Driving in your car? You must own the road!
I'm shooting this public.
Headline:
IRRESPONSIBLE AFFLUENCE ALMOST GETS AWAY AFTER HITTING BICYCLE.
I was returning from the public library with Kali in tow, heading back to Pony's apartment when I saw a bicycle rider across the street picking up some pieces from his bicycle. I immediately understood that there had been an accident. Being a bicycle rights advocate, I hurried across the street where a gentleman in a large black Mercedes with leather interior was obviously trying his best to avoid any police involvement by sticking close to his car. I asked the rider if he was hurt. He was obviously in shock. Much to my dismay, but also to be expected from an inexperienced rider who was just in an accident, he was too apologetic and thought the accident was his fault.
I would like to repeat that last part.
The bicycle rider believed it was his fault.
At this point I felt very agitated. Since my return to Austin, I have found motorists to be completely ignorant of bicycle laws and pedestrian/bicycle rights (This includes the APD). The black Mercedes pulled out into the sidewalk--he did not yield and the rider got hit/hit him. The driver of the Mercedes broke the law, period. And as a result, he could have seriously injured the bicycle rider. The rider was wearing a helmet. But he was definitely in shock, and his bicycle, which looked very new, was damaged in some places. The seat, for example, was torn and would need to be replaced. That the driver almost drove away really made my blood boil.
I told the rider that I was going to call it in, regardless of his intention not to pursue any action. I told him that he had, in fact, the right of way, and that regardless of what he thought, the fact was that the driver of the Mercedes needed to take responsibility for his actions. This is, after all, why laws are put on the books. And this is, after all, why we need law enforcement.
I kept my cool but I told the driver I was very disappointed that he would just drive away when it was obvious he "looked" like a responsible adult. Had it been anyone else, say me, for instance, his ass would have been grass. Hello lawsuit.
The attendant of the parking garage called the police. Only after he heard me tell the rider I would do it. (For anyone who thinks this isn't a big deal, please read further down.)
And why the response? Why the feelings of anger?
My sister's friend, Richard, recently returned from Australia after his fiancé died. She was in a coma after suffering severe head trauma when an irresponsible driver threw a car door open in her path. She crashed into the door, flew over the car into oncoming traffic, and was hit by another car. She was presumed dead at the scene but was on life support for two days. In one stupid moment, because someone didn't think, one life was destroyed and countless others were affected because people tend to think these things are irrelevant or don't matter. As long as it's not in your backyard, right?
And I've heard plenty of "third party" stories of people being harmed or killed by cars on bicycles. Especially in Austin.
I realized, after today, that I have a zero tolerance for car drivers who do not understand that pedestrians and bicycles have the right of way--and even if they didn't, the sheer arrogance of people who actually would bring harm to someone who doesn't stand a chance against a motor vehicle.
On the way back to the apartment, two giant honkin' SUVs pulled out in front of my, obscuring the sidewalk. The drivers, noticing they were obstructing my right away, pulled the "cute" trick. "Oh, I'm sorry," they said, as if putting my life in danger was no big deal. Am I exaggerating? Maybe if someone had been less tolerant of such irresponsible behavior in Australia, Richard's fiancé would still be alive.
Both times, I just looked at them, smiled, and said, "Could you move your car back for me so I can cross? You're blocking my right of way." Notice I didn't use the word please.
Both SUVs obliged. The law in Texas is that a motor vehicle may not obstruct a pedestrian walkway. Period. And this is obviously so I'm not forced to walk into oncoming traffic, or wait for the vehicle to find a way into traffic.
Zero tolerance.
Headline:
IRRESPONSIBLE AFFLUENCE ALMOST GETS AWAY AFTER HITTING BICYCLE.
I was returning from the public library with Kali in tow, heading back to Pony's apartment when I saw a bicycle rider across the street picking up some pieces from his bicycle. I immediately understood that there had been an accident. Being a bicycle rights advocate, I hurried across the street where a gentleman in a large black Mercedes with leather interior was obviously trying his best to avoid any police involvement by sticking close to his car. I asked the rider if he was hurt. He was obviously in shock. Much to my dismay, but also to be expected from an inexperienced rider who was just in an accident, he was too apologetic and thought the accident was his fault.
I would like to repeat that last part.
The bicycle rider believed it was his fault.
At this point I felt very agitated. Since my return to Austin, I have found motorists to be completely ignorant of bicycle laws and pedestrian/bicycle rights (This includes the APD). The black Mercedes pulled out into the sidewalk--he did not yield and the rider got hit/hit him. The driver of the Mercedes broke the law, period. And as a result, he could have seriously injured the bicycle rider. The rider was wearing a helmet. But he was definitely in shock, and his bicycle, which looked very new, was damaged in some places. The seat, for example, was torn and would need to be replaced. That the driver almost drove away really made my blood boil.
I told the rider that I was going to call it in, regardless of his intention not to pursue any action. I told him that he had, in fact, the right of way, and that regardless of what he thought, the fact was that the driver of the Mercedes needed to take responsibility for his actions. This is, after all, why laws are put on the books. And this is, after all, why we need law enforcement.
I kept my cool but I told the driver I was very disappointed that he would just drive away when it was obvious he "looked" like a responsible adult. Had it been anyone else, say me, for instance, his ass would have been grass. Hello lawsuit.
The attendant of the parking garage called the police. Only after he heard me tell the rider I would do it. (For anyone who thinks this isn't a big deal, please read further down.)
And why the response? Why the feelings of anger?
My sister's friend, Richard, recently returned from Australia after his fiancé died. She was in a coma after suffering severe head trauma when an irresponsible driver threw a car door open in her path. She crashed into the door, flew over the car into oncoming traffic, and was hit by another car. She was presumed dead at the scene but was on life support for two days. In one stupid moment, because someone didn't think, one life was destroyed and countless others were affected because people tend to think these things are irrelevant or don't matter. As long as it's not in your backyard, right?
And I've heard plenty of "third party" stories of people being harmed or killed by cars on bicycles. Especially in Austin.
I realized, after today, that I have a zero tolerance for car drivers who do not understand that pedestrians and bicycles have the right of way--and even if they didn't, the sheer arrogance of people who actually would bring harm to someone who doesn't stand a chance against a motor vehicle.
On the way back to the apartment, two giant honkin' SUVs pulled out in front of my, obscuring the sidewalk. The drivers, noticing they were obstructing my right away, pulled the "cute" trick. "Oh, I'm sorry," they said, as if putting my life in danger was no big deal. Am I exaggerating? Maybe if someone had been less tolerant of such irresponsible behavior in Australia, Richard's fiancé would still be alive.
Both times, I just looked at them, smiled, and said, "Could you move your car back for me so I can cross? You're blocking my right of way." Notice I didn't use the word please.
Both SUVs obliged. The law in Texas is that a motor vehicle may not obstruct a pedestrian walkway. Period. And this is obviously so I'm not forced to walk into oncoming traffic, or wait for the vehicle to find a way into traffic.
Zero tolerance.