Originally Posted by
FBinNY
I won't say whether I've have used the bus lane, or ridden where the cyclist was. I've done both at various times, and though I might use a bus lane when it suits me, I don't and won't feel obligated to do so.
Exactly, we should
NEVER be made to feel that we "have" to use a bus/bike lane. It should be up to us to decide if that is the best place for us to be or not.
Originally Posted by
FBinNY
In any case, to be clear, THIS CASE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BICYCLIST. It was about purely and simply the actions of the driver, namely the Intentional (road rage inspired?) vehicular assault. That's what drew the charge, and sentence. Police, prosecutors, and especially judges are not parents so "he started it" doesn't carry much weight.
Agreed, especially considering that the now former bus driver had inadvertently implicated himself in a prior incidence of road rage directed at a cyclist. Which I think begs the question of how many other cyclists had he done that to and gotten away with it?
Originally Posted by
FBinNY
If the bicyclist was rude, or did anything to instigate this, either intentionally or not (before the camera rolled) that's separate and distinct from what the judge punished the driver for. If he had limited himself to verbal abuse, or even pulled up front, gotten out and confronted the rider, he wouldn't have been facing the judge in the first place.
Do we really know that for sure? I don't know what NZ law is in that regard, but haven't there been states that have passed laws against harassing cyclists?
Originally Posted by
kickstart
2, 3 whatever, going by what I've seen in videos of all sorts, having a camera, or being in front of one does in fact influence peoples behavior. It's not irrational to ponder on how they might have influenced the cyclists response when he became aware of the dysfunctional driver.
Why are you so sensitive, and on the offensive about it? Guilty conscious?
Yes, it does to a degree, but by the same token there are way
TOO many people out there who do
NOT give a damn if they're on camera or not, they're going to do whatever they want to do. And again, this past Wednesday I sure do wish that
I had had a camera on my ride. As
IF I did I might have been able to at least get the plate number of the arsehole who pulled
RIGHT up behind me
WITHOUT their lights on.