Comments on: A San Francisco Bicyclist’s Terrifying Commute Home

By: KenO

KenO — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:14:05 +0000

Agree with jaded. As a driver and cyclist I see lots of red light running. Every time a cyclist who thinks he’s cool blasts by me in Oakland thru a red when there are plenty of cars watching, that is breaking the law.

Cars and bikes. Same roads, SAME RULES.

And yes agree that CA DMV drivers test should include more BIKE questions. I believe there are currently none. I heard that Oregon DMV has some bike questions on their drivers license test but have not verified that.

Sorry this shit happened to you, and that it happens to anyone at all.

People are inherently violent animals at times. This will NOT improve until more of us are biking. But I think the US will become a bit more violent as our large institutions continue to fail, zombie-like, and “things fall apart.”

Good luck.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:48:59 +0000

Can anybody identify the owner of the BMW? Perhaps post his name, address, phone number, e-mail, and any other identifier?

By: jaded

jaded — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:07:19 +0000

As a sometimes driver, sometimes public transit rider, one of my pet peeves is bicyclists breaking traffic laws and not sharing the road. Does this excuse the motorists behavior, no. But you can’t have it both ways. You can’t use the entire lane, until the light is red, and then run the light. If bicycles are vehicles, then you have to follow the same traffic laws as the other vehicles. It is only fair. And car drivers should treat bikes as other vehicles.

By: Pj

Pj — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:45:48 +0000

I’ve read a lot of good remarks and a lot of sad ones from the commentators out there. I think I may be the only former Bike Messenger on here (Aero and Battery Point) and I must confess, I have too had my run-ins with verbal and physical abuse from “many” motorists, and also pedestrians. Cussing at a cyclist/motorist/pedestrian, well… shit happens (who can honestly say they haven’t). But once racial, sexual-oriented slurs come out… that’s a different story. What people shouldn’t lose site of is the fact that there was original blame, but it shouldn’t have been taken that far as to put someone’s life in danger… the driver, then becomes the blamed. But once you bloggers (those out for revenge) actually do physical harm to the BMW, I will happily be eating popcorn at your sentencing. Let the police or non-profit civil liberties organizations do their thing… if something comes of it and I hope something does, then consider it a victory.

I’m all for sharing the road, I just know the realities of living as the minority for the past 15 years. Things will get better… shit, they already have… the fact that there are huge mass rides and street closure events says that we are making progress. But, please don’t lose sight of the fact that 9.99 out of every 10 drivers on our streets don’t know that we are equals… so we must obey and continue to practice safe riding. Who gives a shit if you get there faster, or the young hipsters darting in front of cars are trying to set the culture… be safe. And try to love one another.

My condolences go out to the female rider. I hope this event does not detour you from riding anymore. Stay up.

By: Tomtakt

Tomtakt — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:34:52 +0000

How about we include bicycling education as a requirement for a driver’s license? Cyclists and drivers would simultaneously better understand the laws that affect them both. This is how it works in many European countries, from what I understand.

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:51:38 +0000

I am appalled that there are people here who blame the victim. I wonder how many of you realize that that is how things like lynchings are justified (he knows better than to look at a white woman). This driver’s day was not in one iota affected by this rider and her jumping a light was just an excuse for he and his friend to unleash hatred and anger that they were looking to point at someone. Screaming abuse, deliberately running someone off the road, threatening harm…. these are unreasonable reactions coming from people with unreasonable and dangerous minds that have run amok and are looking to hurt someone.

As to the SFPD- I was involved in a group ride, recently. A driver pushed her car into the middle of the ride (maybe 100 people) and started to yell at the riders. She then tried to force her way through the ride with her car. This happened in front of an SFPD officer on Valencia Street. He just watched. When I went to him and pointed out the situation he was standing in front of he refused to do anything and told me I had to “file a report inside at the window”. Even though this was happening in front of him, he was only amused at the situation and did nothing to change it.

I hope this rider gets more from the SFPD but I do not hold out hope. I have not found them to be terribly interested in bicycle issues (the heads of the dep’t might talk a good game but the cops on the street, for the most part, do not want to be bothered).

By: g

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:01:56 +0000

i don’t think its ever a good idea to interact with people harassing a cyclist. the bike is far more manueverable and nimble in the city. you can dissapear before anyone in a car could ever catch you. this is coming from someone who has had his back wheel smashed from stopping dead in front of a honking car, was rammed by a police motorcylist, etc. it’s not worth it. use the power of the bike and evaporate.

By: Meister

Meister — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:26:36 +0000

It seems that a lack on info about:

1. Right of way,
2. Traffic rules, and obeying them(cars, bicycles, pedestrians)
3. Many just aren’t smart enough to be courteous, to aid traffic flow(cars, bicycles, pedestrians) I see many aggressive yet slow drivers, cyclist…

Those are causing tension between cyclist, motorist, and pedestrians.

1. Right of way: however has a green/yellow light has priority, so getting out of their way is smart, otherwise usually illegal.

2. Double parking, Muni taking up 2 lanes, pedestrians crossing outside of cross walks, crossing against red light and traffic flow, pedestrians standing in middle of the road when it’s not their turn to cross, same goes for bicyclist (why do they have to be 4 foot into the traffic?)

3. Without breaking any of the rules above, you can still travel fast, and smoothly, if you learn to shift your gears, time the lights, analyze the traffic flow ahead and getting into the appropriate lane(the far right lane isn’t always the best, sometime the middle lane is what you need, or the far left) And lastly by NOT getting in anyone’s way unless it’s you turn to go everybody can travel smoothly.

With all due respect…. I bicycle almost everyday, and I drive a large truck, so I’ve witnessed the tension from both sides.

I don’t know if vandalizing that silver BMW will teach them anything… It may make them angry, maybe fearful. Unless they somehow learn by riding bicycle themselves through the city they may reside in their ignorance.

By: Sung H. Kim

Sung H. Kim — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:51:36 +0000

Even if the cyclist was as reckless and stupid as some claim, that doesn’t make it okay to use racial slurs, does it? Those jerks being racist, I understand, but the “regular people” in this and other forums condoning it is more troubling. Well, that’s the society we live in, so we’ll deal with it.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:44:02 +0000

Dear All:
My experience in reporting petty crimes to the SFPD is similar to others in this blog. Once I found a purse with a wallet, money, and jewelry lying on the sidewalk on Hayes street near my apartment building one late evening. A police officer was eating at a coffee shop about ten steps from the location so i took it to him. He looked at me like I was a crazy person! He said nothing to me as he took it. I figured he could care less.
My license plate was stolen and I filled out a police report just to get it on record. The officer at the station where I filled out the report told me that it would never be investigated and I shouldn’t expect anything to come out of the complaint. You would think that when a license plate is stolen there is some reason for it, such as using it on a car to commit a crime.
My car was vandalized repeatedly in Hayes Valley where I lived; after the first report, I just stopped reporting it. It simply wasn’t worth it.

By: Bryan Goebel

Bryan Goebel — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:19:23 +0000

I’ve just updated the story: http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/09/24/men-who-harrased-bicyclist-on-her-commute-home-severely-warned/

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:17:58 +0000

I ride every day too. You can always find jerks like these guys. Thanks for the license#. I’ll watch out for it.

Seriously, as someone who is riding those streets every too, please don’t run reds. That’s your best way of getting killed and pissing off drivers who will take it out on the rest of us. Please, just don’t.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:07:10 +0000

Any update on this story?

By: sifupeter

sifupeter — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:19:56 +0000

Has anybody heard of self defense training specifically for cyclists? I teach Krav Maga self defense and while it is a very comprehensive system, I haven’t seen or heard of any modifications or enhancements for self defense on a bike. Being on a bike can present some tactical difficulties for self defense, but there are some advantages too. It’s a little like being stuck in a car during a car jacking attempt, dealing with the constraints of the vehicle can be a real problem. Anybody interested in a discussion about this? I’m going to see if SFBC or other sources might have info on this. Peace!

By: murphstahoe

murphstahoe — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:19:10 +0000

Simple. Attach a pole to the left side of your bicycle. Attach to said pole a bucket of paint…

By: Princeton Biker

Princeton Biker — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:38:52 +0000

I live in a college town, and have almost been
run over riding my bike several times, and have lost count of the times I’ve almost been struck as a pedestrian legally crossing the street. I haven’t been followed or been told racial slurs, but I have been called a bitch and have almost been hit many times (and was struck riding my bike in another city). It’s sad and scary, but after reading the state laws, I feel much more confident because I know what rights I have. I do talk back–especially when I know that legally, I know they are breaking the law!

By: NoeValleyJim

NoeValleyJim — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:05:20 +0000

Oh, if the police at the desk won’t take your sworn complaint, ask to speak to the duty officer in charge. It is probably worth while to go to a few SFPD community meetings and get to know your precinct captain as well.

By: NoeValleyJim

NoeValleyJim — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:03:14 +0000

I would probably carry heat, but it weighs too much. Would it be considered self defense if you shot someone who was trying to run you off the road?

By: reasonable

reasonable — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:25:38 +0000

Two different issues:

1. Bicyclists should not be threatened or harassed by motorists.

2. Bicyclists should stop at red lights and follow traffic rules, as they are considered vehicles too.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:57:14 +0000

ahem.

people need to grow up and behave properly. Harassing people, be they on a bike or walking down the street, is inherently fucked up. I’m not a fan of people running stop signs or riding on sidewalks because that’s rude and bullshit too, but if you have to get away form someone fast, well…shit.

the problem is that people know they can get away with stuff like this because no one in authority cares anymore. Just look at how many lowlifes get plea deals with our lovely DA so she can claim she’s doing a great job, when in fact, by not punishing people for these “smaller” crimes, they begin to increase, then graduate to worse ones.

We just had another incident of a kid being beaten and robbed in broad daylight on the N line. The robber was arrested, but who wants to bet he gets a hand slap?