Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Kurt Erlenbach
08-19-09, 12:31 PM
This one you've got to read (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/sfl-bicyclist-assaults-driver-081909,0,1983303.story)to believe.
Police say driver of Lexus attacked by bicyclist in Boca Raton
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.
Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Police say driver of Lexus attacked by bicyclist in Boca Raton
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.
Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel