Protesting a ticket, man deliberately crashes bike into objects blocking bike lanes

[Playinghardball]

By Sahil Kapur

After receiving a $50 ticket for straying from the bike lane, a New York biker filmed a protest video montage of himself crashing into objects while remaining lawfully in the bike lane. Some of the crashes appear to be fairly painful.

The biker, Casey Neistat, who films documentaries for an HBO show, released the video on YouTube. It received about 150,000 hits in two days.

“Dear ew ork ity, ticket the people blocking the bike lanes, not bikers,” he concluded. “nd give me my $50 back.”

Watch the 3 minute clip, via New York Magazine

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/06/protesting-a-ticket-man-deliberately-crashes-bike-into-many-objects/

[DFab420]

1. This gets such a kick and rec.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Bookmark for later. n/t

[catgirl]

3. Well done Casey! n/t

[IndyPragmatist]

4. lol, the last crash was great, right into the police car!

nt

[Gregorian]

5. America doesn't respect cycling.

It's better now than it used to be. I won't ride a bike on pavement any more.

There is nothing more revealing, and unnerving, about modern society in general, than what one learns by riding a bicycle. It ought to be a requirement for a driver's license. Ride a bike for a year. The flagrant disregard for human life is unbelievable. It's amazing how many times I've nearly been killed just commuting to work. In a small town yet. With tons of room for the morons to move their two ton mass of steel. But yet they would rather not move over the center line. It's a power game. I'm off topic. Screw it. I've made my point. I'm glad gas is getting more expensive.

[Hardrada]

7. And they holler shit at ya too!

[Gregorian]

11. I was hit by a high velocity Big Mac once.

About forty years ago it was a blistering hot day, and a carload of girls rode by me and hit me with a water balloon while whistling at me. Now that was a great confrontation.

[barbtries]

17. it was about 40 years ago

in manhattan beach ca. someone in a car reached out and grabbed my ass while i was going up a hill. soooo mad.

[tblue37]

22. I was slapped on the back of my head when riding my bike in 1976!

As a car passed me, some jackass reached out of the passenger window and slapped my head as hard as he could, nearly knocking me off my bike in traffic! I wonder--do these idiots realize that if a person gets killed because of their actions, they could go to prison?

[Art_from_Ark]

25. About 30 years ago

some assholes in a truck slapped me on the head while I was riding my bicycle.

[-..__...]

27. Play stupid games...

win stupid prizes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeXUaJYI-38

(BTW... despite what the video title says, the kid in the car wasn't killed).

[meow mix]

38. i hope that car is ok.

body work can be expensive..

[Capitalocracy]

55. I would've picked up the bike and started slamming it in the hood of his car

but that's just me

[barbtries]

57. are you kidding

i was just a girl, a mere shadow of the woman i am today, besides which the car was a block away by the time i realized what had happened. it was all in motion.

[Capitalocracy]

59. well, I would've gotten in trouble, I know

and I'm not a girl, probably wouldn't have happened in the first place

well I'm glad you managed to stay upright, if they did this while the car was moving faster than you were... could've killed you

[myrna minx]

40. Try being a pedestrian - nearly killed by drivers on their cell phones and

by bicyclers on the sidewalk. :scared:

[liberation]

52. Case in point response #8.

Edit: actually half of this thread is a clear example.

Wow, some people really hate it having to slow down for a few seconds to yield for a cyclist. If only vehicular manslaughter wasn't so frowned upon, they could really save a couple of seconds from their busy commute... so I can understand the frustration. A second here, a second there, and all of the sudden you have a minute or two wasted of their super important lives!

[taterguy]

76. Response #8 is a complaint about hipster douchebags, not cycling

Hell, I am a cyclist. I was totally car-free for a decade.

I bike to work almost every day.

It's douchebags I have a problem with.

I eagerly await your apology.

[JBoy]

6. Damn, that was awesome!

[taterguy]

8. What the world needs now is another hipster douchebag with Cyclist Entitlement Syndrome

Like I need a hole in my head.

:eyes:

[klook]

10. What is Cyclist Entitlement Syndrome, pray tell?

Riding on the street? ...which is perfectly legal......

:eyes:

I'm kinda tired of Gas-Guzzling, Polluting Motor Vehicle Driver Entitlement Syndrome, myself.

The guy should be wearing a fucking helmet, though -- that part is douchebaggery.

[Serve The Servants]

12. I'd say you're both right

I drive a car and ride a bike (biking mostly on trails though), and I've seen douchebags both behind the wheel and on bicycles. Cars need to be more aware of bicycle riders. I've almost been killed by some pretty clueless people in cars and as the video pretty much demonstrates, it's ridiculous that bicyclists should be ticketed for avoiding an obstacle in the bike lane. It's just common sense safety and self preservation.

That being said, I fucking hate it when two or more bicyclists ride side by side, 15 mph on a road with motor vehicle traffic, forcing cars into the oncoming lane or when a single rider takes up the whole damn road.

[Fumesucker]

13. Try riding two abreast around here on bikes and you'll both be road pizza in short order..

[-..__...]

20. That's why I installed a set of 120 DB horns on my Jeep...

(average is around 100 DB depending on the sourse).

It's not just for cell phone yackers and texters sitting brain dead at a green light. :evilgrin:

[liberation]

53. Ironically courtesy is free...

you could have saved a bundle.

[-..__...]

78. "Courtesy" is a two-way street.

It's just that every now and then, the arrogant, self righteous, two-wheeling (and cell phone squeakers), assholes need a wake-up call as a reminder.

[jberryhill]

87. Good. Then use the other lane

[mimitabby]

34. It's legal in my state to ride two abreast

when conditions permit.

Too many vehicle drivers presume the road is only for them.

[frylock]

16. couldn't agree more

[saras]

23. A single rider is SUPPOSED to take up the entire lane - it's the LAW

Law in our state says you have to pull over and let traffic pass if you are holding up five vehicles. Cars rarely obey this law, but bicylists get run off the road for holding up one in order to legally occupy a traffic signal or make a left turn.

[Serve The Servants]

24. California VC 21202 seems to disagree with you.

http://www.bikelink.com/law_safety.htm
Duty of Bicycle Operator: Operation On Roadway. VC 21202

a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

Of course that's California law, so when you say "our state" you may not actually mean "yours and mine". The left turn exception still applies.

[Codeine]

41. Two points.

One, that's not the law everywhere. Our state requires cyclists to move over when possible.

Two, adults are trying to get places to feed their families and pay their rent. They don't need to be held up by someone's sanctimonious display of bicycle-based purity. Move the fuck over.

[smiley]

47. talk about sanctimonious purity

your post screams of it!

[DRex]

64. How do I get to the bank to pay my rent?

On a bike. Like a champ.

[Lizzie Poppet]

85. Here in Oregon...

Here in Oregon, the law allows for taking the lane (and riding two abreast) if you're not impeding the "normal flow of traffic." If you aren't able to ride at the pace of traffic, the law requires you to move as far to the right of the lane as is safely possible (and ride single file). It's not that different from how it works here for all traffic (slower traffic must yield the left lane to overtaking vehicles, regardless of whether or not the slower vehicle is at or even over the speed limit).

[Lizzie Poppet]

31. The latter is illegal here.

Here in Oregon, the law allows cyclists to use the entire lane and ride up to two abreast...but only if there is no room to move to the far right side of the road and ride single file, allowing motorists room to pass. If a cyclist fails to keep to the right when there's room, they can receive a (rather expensive) ticket. It's a good l;aw...but not nearly enough cyclists or motorists are aware of it.

[taterguy]

14. "I'm doing the world a favor riding my bike"

The world doesn't give a shit whether or not you ride a bike.

The fact that some motorists are douchebags does not preclude people who don't drive cars from being douchebags.

[liberation]

54. anger issues...

wanna talk about it?

[taterguy]

73. No

[Hassin Bin Sober]

44. Here is a perfect example.

I snapped this photo because this was the second time I saw this douche-bag riding no-handed in the middle of traffic while doing some bizarre upper-body work-out or dance.

The first time I noticed this D-Bag, he was playing chicken with a pick-up truck trying to pass him in heavy traffic. The pick up would pass the d-bag but the biker wasn't following stop signs or lights so he would catch up and get back in front. Last I saw, the pick up passed him and pulled over. I was hoping it was to give the jerk an ass kicking.

Clearly it didn't happen:




Just the other day, I almost clipped some asshole going the wrong way down a one-way street crossing out in to a busier street I was on. I guess he assumed I had a stop because the guy coming the opposite way stopped to let someone out. The asshole gave me a dirty look and then realized I didn't have a stop so we waived as if to apologize.

[klook]

50. Damn, so you took a photo with your cell phone while driving?

I'm sure that's legal! And perfectly safe, too! :smoke:

[liberation]

56. Yeah, because driving while taking pictures with your cell is not douchey at all

Perfectly safe too, thus the well earned moral higher ground to lecture others.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

62. delete.

[tombstone blues]

82. Yes, some cyclists are daredevils or what have you

But you seem to have blatant hostility for cyclists in general. You were hoping that someone gave him a beatdown for riding without using his hands?! What about pulling over and saying to him that he puts himself in peril when he does that and you don't want to be accused of hitting him?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

83. I suppose I could have said something to him but he was wearing headphones.

I do have a certain hostility to people who disregard their own safety and put me in a position where I might be morally and financially responsible for their death or serious injury.

I don't want to hit and injure/kill a bicyclist. That's why I'm very careful around them. But when they dart out of side streets and disregard traffic laws, it puts BOTH of us in a position neither wants to be in.

My partner hit a bicyclist three years ago. Well, actually, the bicyclist hit his car after blowing a stop sign. The fault wasn't my partner's but guess whose insurance paid a claim when the rider's family "suggested he get checked out" three days after saying he was OK at the scene and refused medical attention.

I think bicyclists don't understand how stress can get turned in to hostility that results from bikers doing stupid shit. I see it every time my partner gets near a bike.

Just last year, I had a biker go over the handle bars in front of my truck. He was J-crossing the street against the light and his tire got caught in a storm drain cover, He flipped over right in front of my truck. Fortunately I was on the brakes and stopping before he crashed so I was able to stop. But If my foot had not been already on the brakes, I would have running someone over on my conscience.

This kind of thing causes stress. And stress can lead to resentment AND contempt for someone who doesn't care about themselves to bike in a responsible manner.

[JackRiddler]

21. Yeah, thinking he's entitled to the legally designated bike lane. What's with these people?

[Lizzie Poppet]

29. Entitlement?

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means...

[Dorian Gray]

30. Said like

a true New Yorker. (Even if you aren't from NY!)

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ohio Joe]

9. Holy Shit!

Awesome ending!

[Snoutport]

15. Driving around bikes scares the heck out of me!!!

But I love this video!

[taterguy]

18. Being around anything 'different' scares the hell out of me

:hug:

[Snoutport]

33. lol...not 'cause it is new...I live two blocks from the main bike street

and the bikes are often moving up through traffic and, at least a couple times a commute a bike or two runs the stop signs. It is just nerve wracking to try and watch the auto lanes and then the bike lanes. NOT for the normal everyday riders, but for the hotshots who zip up through traffice in between cars.

[joshcryer]

19. That was hilarious, that last shot cracked me the fuck up, holy shit.

And I have some bruised ribs so that really made me hurt to see, haha, jesus.

[klook]

26. The comments from bike-haters on this thread are sickening

The guy is riding his bike in the bike lane unless there are obstructions, as he points out in the video.

If there is, for example, a truck parked in the bike lane, his choices are:

1. Merge carefully into the road -- which is entirely legal -- until it's safe to go back into the bike lane.


2. Wait politely behind the truck while 75 cars, trucks, motorcycles, and buses go past until the road is clear as far as the eye can see, then ride in the road for 20 feet.


3. Ride on the sidewalk for 20 feet, then get back in the bike lane, thus endangering pedestrians -- because bikes don't belong in a motorized vehicle lane, ever.


4. Walk with his bike on the sidewalk for 20 feet, then get back in the bike lane -- because bikes don't belong in a motorized vehicle lane, ever.

Nothing in this video defends bicyclists who want to ride in regular traffic when a bike lane is available.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

45. You have NO idea what the circumstances were when he got the ticket.

For me, his childish attitude leads me to believe he got busted fair and square but now he wants to "prove a point" with intentionally obtuse bike riding.

At least one of those "obstacles" could have been avoided WHILE remaining in the bike lane. His credibility meter is at zero.

He reminds me of one my obstinate teenage nieces who just HAVE to prove a point of why they SHOULDN'T have to do a particular chore so they intentionally screw it up.

Remember the kid from the movie Christmas Story? - his fantasy was to turn up blind from the soap his parents used to wash his mouth out - just to show his parents the error of their ways for disciplining him.

Same mentality here from our hipster douche-bag non-helmet-wearing asshat.

Make me ride in the bike lane? I'll show you!!! See all the stuff I hit???? Whaaaaaa :cry:

I once got a warning for passing in a no-passing zone on a highway. Maybe I should make a video of me running down traffic cones and clipping taxicabs dropping people off.

[klook]

48. Nope.

He got busted for riding in the street, which -- as the link I sent earlier shows, and the radio host (2:08-2:38 in the video) notes -- is legal.

Or do you think NYC cops should be allowed to give people tickets because they appear to be "hipsters"? (Should they be allowed to give him a blood test for PBR? :rofl:)

Please explain how this guy "got busted fair and square" -- for doing something legal.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

60. Not true.

I hope you don't get your legal advice from talk radio.

NYC Traffic Rules and Regulations
For the full story --- http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/pdf/trafrule.pdf



Excerpts which mention bicycles:




- definition.............................................................................................................. 4-01(b)

- lanes................................................................................................................... 4-12(p)

- on sidewalks................................................................................................ 4-07(c)(3)(i)

- one-way streets.............................................................................................. 4-12(p)(3)

- roadways prohibited on.................................................................................. 4-12(o)(1)





4-01

(b) Definitions. The following words and phrases, when used in these rules, shall, for

the purpose of these rules, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them as follows:

Bicycle. Every two- or three-wheeled device upon which a person or persons

may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, a chain or gears, with such

wheels in a tandem or tricycle, except that it shall not include such a device

having solid tires and intended for use only on a sidewalk by pre-teenage

children.



4-07

c) Restrictions on crossing sidewalks.

(1) Driveways. No person shall drive within any sidewalk area except at a

permanent or temporary driveway.

(2) Avoiding intersections. No person shall drive across a sidewalk or upon a

driveway in order to avoid an intersection.

(3) Bicycles and limited use vehicles.

(i) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk area

unless permitted by sign. This prohibition shall not apply to the operation

of bicycles with wheels of less than 26 inches in diameter upon the

sidewalk by children of 12 years or less in age.

(ii) No person shall ride, park or operate a limited use vehicle within any

sidewalk area except where permitted by sign. This prohibition shall not

apply to the pushing of a limited use vehicle within a sidewalk area or to

the pushing of such a vehicle to an authorized parking area.









4-12

(o) Use of roadways.

(1) Pedestrians, horses, bicycles and limited use vehicles prohibited. In

order to provide for the maximum safe use of the expressways, drives, highways,

interstate routes, bridges and thruways set forth in §4-07 subdivision (i) of these

rules and to preserve life and limb thereon, the use of such highways by

pedestrians, riders of horses and operators of limited use vehicles and bicycles is

prohibited, unless signs permit such use.

(2) Flat tires. No operator shall stop on the improved or paved roadway of any

of the arteries set forth in §4-07 subdivision (i) of these rules, for the purpose of

removing or replacing a flat tire. No person shall remove or replace a flat tire

unless the vehicle is completely off the improved or paved roadway so that no

part of the vehicle or person is exposed to passing vehicles.

(p) Bicycles

(1) Bicycle riders to use bicycle lanes. Whenever a usable path or lane for

bicycles has been provided, bicycle riders shall use such path or lane only except

under any of the following situations:

(i) When preparing for a turn at an intersection or into a private road or

driveway.

(ii) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including but not

limited to, fixed or moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians,

pushcarts, animals, surface hazards) that make it unsafe to continue

within such bicycle path or lane.

(2) Driving on or across bicycle lanes prohibited. No person shall drive a

vehicle on or across a designated bicycle lane, except when it is reasonable and

necessary:

(i) to enter or leave a driveway; or

(ii) to enter or leave a legal curbside parking space; or

Section 4-12

53

(iii) to cross an intersection; or

(iv) to make a turn within an intersection; or

(v) to comply with the direction of any law enforcement officer or other

person authorized to enforce this rule; or

(vi) to avoid an obstacle which leaves fewer than ten feet available for

the free movement of vehicular traffic.

Notwithstanding any other rule, no person shall drive a vehicle on or across a

designated bicycle lane in such manner as to interfere with the safety and

passage of persons operating bicycles thereon.

(3) Bicycles permitted on both sides of 40-foot wide one-way roadways.

Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway that carries traffic in one

direction only and is at least 40 feet wide may ride as near as is practicable to

either the left or the right hand curb or edge of such roadway, provided that

bicycles are not prohibited from using said roadway.

The cry-baby would have been better served explaining to the policeman WHY he exited the bike lane rather than the child-like excuse - hey look what he is doing. I suspect, from the his own video (see: 00:15), there WAS NO obstruction and he just has a case of diaper-rash because he got called out on his stupidity.

[klook]

94. Your source is obsolete - dead link

Sorry I let a few days lapse before revisiting this entirely-too-fun thread... :eyes:

Clicking on your link I get:

This Page is Not Available
You have reached an outdated page on NYC.gov, the Official New York City Web Site.

Now, just for fun, let's look at the actual current regulations, as cited in my earlier post on this thread:

SAFE BICYCLING IN NEW YORK CITY
Bicyclists have all the rights and are subject to all the duties applicable to drivers of motor vehicles. This includes obeying all traffic signals, regulating signs and pavement markings.
Bicycle riding is permitted on arterial and local streets throughout the City even though no designated route exists. Bicycle riding is prohibited on the roadways of certain bridges, expressways and highways. Often a separate path exists on these facilities for bicycles.

§ 4-12 (p) – Bicycles

• Bicycle riders must use bike path/lane, if provided, except for access, safety, turns, etc.


• Other vehicles shall not drive on or across bike lanes except for access, safety, turns, etc.


• Bicyclists may use either side of a 40-foot wide one-way roadway.

And now let's take a look at the NYC DOT's published "Bicycle Safety Tips":

Safety Tips for Drivers: Sharing the Road

• Cyclists have a right to ride on New York City streets. Drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with cyclists or pedestrians.


• On-street bike lanes are designed for the exclusive or preferential use by cyclists. There is a $115 fine for parking, standing or driving in a bike lane.


• Look before you open your door. Don't rely only on your rearview mirrors — turn your head to look for bicyclists, skaters and scooter operators who maybe alongside or approaching.


• Make sure there is at least 4 feet between you and cyclists. Cyclists may have to maneuver unexpectedly to avoid road conditions that you can’t see. Don't tailgate, especially in bad weather.


• Lay off the horn. Cars are loud; cyclists can hear you coming. Don’t honk at cyclists unless they are in immediate danger.

For further reference:
Bike Smart: The Offical Guide to Cycling in New York City
NYC DOT info for bicyclists

[liberation]

58. Wait, so apparently you DO know the circumstances when he got the ticket

then?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

68. Hmm.

1. His only argument with the cop was look at what the other guy is doing while I'm doing the world a favor.

2. He plead guilty when he could have used an affirmative defense of "obstructed bike lane" per the statutes. So he admits to violating the law by paying the fine. (maybe he should have used his professional video skills filming the obstruction and the time spent making the video in traffic court)

3. His own video at 00:15 shows no obstructions for two blocks back. I suppose they could have moved.


The cop would have to be a total asshole to give him a ticket for going around an obstruction. Not out of the realm of possibilities - I'm no fan of cops. But they USUALLY have something to hang their hats on when writing such tickets. Furthermore, his video of him hitting "obstructions" shows him hitting "obstructions" that he clearly could have avoided WHILE remaining in the bike lane - his credibility is at zero.

Occam's Razor says this douche-bag was riding out of the bike lane and deserved a ticket.

[AtheistCrusader]

65. He was wearing a helmet when he got the ticket.

He wasn't wearing a helmet for the staged video.


Fortunately in my state, we don't have to use the bike lane, but we do have to obey all traffic laws, including pulling right to allow vehicles to pass, as it is illegal to delay more than 5.

We can also ride on the sidewalk, if we choose, but must yield to pedestrians.

Not sure why New York has a law that you cant ride a bike in the road, outside the bike lane.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

71. If he was wearing a helmet, he must have removed it and placed sunglasses on his head...

... for the ticket portion of the video.

I don't think the lane law is unfair. It merely says you must use the bike lane when one is PRESENT.

The law even exempts the bicyclist in the event of OBSTRUCTION which makes the entire spoof video intellectually dishonest. Is it his position that, because the lanes are SOMETIMES obstructed, the lanes should NEVER be enforced?

Ridiculous.

This mentality reminds me of the rethugs and their "point and laugh" strategy.

[AtheistCrusader]

63. Dude, everyone knows you're supposed to phase out and reappear on the other side

of the obstruction.

Silly rabbit.

[toddwv]

28. Gotta love a smartass that takes his art to the next level.

[mimitabby]

35. didja notice the bike he used for the video?

a nice stout 50 pound bike..

thanks for sharing!!

[Recursion]

37. Looks like the bikeshare bikes we have here in DC

I'm wondering if he didn't want to wreck his own bike :)

[Recursion]

36. Does he stop at stoplights?

Unless he's one of the miniscule percentage of bicyclists that do, I feel little sympathy.

[Codeine]

43. None of them do.

"Same Roads, Same Laws" unless it inconveniences them. Heaven forfend they should have to start pedaling from a standstill, even though exercise is supposed to be part of the point of cycling. :eyes:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

46. Looking at 00:15 in the video while he is being ticketed, the bike lane...

.... looks pretty clear for two blocks back.

I suppose all these obstacles he had to go around disappeared in the few minutes he took to shoot video. In fact, I think he would have been better served shooting pictures of the obstacles for his court date. Or better yet, make the case to the copper why he had to go around the obstacle instead of using the baby excuse - he did it too look over there write them a ticket whaaaa I'm doing the world a favor whaaa!!!!

[liberation]

61. Damn, you so totally have us cyclist pegged!

I am sure no car has ever blown a red light ever, so I assume those fancy cameras in intersections are there to take them candid action shots like they do in amusement parks when the roller coaster is about to drop. Now, if only the DMV let us know where to redeem those pics, there have to be some classic action faces there...

[RaleighNCDUer]

70. Actually, I ALWAYS stop for lights.

OTOH, if the traffic allows, I will start across the intersection when it turns yellow on the cross light. That guarantees that the drivers, to whom I am usually invisible, will see me while they are still stopped. The light turns green before I am all the way across, and I will not be run over by people who didn't notice me, as has often nearly happened when I wait for the green, and the drivers are waiting for it like NASCAR.

[MadBadger]

74. They certainly dont in New York

[Lizzie Poppet]

84. I do.

Oh, I sometimes pull a "California stop" when there's no one around...just like I do in my car now and then. But I don't blow off stop signs and traffic lights when it interferes with someone else's right-of-way. I'm far from alone in that, here in Portland, anyway.

[Shagbark Hickory]

39. That was so funny, I'm thinking of sending him the $50 just for the laughs.

Excuse me while I wipe my lunch off the monitor.

[lfairban]

42. K, R&S

Kicked, recommended and shared.

[a2liberal]

49. I haven't looked into this myself but

When this article was posted on another site, somebody pointed out in the comments that NYC law allows you to go outside the bike lane when there is an obstruction. Since he got a ticket and never shows whether there was an obstruction at that location (that's what the comment said, I haven't watched the video), the commenter's theory was that the guy actually was outside the bike lane with no obstruction nearby (thus deserving a ticket) and is now just doing a publicity stunt

I tried to keep the comment above unbiased but I should say as a disclaimer that I personally think most bicyclists abuse the rules way too much and take joy in slowing down the "evil" motor vehicle traffic.

[RaleighNCDUer]

79. You may think so, but it is a silly thought.

Trust me - no bicyclist WANTS to pick a fight with a vehicle that outweighs him by 1500-2500 lbs and moves ten times faster, being driven by some delusional moron who KNOWS that he can drive, text, and drink coffee all at the same time. When such conflicts occur, the cyclist ALWAYS loses.

[county worker]

51. Thousands maybe millions of bicyclers riding down highway 1 this morning

on my way to work. I think they ride from San Fran to LA for HIV AIDS or something.

All bicyclers stayed in the bike lane when they could. Sometimes they had no bike lane on a narrow bridge and cars gave them the right of way. I saw no problems and both drivers and bicyclers were friendly and courteous to each other. This happens every year so we know what to expect.

I only had one observation to make. Some tushes don't look good in those tight bike pants.

[RaleighNCDUer]

66. There are virtually no bike lanes around here, and therefore I ride on the sidewalks,

when conditions warrant it.

If I ever get ticketed I will offer only one defense - "How many bicyclists have been killed by vehicles while riding on the sidewalks?"

Riding on the streets around here is taking your life in your hands.

[a2liberal]

91. That's what I would think

but I have had cyclist friends argue that it's actually safer (for the cyclist) in the road than the sidewalk. I think that's nuts.

[taterguy]

92. Studies have shown that cycling in the road is safer for a multitude of reasons

The biggest threat to a cyclist is traffic from cross streets and driveways.

It's relatively rare for a cyclist to get hit from behind because you're automatically in the field of vision of the motorist. Most accidents happen because the motorist doesn't see the cyclist, and it's easy for motorists to overlook what's on the sidewalk.

You also have more time and space to avoid a collision if you're in the road.

I've got 20+ years of almost daily cycling on streets. I have never been hit from behind. I've had multiple close calls and a couple of grazings from cars coming out of driveways or pulling on to the main road. The grazings would have been serious accidents if I had been on the sidewalk where I had no time to react.

Of course anecdotal evidence doesn't mean shit so here's a nice helpful study about it:

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/library/riskfactors.htm

[BlueJazz]

67. I love this Guy...Fucking Great !!

[DRex]

69. Half the time the bike lanes are unusable....

They are often filled with debris, such as inches of gravel cleared off the rest the road, especially in spring. Too dangerous to ride in.

I'm not riding on the sidewalk and giving old ladies heart attacks. Won't do it. I'm willing to risk riding with the cars and most of the time in the city I keep pace just fine. Most of the time drivers are straining to pass you just to arrive at the light a few seconds ahead.

Bikers & peds should have right of way ALWAYS. I'm constantly choking on your shitty exhaust, drivers. It's the least you can do. I don't think it's sanctimonious to recognize that bikers&peds are clearly more vulnerable.

[Lucky Luciano]

72. Marked for later. nt

[hamsterjill]

75. Why don't bikers keep their place in line at stop signs/red lights?

Okay, here's the scenario:

First, I'll admit that having to try to get around a person riding a bike down here in Texas is a pain in the arse. We have virtually NO bike lanes and no one that I know of rides a bike for anything other than recreational purposes. I live near an area that is yet undeveloped and the bikers like to ride out in that area. I understand that, and I understand that they have a right to ride on the road.

But here's my real beef: Okay, say I'm driving behind a biker on a small two lane road and I'm trying to just get home after a long day at work of dealing with a bunch of Republican asswipes. I'm stuck going about 2 miles an hour behind the bike and it's frustrating, until I can FINALLY move around him. I get around him safely, don't do anything that I shouldn't. But then there's a red light up ahead and it's turning yellow. I stop.

Then the biker comes up on the right hand side of me and takes off before me when the light turns green. I am then faced with the situation of having to try to get around him/her ONE more time, and the frustration starts all over again.

In my opinion, the biker should position himself behind me as if he were another car waiting to go through the intersection and wait his turn to enter the intersection just as a car would do. Am I wrong? And if so, why does the biker have more rights on the road than *I* do? If I stop behind another driver, I have to wait behind the car. It would be illegal for me to pull up to the right side of a waiting car and peel out first through the intersection.

[-..__...]

77. Probably because they're not "bikers"...

[RaleighNCDUer]

80. LOL ++++

[hamsterjill]

88. Aw, that's so cute!!!

n/t

[aikoaiko]

81. I noticed he didn't say he was avoiding an obstacle when he was ticketed.

I agree that those how block bike lanes should be ticketed.


On the other hand, it was not required for him to crash into obstacles any more than if he had been driving a car.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

86. Yep.

If you look at his own video of when he was receiving the summons, you can see no obstructions for several blocks behind him.

Perhaps he should have used his superior professional video skills to snap a photo/video of the obstruction. An obstruction specifically exempts him from prosecution. Also, he could have used the time he spent making his moronic crash video attending traffic court to produce said photos/video. (Btw, one of the delivery trucks he crashes in to is actually parked outside the bike lane per the city rules - trucks allowed to double-park are required to park outside the bike lane.)

It doesn't take a whole lot to beat one of these type tickets.

I beat a "no left turn" ticket earlier this year with photos of an obstructed/inoperable "no left turn" sign. The city attorney and the judge didn't even WANT to hear my superbly crafted legal defense. LOL. I showed one of SEVERAL photos and they tossed the ticket. I was all set to flex my Melvin Beli muscles. I tell you, it was a real let-down. My Public Defender friend laughed when I told him of my dismay in not getting to present all my evidence. He said, "You know, it doesn't get any better than a dismissal." Yeah, but there was PRINCIPLE involved!!!!

[catabryna]

89. Who has the right-of-way...

I walk my son to school on a road that has bike paths, but no sidewalk for pedestrians...

We find a way to make sure those bikes aren't hit by cars. Sometimes putting ourselves in danger.

[Poll_Blind]

90. K and too late to R!

:kick:

PB

[Earth_First]

93. Just pay the fu*king ticket! It will make up for the times when you DID violate traffic laws... n/t

[nomb]

96. Not a very good basis for a justice system. For all sorts of obvious reasons.... n/t

[Generic Other]

95. He ran into a cop car!

OMG. No tazer video?