billh

Just got off the phone with a police officer and thought I'd write it up for comment. The incident: two cyclists were riding about 10:30am on a weekday on a 2-lane country road in a distant west suburb of St Louis, racers, riding uphill S curves, truck waits behind them for several turns to pass on the straight. The cyclists claim the truck passed within 2-6 inches, intentionally trying to run them off the road. The driver claims he passed safely and had no such intention. Immediately, the cyclists start cursing and flipping off the driver, which the driver sees in his mirror, they catch him at the light and a verbal confrontation ensues. Cyclists take down the phone number of the business the drivers work for, displayed on the bumper sticker. They call the cops. They post the company information on a local list server with encouragement to email the owner and complain. I and others do so.

My interest? It is cycling heaven out there, beautiful windey, scenic country roads. Everyone rides there. So I want to know if there is discontent brewing among the locals. I call the police officer whose name and number were also posted. He is amazingly friendly and is a bike cop in this city. His take was that he honestly believed the truck driver did not "intend" to run the cyclists off the road and that he feels if he prosecutes the driver under the Missouri safe passing law, 1) there is not enough evidence to succeed in court, ie. no 3rd party witness, and 2) he would have to also prosecute the cyclists for disturbing the peace. The owner of the company is also considering a libel suit against the cyclists for knowingly posting false info intended to harm the business, ie. that they were "run off the road" by company employees, which never happened. Anyway, the officer has lived in this city since 1985 when it was just a cow pasture and said the locals are having to deal with out-of-control development, endless lines of dump trucks on the roads, how the brightly clad competitive cyclists are viewed as outsiders taking over "their" roads. Many conversations with residents reveal deep resentment toward the cyclists, just like the resent the new townies moving in and ruining their quiet little town. We talk about the ambiguity of the new safe passing law. He said he has discussed with fellow officers and they think it will be as hard to prosecute offenders under this law as the "following too closely" law, ie. how close is too close? He suggests an education campaign with signage to suggest 3 feet as a safe passing distance. We discuss "taking the lane" and he says that was part of his training as a bike cop but honestly feels most of the town's residents interpret this negatively.

In all, we didn't solve any problems, but I ended saying I was assured that the local authorities at least take harrassment of cyclists seriously and that is encouraging. Other cities, most notably St Louis proper, require blood spilt before they lift a finger. Hopefully, and this is a lot of hope, with courtesy and understanding on both sides, the brewing discontent will not result in injury or death. Somehow, I think it will come to that, though, before any progress will be made.

webist

The officer seems to have a rational, dispassionate and non-prejudicial viewpoint. Hopefully, he keeps it in the face of rising tensions and applies it when more serious incidents inevitably occur.

scottmorrison99

+1

Blue Order

A Kentucky court discussed passing too closely in Previs v. Dailey.

billh

Thanks for that. Amazing the first trial jury actually found the CYCLIST negligent! Talk about blaming the victim. Something like this could very well happen in Wildwood, Missourah. Cyclists face an uphill legal battle in these rural communities. The only question is how many cyclists will have to die before meaningful change occurs.

LittleBigMan

The officer is doing his job properly, but let's be honest about this. When a commercial truck driver passes a cyclist with zero clearance, he's doing it on purpose. He knows how close he is.

HWS

As a 175 pound guy, riding an 18 pound bike on the roads, I don't rely on the police, drivers and certainly not laws to keep me safe.
It's my a**, therefore, my responsibility to keep myself out of harms way. If that means riding on a sidewalk or moving over to allow a car or truck to pass, then that's what I'll do.

webist

Not me sir! I'll let 'em learn just how much trouble they'll be in for killing me! That'll teach 'em

jfmckenna

Thats just unbelievable, but then I lived in Kentucky for a few years so yeah it's believable

russshaber

All you bicycle riders break the law! That's what the "police officer" told me when a lady driver made a sudden U turn from a stopped position. She didn't signal, but she did look right at me before she excelerated out and hit me with her car. Seperated shoulder, cuts, hematoma, etc. I did ride the 20 miles home on my bent up bike - fuming.

I have never heard of a copper who supports the rights of cyclists. But then, it takes someone special to be a cop. A need for power, limited education, inability to function elsewhere in society. Cats and rats, just one step up on the food chain.

deathintransit

Barf.

dta95b7r

I think the cyclists overreacted if someone passes me way to close it scares the **** out of me but i don't chase em down to yell at them if i catch em at the next light i just give em a "you passed a little close could you give me a little more space next time you pass someone" that seems to get a much better reaction and alot of people driving don't notice that they are too close alot of the time

ItsJustMe

Wow, someone has issues. I personally have not met any cops who weren't pretty good guys, including the ones who have pulled me over, and the one who wrote me the only ticket I've ever gotten.

I think cops are more like mirrors. You see in them what you send at them.

TeleJohn

One time, a cop pulled me over. When he got out of the car, I slapped him upside the head. Then I climbed up on the hood of the patrol car, pulled down my pants, and took a dump. I got away cause he was too busy having a heart attack.