We have these same cyclists in Boston. The couriers are the worst. And, it's not instigated by any thing the police do.
Seems like just a little sensationlism in her column, IMHO. While it’s horrible when anyone dies, 1 or 2 deaths a year from bicycle vs. pedestrian accidents in a city the size of New York, with as many messenger and commuter bikers as they have on the streets daily is actually pretty low. So is the 500 collisions a year, IMHO.
Don’t get me wrong... I do agree that some of these cyclists - particularly those who treat traffic laws as mere suggestions to be ignored - ARE a threat to the safety of pedestrians, I just think she’s a little over the top with her “taking your life in your own hands” while walking spiel...
She did allude to the cop in this column, but I would speculate that she herself had a “close-encounter” which prompted her to dig deeper... I still wonder if there aren’t more pressing problems in New York than errant bicyclists... Of course, I don’t live there, so maybe it’s more of a hassle than I know.
I hate bikers. They are arrogant..they think they are better than everyone else. They think they should be allowed to ride in the road and hold up traffic..but then jump up on the curb and be pedestrians when there is a traffic jam. When u walk down the street and they are behind you they think it is your obligation to look out for them..rather than vice versa. They need to decide if they are autos or pedestrians and stick to it.
Then..if they are pedestrians..it should be legal to carry around a can and jam it in their spokes if they yell at you as they blow by u from behind.
If they are autos..it should be legal to throw stuff at them when u drive by if they are going more than 5 mph less than speed limit.
Also..any grown man who wears spandex and a lance armstrong bracelet is gay..unless you are lance armstrong..although he is probably gay too.
Elderly bro in law was knocked down by a bicyclist in NYC a couple of weeks ago. The rider was flying with no care at all for anyone crossing the street.
occasionally one of them meets his due.
when i lived in austin, tx a bicyclist ran a red light and
hit a police car!
the bicyclist was hospitalized.
Hey! Now’s a good time to donate to Free Repbulic. A monthly donation is quick and easy! No muss. No fuss! As “Mother A” would say: Put us between your gas and electric bill!
Let’s be “Hell on Wheels” to the DUmmies!
:-)
Its time to give cyclists the same treatment that tobacco users are getting.
Let’s start with a $1.00 per trip tax. We can expand it by $1.00 each year, and outlaw cycling in public places.
If Dante were to write the Inferno today, there would be a special place in hell for militant urban bicyclists.
As hood ornaments.
Good form on the tackle, but a baton in the front wheel is ten times funnier.