Nothing Personal

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:39:50 +1000

TimC said:

That's a strange way to spell "the driver didn't look at what was
approaching when they turned off the road. Despite there being a
bloody large horse in front of them, they still turned into it."
Funny how it's always the non-car that collides with the car. And no
comment on the rider of the horse, but the driver was uninjured.

What makes you think the horse had a rider?

I mean it's likely, but it's not a given. The buggers do buck riders
off and go galloping down the road you know.

(or buck you off, gallop down the road, then stop and graze as though
nothing has happened, and then just keep moving on enough to mean you
can't catch them.)

It is quite possible the horse did suddenly whirl and jump or get
spooked and do something unpredictable. THey normally have the brains
to stay out of the way of vehicles but not always. THe brains of a
small pug dog in a couple of ton of muscle...

So while it is likely the driver was a blind idiot and the reporter a
fool, it isn't a given.

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:39:50 +1000

What makes you think the horse had a rider?

I mean it's likely, but it's not a given. The buggers do buck riders
off and go galloping down the road you know.

(or buck you off, gallop down the road, then stop and graze as though
nothing has happened, and then just keep moving on enough to mean you
can't catch them.)

It is quite possible the horse did suddenly whirl and jump or get
spooked and do something unpredictable. THey normally have the brains
to stay out of the way of vehicles but not always. THe brains of a
small pug dog in a couple of ton of muscle...

So while it is likely the driver was a blind idiot and the reporter a
fool, it isn't a given.

Zebee

Yes, indeed, strange things do happen ... like people rushing to the
defence of provincial newspapers and motorcar drivers!
;-)

donga

TimC said:

It's not just us cyclists who the papers don't give a [censored] about.

"Car and horse collide"

A horse had to be put down following a collision with a motor
vehicle on Monday, 18 June.

At approximately 11.50pm, the driver of the vehicle was preparing to
turn off the Newell Highway and into a driveway when a horse
travelled in front of the vehicle.

While the motor vehicle sustained minor damage in the accident, the
driver was uninjured.

That's a strange way to spell "the driver didn't look at what was
approaching when they turned off the road. Despite there being a
bloody large horse in front of them, they still turned into it."
Funny how it's always the non-car that collides with the car. And no
comment on the rider of the horse, but the driver was uninjured.

Probably the same driver who pulled out in front of our bus (doing
100km/h, with about 50 metres to spare) yesterday, then proceeded to
dawdly the 8km back into town at 50km/h.

Exactly 24 hours later, someone rolled their car several times after
swerving for a kangaroo. I believe the roo got away 🙂

And now the paper is reporting local sightings of the black panther.

What a town...

Did the horse have lights and reflectors attached? Was it near the left
hand side of the lane? Was it racing other horses in a pack? Should
horses have to be licensed to go on the road? Did it go through a red
light and would a helmet have saved it?

Friday

On 2007-06-22, Zebee Johnstone (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:39:50 +1000

TimC said:

That's a strange way to spell "the driver didn't look at what was
approaching when they turned off the road. Despite there being a
bloody large horse in front of them, they still turned into it."
Funny how it's always the non-car that collides with the car. And no
comment on the rider of the horse, but the driver was uninjured.

What makes you think the horse had a rider?

I mean it's likely, but it's not a given. The buggers do buck riders
off and go galloping down the road you know.

(or buck you off, gallop down the road, then stop and graze as though
nothing has happened, and then just keep moving on enough to mean you
can't catch them.)

It is quite possible the horse did suddenly whirl and jump or get
spooked and do something unpredictable. THey normally have the brains
to stay out of the way of vehicles but not always. THe brains of a
small pug dog in a couple of ton of muscle...

So while it is likely the driver was a blind idiot and the reporter a
fool, it isn't a given.

I reached the same conclusions as yourself, but have the advantage of
prior knowledge of the quality of the local newspaper.

However, at least I get to class myself as a local now -- my own photo
did get published this week, as did a story about my mum's dinner
party over the weekend. That's how small and [censored] our local paper is.

I mean, seriously, every couple of weeks they get someone new in to do
a 2 page spread on why global warming is a swindle perpetuated by left
leaning individuals who want to rip us off and steal our water. And
the national parks and wildlife people destroyed that town next door.
All we wanted to do was to strip mine the area, and that town would
have boomed. But destroyed now! 2 people left just last year!

--
TimC
I'm sorry. The number you have reached is imaginary. Please rotate your
phone 90 degrees and try again. -- MIT's phone switch

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:39:50 +1000

TimC said:

That's a strange way to spell "the driver didn't look at what was
approaching when they turned off the road. Despite there being a
bloody large horse in front of them, they still turned into it."
Funny how it's always the non-car that collides with the car. And no
comment on the rider of the horse, but the driver was uninjured.

What makes you think the horse had a rider?

I mean it's likely, but it's not a given. The buggers do buck riders
off and go galloping down the road you know.

(or buck you off, gallop down the road, then stop and graze as though
nothing has happened, and then just keep moving on enough to mean you
can't catch them.)

It is quite possible the horse did suddenly whirl and jump or get
spooked and do something unpredictable. THey normally have the brains
to stay out of the way of vehicles but not always. THe brains of a
small pug dog in a couple of ton of muscle...

So while it is likely the driver was a blind idiot and the reporter a
fool, it isn't a given.

Zebee

If you read it through you can see that it was just before midnight. My
guess is that it was riderless and had escaped from it's paddock and was
startled by the car. Horses startle very easily and it just as likely
ran into the path of the car.

Friday

On Jun 22, 5:39 pm, TimC <[email hidden]-

astro.swin.edu.au said:

It's not just us cyclists who the papers don't give a [censored] about.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Funny how it's always the non-car that collides with the car.

I agree, that [censored] me too, however, horses are basically insane and
also very stupid. I'd give the driver the benefit of the doubt. The
only good horse is in a can of Pal (IMO, YMMV, HAND)

Donga said:

Yes, indeed, strange things do happen ... like people rushing to the defence of provincial newspapers and motorcar drivers!
;-)

Bingo!

BTW wasn't there a suburban myth about a racehorse named Lap Fonac?

If you are pulling off a road into a driveway (yes, even a country one) so fast that your car sustains damage when you hit anything - then you're an idiot. Given

Scotty

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:39:50 +1000

TimC said:

That's a strange way to spell "the driver didn't look at what was
approaching when they turned off the road. Despite there being a
bloody large horse in front of them, they still turned into it."
Funny how it's always the non-car that collides with the car. And no
comment on the rider of the horse, but the driver was uninjured.

What makes you think the horse had a rider?

I mean it's likely, but it's not a given. The buggers do buck riders
off and go galloping down the road you know.

(or buck you off, gallop down the road, then stop and graze as though
nothing has happened, and then just keep moving on enough to mean you
can't catch them.)

It is quite possible the horse did suddenly whirl and jump or get
spooked and do something unpredictable. THey normally have the brains
to stay out of the way of vehicles but not always. THe brains of a
small pug dog in a couple of ton of muscle...

So while it is likely the driver was a blind idiot and the reporter a
fool, it isn't a given.

Zebee

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:03:33 +1000

scotty72 said:

If you are pulling off a road into a driveway (yes, even a country one)
so fast that your car sustains damage when you hit anything - then
you're an idiot. Given

Not dealt with horses much have you.

Or cars really.

Zebee

Enough to realise that if you weren't fanging up a driveway you'd be able to stop in time. Or if you hit an object at upto about 10km/h, the bumper ought to absorb the damage.

If you're doing more than that up a driveway in the dark, well, you have issues...

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:03:33 +1000

scotty72 said:

If you are pulling off a road into a driveway (yes, even a country one)
so fast that your car sustains damage when you hit anything - then
you're an idiot. Given

Not dealt with horses much have you.

Or cars really.

Zebee

"scotty72" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Enough to realise that if you weren't fanging up a driveway you'd be
able to stop in time. Or if you hit an object at upto about 10km/h, the
bumper ought to absorb the damage.

If you're doing more than that up a driveway in the dark, well, you
have issues...

Driveways into rural properties are often functionally indistinguishable
from roads. Fairly narrow roads, I'll grant you but you're not about to
collect the letterbox before running through the azaleas. They also tend to
have generously radiused entrances which more than compensate fo the fact
that they're a bit narrow as roads go. Not to mention that if you're the
only one who drives in or out of your property then there's no issue about
someone possibly coming the other way. I'd ride a bike in there at 30kph and
bikes don't stop as well as cars.

Resound said:

"scotty72" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Enough to realise that if you weren't fanging up a driveway you'd be
able to stop in time. Or if you hit an object at upto about 10km/h, the
bumper ought to absorb the damage.

If you're doing more than that up a driveway in the dark, well, you
have issues...

Driveways into rural properties are often functionally indistinguishable
from roads. Fairly narrow roads, I'll grant you but you're not about to
collect the letterbox before running through the azaleas. They also tend to
have generously radiused entrances which more than compensate fo the fact
that they're a bit narrow as roads go. Not to mention that if you're the
only one who drives in or out of your property then there's no issue about
someone possibly coming the other way. I'd ride a bike in there at 30kph and
bikes don't stop as well as cars.

Also horses tend to bolt when frightened so there's a good chance it may
have run into the car.

In aus.bicycle on Sat, 23 Jun 2007 18:01:50 +0800

Friday said:

Quoted message said:

Also horses tend to bolt when frightened so there's a good chance it may
have run into the car.

And that the driver swerved and hit a ditch or tree and thus was
injured.

Bad all round really.

Zebee

On Jun 22, 10:13 pm, cfsmtb <cfsmtb.2sk...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

Bingo!

BTW wasn't there a suburban myth about a racehorse named Lap Fonac?

--
cfsmtb

I failed the IQ test - put me out of my misery. Lap Fonac?

donga

Donga said:

I failed the IQ test - put me out of my misery. Lap Fonac?

Read it backwards.

Still, assuming we are talking about an average sized horse, it is likely 2 metres tall and 500kgs of big-ness.

The point was made that the me-dee-ya always blame what-ever is not a driver of a car. It is always 'the tree that jumps out' or the 'parked car that side-swipes' or 'the pot-hole that banged into my car'.

In this case it seems a poor bloody horse is minding its business when a car came around a corner too fast and collected it.

Whilst it is possible the horse may have decided to attack and stomp on the car I would call that - ummm - highly unlikely. Even if so, I would suggest the the car approached it in a manner that made it take fright.

Moral is, don't drive around corners faster than you react to.

Scotty

quote='Friday'Resound said:

"scotty72" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Enough to realise that if you weren't fanging up a driveway you'd be
able to stop in time. Or if you hit an object at upto about 10km/h, the
bumper ought to absorb the damage.

If you're doing more than that up a driveway in the dark, well, you
have issues...

Driveways into rural properties are often functionally indistinguishable
from roads. Fairly narrow roads, I'll grant you but you're not about to
collect the letterbox before running through the azaleas. They also tend to
have generously radiused entrances which more than compensate fo the fact
that they're a bit narrow as roads go. Not to mention that if you're the
only one who drives in or out of your property then there's no issue about
someone possibly coming the other way. I'd ride a bike in there at 30kph and
bikes don't stop as well as cars.

Also horses tend to bolt when frightened so there's a good chance it may
have run into the car.[/QUOTE]

scotty72 said:

Still, assuming we are talking about an average sized horse, it is
likely 2 metres tall and 500kgs of big-ness.

The point was made that the me-dee-ya always blame what-ever is not a
driver of a car. It is always 'the tree that jumps out' or the 'parked
car that side-swipes' or 'the pot-hole that banged into my car'.

In this case it seems a poor bloody horse is minding its business when
a car came around a corner too fast and collected it.

Whilst it is possible the horse may have decided to attack and stomp on
the car I would call that - ummm - highly unlikely. Even if so, I would
suggest the the car approached it in a manner that made it take fright.

Moral is, don't drive around corners faster than you react to.

Scotty

Being a cyclist, and this being a cycling newsgroup I understand the
point you're trying to make. However, in this case I'd have to say that
I have some sympathy with the car driver. As has been pointed out rural
driveways tend to be more like roads, it was dark, nearly midnight, and
in all probability the horse was riderless and had escaped from it's
yard. It's obvious you don't know much about horses so I'm not going to
argue with you about horse behavior but I'd say the horse was as much to
blame as the driver. It's a bit like blaming a car driver for hitting a
kangaroo on a straight section of road.

Friday

On 2007-06-23, Friday (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

scotty72 said:

Still, assuming we are talking about an average sized horse, it is
likely 2 metres tall and 500kgs of big-ness.

The point was made that the me-dee-ya always blame what-ever is not a
driver of a car. It is always 'the tree that jumps out' or the 'parked
car that side-swipes' or 'the pot-hole that banged into my car'.

I can honestly report that some people are being honest in saying "the
roo hit me". There is a dent in the back of the afternoon tech's
vehicle. They had already pulled up when the roo decided it wanted to
be just *there*.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In this case it seems a poor bloody horse is minding its business when
a car came around a corner too fast and collected it.

Whilst it is possible the horse may have decided to attack and stomp on
the car I would call that - ummm - highly unlikely. Even if so, I would
suggest the the car approached it in a manner that made it take fright.

Moral is, don't drive around corners faster than you react to.

Being a cyclist, and this being a cycling newsgroup I understand the
point you're trying to make. However, in this case I'd have to say that
I have some sympathy with the car driver. As has been pointed out rural
driveways tend to be more like roads, it was dark, nearly midnight, and
in all probability the horse was riderless and had escaped from it's
yard. It's obvious you don't know much about horses so I'm not going to
argue with you about horse behavior but I'd say the horse was as much to
blame as the driver. It's a bit like blaming a car driver for hitting a
kangaroo on a straight section of road.

There are certain behaviours that are going to encourage you to hit
animals more than others though.

The observatory have placed a limit of 60km/h on observatory cars
after or near dusk. Not everyone is of the temperment to stay under
60km/h in a 100km/h zone, and it shows when you look at how often
certain people hit roos.

I am surprised and happy to say very few people here overtake me when
on the bike, around blind corners. Only one or two so far in all my
travels, but then again, I've only had 20 or 25 in the position that
they could be able to overtake in such circumstances (I can go 40
minutes on my commute, if everyone else has left work already, and
only then after 40 minutes, near town, do cars start appearing).

--
TimC
The prolonged application of polysyllabic vocabulary infallibly
exercises a deleterious influence on the fecundity of expression,
rendering the ultimate tendancy apocryphal. --unknown

On Jun 23, 10:01 pm, cfsmtb <cfsmtb.2sm...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

Donga said:

I failed the IQ test - put me out of my misery. Lap Fonac?

Read it backwards.

--
cfsmtb

eheh. I even tried Google!