Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Seems like road rage keeps getting worse

This happened in LA over the 4th of July weekend. Horrible stuff.

http://laist.com/2008/07/07/road_rage_motorist_vs_cyclists_on_m.php

jesus ****ing christ


what is wrong with people?

Wow and a doctor too, not a fake doctor like a chiropractor but an ER doctor whose sole responsibility is to "Do no harm". They're filing assault charges on the guy but it should be attempted homicide since he deliberately slammed on his brakes. This kind of stuff just pisses me off even more about irresponsible drivers and people in general.

Wow and a doctor too, not a fake doctor like a chiropractor but an ER doctor whose sole responsibility is to "Do no harm". They're filing assault charges on the guy but it should be attempted homicide since he deliberately slammed on his brakes. This kind of stuff just pisses me off even more about irresponsible drivers and people in general.

He'll say it was an accident (something was in the road), and get a ticket.

One of the articles says, the police are handling this case as Felony criminal assault, not just a traffic incident.

He'll say it was an accident (something was in the road), and get a ticket.

Or he'll be brought up on felony assault:
http://kfiam640.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=153218&article=3923495

that's sad. I wish I was in the area.. I think it'd be a good idea to do an alley cat or some sort of cycling event to raise money to buy them new bikes[because god knows you can't raise enough for the hospital bills].

Wow and a doctor too, not a fake doctor like a chiropractor but an ER doctor whose sole responsibility is to "Do no harm".

Hopefully, this will be brought to the attention of the state medical board. I was witness to an incident in which a doctor attacked a little league coach with a baseball bat. Dur to weakness on the part of our county prosecutor he was not charged. But we did get his medical credentials pulled due to causing harm.

that's sad. I wish I was in the area.. I think it'd be a good idea to do an alley cat or some sort of cycling event to raise money to buy them new bikes[because god knows you can't raise enough for the hospital bills].

That would be a nice idea.

Hopefully the lawsuit will pay for their new bikes, hospital bills, and make up for lost wages and such for the next FEW years.


People that do things like this deserve to be locked up for life.

It's perfectly fine to get pissed at bikers if you're having a bad day. Hell I get pissed at bikers sometimes (especially if they're riding with a particular disregard for traffic). But nobody has the right to try and injure/kill someone because they're in their way.

^ Yeah i don't care if people get angry, we all do, but that guy was homicidal and should be dealt with accordingly. Sucks for the two guys, their summer riding over because of a some lunatic.

I don't like them calling this road rage. It's a stupid label that's used too broadly. This was just random assault with a vehicle.

hate riding in LA for this reason, and makes me want to be ignorant and pack visible heat tucked in my pants for drivers to see

Yeah, road rage, as a term, almost seems to diminish the perceived severity, y'know? When someone says it was a case of road rage, everyone kind of nods their heads and doesn't care. We all get road rage. Like when some idiot is doing 20 in the passing lane, or some maniac cuts you off doing 80. Yup, that gives me road rage! Rargh! Road rage, yeah, we can all relate to that!

If you say it was felony assault or attemted murder, suddenly you don't have very much in common with this person, and it's kind of a big deal.

that's absolutely abhorrent behavior on the driver's part. what an ugly soul.

that's absolutely abhorrent behavior on the driver's part. what an ugly soul.

Succinct and spot on.

Just yesterday some friends and I were just riding along to a red light and we get a grape soda thrown at us from behind. Normally I would just ignore something like that because im used to ignorant drivers, but the guy's girlfriend actually parks in traffic and blocks two lanes while getting in our faces about how we were blocking traffic at that red light? Then he tried to push us into traffic and we just left. I dont understand why cars have to race a bike to a red light? Cops are normally no help and this instance was no different. I guess what I am trying to say is that this is going to keep getting worse and worse as people get away with it like that with no repercussion. If the police wont do anything untill a poor man goes through a winshield at 30 miles per hour that what is to stop someone from throwing things at bikers potentially causing a horrible accident? Laws need to be changed and enforced.

I had a jackass clip me with his pass. mirror and his buddy threw a half full coke at me while I was riding thru my neighborhood, I got his plate number and followed him to his house. Called the five oh and waited, explained what had happened, and both guys went to the pokey while their daddy screamed and yelled at them from the street. Stupid people suck, I've had diff. situations some really bad, some funny. I usually try to avoid confrontation, but sometimes you can't if some jackass pulled up next to me and started yelling I just keep on riding. If he tried to assault me with his car I would defend myself in ANY way I could. You just have to be one step ahead of the other guy. I've ridden on two wheels, bikes and motorcycles for some time. And if some one gives me **** and pulls in front I can pretty much tell you what's coming next, the old slam on the brakes routine. You just have to be 100% aware all the time. That jackass should be prosecuted to the FULL extent of the law, and lose his license, let him try to make payments on that infinity then.

that story makes me so angry. the poor guy had just helped some other injured racer and was just continuing his ride. then a uptight rich doctor decides he doesnt like bicyclists and thinks its cute to menace them with a 2 ton weapon while he sits in their safe and insulated in a vehicle. i also hope he loses his job and his license. if there is any way i can help, i will.

Just yesterday some friends and I were just riding along to a red light and we get a grape soda thrown at us from behind. Normally I would just ignore something like that because im used to ignorant drivers, but the guy's girlfriend actually parks in traffic and blocks two lanes while getting in our faces about how we were blocking traffic at that red light? Then he tried to push us into traffic and we just left. I dont understand why cars have to race a bike to a red light? Cops are normally no help and this instance was no different. I guess what I am trying to say is that this is going to keep getting worse and worse as people get away with it like that with no repercussion. If the police wont do anything untill a poor man goes through a winshield at 30 miles per hour that what is to stop someone from throwing things at bikers potentially causing a horrible accident? Laws need to be changed and enforced.

And that is why this goes in my bag. No since in being completely naked. Drive by trash tossing is one thing, getting out of a car and approaching me is something completely different.

http://www.tacticalresponsegear.com/catalog/images/fox-x.jpg

Please post updates to the case as they appear.

It sucks that motorists throw their weight around. Yesterday, I had the right of way riding down a street when a driver operating an SUV going the opposite direction deliberately turned left into the parking lot of a sports bar, cutting me off. As I swerved (braking was NOT an option), the driver and passenger both eyed me with a "what the hell are you gonna do about it?" look.

Someone locally should get the word out about this guy. The press will NEVER be seen by enough people to make this guy feel any heat. Find out where his practice is and post up some posters, so when his patients swing by they can read for themselves. See if you can get local TV to pick up the story and run an investigative story about it. There were 50 riders on that one ride, if half of those people wrote or phones a few stations, and printed some flyers the reaction would be much diff.

58 year old Dr. Christopher Thompson


http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=&article=3923495

Luckily the kid was wearing a helmet, I'd assume. Would hate to see his head otherwise.

Attempted murder, I'd say..

UGH, and a friggin' doctor of all people caused the crash? **** like this drives me crazy.

http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/gallery/thumb.php?src=/export/home/cc-common/mlib/616/07/616_12154771251.jpg&wmax=446&hmax=410&quality=90

some california dmv goon or police officer should look up that plate and get the dood's phone number.

TCH MRY
TCH MRX
TCH MRV

etc etc

I don't hope this guy loses his license and job...I hope he doesn't get out of jail in time to resume his job as a doctor.

Sounds awfully similar to this situation in Sydney (http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/sydney-50-bike-pile-up-car-driver-speaks-out-16267) earlier in the year. Car stopped in front of 50 professional cyclists while they were travelling at 60km/h.
I think the problem is that these certain car drivers think they are somewhat detached from their actions. If you were walking on the footpath and someone walked in front of you, you wouldn't punch them out. Why should it be any different if you in your car?

you can't hit as hard as a 3,000 lb. metal machine can hit

wear your lids kids.

careful about sending hate mail kid, the news report said there were several doctors in LA with the same name who were getting heat because of this and of course were being falsely accused, if someone can get 100% solid info then war should be waged.

there needs to be commercials on tv every day educating people that bicycles have a right to the road. some people still think that bikes are simply "blocking" traffic and we don't have a right to be in any lane. its amazing! now that there is a real fuel crisis in the USA, more and more and more bikes will be on the road every day. drivers will have to make room. education about the law needs to happen soon.

there needs to be commercials on tv every day educating people that bicycles have a right to the road. some people still think that bikes are simply "blocking" traffic and we don't have a right to be in any lane. its amazing! now that there is a real fuel crisis in the USA, more and more and more bikes will be on the road every day. drivers will have to make room. education about the law needs to happen soon.

Actually agree very strongly. It's coming to a point where interacting with cyclists should be emphasized when teaching new drivers and somehow to experienced drivers. I am beyond tired of hearing "Get on the sidewalk!" or having some car follow me for blocks at a time, afraid to pass me, because they don't really know what to do.

^Exactly. Drivers who don't know how to calmly continue on down the road w/out freaking out. Every day some dummy pulls all the way out into oncoming traffic and floors it to simply pass me. There is plenty of room, no need to do dumb stuff. Its usually the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. Bicyclists will have to get louder about what we want. We want public education (TV commercials, street signage) and tough laws against this kind of "road rage"... lets call it what it is... assault with a deadly weapon.