought in to prosecute Mr. Bryant.
Since I live in the same judicial district in which the charges were laid, it is possible that I could be called as a juror for Mr. Bryant’s trial. If this happens, I will, of course, disregard all the media reports and only look at the evidence presented in court to determine his guilt.
Kevin Love says:
Nothing like a high-profile killing to get the news media going. There is an excellent interview in today’s Toronto Star with Police Constable Hugh Smith. PC Smith was one of the founding members of Toronto’s bicycle police unit. Today he trains police officers around the country.
An excerpt of what he’s training police officers to do:
“A cyclist has the right to an entire lane, even though they only occupy part of it. And it’s up to them to dictate when they want to share.
Some cyclists don’t understand that. If it’s narrow, they have to push to the left and say, `No. I’m a slow-moving vehicle. Go around me.’ But they tend to ride in that small area to the right.
What about giving tickets to those cyclists who break the rules, those rolling through or running lights?
If somebody comes up … they’ve almost stopped, they’ve checked, they’ve looked, and they go through, that’s not the type of cyclist that we’re giving failing-to-stop tickets to; we’re giving them to the ones who are blatantly going through…”
“If somebody comes up … they’ve almost stopped, they’ve checked, they’ve looked, and they go through, that’s not the type of cyclist that we’re giving failing-to-stop tickets to; we’re giving them to the ones who are blatantly going through…”
I will admit I’m that kind of cyclist. I will (slowly) roll through stop signs if the way is clear, and occasionally jump a red light. But my guiding principle whenever I might bend the law is to make sure I am not violating another vehicle’s right of way. If there is any chance of that, I hold back.
Oh… and I forgot to add: From my experience, the local police follow the same policy as PC Smith.
Bryan says:
Mr. Mica needs cupholder on that EV bike. Heck, I want a verticle cupholder on my bike. A Slurpee instead of warm water in a stale plastic bottle when riding on a hot day would be glorious!
And who holds a camera when they ride/drive anything? That’s dumb no matter what you’re on/in or where you’re going.
Oh, I’m posting on this. I don’t do that very often, just recycle other people’s posts, but my God…
20 mph on the sidewalk = DUMB
While I don’t agree with him riding through packs of pedestrians and other cyclists on an electric bike at 20 miles per hour, I do like him putting the idea into people’s heads that a bicycle might be a better way to go. Let’s try to at least look at that positive side.
Unfortunately, he demonstrates mainstream popular thinking that bikes belong on the sidewalk. Personally, I would like to have seen a crash while trying to carry the iced tea, but then I don’t watch NASCAR highlights unless there’s a crash involved 🙂
Come on! He timed them! He included the time spent at the coffee counter! He spilled iced tea on himself! He said traffic isn’t a problem for bicycles! He promoted wearing a helmet for safety and then gunned down a sidewalk at 20 mph, all while taking video with his hands full! There’s so much more! My brain is boiling! AAAhggggh.
Someone also needs to tell that moron it’s ILLEGAL to drive a motorized vehicle on a sidewalk. Yes, that includes electric bikes. You can pedal one on the sidewalk, but you can’t run the motor.
It’s wrong on so many levels… I stare at it in disbelief. It’s a tragic, unintentional parody of idiot reporters, impatient drivers, stupid cycling practices and the culture of speed all in one video.
let’s see what lesson this idiot has taught us…
buy a $5,000 bicycle that you don’t pedal
handhold bulky cargo
use a motorized vehicle
go the wrong way
illegally on a sidewalk for pedestrians
don’t put the helmet on correctly
don’t invest any effort to transport yourself
enjoy a cup of tea after endangering everyone around you including yourself.
FAIL
I was surprised that his helmet wasn’t on backwards. I did also post to the comment section the suggestion that he take a TS101 course and repeat the test. How likely is that to happen?
Oh my gosh.
He doesn’t need a helmet; he’s brainless.
From the comments at the source page:
“FYI: I rode the bike on the sidewalk because in real life that’s how many people ride bikes in cities…be it legal or not. “
No, he rode a bike on the sidewalk he is an ignorant, unskilled, cowardly cyclist who would rather put pedestrians’ lives at risk.
What is this, speed week on bike blogs? I just shake my head and conclude that Doohickie is right.
It’s all about convenience in the USA, not the quality of life, that determines our choices (and reporting too).
Romanmica’s bio: “Former print and television reporter, turned triathlete, turned endurance sports blogger, turned automotive journalist.” Definitely a hot prospect for FoxNews (my apologies to Fox lovers but News Corp has largely destroyed the quality reporting that once represented the WSJ).
Doohickie said:
“No, he rode a bike on the sidewalk he is an ignorant, unskilled, cowardly cyclist who would rather put pedestrians’ lives at risk.”
That sounds harsh, but it’s right on. The dude pulled a CIC temper tantrum when challenged. Rantwick is on it:
http://rantwick.blogspot.com/2009/09/roman-mica-update.html
John said:
“It’s all about convenience in the USA, not the quality of life, that determines our choices (and reporting too).”
That was my exact thought before I even saw the horrifying bike ride. I don’t ride a bike because it’s faster. It usually isn’t. I go by bike because it enhances my quality of life by making the journey interesting, fun and connected to my community vs frustrating lost time.
Sidewalk cycling is illegal in most places, and incredibly foolish everywhere.
There is a rather nice brochure found here:
http://www.rnbc.info/Sidewalk%20Cycling.htm
Kevin, that’s an excellent brochure!
The only nitpick I’d have is stating that bright clothing is a must. I like bright clothes, they’re effective in certain circumstances, but they should never be promoted as a requirement. Maybe not as much an issue in Canada, but that’s the kind of thing a defense attorney for a negligent motorist’s insurance company would love to use to deny compensation to an injured cyclist in the U.S.
Amen to what Keri said. I’m getting a lot more color aware recently (I even got a high vis jersey now), but I’ve got a lot of BLACK cycling stuff and I hate to think I need to throw it all away. A 1/4 of the way aware motorist ought to be able to see a combination of steady & blinking rear lights and reflectors, regardless of the cyclist’s color choices.
Yes, Keri, not an issue here because of the laws that automatically assign liability to the motorist in a car/bike crash.
Is the USA the only country in the world that does not have such liability laws? I’m not an expert. All I know is European and Canadian law, which clearly states that the motorist is liable. I really like the Ontario statute which reads:
“When loss or damage is sustained by any person by reason of a motor vehicle on a highway, the onus of proof that the loss or damage did not arise through the negligence or improper conduct of the owner, driver, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle is upon the owner, driver, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle.”
Not to wander off from the selling of convenience but to add to KL’s point about accountability: As the high-profile attorney general for Ontario, Michael Bryant had championed severe and controversial traffic safety laws. Earlier this week he was charged with criminal negligence causing death in an unusually violent episode of road rage involving a bicyclist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/world/americas/02toronto.html?scp=1&sq=Ontario%20prosecutor&st=cse
In 2007 he gave the police the power to seize and destroy cars modified for racing even if no charges were lodged against their owners.
Later that year the province passed a bill to deem any vehicle traveling more than 50 kilometers an hour faster than the speed limit to be racing. The legislation, under which more than 10,000 charges have been brought, allows the police to immediately seize vehicles and suspend licenses.
Darwin award winners—-it will be a rough first step out of the car and off the oil for most americans. Guys like this with be the transition people unless we market up and smarten up our message about the bike and its uses.
Yes, this is a bizarre episode. Ontario’s politicians usually don’t go around killing people. Particularly politicians who brought in laws cracking down on violent motorists.
As John correctly noted, as Her Majesty’s attorney-general for Ontario, Mr. Bryant was a key player in getting in place a law that car drivers going more than 50 km/hr over the speed limit would be automatically deemed “racing,” even if there was no other vehicle around. This means that the offender would have their car impounded on-the-spot, their driver’s license suspended on-the-spot and be charged with “racing,” which is good for up to six months in jail.
I was at the memorial to Mr. Sheppard on Wednesday. Then I went to the Ward 20 meeting at City Hall to help redesign the road network in that ward to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and discourage private car use. A lot of ideas from Groningen were used.
Mr. Bryant is facing two charges. “Dangerous driving causing death,” which is good for up to 10 years in jail. And also “Criminal negligence causing death” which is good for up to a lifetime sentence.
As attorney-general, Mr. Bryant advised Her Majesty as to whom she should appoint as Crown attorneys in Ontario. To avoid any appearance of bias, an out-of-province Crown attorney is being brought in to prosecute Mr. Bryant.
Since I live in the same judicial district in which the charges were laid, it is possible that I could be called as a juror for Mr. Bryant’s trial. If this happens, I will, of course, disregard all the media reports and only look at the evidence presented in court to determine his guilt.
Nothing like a high-profile killing to get the news media going. There is an excellent interview in today’s Toronto Star with Police Constable Hugh Smith. PC Smith was one of the founding members of Toronto’s bicycle police unit. Today he trains police officers around the country.
An excerpt of what he’s training police officers to do:
“A cyclist has the right to an entire lane, even though they only occupy part of it. And it’s up to them to dictate when they want to share.
Some cyclists don’t understand that. If it’s narrow, they have to push to the left and say, `No. I’m a slow-moving vehicle. Go around me.’ But they tend to ride in that small area to the right.
What about giving tickets to those cyclists who break the rules, those rolling through or running lights?
If somebody comes up … they’ve almost stopped, they’ve checked, they’ve looked, and they go through, that’s not the type of cyclist that we’re giving failing-to-stop tickets to; we’re giving them to the ones who are blatantly going through…”
Source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/690848
I strongly recommend reading the rest of the article. This is the sort of police trainer we need.
“If somebody comes up … they’ve almost stopped, they’ve checked, they’ve looked, and they go through, that’s not the type of cyclist that we’re giving failing-to-stop tickets to; we’re giving them to the ones who are blatantly going through…”
I will admit I’m that kind of cyclist. I will (slowly) roll through stop signs if the way is clear, and occasionally jump a red light. But my guiding principle whenever I might bend the law is to make sure I am not violating another vehicle’s right of way. If there is any chance of that, I hold back.
Oh… and I forgot to add: From my experience, the local police follow the same policy as PC Smith.
Mr. Mica needs cupholder on that EV bike. Heck, I want a verticle cupholder on my bike. A Slurpee instead of warm water in a stale plastic bottle when riding on a hot day would be glorious!
And who holds a camera when they ride/drive anything? That’s dumb no matter what you’re on/in or where you’re going.