Don't use your bike as a weapon!
I was quite disappointed by the behaviour of a fellow cyclist in Norwood today and feel the need to comment on it.
While waiting at the pedestrian crossing on The Parade I saw this cyclist get in to a brief argument with a man also waiting at the crossing, before essentially barging through the man, pushing him on to the road with his bike in the process.
I didn't know either of the men and am not totally sure what precipitated the incident, but the cyclist's actions did not appear justified to me.
It was a reminder for me that bicycles are vehicles, and cyclists should not abuse them against less vulnerable road users - just as I'm sure we all hope drivers will not abuse their vehicles against us.
While waiting at the pedestrian crossing on The Parade I saw this cyclist get in to a brief argument with a man also waiting at the crossing, before essentially barging through the man, pushing him on to the road with his bike in the process.
I didn't know either of the men and am not totally sure what precipitated the incident, but the cyclist's actions did not appear justified to me.
It was a reminder for me that bicycles are vehicles, and cyclists should not abuse them against less vulnerable road users - just as I'm sure we all hope drivers will not abuse their vehicles against us.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bicycle Fish on -
sounds like an assault to me. It also demonstrates the point that just because you "...do it with a bike..", doesn't make it as "A-OK" as the self-righteous majority here at AC so often trumpet. I wasn't there, but if I was I'd have offerred to be a witness.
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Permalink Reply by Sophia MacRae on -
Thanks for posting this Torbjorn.
As cyclists, we focus on our rights, but we must never forget our own responsibilities.
Like motorists, most of us do the right thing. The few who do not, at best, create a bad feeling for everyone else, and at worst, are dangerous or deadly.
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Permalink Reply by durian rider on -
*There is often more to the story than we see. Did these 2 men know each other? Was there a prior incident?
*I remember working as a bike courier for many years in Adelaide and one time a fellow courier put his D lock thru the windscreen of a car driver that cut him off on purpose. He did that on the corner of Grenfell & Gawler place at lunch time on a weekday. There would have been at least a 100 people there. Its funny how hells angels never get any road rage but cyclists do and we are not allowed to vent any anger but if your a biker and you dont get angry, your a pussy.
*I remember when a certain commonwealth road race gold medalist caught up to a driver and punched him in the face thru the window on prospect road.
Im not saying that violence is the best option but its totally understandable when some people feel the need to resort to it.
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Permalink Reply by rustychisel on -
The old chestnut is... are you commenting upon a cyclist, or upon a moron pushing a bicycle?
The one - only time I threatened to use my bike as a weapon was when I was offended against, and assaulted by a driver who jumped out of his vehicle and wanted to fight me. I lifted by bike up to head level, holding it between us, and made sure he understood he'd be eating it, piece by piece if necessary.
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
