# Court rules that even on a bicycle, it's reckless driving. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2014, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724 "2014-07-22T07:54:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/81 "2014-07-25T10:26:44Z")
Patience, 6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast. Good things come to those who wait. Read an earlier post in this thread (or the OP) my good man. Not everyone walks while dragging their knuckles upon the ground. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/82 "2014-07-25T10:36:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Jorge Velasquez Jr., who drank considerably while watching a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in April 2013 and then took to the road on a bicycle that had been modified to remove its brakes. Why would someone want to remove the brakes on his bike??? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/83 "2014-07-25T10:47:21Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Why would someone want to remove the brakes on his bike??? “who drank considerably while watching a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in April 2013”, may have had something to do with it. Just supposing… I must confess that I never had that urge to do that to my automobile, regardless of the outcome of a Liverpool match. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/84 "2014-07-25T10:55:51Z")
…'cause his balls do a better job? Thanks, **Little\_Pig**. He’ll be easy to identify in there, by you know, having had to register and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/85 "2014-07-25T10:57:02Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/86 "2014-07-25T11:01:29Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > …'cause his balls do a better job? > > Thanks, **Little\_Pig**. He’ll be easy to identify in there, by you know, having had to register and stuff. By all means, 6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast, but do not take his rantings personal. I have yet to warm the coals… Do stick around. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/87 "2014-07-25T11:56:22Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > “…cyclist oppression…”? Who do you think ‘your people’ are? When someone promotes extra and unneeded rules and regulations for bicycles, they invariably have one purpose - to punish and remove cyclists from ‘their’ roads. > [@](#): > > My experiences are not data, they’re real life. Your ‘experiences’ have been shown to be a myth. > [@](#): > > And I guess your ever-nebulous “better regulation” doesn’t “add a layer to the bureaucracy of the DMV.” Or involve cyclists. Just everything _around_ them. That sentence does not parse. > [@](#): > > More specifics on the “prejudices and bigotry” appreciated - though I know you hate not being able to just make up your own rules about what constitutes civilised discourse. > I’m willing to share this road of communication we’ve embarked upon in a much less aggressive way than you do, but hey, it’s a public thoroughfare here. I’m prepared to consider it cyclist’s adrenalin. Or that someone threw a beer can at you. Stop playing the wounded fawn. 99% of your “discourse” has been complaining about me and the rest is just stating unsupported bike-bigot myths. Bring some facts to the table for once. > [@](#): > > Oh, not plates for identification. A fitted, glow-in-the-dark jersey with your personal registered, road-using cyclist number on it. I don’t give a fuck whose bike your riding - I want to be able identify you, the arsehole idiot. Why does this help anything? And by your rules am I now not allowed to wear a backpack? > [@](#): > > Of what bullshit “method to suppress” do you speak? Dude, I made a fucking list of the issues with a registration system. > [@](#): > > I’m suppressed by things other than my car rego. No, really you aren’t. > [@](#): > > And you’re missing the point that most bureaucracy _is_ needless. Why so precious? Actually a certain level of bureaucracy is needed because drivers have already demonstrated that with the licensing system in place, tens of thousands of people are killed by them each year. Take the limited system away and it doubtless gets worse. By comparison (and something I have pointed out several times but you evaded) cyclists have a much, much lower body count. Making a registration system not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/88 "2014-07-25T11:57:28Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Hey Mr. Miskatonic. I’m warming up in the bullpen. Ya ready? What, you got more fantasies about killing legally riding cyclists to tell us about? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/89 "2014-07-25T12:09:07Z")
Mr. Miskatonic. You may need to back off on this issue and maybe, just maybe, stand down. Take a break, man. You’re embarrassing yourself. You Okay? ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/90 "2014-07-25T12:13:43Z")
I got to “_Your ‘experiences’ have been shown to be a myth_” and could honestly read no further. You’ll be glad to know **Mr. Miskatonic** , I don’t blame cycling for your necessity to wear headgear. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/91 "2014-07-25T12:16:49Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Mr. Miskatonic. You may need to back off on this issue and maybe, just maybe, stand down. Take a break, man. You’re embarrassing yourself. You Okay? What’s wrong? You bike-haters not used to someone calling you on your bullshit? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/92 "2014-07-25T12:17:58Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > I got to “_Your ‘experiences’ have been shown to be a myth_” and could honestly read no further. So in other words, you have no facts or stats to back you up. You have nothing but your own prejudices. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/93 "2014-07-25T12:19:35Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > What’s wrong? You bike-haters not used to someone calling you on your bullshit? Mr. Miskatonic , AND ALL OTHERS - please stand down. We can take this issue up later. Cool? Pax, man. - Little\_Pig. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/94 "2014-07-25T12:20:57Z")
No, **Mr. Miskatonic** , I’m tired of your boorish, aggressive and insulting behaviour. Even when the signs are there, you just can’t read 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/95 "2014-07-25T12:24:44Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > No, **Mr. Miskatonic** , I’m tired of your boorish, aggressive and insulting behaviour. > > Even when the signs are there, you just can’t read 'em. Can we please ALL STAND DOWN on this for a period of time? Where is the Mod? - Little\_Pig. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/96 "2014-07-25T12:37:21Z")
I am a committed bicycle commuter. I ride in the city in the US with the highest number of fatalities. I have very few problems with drivers. The reason is that I ride with the attitude that I am there to be safe and lawful and respectful to other drivers/cyclists, etc. I have to call absolute bullshit on the claim that cyclists pay nothing for road use. That is total shit. Gasoline taxes are a tiny fraction of the costs of road maintenance. The vast majority of road costs are paid for by individual State and Federal income taxes and taxes for the plates on cars. I pay income taxes and because I have a car, I pay every tax that every other driver does, period. Bullshit flag thrown. Just because you can find a few people who only cycle does not an issue make. As for Critical Mass, as a cyclist, I find them to be thuggish assholes who think they are making a point by behaving like retards. They make me feel ashamed. They make exactly the same point as those who stand outside an abortion clinic screaming ‘baby killers.’ As for fixies, they are in my opinion, stupid. Trendy and the invitation to the bike ‘culture,’ yes. It has been my experience (completely generalizing here) that fixie riders are the exact same ones that blow stop lights, signs and act in general as if they have the right to do anything. At the same time, they aren’t a plague on the earth. This board is about eliminating ignorance, but I am not seeing that here. On the drivers’ side, yes, there are shitty cyclists. On the cyclists’ side, many drivers THINK they know the law, but don’t and because you have never commuted on a bike, you are arguing from a known position of ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/97 "2014-07-25T12:41:23Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I am a committed bicycle commuter. I ride in the city in the US with the highest number of fatalities. I have very few problems with drivers. The reason is that I ride with the attitude that I am there to be safe and lawful and respectful to other drivers/cyclists, etc. > > I have to call absolute bullshit on the claim that cyclists pay nothing for road use. That is total shit. Gasoline taxes are a tiny fraction of the costs of road maintenance. The vast majority of road costs are paid for by individual State and Federal income taxes and taxes for the plates on cars. I pay income taxes and because I have a car, I pay every tax that every other driver does, period. Bullshit flag thrown. Just because you can find a few people who only cycle does not an issue make. > > As for Critical Mass, as a cyclist, I find them to be thuggish assholes who think they are making a point by behaving like retards. They make me feel ashamed. They make exactly the same point as those who stand outside an abortion clinic screaming ‘baby killers.’ > > As for fixies, they are in my opinion, stupid. Trendy and the invitation to the bike ‘culture,’ yes. It has been my experience (completely generalizing here) that fixie riders are the exact same ones that blow stop lights, signs and act in general as if they have the right to do anything. At the same time, they aren’t a plague on the earth. > > This board is about eliminating ignorance, but I am not seeing that here. On the drivers’ side, yes, there are shitty cyclists. On the cyclists’ side, many drivers THINK they know the law, but don’t and because you have never commuted on a bike, you are arguing from a known position of ignorance. I’m sorry, but this has to stop. I have no ill will toward anyone and I feel ill for having started this thread. I am reporting this thread. If you feel compelled to post, do it in “The Pit”. Again, I’m Really Sorry. - Little\_Pig. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/98 "2014-07-25T12:51:00Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Can we please ALL STAND DOWN on this for a period of time? > > Where is the Mod? - Little\_Pig. “Hey Mr. Miskatonic. I’m warming up in the bullpen. Ya ready?” “I have yet to warm the coals… Do stick around.” “Not everyone walks while dragging their knuckles upon the ground.” Sure. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/99 "2014-07-25T12:52:16Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > No, **Mr. Miskatonic** , I’m tired of your boorish, aggressive and insulting behaviour. And I am tired of you posting bike-hater myths as facts. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-rules-that-even-on-a-bicycle-its-reckless-driving/693724/100 "2014-07-25T12:53:42Z")
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