Dempublicents1
09-04-2007, 21:02
I really don't think the most likely scenario is that she is innocent here. I think the most likely scenario is that they share fault.
I agree. I just find it likely that her fault was one of pure or nearly pure accident, rather than any malicious intent. I have very little doubt that she probably did at least bump one of the cyclists. I simply find it likely that this was a matter of confusion and nervousness, rather than any active aggression on her part.
The right thing for her to have done, in my opinion, would have been dto stop completely the minute she became unsure of her situation. It isn't like she was on the freeway or anything. The fact that she attempted to keep going in such a situation was most likely a much more dangerous choice than simply stopping and letting them all ride by.
That she'd acted stupidly and so had they. That's the unfortunate occurance far to often in these kinds of situations and the ONLY solution is education. In unfamiliar situations people act badly. Most bicyclists don't know thier responsibilities as a vehicle because they are not required to learn and most motorists don't know how to handle cycles because they are not required to learn. Conduct a test. Ask people you know if they can share a lane with a bicycle riding along on the outer edge of the road. Ask people if they have to treat a bicylce or a motorcycle like its a car. Ask people if a bicycle has to obey all traffic signals including a no turn on red sign.
LOL, I can predict the results of that test. It won't be pretty.
Of course, to be fair, most people I've seen also think it is perfectly legal to pass on the right if there is a lane there. They also seem to think it is legal to pass a postal vehicle or trash pick-up truck that is stopping at every home in a residential neighborhood, even though it generally means jumping into lane for oncoming traffic. ((I admit that this is actually something I've been known to do, but I know it isn't actually legal, and I would never do it at high-traffic hours)). I think general knowledge about traffic laws is severely lacking, whether they have to do with cyclists or not.
I agree. I just find it likely that her fault was one of pure or nearly pure accident, rather than any malicious intent. I have very little doubt that she probably did at least bump one of the cyclists. I simply find it likely that this was a matter of confusion and nervousness, rather than any active aggression on her part.
The right thing for her to have done, in my opinion, would have been dto stop completely the minute she became unsure of her situation. It isn't like she was on the freeway or anything. The fact that she attempted to keep going in such a situation was most likely a much more dangerous choice than simply stopping and letting them all ride by.
That she'd acted stupidly and so had they. That's the unfortunate occurance far to often in these kinds of situations and the ONLY solution is education. In unfamiliar situations people act badly. Most bicyclists don't know thier responsibilities as a vehicle because they are not required to learn and most motorists don't know how to handle cycles because they are not required to learn. Conduct a test. Ask people you know if they can share a lane with a bicycle riding along on the outer edge of the road. Ask people if they have to treat a bicylce or a motorcycle like its a car. Ask people if a bicycle has to obey all traffic signals including a no turn on red sign.
LOL, I can predict the results of that test. It won't be pretty.
Of course, to be fair, most people I've seen also think it is perfectly legal to pass on the right if there is a lane there. They also seem to think it is legal to pass a postal vehicle or trash pick-up truck that is stopping at every home in a residential neighborhood, even though it generally means jumping into lane for oncoming traffic. ((I admit that this is actually something I've been known to do, but I know it isn't actually legal, and I would never do it at high-traffic hours)). I think general knowledge about traffic laws is severely lacking, whether they have to do with cyclists or not.