Advocacy & Safety - Boca Raton Florida - cyclists beat up lexus driver

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/sfl-bicyclist-assaults-driver-081909,0,1983303.story



Police say driver of Lexus attacked by bicyclist in Boca Raton

By Angel Streeter South Florida Sun Sentinel

1:09 p.m. EDT, August 19, 2009

A 69-year-old Delray Beach man found out the perils of maybe not doing enough to share the road with bicyclists.

He was confronted by a group of angry cyclists last week when they accused him of passing them on State Road A1A in Boca Raton a little too closely.

According to Boca Raton police, one cyclist grabbed Miles Barish while he was in his car and threatened to beat him up while other cyclists punched and kicked his 2008 Lexus convertible.

The cyclist, Thomas McDonald, 50, of Lighthouse Point, was arrested and charged on Thursday with simple assault and battery on a person 65 and older. He was also charged with burglary.

"I didn't even know it was coming," said Barish, who was stunned by the cyclists' reaction.

He was heading to dinner on A1A with his convertible top down when he came upon a group of cyclists riding in front of him. They were taking up the entire lane. He tapped his horn a couple of times to let them know he was passing, Barish said.

He went into the opposing lane, passed the group and then stopped for a light at Palmetto Park Road. That's when he said he felt someone grab his neck from behind.

"He said I came too close to him and I could have injured him," Barish said. "I didn't clip anybody. They surrounded my car. They walked on the hood of my car. They kicked in the doors."

According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it.

Now, he's got about $4,000 worth of damage to the car with dents all over it, including the hood and trunk. Even a speaker was torn out.

Barish isn't angry about the incident. He actually thinks the cyclists were lucky. Barish, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was carrying a gun that day.

"In another minute or so I was going to take out my gun and take a couple of them out," he said. "I don't think the whole road belongs to them."

Angel Streeter can be reached at astreeter@sunsentinel.com or 561-243-6537.

interesting the blind faith guys like that put in a handgun. I'm sure his description of his behavior was somewhat sanitized, but it certainly sounds like a little excessive behavior on the part of the cyclists.

Maybe an interesting story? I ride A1A every couple Saturday's or Sunday's. Lot's of cyclists on narrow lanes but with miles of bike lanes. God only knows if the driver was being an a-hole or if he miscalculated distance or was simply doing his best to navigate around riders. This particular areas is replete not only with cyclists but with the elderly. And if the group was taking up the whole lane on A1A then they were simply d!cks. Just my thoughts....


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/sfl-bicyclist-assaults-driver-081909,0,1983303.story

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Police say driver of Lexus attacked by bicyclist in Boca Raton
By Angel Streeter
South Florida Sun Sentinel
1:09 PM EDT, August 19, 2009
A 69-year-old Delray Beach man found out the perils of maybe not doing enough to share the road with bicyclists.

He was confronted by a group of angry cyclists last week when they accused him of passing them on State Road A1A in Boca Raton a little too closely.

According to Boca Raton police, one cyclist grabbed Miles Barish while he was in his car and threatened to beat him up while other cyclists punched and kicked his 2008 Lexus convertible.

The cyclist, Thomas McDonald, 50, of Lighthouse Point, was arrested and charged on Thursday with simple assault and battery on a person 65 and older. He was also charged with burglary.

"I didn't even know it was coming," said Barish, who was stunned by the cyclists' reaction.

He was heading to dinner on A1A with his convertible top down when he came upon a group of cyclists riding in front of him. They were taking up the entire lane. He tapped his horn a couple of times to let them know he was passing, Barish said.

He went into the opposing lane, passed the group and then stopped for a light at Palmetto Park Road. That's when he said he felt someone grab his neck from behind.

"He said I came too close to him and I could have injured him," Barish said. "I didn't clip anybody. They surrounded my car. They walked on the hood of my car. They kicked in the doors."

According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it.

Now, he's got about $4,000 worth of damage to the car with dents all over it, including the hood and trunk. Even a speaker was torn out.

Barish isn't angry about the incident. He actually thinks the cyclists were lucky. Barish, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was carrying a gun that day.

"In another minute or so I was going to take out my gun and take a couple of them out," he said. "I don't think the whole road belongs to them."

Angel Streeter can be reached at astreeter@sunsentinel.com or 561-243-6537.

Just what we need -- vigilante justice.:notamused:

Wow, Florida is really going for the gold this week.

They took up the whole lane and then complain about being passed too closely?

I don't know. I'd say the old fart would have a tough time with the gun on this one. "Was that a gun in his bibs or was he just happy to see me?"

Should be moved to A&S.

I was just innocently driving along and these cyclists attacked me. sure.

probably alot of the story left out of this one.

A&S Jong!

Wow, Florida is really going for the gold this week.

Consistently striving for Gold down here...

It must have been a 'fixie gang'!!! Damn hooligans.........

Florida sucks

"Florida or Germany"

Well, if the cyclists WERE taking up the whole road and did not move, then it's their fault... no?

If that's made up, and the cyclists complied AND the driver was too close to them, then the driver was at fault....

Barish isn't angry about the incident. He actually thinks the cyclists were lucky. Barish, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was carrying a gun that day.

"In another minute or so I was going to take out my gun and take a couple of them out," he said. "I don't think the whole road belongs to them."
I felt pretty bad for the old dude until this ^ statement. Now I just think everyone involved should be sterilized and sent to a work camp.

Real brave bunch of cyclists, ganging up on an old man. Oh that's right, many of them weigh less than girls.

He got off easy. A few years ago in Miami, a guy in a pickup intentionally ran a cyclist off the road who was part of the huge early morning training ride here in Miami. The driver stopped at a light and a bunch of cyclists pulled him out of his truck and beat him bloody. It was great! I missed the ride that morning, wish I'd been there.

Florida sucks

Spread the word. Dont come here!

Maybe he inadvertently crossed into Event Service's nazi paceline. :twitchy:

Doesn't sound like the local paper is going too far out of their way to tell more than one side of the story.

meh.. depending on how it is written, you can have sympathy for either side.

nobody knows what really happened except those who were there. And even then, they have different perspectives.

Damn critical mass rides.

interesting the blind faith guys like that put in a handgun. I'm sure his description of his behavior was somewhat sanitized, but it certainly sounds like a little excessive behavior on the part of the cyclists.

When you think you're about to be killed by a group, you might as well take as many as you can with you. I'm sure the cyclists description of the event will also be sanitized.

"They walked on the hood of my car. They kicked in the doors."

While wearing cleats? Impressive. I am still too chicken to walk on smooth concrete stairs with my shoes.

There's a reason there's a dedicated tag for Florida on Fark.com.

meh.. depending on how it is written, you can have sympathy for either side.

nobody knows what really happened except those who were there. And even then, they have different perspectives.

What extra facts would you need to feel sympathy for a group of riders who threaten an old man and vandalize his car? Even if a rider got clipped (and apparently remained on his bike), that's when you stop the driver and call the cops for hit and run, not assault him. Sure, the driver seems to be a bit on the crazy side talking about shooting them, but that seems more like after the fact tough guy talk than anything else.

I'll set the over/under at 5 pages and 2 bans.

proceed.

the old jackass is lucky he didnt shoot himself.

What extra facts would you need to feel sympathy for a group of riders who threaten an old man and vandalize his car? Even if a rider got clipped (and apparently remained on his bike), that's when you stop the driver and call the cops for hit and run, not assault him. Sure, the driver seems to be a bit on the crazy side talking about shooting them, but that seems more like after the fact tough guy talk than anything else.

and what part of the story compelled you to arrive at that conclusion?

and what part of the story compelled you to arrive at that conclusion?

This part?

"According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it."

I'll set the over/under at 5 pages and 2 bans.

proceed.

the old jackass is lucky he didnt shoot himself.

I'll take over 5, under 2 on that action.

This part?

"According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it."

i've concluded he shot at the cyclists since he was carrying a gun. there's as much in that story to support my conclusion as yours.

Sounds like idiots on both sides. Share the road works both ways people!

What extra facts would you need to feel sympathy for a group of riders who threaten an old man and vandalize his car? Even if a rider got clipped (and apparently remained on his bike), that's when you stop the driver and call the cops for hit and run, not assault him. Sure, the driver seems to be a bit on the crazy side talking about shooting them, but that seems more like after the fact tough guy talk than anything else.
Sounds like everyone was a jerk in this incident.

The gun talk is pretty ridiculous. Had the driver actually gone for a weapon while he was being held, chances of it being used against him would be excellent and this would have worked out far worse for everyone.

Just what we need -- vigilante justice.:notamused:

Like kicking and denting car doors and ripping speakers out...

i love how this little line:

"According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it."

doesn't make it's appearance in the story until well near the bottom, after barish has had plenty of ink to spin his story.

i've concluded he shot at the cyclists since he was carrying a gun. there's as much in that story to support my conclusion as yours.

My speculation (not "conclusion") is based off of something in the police report. Your's is completely random. I fail to see how they are the same.

I'll take over 5, under 2 on that action.

I'll take a piece of this action.

He tapped his horn a couple of times to let them know he was passing, Barish said.

Who taps their horn to overtake a slow moving vehicle?

Florida sucks


This.

I spent 10 years down there from 96-06, and just recently came home to Colorado after spending 5 months down there.

I'm still trying to figure out what the hell there is to do down there besides eating, shopping, and anything non-water related.

Ah well. Enjoy.

Sounds like everyone was a jerk in this incident.

The gun talk is pretty ridiculous. Had the driver actually gone for a weapon while he was being held, chances of it being used against him would be excellent and this would have worked out far worse for everyone.

I'd have to say probably more jerks in the cycle pack than the old fart being one. He's heading out for dinner (so he says). Not likely that he was taking a drive to run down cyclists. They're riding 2 to XX abreast on a narrow corridor (that has a bike lane both north and south). I see it all the time down here and it pisses me off. We wonder why motorists have no patience for us.

and then again,

i love how this little line:

"According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it."

doesn't make it's appearance in the story until well near the bottom, after barish has had plenty of ink to spin his story.

Im further north on A1A.
At the risk of being judgmental, it is quite possible a group of roadies from Boca would be
level '10' arrogant. It is standard riding procedure for roadies to clog up huge portions
of roadway. ....Combine this with the arrogant, violent Bikes-on-sidewalk thought process
of the average Boca motorist and you have a very volatile situation.
Less violent confrontations like this take place closer to my home all the time.

My speculation (not "conclusion") is based off of something in the police report. Your's is completely random. I fail to see how they are the same.

You've read the police report, or did you mistake a sloppy, nonsensical news article for one? Look up "primary source" on google.

He tapped his horn a couple of times to let them know he was passing, Barish said.

Who taps their horn to overtake a slow moving vehicle?




the sort of person who aggressively blares their horn to intimidate and then does a fast backpedal when talking to the cops:

"it was just a tap officer, honest! just to let them know i was passing."

that's who "taps" their horns.

According to a police report, some witnesses said Barish hit one of the bicycles as he was passing the bike pack. Barish denies it.


This seems key to me.

You've read the police report, or did you mistake a sloppy, nonsensical news article for one? Look up "primary source" on google.

You caught me. I apologize for not doing my detective work and calling the police station and each individual involved before I made a comment on an internet forum.

I was just innocently driving along and these cyclists attacked me. sure.

probably alot of the story left out of this one.

Nevertheless, the way to handle it is not assault and vandalism, but get the cops involved. These guys definitely get arrested for all the intentional vandalism. They give us all a bad name.

Nevertheless, the way to handle it is not assault and vandalism, but get the cops involved. These guys definitely get arrested for all the intentional vandalism. They give us all a bad name.

I totally agree, but this story is completely one sided.

It's written as though it were just a poor elderly man driving to have dinner, obeying all the traffic rules, driving the speed limit, and these terrible cyclists were hogging up the whole road, not letting him go by, then assaulted him at a traffic light.

Also, it doesnt really matter what anyone does on the road. There will be motorists that hate cyclists, always has been, always will be.

I totally agree, but this story is completely one sided.

It's written as though it were just a poor elderly man driving to have dinner, obeying all the traffic rules, driving the speed limit, and these terrible cyclists were hogging up the whole road, not letting him go by, then assaulted him at a traffic light.

Also, it doesnt really matter what anyone does on the road. There will be motorists that hate cyclists, always has been, always will be.


I agree. There is a prevailing bias against cyslists amongst drivers, and cops. And there was no reporting in that article, just a regurgitation of a police report.

I thought jumping on the hoods of cars was standard procedure. Maybe I have been going on too many Critical Mass rides.