Living Car Free - The Darker Side Of Bicycles That We Cyclists Don't Like To Think About

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1250746/Beware-rogue-bicycles--Petronella-Wyatt-attacks-cult-cycling-frail-mother-knocked-down.html

Now for a topic I wish I did not have to think about. As the number of bikes increase most anywhere, the proportionally number of cyclists exercising more than their bodies-or rather poor judgement-is increasing as the above article shows. And a transformation occurs on both sides of the handlebars:

".....People undergo a strange transformation when they get a bicycle. I know, because a year ago I bought a Pashley with a dinky wicker basket.
To paraphrase My Fair Lady: 'I'm a very gentle soul, even-tempered and good-natured, who you never hear complain, with the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein... But, let a cycle in your life, and you invite eternal strife... You are a pearl of grace and polish, who never spoke above a hush, then all at once you're using language that would make a sailor blush.'
As I wobbled along London's roads, nearly hitting every pedestrian and car, riding the wrong way up one-way streets, I was petrified and hysterical, screaming every curse I knew, including one particularly nasty one learned from my Hungarian grandmother.
After three days, disgusted with myself and unwilling to commit manslaughter, I rode on to the kerb - deliberately, of course - and fell down. I hailed a taxi and put my bike in it, to the annoyance of the driver. 'Take me home,' I bleated to the driver. I have never cycled since...."

Perhaps it is more a lack of a proper introduction not so much balancing on the thing as integrating it within your life and taking it a bit more seriously. Education, education, education....I cannot stress it too much. And a good sprinkle of something as basic as "common sense." That seems to be very short in supply as the news seems to demostrate.

So you are projecting your failings as if they were everyones. ANY community is as large as the number of members, and represents a diversity of opinon equally as large. Same goes for the cycling community. But when the numbers are large enough, reasonable voices find ways to make themselves heard. A lone cyclist learns his lessons by himself. A cyclist in a larger community can learn from his peers if they communicate. Just like we are dong here on Bike Forums. Why is it a bad idea to 'salmon'? What type of lighting do I need as an urban commuter? I go to places like this, and many others to learn these answers. Education IS part of the answer. Community is another aspect. Whether its just meeting up for a beer, or working on a project, whenever any group with a shared interest meet, learning happens.
Henry Higgens was talking about women. I wouldnt admit sharing those views with anyone. Contact with women has taught me that. = )

IMHO this belongs in the A&S forum and should be moved there.

AFAIK no pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist in modern times. Compare that to cars. This article is just the rantings of a wingnut, probably sponsored by a car company or taxi service.

AFAIK no pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist in modern times. Compare that to cars. This article is just the rantings of a wingnut, probably sponsored by a car company or taxi service.
I might be wrong about this.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?638278-Cyclist-kills-pedestrian-!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011648470_pedestrian20m.html?syndication=rss

I wonder how many pedestrians in London were killed by cars in the last year?

E=1/2 mv^2

My bike and I come in at 200lbs. At 35mph, that's enough to do some pretty serious damage. My partner and his old mountain bike clock in at as much as 275lbs. Both of these are unloaded weights... if we're hauling a grocery load, it can easily be an additional 30-40lbs.

Generally, a cyclist is not going to be able to kill a pedestrian without the help of a hill. IIRC, it's about 1 pedestrian per year in the US. But if you whack a person with a fast moving, heavy object, yes, sometimes they die. Bikes are not magical exceptions to the rule.

The model airplanes I grew up flying weigh less than 2lbs. They typically travel at 90-110 mph, which is enough to kill a full grown adult who gets in the way. It's far rarer than dying by a bicycle, but light weight does not mean no risk. If you work out the math, the model airplane is packing less of an energy load than me on an unloaded bike going 35mph.

AFAIK no pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist in modern times. Compare that to cars. This article is just the rantings of a wingnut, probably sponsored by a car company or taxi service.

There was a highly publicized fatality in London some time back where a fixed gear rider, unable to stop, struck and killed a woman in a crosswalk. Here in Boston several months ago, an elderly man was killed while jaywalking on a busy avenue by a road bike. So it can happen under the right circumstances.

The article is cleary a troll by a self promoting attention seeker, but at the same time it is certainly true that there are some terrible cyclist out there.

As a pedestrian, I was once knocked down by a sidewalk cyclist myself.

However, I also agree this is more an A&S type of thread.

The article is cleary a troll by a self promoting attention seeker, but at the same time it is certainly true that there are some terrible cyclist out there.

As a pedestrian, I was once knocked down by a sidewalk cyclist myself.

However, I also agree this is more an A&S type of thread.


I am not sure anyone would call folder fanatic a troll. He has been posting in these forums a long time and might be a far more avid cyclist than I am. Unless you were referring to the daily mail?

^^I meant her: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1167462/PETRONELLA-WYATT-Im-marrying-gloriously-unsuitable-man.html

I am not sure anyone would call folder fanatic a troll. He has been posting in these forums a long time and might be a far more avid cyclist than I am. Unless you were referring to the daily mail?
I think that to some extent Petronella Wyatt is a troll. Based on one unfortunate incident, she has taken an extreme position that she knows will inflame a lot of people. She might be a little loose with the truth too. according to the Daily Mail:


"Petronella Wyatt claims there is a proposal to make motorists responsible for all accidents involving cyclists, regardless of who is actually in the wrong. This is factually inaccurate and creates animosity towards cyclists. The proposed Strict Liability legislation will always allow a driver the chance to prove a cyclist's guilt. Equally a cyclist who hits a pedestrian would be presumed guilty but will have the chance to prove otherwise."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1250746/Beware-rogue-bicycles--Petronella-Wyatt-attacks-cult-cycling-frail-mother-knocked-down.html#ixzz0lgUVuiDm

(OT: Just noticed an interesting feature on that website--when you cut and paste, it automatically inserts a "Read more" link to the page (as above).)

I give her marriage 2 years.


EDIT hmmmm - all quiet on the marriage front. Never happen?

Wasn't she the same Brit woman who complained about not learning how to balance, tried half-heartedly for like a week, then got off the bike and started preaching against it? Some time back? Squirt on her.

I've found that my plethora of feelings are almost diametric opposite to the post; I get better, not worse, in temper and serenity.

I give her marriage 2 years.


EDIT hmmmm - all quiet on the marriage front. Never happen?

I missed this on my first read-through. Boris Johnson was (is?) Petronella's boyfriend, who lost his government job because of the affair. Yet Petronella quotes him in this article without the disclaimer you would see in an American newspaper:
"Moreover, the usually sensible Boris Johnson has promised a 'cycling revolution'. His plans would allow anyone to pick up one of 6,000 bikes at 400 docking stations all over London. This will give 'all Londoners the opportunity to hop on a bike and experience the joy of cycling', making the capital a 'more liveable city'."
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I've found that my plethora of feelings are almost diametric opposite to the post; I get better, not worse, in temper and serenity.
Likewise

IMHO this belongs in the A&S forum and should be moved there.

Don't bother. This article was already discussed there (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?621902-Brit-Lit-Chick-Has-Fit-About-Cyclists). Two months ago.

Don't bother. This article was already discussed there (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?621902-Brit-Lit-Chick-Has-Fit-About-Cyclists). Two months ago.
It got more play here anyway.

It's from the Daily Mail... 'nuff said.

A cyclist can certainly kill a pedestrian, another cyclist or even someone in a car. But so what? The issue of pushy, out of control cyclists seems to be something they're running into back east and in Euro-land. Over here I haven't seen much of it. Even the racers are friendly with pokey old me.

I've seen one pedestrian who was hit by a bike and brushed it off and walked away. It wasn't good enough for the bicyclist though as he chased down the pedestrian about 50 ft, picked up his bike, and smashed it into the back of the pedestrian's head. Pedestrian was crossing in crosswalk with traffic light in his favor. Bicyclist went through the red light.

I've seen one pedestrian who was hit by a bike and brushed it off and walked away. It wasn't good enough for the bicyclist though as he chased down the pedestrian about 50 ft, picked up his bike, and smashed it into the back of the pedestrian's head. Pedestrian was crossing in crosswalk with traffic light in his favor. Bicyclist went through the red light.
Where and when did you see this? What was the upshot of it?

Where and when did you see this? What was the upshot of it?

X-files episode. Cyclist was an alien.

Some dark side.

Now, let me tell you about the dark side of cars! I hope you are sitting down for this...

Where and when did you see this? What was the upshot of it?

Was watching this happen from a rail vehicle on the way to work at the end of Market Street in San Francisco. There is nothing more to it. Bicyclist was upset that pedestrian got in his way. Whether they had met before the incident I don't know. There were about 100 people crossing on a walk signal, bicyclist ran the red and hit said pedestrian and what followed was what I described above.

".....People undergo a strange transformation when they get a bicycle. I know, because a year ago I bought a Pashley with a dinky wicker basket.
To paraphrase My Fair Lady: 'I'm a very gentle soul, even-tempered and good-natured, who you never hear complain, with the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein... But, let a cycle in your life, and you invite eternal strife... You are a pearl of grace and polish, who never spoke above a hush, then all at once you're using language that would make a sailor blush.'

Replace "bicycle" with "car" and that describes me pretty well. On a bicycle, I'm a lot happier and can brush off any slight with a smile and a wave, or laugh it off. On a car, I tend to get impatient and resentful of people who drive too fast or slow, or people who cut me off, or people who run red lights, etc. I'm pretty bad with road raging at other car drivers. That's one of the reasons why I want to go car-free.

AFAIK no pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist in modern times.

A pedestrian was killed by a cyclist in a hit-and-run accident here in Philadelphia late last year or early this year after leaving work. The cyclist took a few seconds to strighten his stem then rode off. He has not been caught.

Last year there was a fatality when an older woman was knocked down on the sidewalk by a kid.

Nobody knew when the last time a cyclist killed somebody was, it took some research of the record books.

There have been several instances of cyclists boring people to death. It's probably happened in this thread. Check Google.

I ride by a high school on the way to work every morning.The last few weeks,1 of 3 kids decided it would be funny to jump out in the street and make me panic stop or swerve into traffic.

I normally ride about 10MPH to work.2 days ago,I saw the kids standing on the corner,so I started building speed.By the time I got to them,I was doing 25MPH.The kid misjudged my speed and thought he could get on of the way in time.I lowered my shoulder and took him out!

I hit him so hard he came out of his shoes.He flew through the air about 15 feet,cell phone flying,backpack flying,GREAT FUN! He thought I would move again....WRONG! I stopped and asked if his 2 buddies wanted some of me,they decided against it.They called the cops,I explained what was going on.

There are teachers that watch the campus parking lot in the morning and saw all off this taking place over the last few weeks.He came across the street when he saw what happened and verified my story to the cops.He said he had even mentioned to the kids not to be jumping into traffic.Typical undisiplined kids of today,well, he learned a lesson the hard way.

This morning his 2 buddies flagged me down,I stopped.They apoligized to me and told me that I had hurt their buddy bad.He has a broken arm,seperated shoulder,broken clavicle,broken ribs,punchured lung and a head the size of a pumpkin.

So,I'd say if you really wanted,you could easily kill someone with your bicycle on flat roads if you wanted to.

I can tell you one thing for sure,I know 3 guys that won't be screwing with people on bicycles anytime in the near future!Would I do it again,YOU BET! I'm sure word will get around campus not to screw with bearded old men on bicycles.

I ride by a high school on the way to work every morning.The last few weeks,1 of 3 kids decided it would be funny to jump out in the street and make me panic stop or swerve into traffic.

I normally ride about 10MPH to work.2 days ago,I saw the kids standing on the corner,so I started building speed.By the time I got to them,I was doing 25MPH.The kid misjudged my speed and thought he could get on of the way in time.I lowered my shoulder and took him out!

I hit him so hard he came out of his shoes.He flew through the air about 15 feet,cell phone flying,backpack flying,GREAT FUN! He thought I would move again....WRONG! I stopped and asked if his 2 buddies wanted some of me,they decided against it.They called the cops,I explained what was going on.

There are teachers that watch the campus parking lot in the morning and saw all off this taking place over the last few weeks.He came across the street when he saw what happened and verified my story to the cops.He said he had even mentioned to the kids not to be jumping into traffic.Typical undisiplined kids of today,well, he learned a lesson the hard way.

This morning his 2 buddies flagged me down,I stopped.They apoligized to me and told me that I had hurt their buddy bad.He has a broken arm,seperated shoulder,broken clavicle,broken ribs,punchured lung and a head the size of a pumpkin.

So,I'd say if you really wanted,you could easily kill someone with your bicycle on flat roads if you wanted to.

I can tell you one thing for sure,I know 3 guys that won't be screwing with people on bicycles anytime in the near future!Would I do it again,YOU BET! I'm sure word will get around campus not to screw with bearded old men on bicycles.I find this story doubtful and you don't paint yourself in a very good light.

I find this story doubtful and you don't paint yourself in a very good light.

Yeah really... way to go, killer.

I find this story doubtful and you don't paint yourself in a very good light.

I know...most people lie to make themselves look better, but on the internet all bets are off.

:D

I find this story doubtful and you don't paint yourself in a very good light.

I had a high school kid jump in front of me Tuesday morning as I was heading in to the office. He jumped right back out of the way as soon as he saw I wasn't deviating course so nothing came of it.

Is this some new thing? I don't recall this happening in my last ten years of riding. Anyway, I was prepared for a hit.