Comments on: I Spent The Following Nine Seconds With An Asshat Motorist And Lived To Tell About It http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/ sic • \’sik\ adverb [Latin] (circa 1859): intentionally so written — used after a printed word or passage to indicate that it is exactly as printed or to indicate that it exactly reproduces an original (Ex. Tom said he seed [sic] it all). Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:04:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gary Kavanagh http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-44638 Gary Kavanagh Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:36:49 +0000 http://www.wildbell.com/?p=3474#comment-44638 Although collisions when a rider is on the sidewalk tend to be less traumatic, they are far more common then collisions on the road. Cars pulling out of or into driveways and intersections don't expect cyclists and are rarely paying enough attention. The most common kind of bike on car accident is a cyclist riding on the sidewalk against the flow of traffic. I sometimes rollerblade in the street when sidewalks are too narrow even though skates are obligated to be on the sidewalk legally, because I feel safer there at the speeds I am going. Although collisions when a rider is on the sidewalk tend to be less traumatic, they are far more common then collisions on the road. Cars pulling out of or into driveways and intersections don’t expect cyclists and are rarely paying enough attention. The most common kind of bike on car accident is a cyclist riding on the sidewalk against the flow of traffic. I sometimes rollerblade in the street when sidewalks are too narrow even though skates are obligated to be on the sidewalk legally, because I feel safer there at the speeds I am going.

]]> By: mr. rollers http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-44608 mr. rollers Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:28:39 +0000 http://www.wildbell.com/?p=3474#comment-44608 Actually Lisa, had you been riding on the sidewalk in a situation like this, you wouldn't have seen the car until it was far too late and the car probably wouldn't have seen you at all. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. I'll continue to maintain that riding on the street is far safer in almost all circumstances, in addition to being a far better way to get where you're going. Actually Lisa, had you been riding on the sidewalk in a situation like this, you wouldn’t have seen the car until it was far too late and the car probably wouldn’t have seen you at all. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

I’ll continue to maintain that riding on the street is far safer in almost all circumstances, in addition to being a far better way to get where you’re going.

]]> By: Will http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-44598 Will Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:37:10 +0000 http://www.wildbell.com/?p=3474#comment-44598 LIsa, I'm a firm believer in cyclists riding within their comfort zones so I don't fault your decision to do so on the sidewalk (just know that in some municipalities such as Santa Monica, West Hollywood and parts of Culver City it is illegal to do so), and I agree there are hazards wherever you go. I do dispute your assertion that bikes and cars often don't mix. I've pedaled more than 10,000 miles on the streets (and occasional sidewalk) these past two years and with the exception of incidents such as this I'm proof we can get along fine. Kat, as to your question, while clearly this is not lawful, even with my footage, unless it had been witnessed by an officer there'd be no citation -- and even then, highly doubtful. Had a collision occurred I could have used the video to support my version of events, but since nothing "happened" there's really nothing the law can do. LIsa, I’m a firm believer in cyclists riding within their comfort zones so I don’t fault your decision to do so on the sidewalk (just know that in some municipalities such as Santa Monica, West Hollywood and parts of Culver City it is illegal to do so), and I agree there are hazards wherever you go. I do dispute your assertion that bikes and cars often don’t mix. I’ve pedaled more than 10,000 miles on the streets (and occasional sidewalk) these past two years and with the exception of incidents such as this I’m proof we can get along fine.

Kat, as to your question, while clearly this is not lawful, even with my footage, unless it had been witnessed by an officer there’d be no citation — and even then, highly doubtful. Had a collision occurred I could have used the video to support my version of events, but since nothing “happened” there’s really nothing the law can do.

]]> By: KatN http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-44594 KatN Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:39:05 +0000 http://www.wildbell.com/?p=3474#comment-44594 Maybe this is a dumb question...Would the law be on your side if you take this footage to the area police department? You have the make/model and license plate number of the idiot. With Cameras at intersections for red-light runners etc you would think that you would have some luck with it. Maybe this is a dumb question…Would the law be on your side if you take this footage to the area police department? You have the make/model and license plate number of the idiot. With Cameras at intersections for red-light runners etc you would think that you would have some luck with it.

]]> By: LisaNewton http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-44587 LisaNewton Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:14:53 +0000 http://www.wildbell.com/?p=3474#comment-44587 I hate to say it, but this is one reason why I often ride on the sidewalk. Oh, there are still hazards, but they're usually the walking kind............:) Cars and bikes often don't mix. I hate to say it, but this is one reason why I often ride on the sidewalk. Oh, there are still hazards, but they’re usually the walking kind…………:)

Cars and bikes often don’t mix.

]]> By: Annika http://www.wildbell.com/2009/01/28/i-spent-the-following-nine-seconds-with-an-asshat-motorist-and-lived-to-tell-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-44583 Annika Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:58:32 +0000 http://www.wildbell.com/?p=3474#comment-44583 Un-fucking-believable. Un-fucking-believable.

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