I-Like-To-Bike

Try and collect "over $1000" for a damaged Varsity. And regardless of this alleged value, what "problem" is solved??

therentedmule

This is the same in NY but I honestly don't think aggressive drivers really think about sh*t, they run red lights, cut of bikers, peds and other drivers, speed on residential streets, etc, etc. I think it has something to do with the "me first" mentality that pervades American culture. A few laws won't change this.

Plus, another thought, holding the driver and/or the drivers insurance carrier responsible for a bikers injuries does not seem like it would breed a more reckless biker. I for one do whatever I can to avoid hitting moving cars no matter what the circumstance of finances. Covering med bills seems like the least that can be done in a civil society.

crhilton

I would agree with this. There are all kinds of things you could do here:
* Add the death penalty for hit and runs (or life imprisonment, or seizure of all assets; something really vicious).
* Hire a lot more cops.
* Install cameras all over the place (with high enough resolution to see drivers faces and plates).

I'm guessing that the solution elsewhere is this (and it's a better solution):
* Create a pedestrian friendly culture where seeing a hit and run means sticking around and witnessing the license plate, make, model, and what the driver looked like.

It does no good in low traffic areas, but that's probably part of our problem as well: We have so much suburbanization that most of our streets are low traffic (at least that's the case here in the midwest) most of the time.


The fix all may really be walking and biking. It decreases suburbanization because it decreases range. I think a cyclist or walker is more likely to stop and witness an accident involving a cyclist or walker than a driver is: It's not noble it's the "God I hope they'd do this for me" motivation that makes no logical sense but we do anyway.