Re: House arrest after killing cyclist in hit and run.

On Sat, 01 Mar 2025 18:24:19 +0700, John B. <slocombjb@gmail.com>
wrote:

On Sat, 01 Mar 2025 04:57:13 -0500, Catrike Ryder
<Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
>

On Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:39:27 +0700, John B. <slocombjb@gmail.com>
wrote:
>

On Sat, 01 Mar 2025 04:01:58 -0500, Catrike Ryder
<Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
>

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:05:55 -0500, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>

On 2/28/2025 8:09 PM, AMuzi wrote:

On 2/28/2025 5:40 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

On 2/28/2025 3:18 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

>
In my view, a person who kills someone with their car should never,
ever be allowed to drive again.
>

First, let's acknowledge that rule will never be implemented in the
U.S. But if it were, driver caution would increase many times over.
>
After the first few "dumbshit walks in front of car" episodes actually
resulted in "no more driving" and were publicized, motorists might
begin slowing to non-fatal speeds when pedestrians (or bicyclists) are
within walk-in- front range.
>
As I've said here before, if an overhead crane operator killed someone
in a factory, I think they'd never be allowed to operate the crane
again, no matter what their excuse.
>
Humans have given up far more than we should have to motordom. Streets
and roads were once the domain of pedestrians, of kids playing, of
people interacting. Turning them entirely over to motorists was a
deliberate campaign goal of the car manufacturers.
>
https://marker.medium.com/the-invention-of-jaywalking- afd48f994c05
>
>

 
I (naively?) assumed you meant 'by negligence or malice' and I was happy
to agree with that.
 
But I can't agree with you here.  Extend that argument and we'll charge
train operators with murder when jerkoffs drive around the gate.  Or
auto drivers who hit red light running cyclists for that matter.

>
Given the legal system of the United States, I'd assume that if such a
law were implemented, there would be gaggles of lawyers rushing to any
accused motorist to defend his right to run down anyone who impeded his
speed.
>
So think of my position as an initial step in negotiations. Let it apply
in, say, residential areas, where kids should be able to play in
streets. Or in pedestrian heavy business districts.
>
But as we all know, the present situation is closest to "I didn't see
him!" or "He came out of nowhere!" followed by at most a slap on the
wrist. And any imperfection in the pedestrian's behavior is a coupon for
no motorist penalty at all.
>
Locally, about six months ago we had a young, well loved, well respected
music teacher, church organist killed by a car when walking across a
street. About a week ago, another young man was killed crossing the
plaza-infested five lane at 6 AM. Details on the first are sketchy to me
- it sounds like he was in a legal crosswalk - but cops said the latter
was "not crossing in a designated crosswalk" so the motorist is off
completely free. And in a different city, a young woman I know well was
knocked to the ground and injured while crossing in a crosswalk with a
green "walk" signal.
>
(BTW, Ohio law has a virtual crosswalk at any intersection, whether it's
marked or not. Still, expecting pedestrians to walk an extra half mile
to avoid being called a "jaywalker" seems unfair to me.)
>
I'd like a law that makes motorists think "Holy shit, there's a
pedestrian. I'd better be _really_ careful."

>
What a shame that you've come to hate cars and drivers so much. For
many, myself, for example, driving can be fun. Here's the little
former race car that I sometimes commuted to work in. Mostly rural
with little traffic but lots of twists and curves.  I made my first
trip to Florida in it.
>
https://www.flickr.com/photos/j_soloman/54333895269/

>
Why Isn't there a law that makes bicycle riders think,  "Holy shit,
there's a motor vehicle, I'd better be really careful."

>
There is. We call it common sense.

>
Well, that's what I'd say and I also apply it to doing a lot of
everyday things. When my wife would say "Do you think this dress is
pretty" , I'd assure her that I thought it must be the pettiest dress
in the county... even riding a bicycle or (I know it's hard to
believe) to driving an auto.

I don't think much of the philosophy that you're a victim unless other
people are looking out for you. If some moron steps out into traffic
and get's mowed down, he's got no one to blame but himself.

I look out for myself. I don't trust that a driver will think, "Hey,
there's an old man on a tricycle, we better watch out for him."

I hate it when I'm riding and come to a road crossing and a driver
stops and waves me across. I know they're just being nice, but there
are other cars coming up behind them that don't expect to have car
stopped on a 55 mph road in front of them. It's dangerous for them,
for me, and the cars behind them.


--
C'est bon
Soloman