Hypothetical car-bike interaction

In article
<[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Let's say that, hypothetically, a late model blue Chrysler
Sebring sedan with Colorado plates 335IER is traveling in
the passing lane of a busy, downtown 4-lane street when
the driver (blond female caucasian, about 30 years old)
merges right into the "slow" lane to pass because 30 mph
is too slow for her in this 25 mph zone. Let's also say,
hypothetically, that a cyclist on a red mountain bike
wearing jeans and bright red jacket is right in the spot
that our imaginary motorist is merging into. The cyclist
is in the middle of this slow lane to avoid the door zone,
probably traveling close to 20 mph. There's really nowhere
for the cyclist to go, so he kicks this hypothetical blue
Sebring with his hypothetically cleated MTB shoe and
leaves a hypothetical dent in the door. The MTBer
immediately makes a right turn and escapes down an
imaginary side alley and into the rabbit hole he goes.

Let's say that I witnessed this hypothetical interaction
from a half block behind.

Do I hypothetically know the identity of this ficitious
MTBer? Was the MTBer in our story merely acting,
hypothetically, in self-defense? Or is he guilty of
assault? Do I take the blue pill and believe whatever I
want to believe? Or do I take the red pill and see how
deep the rabbit hole goes?

All of the above <GGG>.

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Fritz M said:

Let's say that, hypothetically, a late model blue Chrysler
Sebring sedan with Colorado plates 335IER is traveling in
the passing lane of a busy, downtown 4-lane street when
the driver (blond female caucasian, about 30 years old)
merges right into the "slow" lane to pass because 30 mph
is too slow for her in this 25 mph zone. Let's also say,
hypothetically, that a cyclist on a red mountain bike
wearing jeans and bright red jacket is right in the spot
that our imaginary motorist is merging into. The cyclist
is in the middle of this slow lane to avoid the door zone,
probably traveling close to 20 mph. There's really nowhere
for the cyclist to go, so he kicks this hypothetical blue
Sebring with his hypothetically cleated MTB shoe and
leaves a hypothetical dent in the door. The MTBer
immediately makes a right turn and escapes down an
imaginary side alley and into the rabbit hole he goes.

Let's say that I witnessed this hypothetical interaction
from a half block behind.

Do I hypothetically know the identity of this ficitious
MTBer? Was the MTBer in our story merely acting,
hypothetically, in self-defense? Or is he guilty of
assault? Do I take the blue pill and believe whatever I
want to believe? Or do I take the red pill and see how
deep the rabbit hole goes?

Keep riding, but retire the red jacket for...a while.

Bill "and hope the CSI ain't into SPD priints" S.

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

Quoted message said:

Let's say that, hypothetically, a late model blue Chrysler
Sebring sedan with Colorado plates 335IER is traveling in
the passing lane of a busy, downtown 4-lane street when
the driver (blond female caucasian, about 30 years old)
merges right into the "slow" lane to pass because 30 mph
is too slow for her in this 25 mph zone. Let's also say,
hypothetically, that a cyclist on a red mountain bike
wearing jeans and bright red jacket is right in the spot
that our imaginary motorist is merging into. The cyclist
is in the middle of this slow lane to avoid the door zone,
probably traveling close to 20 mph. There's really nowhere
for the cyclist to go, so he kicks this hypothetical blue
Sebring with his hypothetically cleated MTB shoe and
leaves a hypothetical dent in the door. The MTBer
immediately makes a right turn and escapes down an
imaginary side alley and into the rabbit hole he goes.

Let's say that I witnessed this hypothetical interaction
from a half block behind.

Do I hypothetically know the identity of this ficitious
MTBer? Was the MTBer in our story merely acting,
hypothetically, in self-defense? Or is he guilty of
assault? Do I take the blue pill and believe whatever I
want to believe? Or do I take the red pill and see how
deep the rabbit hole goes?

RFM

Hypothetically, at the hypothetical speeds you're
describing, the hypothetical rider, hypothetically hitting a
car hard enough to leave a dent, is probably going down on
the spot...no pills, no rabbit holes.

jb

Fritz M said:

Let's say that, hypothetically, a late model blue Chrysler
Sebring sedan with Colorado plates 335IER is traveling in
the passing lane of a busy, downtown 4-lane street when
the driver (blond female caucasian, about 30 years old)
merges right into the "slow" lane to pass because 30 mph
is too slow for her in this 25 mph zone. Let's also say,
hypothetically, that a cyclist on a red mountain bike
wearing jeans and bright red jacket is right in the spot
that our imaginary motorist is merging into. The cyclist
is in the middle of this slow lane to avoid the door zone,
probably traveling close to 20 mph. There's really nowhere
for the cyclist to go, so he kicks this hypothetical blue
Sebring with his hypothetically cleated MTB shoe and
leaves a hypothetical dent in the door. The MTBer
immediately makes a right turn and escapes down an
imaginary side alley and into the rabbit hole he goes.

Let's say that I witnessed this hypothetical interaction
from a half block behind.

Do I hypothetically know the identity of this ficitious
MTBer? Was the MTBer in our story merely acting,
hypothetically, in self-defense? Or is he guilty of
assault? Do I take the blue pill and believe whatever I
want to believe? Or do I take the red pill and see how
deep the rabbit hole goes?

First take an English class. Your post was a real chore to
read, and not hypothetically..

If the car is going the cyclist's speed or faster, all the
cyclist has to do is hit the brakes. This is quicker,
easier, and more intuitive than kicking the car, especially
hard enough to dent it.

Kicking a car and then escaping down an alley is a jackass
punk move. There's nothing "self-defense" about it, no
matter what the car did. In this instance, self-defense is
using the brakes. If a cyclist needs to get a driver's
attention in a hurry, slapping a fender with an open hand
does the trick. I don't know what this cyclist might be
guilty of under the law -- perhaps vandalism, if the car was
actually damaged.

Matt O.

maxo said:

Matt O'Toole said:

If a cyclist needs to get a driver's attention in a
hurry, slapping a fender with an open hand does the trick

Yup, that's the best, doesn't leave a mark, but wakes
somebody the hell up fast. Must be used very very sparingly
and not just to be a "badass".

To be a "badass," nothing beats a Zefal HPx.

It sure pumps those tires up.

-Luigi

If a cyclist has enough time to unclip and kick a car than
there is more than enough time to stop or get out of the
way. Another nondestructive way of getting their attention
is to use your waterbottle (squirt or throw). Damaging a car
is not the way to make drivers want to share the road with
us. BTW this was all hypothetically speaking! LD

S o r n i said:

Keep riding, but retire the red jacket for...a while.

My jacket's yellow. I would've braked and maybe slapped the
window or fender. I also don't own a MTB.

RFM

Quoted message said:

To be a "badass," nothing beats a Zefal HPx.

no a paintball gun or better yet a uzi os the badass
thing to do (G)

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes
at reasonable prices See knight-toolworks.comknight-toolworks.comOpen ↗ For
prices and ordering instructions.

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Kicking a car and then escaping down an alley is a jackass
punk move. There's nothing "self-defense" about it, no
matter what the car did. In this

instance,

Quoted message said:

self-defense is using the brakes. If a cyclist needs to
get a driver's attention in a hurry, slapping a fender
with an open hand does the trick. I don't know what this
cyclist might be guilty of under the law -- perhaps
vandalism, if the car was actually damaged.

Matt O.

if I see you on the road I'll tip you, TOOL.

Flint Fredstone said:

"Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:2jbecbFvma5aU1@uni-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

Kicking a car and then escaping down an alley is a
jackass punk move. There's nothing "self-defense" about
it, no matter what the car did. In this

instance,

Quoted message said:

self-defense is using the brakes. If a cyclist needs to
get a driver's attention in a hurry, slapping a fender
with an open hand does the trick. I don't know what this
cyclist might be guilty of under the law -- perhaps
vandalism, if the car was actually damaged.

Matt O.

Quoted message said:

if I see you on the road I'll tip you, TOOL.

Exactly the sort of behaviour that gets you on the [censored] list
of motorists generally, and your local constabulary.

I have slapped and knocked before, as warnings, in slow-
moving situations (lumbering SUVs wandering, and the like).
At the speeds cited in the original post, I would either be
fleeing or roadkill.

-Luigi

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Fritz M)

wrote a very long post and then asked:

Quoted message said:

Was the MTBer in our story merely acting, hypothetically,
in self-defense? Or is he guilty of assault?

Under Illinois law he's guilty of leaving the scene of a
motor vehicle property damage crash. (Vehicle + vehicle +
contact + damage = crash) He's also not very bright if he
makes a habit of kicking car doors hard enough to damage
them while he's riding at 20 mph and the cars are passing
him at a somewhat greater speed. There's nothing
hypothetical about hitting the pavement at 20 mph.

BTW, I wouldn't worry too much about your duty to report
the incident to the police since you likely misread the
plate unless of course the owner recently traded in her
black '97 VW for a late model blue Sebring and just hasn't
transferred the plates yet. If I have time tomorrow I'll
call Kerrie and ask her.

Regards, Bob Hunt

(Hunrobe) said:

BTW, I wouldn't worry too much about your duty to report
the incident to the police

Always remember the old adage: "I read it on Usenet, so it
must be true." Then Google for "Fishman" and "Spike Bike."

RFM

(Fritz M) said:

Then Google for "Fishman" and "Spike Bike.

Yeah, thanks a lot. I really planned to spend my
evening reading violent stories, when I've got a mile-
long "to do" list.
--
Rick Onanian