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Subscribe to RSSLONDON – A bus driver who authorities say deliberately mowed down a bicyclist in a road rage incident has been sentenced to 17 months in jail.
Gavin Hill, 29, of Frome, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm.
On Friday, Judge Mark Horton handed down the sentences in Bristol Crown Court, telling Hill he ”used the bus as a weapon to bully and intimidate Mr. Mead,” BBC News reported.
The incident happened on April 5. The court was told Mead was biking to work when the bus drove too close to him.
When the bus stopped, Mead propped his bike against the front of the vehicle and exchanged words with Hill, who remained in his cab, according to BBC.
Closed-circuit television footage played in court then showed Mead pedaling off. The bus then overtakes him before sharply swerving to the left knocking the cyclist over.
Mead suffered a broken leg and his bike was crushed, according to news reports.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Except for the broken leg that video is hilarious:-)
You have a sick sense of humor.
The bus driver didn't mow the bike down - that was a skillful hit. The bus even used a signal.
I hope you get to star in a 'funny' video with an even 'funnier' ending...
Drivers lucky he's not going to jail for a much longer time. That looked like attempted murder to me.
So sick of these "might makes right" motorists. Just because an suv can run over everyone else doesn't give you the right to. I'm especially tired of people (mostly cabs) challenging me while I'm on my motorcycle.
I hope that bus driver gets f*cked up the *ss at least once a day for the next seventeeen months...
When we start mowing people(pedeastrians,bikers) down for making a mistake or bieng inconsiderate then we are losing our sense of judgement. 17 months is a low sentence for this crime. If we all started hitting people for crossing against the light riding their bike the wrong way,there would be alot of dead people, and society as a whole would be degraded.
When stupidity, ignorance, and inconsideration become a reason for hurting someone then we should all be guilty.
This driver should of been made an example of to society that this will not be tolerated.
It would have been even funnier if it was you on the bicycle.
Wow, so many bicycle haters out here it's very scary. So glad I don't ride one with the likes of all you road rage drivers apparently.
Not sure how a 200 pound man on a 20 pound bike is supposed to battle with a 4 ton bus? or a one ton car? Or why he even has to?
Give a bicyclist the right of way and be glad they aren't polluting!
Yes guys,
That is about the craziest thing I have seen in a long time. That bus driver is what you call straight jacket nuts, or really, really, really, really, really p!$$ed off!
Wow, only 17 months, and you can do all of that, to whomever you want, whenever you want? What have we become of a society?
I love the yard maintenance references. I was promised a story about raking only to find it was a story about mowing. Even though I can't stand grown ups that ride bikes in traffic, I would never want to harm them other than yelling obscenities as I drive by.
Share the road, my AZZ!! Put plates on bikes and make bycyclists pay road taxes like the rest if us. They don't "own" the road. Get the hell out of the way..I like the bus driver...Too many idiot bycyclists.
I'm going to hell for laughing at the video. But that was funny apart from the injuries but still bloody good.
I think bike riders many times put themselves in bad places they should never be. We have a road near my house that is narrow with no shoulders and a deep ditch. Bikers are on it daily. In the 25 years I have lived here I have witnessed 2 fatalities, one on Christmas day. Both of these accidents were the bikers fault; they went off the pavement and then over corrected and was slammed into the car. One died with his head thru the window of a car. The driver could have done nothing to stop this incident from happening. Beside destroying the lives of the bike rider and his family, the car driver was traumatized to the point of hospitalization himself. There is a good reason we have bike paths. I have no problem with bikers but common sense should prevail for all.
That video pretty should have pretty much sealed the deal on an attempted murder charge. You can easily kill someone doing what that bus driver did. He should have received a much harder sentence.
hey boffer, does the word "WAAAAAAHHHH!" mean anything to your whining AZZ?
Once again, common sense is uncommon to lawmakers.
If a vehicle cannot be operated consistently and safely at the posted speed limit, it should not be on the road because it presents a hazard.
As for this particular altercation, the cyclist was being arrogant in leaning his bike against the bus, and probably quite provocative in what he said to the bus driver. Furthermore, the bus is on a schedule, on which many people depend. The cyclist had already forced the driver to lose time while listening to him rant, then tried to deliberately impede the bus by getting in front of him. Sometimes when you push too hard, people shove back.
Two brats tangled. They both got smacked. Seems like a fairly good outcome for all involved.
Yes cassie321, your response is probably the most intelligent thing i've read on here.
Maybe the bus driver had a rich uncle that bought off the judge.
They should just get the damn bikes off the road, motorist pay for them bikes just plug them up, that bicyclist was deliberately obstructing the buss. serves him right lets see if he does that again. buss driver over reacted true but lets put blame on the bicyclist as well, his intentional obstruction was wrong too, not to mention his blocking the way and mouthing off did not help matters, the bicyclist instigated this mess and should be held accountable for his part in it. lock them both up.
If you think about it, this is the starting point of a breakdown of society.
Whenever there is a disagreement, death should not always be the correct solution.
Wow, some of you peple are just plain nuts. Don't care how much of a dick a bike rider is plowing them over with a bus is a crime perpetuated by the BUS DRIVER only as there is no laws against being a dick. Think they rider has more than paid for his "rude" behavior by his injuries and the destruction of his property. Cassie if you think the results of this incident is a "fairly good outcome for all involved" you truly are nuts. Was it a good outcome for the families of the two road ragers? Is it a good outcome for the other passengers on the bus, witnesses on the road who got traumatized, the other potential victims on this whacked drivers route to revenge?? Monstahead you REALLY think cassies post was intelligent?? GEEZ thats nuts!!! People that can't see the WRONG they are spouting are what is the cause of the breakdown of society.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's hope you are not one of those inconsiderate, a-hole motorcyclists who thinks that because they have a small fast moving vehicle that they are allowed to:
Motorcyclists that have ever been guilty of any of these things deserve no sympathy, and should have more than just cab drivers pissed off at them.
I would rather have the broken leg over 17 months.
In Thailand if you hit a motor-bike or biker. You are responsible for; their hospital bills, their lost wages, you get to buy them a new bike, and then pay the POLICE a 'Tea Donation'. Even if they ran into YOU, if you are a foreigner driving the vehicle...
A trucker relative told me it is cheaper to BURY them. In other words if you are hit by a vehicle, get out of the way, because the truckers do not like to pay hospital bills...
The rule of the road in Thailand is ALWAYS, give the LARGER and FASTER the right-of-way. Even if it means driving on the shoulder of the road, so they can pass...
In BKK the rule to remember, "There are NO rules." Hire a driver that knows the area...
Many countries have their own special driving - unwritten rules... Ha! Ha!
In the USA a friend installed 'very large' side mirrows on his beat-up PU-truck. Just for bikers...
Well I have to tell you this is wrong in so many ways but I do understand the rage part. Bike riders piss people off big time. They have this attitude that they are equal to a car and can ride in the middle of the damn road and block cars from passing them. It pisses people off and thats what they get for doing that. They want the same priveliges as a car but dont want to let faster traffic pass. So.. in turn you get bumped. Dont want to get bumped? Stay off the middle of the road and dont piss off people who are driving cars when your riding a bike.
That is exactly why I carry when I ride. Unless they are in an armored vehicle, I have an equalizer.
You have a sick sense of logic. You don't run over people, or hurt them in any way, because they inconvenience you. It's wrong, period.
"Well I have to tell you this is wrong in so many ways but I do understand the rage part. Bike riders piss people off big time. They have this attitude that they are equal to a car and can ride in the middle of the damn road and block cars from passing them."
That would be because we are, legally, equally entitled to use the road. Believeme, it pisses us off too that you lazy fat f#$%ers use the road too in your big smelly dangerous cars.
If you look carefully at the film, as the bus starts to go to the left to get around the biker, you see the biker start to go into the same lane, in effect, blocking the bus. Then the bus swerves and knocks him over.
Justice is served!If i had a nickel for every time a bicyclist cut me off or held up traffic because the think they owned the road.......The bus driver shouldve gotten a reward, not time!
And so by your logic the bus driver is justified in running over the biker? You have a diseased mind.
Legally they are equal to a car. Share the road, they have as much right to be there as you do.
"That is exactly why I carry when I ride."
It's no longer self-defense when you provoke a confrontation and can predict using deadly force. You'll get seventeen years.
Bikes really should not be allowed on roads without bike lanes. It is dangerous and inappropriate. Also most people that ride bikes don't even attempt to follow the laws, and tend to run red lights, turn illegally, cut people off, and generally behave like jerks. They don't allow mopeds on the road they sure shouldn't allow those things on the road.
Where do you live that they don't allow mopeds on the road?
Cheetah-
if the rider makes substantial effort to leave the situation( i.e. rides away) after a confrontation and the driver pursues, self defense applies.
cheetah-822547
What? What provoking? It is provocative for me to be on the road? If you attack me with a deadly weapon, your vehicle, I will respond with deadly force. I may go to jail, perhaps, but I will be alive and you won't be.
I went back and watched the vide again, MOSinEUR, and you're right! The bike rider DID try to swerve to his right to block the bus from going around. That means the POS on the bike got exactly what he had coming. Kind of forces all those on here who say "Autos need to share the road with bikers" to eat their words, for obviously it is bikers like this one who make them hypocrites. We have a beautiful and well-maintained bike path in my town that was built and even plowed in the winter with my tax money, and STILL, there are jerks riding their bikes in the middle of the road!
A lot of states don't allow mopeds or scooters on highways or certain other roads where it would be deemed too dangerous for them to travel. That may be what the other poster meant when they said that mopeds aren't allowed on the road.
Ken;
I want to see how you feel the next time you get in someones way, and they decide to push 'bump' you out of the way...after a few broken bones, lots of pain and suffering, loss of income and possibly losing your job...lets see how you feel. MOF, why don't you just step out in front of a fast moving bus...
Yes, yes it's aggravating watching a cyclist follow the rules of the road as the law requires them too, and what pray tell do expect the cyclist to do if they have to go out in traffic to make a turn? Just where the f*** do you think you need to be so fast that you think it's acceptable to mow down a person?
Maybe you didn't notice but there is no shoulder on that street he got hit on. The cyclist is in the far left lane. Had not taken the entire lane the bus would tried to go around him anyways risking his life by coming within inches or clipping him anyhow.
Your douchebaggery is disgusting, but it's people like you that make me carry a side arm just in case when I ride my mountain bike. Go purchase a bicycle and then ride the streets for a bit and see if that changes your perspective a bit.
I am both a driver and biker. Drivers are not blameless by far and constantly ignore traffic rules. I can't tell you how many times i've been driving and someone has endangered my life by not using a turn signal. Where I am it is illegal to bike on the sidewalk, even when there aren't any bike lanes. I have friends who have received tickets for doing so.
I am a graduate student and usually ride my bike to campus where students are notoriously bad drivers. While I usually stay to the right, I will take the whole lane in unsafe areas. Why? This forces the driver behind me to slow down and is safer for me. Yes it slows you down, but if I get hit I'm toast, while the driver in the car gets to live another day. And taking the lane IS LEGAL.
Being aggressive is safer for me as well. I've been at 4 way stops and have drivers ignore me when it's my turn to go. Nothing's scarier than seeing a car zoom straight at you because they had been too impatient to wait for you to put your feet back on the pedals. I've seen drivers texting, and not notice that I'm on their right and they start to make a turn. I've been "doored' even though city laws require motorists to look out for bicyclists. DRIVERS ARE NOT BLAMELESS. READ THE TRAFFIC LAWS DRIVERS.
I truly believe that drivers should be made to bike just to see how it feels. Your views will change drastically. Thankfully I live in a bike-friendly city so motorists off campus are generally used to bikes and the laws.
This is why I carry when I drive. Just in case , car doesn't do its job...hehehe
Bicyclists are often self-righteous pigs. That does not mean we should run them over, but what should we do about them. Toss a twig in their spokes?
The law is, the bike has as much right as a car. They are suppose to ride in middle of the lane. And cars are not suppose to pass in the same lane. You are suppose pass them like you would a car or a motorcycle, by changing lanes, or passing in the passing lane.. If you cant, you are suppose to wait until you can pass legally. Yes they are slow and a pain, but the law is they have as much right as the cars.
This bus driver should have gotten 5 years and lost his licence permanently.
cbawl,
While I agree with your sentiment, you underestimate the amount of damage such a incident can do to a bicyclist. That bus driver could have easily killed that guy doing what he did.
Neither group is completely blameless. I know far too many drivers who shouldn't be behind the wheel. That's a given. But at the same time bicyclists DO ignore the rules of the road and the bike paths just as much as drivers. My blind girlfriend and I were walking on a bike path near her home on Thanksgiving, and bicyclists are supposed to slow down on blind curves and give warning (none of them give warning by the way). Two bicyclists came ripping around the corner and came within inches of her Guide Dog, and inches to me since I was behind her. Had either of us stuck out our arms, we would have clotheslined the SOBs. They didn't care, didn't stop, didn't even slow down. They were so fixed on their activity they did not even realize they damn near ran over two pedestrians.
So really what it boils down to: humans are jerks no matter what mode of transportation they use. Pedestrian, Bicyclist, Motorcyclist, Driver, or Trucker, all have a "ME ME ME!" attitude and don't give two hoots about ANYONE else.
It should be automatically legal for cyclists to pack and point 50 cal hand guns at any 4 or more wheeled motor vehical to equalize and get proper respect from motorists. BTW: Repalce all those bikes with cars and you might find even more traffic problems.
Ken, you should re-read your comments before posting.
The fact is bikes have no rights, neither do cars, trucks, trains, etc. People do. Each bicycle rider has the same "equal" right of way, and right to be safe in practicing that right of way as anyone driving a vehicle. Do some cyclists take advantage? Yes and as a cyclist, I give the heck for it every time I see it.
Consider this, what if cement truck drivers took your attitude toward cars? What if they saw cars as simply an inconvenience to their driving? How dare those cars drive down my lane!
The sad fact is that if you ride a bicycle to work, you will have to deal with road rage. When I ride my bicycle to work I typically have a near miss about once a month, while riding in the bike lane! Almost all of those are deliberate, which is why I'm still alive. It is the accidental hits that will kill you.
MOSinERU, you may want to view the video again. The cyclist has a right of way to use the lane. The bus had a second lane available to the right which is where he appears to be merging into. Remember the cyclist confronted him after a near miss in the first place, of course the cyclist is going to take addtional steps to ensure that he is not put in such danger again, by ensuring he has the room he needs to maneuver.
Does a cyclist pay road taxes like us drivers do?
as are you
Cyclists have the same right to be on the road and must obey the same traffic laws as every other vehicle on the road. I have seen cyclists get tickets for running stop signs and traffic lights, as this creates a danger to themselves and drivers who have to try and avoid these stupid moves. I have even heard of a cyclist getting a speeding ticket for doing 35 mph down a hill in a residential neighborhood where the speed limit was 25. I know this speeding ticket sounds absurd, but apparently the police had previously warned this cyclist about unsafe behavior and were trying to make a point. That point is that he needed to obey the same laws as everyone else on the road. Cyclists are legally precluded from riding on sidewalks, so they have no choice but to ride in the road.
This bus driver should have been tried for attempted murder, or at a minimum aggravated assault or assault with a deadly weapon. The 17 months is a light sentence and the bus driver should be thankful that he is not spending much more time in prison. He could have easily killed the cyclist with this asinine move.
I have a friend I worked with who was seriously injured by a driver who did not respect his right as a cyclist to be on the road and turned into him. Unfortunately my friend did not realize the @!$%# was not going to stop and give him the right of way he legally had until it was too late. They were going opposite directions and the driver of the car made a left turn right in front of him as he was going straight in the other direction on the other side of the road. My friend could not stop in time and hit the right front fender of the car and went flying over the hood.
I do agree that cyclists should be careful and not intentionally ride in the middle of a traffic lane holding up traffic. The most dangerous thing for cyclists is when they need to make a left turn because they have no choice but to cross the lane of traffic, both to get to the left side of the lane to make the turn. Also, cars coming the other way and making a right on red will often ignore a cyclist making a left even when a left turn signal gives them the right of way. Cyclists also need to be careful of cars going the same direction making right turns without signalling as they will not look to their right to see a cyclist coming up on their right side, even when there is a bike lane along the right side of the road. Of course there are always the people parking on the side of a road who do not look before opening their driver side car door into an oncoming cyclist (or sometimes car for that matter).
Ken:
Go and read your state DMV manual before you post another word. Cyclists have THE EXACT SAME RIGHTS AS CARS on surface streets. Typical state laws include provisions for situations where it is unsafe for a vehicle to pass a cyclist without crossing a median or lane marker line for the cyclist to "take the lane" for their own safety. If there are multiple lanes, you can pass in another lane; if it is a single lane it is no worse than being stuck behind a school bus, street sweeper or other slow moving vehicle.
MOSinEUR:
And your point is? The bus swerving to knock the cyclist over is NOT JUSTIFIABLE. EVER. If your claim is true then anyone is justified in running someone off the road for accidentally moving into another lane - where do you live? Death Race 2000 land?
As it is, the cyclist is protecting his space by "taking the lane" (see my previous post as to the rider's rights in this situation) and the bus driver should have been charged with attempted murder. Using a 10 ton bus to knock over a bike and rider that wouldn't weigh much more then 200 pounds total is absolutely unforgivable in any situation short of the rider pulling a gun on the driver (not likely in the UK, but surely happens in the US every now and again).
I hope your form of justice is meted out against you sometime. If it doesn't mess you up real bad maybe you'll think twice about stupid statements like that,
Good point Diesel, I think I'll apply that to my driving repertoire. "As it is, the cyclist is protecting his space by "taking the lane"", and thats without using any signals. Some bicyclist speeding past me? Sweeeerve into him. Hey, I am just protecting my space...
In Europe, bikes have just as much right to the road as cars, buses, or tractor trailers. There are some roads (Autobahn, etc.) that have minimum speeds, which keeps bikes off them, but in cities and towns, they are allowed to take the lane. The bus driver was completely in the wrong, which is why he's going to prison.
I’ve never quite understood road rage. Why do people get so upset when someone makes an honest human traffic mistake, particularly since they almost certainly have often made the same mistakes themselves, whether they realize it or not. On many occasions I’ve found myself sliding sideways in my car maneuvering to avoid someone who didn’t see me and pulled out in front of me at the last second but I did not get angry or even slightly flustered. Yet most people will honk their horns in anger even when they don’t have to apply their brakes to avoid a collision. Its as if to say "how dare you make me almost have to think about hitting my brakes". As far as I’m concerned if you have time to honk your horn then its not really a close call in the first place and certainly nothing to get upset about. I personally have never honked a horn in anger in my entire life. Adult human beings really aren’t much different than children are they? I have to admit though I used to get reverse road rage. In other words when someone would honk their horn at me in anger thinking I made a mistake when they in fact were the ones who made the legal infraction or mistake in judgement then I would really loose my cool. If it were my mistake on the other hand I would just feel embarrassed. Fortunately I can count the numbers of mistakes I’ve made in the past 30 years on one hand so I don’t have to feel embarrassed very often. Anyway people really need to grow up and stop acting like children.
Dieselbug, my point is that it looks like the bike rider was harassing the bus by switching lanes in front of the bus as the bus was trying to get around. It was a stupid move on the part of the bike rider.
I don't agree with what the bus driver did, but I remember one time in my youth watching a little guy pick a fight with a big guy who really just wanted to drink a beer in peace. After a while, the big guy picked up the little guy and slammed him onto the floor. The little guys was quiet after that.
Sometimes little guys need to use a little bit of their little brains and not pick a fight with someone much bigger.
I rode a bicycle for 5 years in the Los Angeles area and was hit 4 times, 3 times by cars and once by a bus. In all those cases it was because the drivers of the motorized vehicles thought they were more important than me. I always obeyed all traffic laws. Drivers would make a right turn right in front of me because they were in a hurry. Drivers thought that I should be on the sidewalk, which by the way is illegal in most cities and states. I even had one guy deliberatly try to run me over because I wasn't on the sidewalk. I was clipped by more mirrors than you could count because people couldn't be bothered to get over a few inches or were too busy doing something other than driving. Just as all other areas of life, there are people that are selfish and there are people that aren't. That being said -
If you hit a cyclist or pedestrian deliberatly with your car it is called "assualt with a deadly weapon" and should be punished as such
To all you bike riders threatening to pack heat: If you can still draw your pea-shooter after I run over your tricycle with my SUV--take your best shot, lol.
Looks like the biker was holding up traffic. Strange that England doesn't have bike lanes like the Continentals do. Or do they and the biker was just being dick?
As for the bus driver, yeah, not a good way to handle getting the ass, even IF it was deserved.
I must say that I do love the "Big Brother" Cameras. It makes it much easier for the courts to see what happened.
Roads are narrow in Europe because all the cities were designed 500 years ago, when the biggest thing they had to handle was a cart and horse.
They can't just widen them because it would require destroying most of the adjacent buildings and redesigning entire cities.
Bikes are also a lot more common over there than they are in the US.
The big thing I can't understand about bikes is why they ride on the streets instead of the sidewalks... I would just feel too vulnerable on the street with the cars. Even a legitimate accident that would just dent a car could kill a cyclist. I don't feel like trusting a thousand strangers with my life every time I go out. On the sidewalk, sure, there are lots of pedestrians to dodge. But an accident just means a couple of bruises at most. No risk of death.
I don't know about Europe but in the US it's illegal to ride a bike on sidewalks
@vayne1 untrue, that is only correct in designated business districts and really varies by state to state. That being said if you are biking to commute you will be moving far faster than is safe on a sidewalk. MSpielman might want bikes off the streets, but shop owners and residents aren't going to want to step out of their buildings and into a bike going 15mph on a sidewalk a few feet wide.
Despite the illegality of it, when I was an avid cyclist in NJ, for safety reasons, I opted for the sidewalks quite a bit, as long as there wasn't a lot of pedestrian traffic. The cops never once bothered me about it.
I also tried to utilize roads that had a wide shoulder on them and would stay as far to the edge of the pavement away from traffic as was humanly possible.
It's insane to ride a bike in the middle of a lane when you have other options available, but that doesn't excuse the bus driver for nearly killing the man.
MSpielman
Riding on the sidewalk is extremely dangerous, for cyclists and pedestrians. There is a whole bunch more at stake than "a couple of bruises". I could easily severely injure or kill a child, or adult for that matter, on my bike going over 25 mph.
By your logic, cars don't belong on the road with larger vehicles. After all a collision that would just result in minor injuries with cars, could be deadly if a truck is involved.
mspeilman- sideWALKs are for WALKing. It's illegal to ride on the sidewalk in many states. If you're gonna ride a bike, man up and ride in the street.
I've been to a few countries in Asia where it's ok to ride bicycles/ mopeds on the sidewalk and it is annoying as hell...
What ever happened to biking AGAINST the traffic. I always did to avoid any car coming at me. I had at least time to react..
@Vayne1: Where I live it's only illegal to ride on the sidewalk if 75% of the block is a business. But I ride on the sidewalk because I have had so many close calls with careless or reckless drivers. But when I do ride on the side walk I go no faster than about 5 mph (I have a speedometer) and ALWAYS give right away to pedestrians. The cops don't hassle me (they have passed me by many times) probably because I'm going so slow and I'm not posing a danger to pedestrians. I always slow down even further on blind spots or where there is a driveway with limited visibility. I'm always courteous and nice to people and they are the same in kind.
doyourhomework:
Um. On some streets you would be a dead man. And would you say that to women who ride bikes? Man up? Sorry, but your "man up" statement is ridiculous. For me, and many bike riders, I'll take the safest path, even if that means riding on the sidewalk. As some of these posts indicate, some people just don't give a @!$%# about a bike riders safety. I'd rather be a live and kicking man than a dead or injured one.
I haven't owned a car for over two years now and I hope I never have to go back to owning one. As some posters have suggested, before you start calling us bike riders selfish road hogs, try riding a bike with traffic or on streets and see what it's like. Trust me, your eyes will be opened and you will have a new respect for bicyclists. There are times when I will ride in the middle of the road, especially when there are parked cars on both sides of the street and there is only room enough for one car to drive down the street, because too many times the driver would be too impatient and try to squeeze by me before I can get out of their way.
You drivers that talk about hitting bike riders, just remember that it might be your son or daughter or loved one that may be on the road with these drivers. Have some respect for their safety. Would you rather have to wait a few seconds or a few minutes for a bike rider to get out of your way, or would you rather be standing in front of a judge facing jail time because you injured or, worse, killed a bike rider because you just had to get to the store (or wherever) that much quicker?
It's all about using your common sense, folks. And I know NOT all bike riders use theirs; I've seen them do some pretty stupid things, too. They may piss you off, but just have some patience. It's better to just get mad than ruin your life because you had to get your revenge because some bike rider made you wait.
Almost everywhere in the U.S., it is illegal to bike against traffic.
An adult man was killed in Philadelphia in 2009 after being struck by a bicycle on the sidewalk. As far as traveling against traffic bicycles (in every state I've lived in) are essentially considered vehicles and are expected to follow traffic laws. Which is why you can get a D.U.I on a bike. I think most incidents occur because people have far to much aggression and far to little patience and respect for others on the road.
Riding against traffic, or on the sidewalk for that matter, is illegal. When you're on a bike you're expected to obey all the rules and traffic signals that cars do.
Even if the guy on the bike was rude or immature it DOES NOT excuse the attempt to kill him. And everyone on this message board that has said or implied he deserved it is sick and heartless.
I don't know about the UK. In the USA in major urban areas cyclists (when there are no appointed bicycle paths) generally are required to stay far to the right in the street and obey traffic laws. There will be foolish cyclists whizzing in and out of lanes and between cars in traffic. Its inevitable and sadly many people believe they are immortal. Life is all too fragile in reality. I've gotten on busses with the most courteous, friendly and professional of drivers. Yet I've also gotten on public busses with rude, arrogant drivers who I noted deliberately would close doors on people, pass them at bus stops and I actually heard a driver tell someone "this isnt a taxi".....there are courteous and thoughtful cyclists as well as careless ones as well as professional, courteous busdrivers and those whose judgement I have questioned. Very sad story.
Lots of roads in Britain do not have cycle lanes. The country is a bit small to have the massive eight lane roads they have in the US. No cyclist is being a "dick' when they are cut up chopped up and deliberately ran over by arsehole motorists. Riding on crowded sidewalks would put pedestrians in danger. I would not comment about Britains cycle lanes and 'dick cyclists ' unless you have lived there MosinEUR.
If I'm correct, a bicycle is considered vehicular traffic so goes WITH other vehicles. A pedestrian shoule be on the sidewalk if there is one. If not, they walk AGAINST the traffic-- that way they can see vehicles coming at them and they don't need to keep looking behind or wearing a rear-view mirror to see traffic.
The cyclist was NOT holding up traffic. There was an open lane next to him that the bus driver got into then came back into the other lane to hit the cyclist. He should have been sentenced to 17 years.
In England bicycles are considered a "means of transportation" and have the same rights, and must obey the same rules of the road as cars and buses. The bus driver deserves to go to jail, and I am pleased to see that he did not get a slap on the hand as he would have gotten here in the USA ,it was attempted murder
I've always thought that law is so backwards primarily because of the reasons that were given above by mspielman
MosinEur, the bicyclist was not holding up traffic.
Actually, I don't know why this comment was collapsed. No.. Bikers DO NOT own the road equally as people with cars. There's a reason why they have made in almost all major cities a 'Biker lane' now which clearly shows a picture of someone on a bike. If you couldn't figure that out, maybe you aren't even smart enough to be on a biker let a lone drive.. Bus driver right? NO. Road Rage.. YES. To be honest, I wouldn't have run him over, but I would've gotten close enough to him to give him the F**K off.
YoSquishy:
I don't know where you live but here where I live we have biker lanes. I just looked up the laws for bikers and you would be wrong in this city. The city code read as follows, word for word:
Sec. 25-386. Applicability of traffic regulations to riders.
Every person riding a bicycle or motorized skateboard or scooter upon a street or roadway within the corporate limits of the city shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties and responsibilities applicable to the driver of a motor vehicle under the laws of the state and the traffic ordinances of the city, except as to those provisions which, by their very nature, can have no application.
(Ord. No. 42,900, § 3, 11-6-07)
You might want to look up the laws in your area because I'm willing to bet they are pretty much the same. Educate yourself before you make a big mistake one day thinking you have some kind of superiority over bikers.
.
I don't know what laws are for biking in the UK. I know that over here, they're suppose to be treated as if they're driving a car. BUT it's common courtesy for the person who is biking to "share the road" rather than being a dick and pissing motorists off.
Bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road period. They don't allow electric wheel chairs or mopeds why should bikes be allowed on the road? Most bike riders take big risks, they run stop signs, go on red lights, ride on the wrong side of the road, cut off motorists and generally behave unsafely. It boggles my mind that bikes are treated like motor vehicles, they should be for recreation only not travel. If a bike cannot go the minimum speed limit it shouldn't be allowed on the road.
Unfortunately, in my experience, about two thirds of bike-riders (at least here in the Seattle area) do not understand this. If you're on a bike, do not put ear-buds in that keep you from hearing what is going on around you (cars and pedestrians are kind of quiet), pay attention, use mirrors on your bike and determine if there is any traffic behind you, and make way if there is. At least that way BOTH the cyclist and the car-driver are somewhat inconvenienced, instead of just one or the other. Now THAT is sharing the road. And people, if car drivers are supposed to look before merging, cyclists should be doing it too instead of just zooming out from between parked cars into the road, or barreling around corners. Just because you can see cars/drivers/pedestrians in your mirror or your peripheral vision does NOT mean they can see you.
@uniguelyununique what is the minimum speed limit on a residential road? Or a city street for that matter? Ridiculous hyperbole like "Most bike riders take big risks..." is just intellectually lazy. I would counter that most motorists roll through stop signs and speed above the posted limits. Does that mean we should ban them from the roads?
I think if your mind is that prone to boggling perhaps you shouldn't be trusted operating a motor vehicle.
Electric wheelchairs and mopeds ARE allowed on the road. If I had a nickle for every time I saw some self entitled SUV driver blow a stop sign, make an illegal turn, cut people off, generally act aggressive in a dangerous way, all while talking on a cell phone, I'd be able to pay off my house in one shot. The bikers at least are a LOT less likely to kill someone else.
where do you all live that mopeds are illegal? hell, with todays faster mopeds, most of them can even ride on the highways now, not just city streets. it's been that way for almost twenty years now- get with the times.
ps- I'll bet most of you b*tching about bicyclists are FAT AS HELL...
doyourhomework America!!
Is Mitt swallowing?? Or just deepthroating??
doyourhomework,America!
they are either too fat to ride a Bike OR they are TOO STUPID & never learned how to balance a bike & ride at the same time .
I have NEVER met an ANTI-bike person who wasn't a knuckle dragging mouth breather or sanctimonious Yuppie.......... come to think of it, what's the difference ?
I used to ride my bike to work instead of driving or taking the bus. I knew that any motor vehicle outweighed my by at least 10 times, and that their speed with that weight would equal devastation for me. So I always yielded to motor vehicles, even if I had the right of way. Anyone who cannot compromise, let the other guy go first, or stay humble should never, ever ride a bike on roads shared with motor vehicle. It's that simple.
PS: this is why mountain biking became so popular; NO MOTOR VEHICLES on trails, or at least a lot less.
boffer- it's rick perry and he looks like he knows what he's doing...
it's so funny I don't wanna change it even though it's no longer relevant...
@ Mister Fids, Doyourhomework,America
You don't have to start insulting people who disagree with you.
I don't know where you live, but where I'm from, I've seen fat people riding bikes too.
Nope electric wheel chairs and mopeds are not allowed on the road, neither are various other vehicles. Nice try though. As for the difference cars and bikes, people in cars are held accountable for their actions, people on bikes are not, if I drive dangerously I lose my license, none required to ride a bike on the road... so no punishment for breaking rules. Again, I see people on bikes break the rules a lot, and I almost never see a car run a red light, go through stop lights, or ride on the wrong side of the road.
unique:
I don't know where you live but here in my city mopeds ARE allowed on the road as long as the speed limit doesn't exceed 30mph. Mopeds cannot go faster than 35mph otherwise they are considered a motorcycle. The driver's manual states, word for word:
You might want to check your driver's manual for your area. I'm willing to bet your local laws are pretty much the same, but I could be wrong.
As far as electric wheels chairs I can't find any specific rules for them. But they do mention "low speed vehicles". I don't know if electric wheel chairs fall under this category but I know a guy who owns one and he sometimes has no choice but to ride on the road because not all of the sidewalks have handicap access. The manual states:
You also stated:
While I would agree some bicyclists are reckless, bicyclists CAN get a ticket just like drivers of motor vehicles. You can even get a DUI riding a bike. I would imagine the reason police give more tickets to car driver's than bike riders is because a car is more likely to kill someone than a bike rider. Cars are a lot more dangerous when they don't follow the rules.
That's funny because as a bike rider myself I see cars always breaking the rules. I guess it's a matter of perspective.
unique:
So everyone is supposed to own a car? You do realize not everyone can afford a car so what are they supposed to do, stay home forever? And before you mention public transit, that costs money, too. Not everyone can afford the cost of a cab and some people can't even afford taking the bus more than a few times a month. And not everything is within walking distance.
Your last sentence says everything. You must get so mad when a bike rider makes you slow down and wait, huh?
Wow only 17 months for attempted murder. Seems light to me
17 months for attempted murder. That would be 17 years. Bicycle gets them off. Everyone hates bicycles. It is so sad. The cyclists will be the ones getting around when we run out of oil.
It's possible to to use other forms of combustable fuel and solar to run a motorcycle or car and you'll still be blocking the road.
Bicycles depend on petroleum based lubricants to run properly. And not everyone hates bicycles. Portland, Oregon has lends bicycles to folks for day use. California has plenty of off the road, paved, bike lanes. There are still plenty of bike messengers and food delivery guys in NY City.
jimee johnson, i don't think anyone on here has a problem with responsible, considerate bike riders. the guy who got hit in the video was of the arrogant, self involved variety. i have been sorely tempted to run the lance armstrong wannabe's off the road myself.
Jinee-from Oregon?? Portland will soon have a complex designed for folks whos only means of transportation is a bicycle. Saves a lot of space where cars would be parked can now be housing. The rents I've heard will be a bit lower on these units due to better utilization of the land. It may catch on and is not a bad idea. Our hospital in Salem Or promotes cycling to work and has a lock up area to ensure the safety of cyclists equipment. Not a choice that will work for everybody but nothing wrong with it at all. Folks that use bikes part or full time should get kudos for their contribution to the enviorment. For those that complain they don't pay road taxes-they don't damage the roads either. As a long haul trucker in ORegon we pay higher fuel taxes than anybody and I don't begrude the cyclists not having to.
This comment set off the spam detection???? Why?? Has anybody noticed this or is it just my eyes?? The words you type in for spam detection seem to be barely or not legible at all. Why??
skrewdworld - check the science on that, a cyclist traveling at the same speed expels more CO2 than an automobile.
I think they do it randomly just to pi$$ you off ;)
it is REALLY irritating though.
and they make the words hard to read so a bot can't read it.
@Ken You have excellent logic, I assume if we were in the same public area and I decided your face pissed me off, I could slug you, and though I may be wrong others would say "well, that's what he gets for pissing people off with his face."
I also see you use the word "privileges," perhaps you need to look that word up--it just so happens that the word isn't synonymous with "rights." Besides, would you have the same bravado and reaction to a slow car in front of you? No, you wouldn't because you know that if you brushed a slow moving car it would damage your own car. SO really the only reason you reply in such a thuggish way is because you know that the impact would all be on the biker. What a brave man.
Why don't you just share the road and take the karma points? The extra 15 seconds to 1 minute it takes you to get where you're going isn't going to change anything.
did you notice the bicyclist was slowing up traffic on purpose? just to be a moron. he got what he deserved.
...and the next time you piss somebody off, may you get a few broken bones too...after all, it is YOUR logic, so YOU should pay the same price...right?
Bet the jerk on the bike don't try that stunt again.
Bet the bus driver going to jail for 17 months doesn't either.
with the money the city will give him, he'll probably be able to take a car from here on out...
The idiot on the bike was intentionally trying to block the bus. What kind of fool intentionally provokes someone in control of a deadly weapon?
Doesn't excuse the bus driver for losing it, but all he did was escalate force a little too quickly.
Bravo ! Roads r for cars, go plant a tree.
know1:
You couldn't be more wrong. Bike riders have just as much right to use the roads as car drivers.
And you cheering on the bus driver for his actions speaks volumes to your maturity. It's people like you that need to have their licenses revoked permanently.
Go get a life!
How that 4$ gas treating you bike haters? I hope we go to war with Iran ad yall have to pay$10 a gallon.
Seriously! You'd really invoke war to teach motor vehicles drivers a lesson about expensive fuel??? Did you go to school much less graduate??? Big trouble is what you got buddy.
This is off topic, but what's with all the landscaping adjectives? Earlier this story was titled "Mowing down bicyclist" now it says "for Raking cyclist"
sick sense of humor, msnbc ;)
The bikers piss & moan they need bike trails so the tax payers build them.
now the bikers don't use them saying they are boring.
Guess they like the thirll of dodging cars.
This is in the UK, where the don't have bike lanes. In my city we have bike lanes and they are thoroughly used.
Excuse me? Who said they were "boring"? The bike trails in my area are heavily trafficked. But they don't go everywhere. Sometimes you have to get on a road. Riding on sidewalks is illegal.
Becuz you are so ignorant, I ignore you!
In Seattle they spent MILLIONS of dollars on stupid bike lanes, eliminating actual useful lanes and still nearly every cyclist you see is on the damn sidewalk. I like to stick both my arms straight out as they approach me when I am walking. And the ones on the road (most of them that I observed on my daily walking through the city) don't follow basic traffic laws like stopping at red lights, yielding the right of way, signaling, etc.
Cyclists are one step above pigeons.
The only mistake the bus driver made was to get caught on tape. But I understand in England, you're always on tape.
In Seattle they spent MILLIONS of dollars on stupid bike lanes, eliminating actual useful lanes and still nearly every cyclist you see is on the damn sidewalk. I like to stick both my arms straight out as they approach me when I am walking. And the ones on the road (most of them that I observed on my daily walking through the city) don't follow basic traffic laws like stopping at red lights, yielding the right of way, signaling, etc.
Cyclists are one step above pigeons.
The only mistake the bus driver made was to get caught on tape. But I understand in England, you're always on tape.
I think the bus driver went a bit too far. But the bike rider seems to have been
a overbearing pompus ass here. First he puts his bike in front of the bus to publicly "dress down"
the bus driver for a mistake. It then looks in the video like he purposefully rode his bike in the path of
the bus to slow it down. That jerk was PO'd and seems to have forgotten that the bus driver might get
PO'd too. And he also forgot the bus outweighed him by at least a smidge! Could have just as well died
asserting his right to the road.
The pompus ass was partially at fault here!
Like my daddy always told me....you can be right as rain and still dead as hell.
I would think that the provocation from the bicyclist was one of the reasons the bus driver got 17 months instead of a longer sentence.
My experience as a driver of a 4 wheel vehicle and the passenger on a motorcycle is that people in vehicles tend to be oblivious or deliberately ride too close to two-wheeled vehicles. My father was riding a motorcycle to work one day (20 years ago) and an ambulance driver on his way to work pulled out in front of my dad causing him to swerve and crash. His Vietnam-issue combat boots (he at the time was active duty in the Air Force and did serve during Vietnam) saved his ankle and his helmet saved his life, but his collar bone was broken in two places. There was no way they could straighten it out completely to set it so it now looks like a z on x-ray. I am very vigilant of motorcycles and bicyclists because of this. They both have a right to use the roads, just as 4-wheel and 18 wheel vehicles do. In Virginia it is always illegal for a bicyclist to ride on the sidewalk (they waive this for children) so 4-wheel vehicles (and motorcycles) must share the road.
A vehicle is a vehicle is a vehicle is a vehicle... The 1997 California law would charge the bus driver with assault with a deadly weapon useing a vehicle resulting in permanent loss of his drivers license. That is just the Department of Motor Vehicle's action, seperate from legal action the court would take given the video. A felony would be charged to the bus driver and an infraction of the vehicle code to the bicyclist. Top it off with a civil law suit and these two idiots wouldn't ever get out of the legal system or be allowed to drive any thing!
cat-1200657:
I live in Virginia and the ordinance I read says it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk IF 75% of the block is a business. And I have seen many bike riders ride on the sidewalks where there are businesses and the police don't hassle them. I would imagine the cops would stop someone and ticket them if they were being reckless or endangering pedestrians but have yet to see that happen.
17 months? The bus driver should have gotten at least 17 years in prison. And anyone that thinks this video is funny is sicker than the bus driver. You all have s**t for brains.
good knockdown!
The bike riders around here, with their little plastic helmets and spandex suits ride past all the 'Share the Road' bike signs. But then they DO hold up traffic on purpose, and they blow thru stop signs and stop lights like courier wannabes. Don't want to lose any of that 'momentum'. Hmmm. So us motorists have to share the road with them, but bike riders don't have to share the road back. And I have GoPro HD dashcam video to show the violations. But I didn't get his 'tag number'. (Not that I haven't violated any motoring laws.). When I rode bikes as a kid, we pulled over when we heard a car coming. Just cuss the bike rider, and drive around them when possible. Oh, and I hope I've pissed off some spandex bikers. -WoW.
They hold up traffic because it is SAFER for them. It forces the cars behind them to slow down, especially on narrow roads. This is similar to some European countries where they removed traffic lights and signs and sidewalks. Both pedestrians and cars share the road. This means that cars SLOW down.
Stopping at a stop sign is not the same on a bike. First a biker has a wider range of view. I can see far more than you can even before I get to the stop sign. Secondly the few seconds I start to bike after I stop I am very unstable. A bike in motion is far more stable. If drivers were patient enough to WAIT for me to get my balance and get moving again, this wouldn't be a problem, but they are not. I have never blown through a stop light, but all the red light cameras tell me that drivers aren't faultless on this aspect either.
In my city you are can drive around the biker if possible, staying 3-5 feet away. You are allowed to cross in to the opposite lane as long as there is no other traffic coming. READ YOUR TRAFFIC LAWS. Many drivers have not had to read these laws since they were 16, and bikes might not have been on the books.
BTW I don't wear spandex.
It's far safer for bicycles to slow down a bit and proceed through an intersection without stopping than it is to come to a complete stop and then get your feet back on the peddles and slowly wobble your way out into the intersection hoping some jackass doesn't come barreling through and hit you because you're going to slow to get out of the way. We can't accelerate like a car can.
Boo hoo.
Then get off the damn road.
Bikes need to share the road as much as cars, we all know this. I lived in a small town in West Virginia for a while, and I biked everywhere. There was no concept of a bike lane, no shoulder on the roads because of the hills, and I was the only bike in the county. The county sheriff actually pulled me over just to tell me I was taking my life in my own hand, and as far as they were concerned if I got hit it was my fault no matter what. Now I live in Davis, Ca where we have wide bike lanes, more bikes than people, and far more bikes than cars. You know what I find myself saying? All these @!$%#s on their bikes need to follow the rules of the road, or get off of it.
I ride a motorcycle and get the same kind of crap from the cagers. They think that they can share my lane, they have no problem riding on my tail or just cutting me off. But I have learned a neat little trick and I don't care if it pisses anyone off, it works. My trick, I ride with a pocket full of small ball bearings. When some ass starts messing with me, I just get in front of the car and let a few bearings fly. A cracked or chipped window usually slows them down and they are none the wiser (they assume it was a stone kicked up). As far as the damage to their property I look at it as better your property damaged than me being run down by an idiot.
If I caught you doing that, you'd meet my good friend Mr. Fender and his associate Mr. Ditch.
And if you got caught doing that you would meet his good friend Mr. Incarceration.
i watched the video a few times and what i saw was an arrogant cyclist riding in the middle of the lane impeding the bus. the bus swerved to go around the cyclist and the guy got hit. sorry folks, but i am normally pretty laid back and even i want to run over these arrogant lance armstrong wannabe's.
@allison 2: If you really feel that way, see a psychiatrist.
wonder, he was riding his bike and i ran him over. oops.
Kudos Allison
Yes I am with the Bus driver. the bike rider was just trying to provoke and he did ! perhaps he will take the bus in the future EH,
@allison 2: You have a disturbed mind and need psychiatric help. Please, seek help.
There's an overwhelming sense of mean in the world.
Bummer.
I wonder if the union will have his job waiting for him after he gets out 17 months from now.
Heck, maybe he can have huber release and still have his job for the entire time of his "incarceration".
Living in the yuppie, 1% suburbs our roads are blocked frequently by packs of masochistic freaks on childrens toys. If they made a real attempt to follow the written and unwritten rules of the road it would be no problem, but they don't. Bicycles used to be a useful 1890's tech that people used for transport; they have become a pest at best. The London freak got what he deserved; he's lucky he didn't do that in the tristate area were there are fewer cameras. Is there a fund to help the bus driver I can send money to; most of us have almost been there. To the nut with the hand gun on a bicycle maybe you'll meet like minded folks and get to reenact the end of Easy Rider on a bicycle instead of a motorcycle.
antilunatic
hopefully it will be you.
Drop the anti. Lunatic fits.
"That would be because we are, legally, equally entitled to use the road. Believeme, it pisses us off too that you lazy fat f#$%ers use the road too in your big smelly dangerous cars."
No, you're not legally, equally entitled to use the road, idiot. You're allowed to ride on the right side of the road, out of traffic. Unless and until you can maintain consistently the speed limit and obey ALL the laws including not running red lights, making all turns legally, registering your bike and making sure it has turn signals (or you use your arms), brake lights and mirrors you won't be EQUALLY entitled to use the road. Bus driver got off light, bike rider was an a**hole.
"No, you're not legally, equally entitled to use the road, idiot. You're allowed to ride on the right side of the road, out of traffic."
Not here 'idiot' (troll). The law here states that you must by law ride WITH automotive traffic and must ride with the flow of it. You are NOT to act independent of automotive traffic and are required by law to follow ALL automotive laws. There are no bicycle laws in Stockton, Calif. They all have been moved to automotive laws. And this vid shows what happens when cyclist follow such a dangerous law.
This guy was not riding "with the flow." If you can't maintain the speed get in the right lane on the right side and get out of the way.
Sometimes drivers eyes are filled with tears from laughing at the duck hats and ballet suits. Point being :
I bet the bus driver was laughing so hard he couldn't see um.
You're welcome.
"Maintain the speed limit" - What a load of garbage is that? The speed limit is the fastest speed at which you are allowed to drive. There often is no set lower speed limit. Heck, do you realize that it's still legal to drive on German Autobahns at around 35mph? Yes, I'm talking about the Autobahns that often have no upper speed limit at all.
know 1-
you sound like a real brain trust...
Desperado:
It's attitudes like yours that gets people hurt or killed.
Yes, bikers are legally and equally entitled to use the road. You had better remember that or one day you will be paying the consequences when you end up hurting someone.
The right side of the road rule is correct. But when a bike rider needs to make a left hand turn, then what Einstein? I know what you are supposed to do as a bike rider, but do you?
This just not so. You probably want them to maintain the speed limit because they are making you slow down or making you wait. But, sorry, you are incorrect. Grow some patience.
There is absolutely NO reason, excuse or justification for using deadly force against someone who annoyed you. That said, the bike rider was being a pompous jerk. Bully bus driver vs inconsiderate biker, not a good outcome. This is whats happens when jerks collide.
You are supposed to BY LAW to ride in the traffic lane. And this is what happens when you do. I say we need to get the law makers and the cops all on bikes following THEIR laws and see how long that law lasts.
Traffic laws vary wildly from state to state most people with any sense on a bike, motorcycle or car/truck try to avoid contact with others; it's expensive and could result in the loss of liberty. People have been using bicycles for over 100 years this lastest popular trend unfortunatly has come with an attitude all around and the worst part is that someone that learned to ride as a kid on the side walk thinks their road ready.
I see many cyclist riding in the traffic lane, which is fine, until they get to a stop light and then decide they should ride on the side to get to the head of the line. Then, of course, they see the error of their ways and get back in the middle of the lane.......
lostsoul-
and it annoys you because you can't do it?
felon assault at the very least