Posted on 06/11/2024 2:02:09 PM PDT by Morgana
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — When two friends took a walk on the Kent Trails in Wyoming, Michigan, Sunday with their children, they never expected it to lead to a police report and a viral video.
The men, who asked their names not be shared due to the attention the confrontation is receiving online, say a cyclist they encountered on the trails hit one of them in the face, cursed at them and told them to put one of their children on a leash.
One of the men had his 3-year-old son and 4-month-old daughter with him on the walk. His friend, who was visiting from Detroit, was with his 2-year-old. They were both pushing strollers, with the toddlers climbing in and out at various times.
The father of the 3-year-old said they were on their way back home after stopping at a park, and the kids had “reached their limit.”
“We had made sure to stop for other people who were on bikes. We have been pretty aware of that. We had to pull over to the side, grab our kids, hold their hands just to make sure they go by. We had actually just done that for a couple of other cyclists when this man approached us,” the friend who recorded the video said.
That man rode up as the 3-year-old sat down in the middle of the trail, according to the two friends.
“At that point, you know, my mind is like, OK, just stay put. Because, you know, if I run out in front of the cyclist, that’s a danger. If the kid runs out, that’s a danger, because where’s the cyclist going to go?” the 3-year-old’s father said.
The friends say the cyclist began cursing at the 3-year-old, telling him to get out of the way.
(Excerpt) Read more at kxan.com ...
**belly laugh**
I bike every day and hate to say it, but I agree with you.
The pedestrian is walking too stupid around traffic, smarten up.
I’m a Mt. Biker, too. No longer ride with roadies and avoid riding in groups altogether because of years of experience.
I have had minor dealings with cyclists for years. Obnoxious people they are, I would be at a cafe and they would park their bikes so as to block the walkways on the patio. Then, a dozen of them would go inside and act like they were the only people there. Horrible people.
Proving again, three year olds should be armed.
“The pedestrian is walking too stupid around traffic, smarten up.”
This is a nature trail not the freaking tour de France.
Even in the big cities the bicyclists go to fast and hit pedestrians.
Spandex is also cool.
Despite what people think, it is a functional choice.
There is only one creature on this planet more insufferable than a vegan and that is the cyclist.
I’m a Home Economics major so I understand spandex.
However it will not protect you against road rash.
I sometimes encounter hikers and I either come to a stop or slow down to a crawl. I usually chat with the hikers for a second in hopes that they will develop a positive attitude toward bikers.
“There is only one creature on this planet more insufferable than a vegan and that is the cyclist.”
I thought they were both one in the same.
It’s a multi-use trail. More than 1 thing is going to be out there. EVERYBODY needs to understand that. EVERYBODY. That INCLUDES the parents of 3 year olds that might be doing random stuff, cause they’re 3 years old. My mom taught me to assume I was invisible and act accordingly. Don’t think they’re going to see me, don’t think they’re going to stop, don’t think they’re going to dodge, and most important don’t put myself in a position to MAKE them. Don’t land yourself in the hospital saying “but I had right of way”.
These people FAILED every aspect of that. And their kid almost got run over because of it.
Very true. I know from experience.
And if you hit the trails in Georgia, you quickly realize that chiggers/redbugs love it.
I keep "Off" in my workout bag.
Or better yet upside the head.
The father in this case has a small baby and his 3 year old with him. He made a judgement call that I’m sure other parents would have made, who are we to second guess him?
The law would tell the driver of a car to be in control of his/her vehicle at all times so why is it not the same for a bicycle?
“And if you hit the trails in Georgia, you quickly realize that chiggers/redbugs love it.”
Tea tree oil is your friend it repels them.
I used to see them in a coffee shop in Solana Beach fully decked out with their cleats.
How expensive can those outfits get with the shoes and the gloves, helmet and clothes?
Cyclists should slow down around pedestrians. No more complicated than that.
Cyclists should also not physically assault dads.
I came within inches of being hit by an idiot cyclist who ran a red light after flying up between two lines of cars that were properly waiting for the light. This was at lunch hour in a big city. I was crossing with dozens of others totally legally according to the "Walk" signs.
It's stuff like this that gives idiot cyclists a bad name, along with idiots who blame the pedestrians instead of the cyclists.
Some interesting stats...
https://www.iihs.org/topics/pedestrians-and-bicyclists
“Pedestrian deaths have increased 80% since reaching their low point in 2009 and account for 17% of crash fatalities. Two percent of people killed in motor vehicle crashes are bicyclists...”
“...There were 7,388 pedestrians and 961 bicyclists killed in 2021 and approximately 60,000 pedestrians and 41,000 bicyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes on public roadways in the United States. Pedestrians comprised about 17% of crash deaths, and bicyclists made up an additional 2%...”
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