Road Rage against cyclist in Brentwood

[JMunaretto]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 3414.story

Two experienced riders are hurt on Mandeville Canyon Road in what police describe as a 'road-rage incident.' L.A. councilman calls for a meeting on the issue.
By Martha Groves and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
July 9, 2008
Bicyclists who crave a steady uphill climb flock to Mandeville Canyon Road and its 5-mile, straight-shot ascent with no traffic lights.

But the route's rising popularity has turned the narrow road into a zone of conflict for Brentwood residents and the hundreds of cyclists who, every weekend, brave its twists, turns and tree-root bumps.

The frustration boiled over on the Fourth of July. In what police describe as a "road-rage incident," two experienced racers on a holiday outing that attracted about 300 cyclists were riding down Mandeville Canyon when a motorist in an Infiniti sedan slammed on his brakes in front of them. Police said the resulting impact propelled one rider through the car's rear window and sent the other to the pavement.

Police arrested the driver, Christopher T. Thompson, 58, on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon -- his automobile. Thompson, who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an owner of a medical documentation company in Woodland Hills, was released on $30,000 bail.

Capt. Bill Eaton of the Los Angeles Police Department said the case could go to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office as early as today.

Peter Swarth, Thompson's attorney, denied that his client had done anything wrong and said the cyclists' account was inaccurate. "This isn't an incident of road rage," Swarth said. "It is a very unfortunate accident. Dr. Thompson hopes for the injured cyclists' recovery."

Cyclist Ron Peterson, 40, whose head crashed through the car window, suffered broken teeth and serious cuts on his face, including one that left his broken nose dangling.

The other cyclist, Christian Stoehr, 29, said he suffered a shoulder separation that would require surgery.

Photos showing a car's shattered window and what appears to be a blood-covered trunk and a cut-up Peterson on a gurney and in a UCLA Medical Center bed were quickly posted on Internet blogs, prompting outraged e-mails among members of Westside riding clubs.

Peterson and Stoehr said they were starting their descent toward Sunset Boulevard when a fellow cyclist crashed into another rider's bike and was injured. The two remained behind to help.

After paramedics arrived and loaded the cyclist into an ambulance, Peterson and Stoehr said they continued to descend, riding side by side at about 30 mph.

Peterson said he pulled in front of Stoehr after a driver behind them honked. The car passed them, missing their handlebars by less than a foot, Peterson said.

The driver "yelled out some profanity and 'Ride single file,' " said Peterson, who works as a cycling coach. Peterson, riding a $5,500 Specialized racing bike, screamed an expletive at the driver. At that point, the driver veered directly in front of the riders and "slammed on his brakes as hard as he could," Peterson said.

Peterson's head slammed through the window. Stoehr, meanwhile, said he tried to steer around the car but clipped it with his bag or a foot. "I ended up being catapulted over my own bike and landed in front of the car," he said.

According to Peterson, the driver emerged from the car and said he was a doctor. But "from that point on, he never offered any help," Peterson said.

Thompson's biography on the website of his company, Touch Medix, says he spent 29 years as an emergency department doctor. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma and has for years consulted on issues relating to medical documentation.

Wendy-Sue Rosen, president of the Upper Mandeville Canyon Assn., described Thompson as "a great guy who has been active in the community." His wife, Lynne, is on the association's board.

"People here are very, very angry at bicyclists and their disregard for the laws of the road," Rosen said, adding that residents had reported being spat upon by cyclists.

Charles Mostov, a lawyer who lives on Mandeville Canyon Road and is an avid cyclist, said the incident had prompted some much-needed conversation.

Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the area, said he had called for a meeting within the next two weeks of residents, cyclists, traffic engineers and police to discuss the issues and to reinforce the fact that "cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear."

Cyclists urged members of their community not to use the incident as an excuse to act aggressively toward motorists.

"As more people take to the road because of gas prices and the economy," Mostov said, "maybe this is an opportunity for some outreach and for dialogue so that we can get along."

[JMunaretto]

I drive and cycle (nothing serious like these guys), so I'm always moderate between these extremes. Motorists think they own the roads (which they don't), and have complete disregard for cyclists and their safety. At the same time, a lot of cyclists have defiant nature in taking up more space when they can certainly be more considerate and stay to the side, or let fast cars go by.

That being said, I totally consider this attempted homicide. Cyclists may be annoying, but it needs to be simply realized that if you try to make a cyclist crash, you may seriously injure them. This is not like taking out road rage on another car.

I have been taken out (in Brazil) by a car while cycling, though it wasn't intentional. Fractured my wrist and my zygomatic (lateral eye socket) bone. Now I have 2 titanium plates there. If someone did that to me intentionally, I would consider that a threat to take my life. Maybe cyclists need to carry fire arms for self-defense

[simonov]

[FIGHT ON]

When I ride a bike I always yield to any car. I don't care if I am in the right. Using a helmet as a bumper isn't what it was designed for. For sure I don't ride side by side. When I see these guys going slower than the speed limit and in the way I just let them make their statement and go around. It takes two to tango. These guys on the bikes were asking for it if you ask me. The guy that slammed on his breaks should be put in jail. If you ride your bike with the video attitude simonov posted, eventually an idiot driving a car will do the same thing. Making statements while you are on a bike is just plan stupid.

[simonov]

These guys on the bikes were asking for it if you ask me.

Sounds like they weren't riding single file, as we were all trained to do in primary school when we were little kids (at least here in California). We were also trained to stay off the sidewalks and ride in the same direction as traffic.

I don't understand what it is about being a grown-up bicyclist that makes it so you no longer have to follow the rules you learned when you were a little kid.

[FIGHT ON]

I am not sure you HAVE to stay on the side of the road when you ride as long as you are able to go with the flow of traffic. I think you have the same rights as an auto. But only a fool would insist on those rights in my book. You might be right but you might be dead right too.

[Hikin_Jim]

The law says you have to stay to the right.

[Tim]

It is legal for a cyclist to "take a lane" within the State of California, and in the case of narrow-width lanes it is advisable to do so.

Operation on Roadway

21202. A. Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
4. When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

B. Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable. Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.

I looked up that road on Google Maps and checked out the street view. It's a narrow, two lane road with a double yellow. The speed limit is 30 mph. They were doing 30 so the "slow bicyclist stay to the right rule" didn't even apply. Even if they were going slow, they have a legal right to take the lane because it's so narrow. Most motorist don't know that. It's safer to take the lane and prevent a motorist from passing unsafely who could sideswipe you or an oncoming car. Personally, I wouldn't want to ride that kind of narrow road, though.

If I were them, I wouldn't have yelled a profanity back at that douche bag. Road rage can escalate wildly. Just let it go, don't look at them and don't say anything.

BTW, I also ride a bike, but I'm not a serious cyclist. My goal is to get some exercise and come home alive.

[JMunaretto]

Man that was funny, and of course true in parts.

I was up in San Francisco and people were riding on the sidewalks all over the place. Ridiculously dangerous. And going through stop signs. Pisses me off.

The whole 'stay to the right' thing makes sense in theory, but as you can see in the second video, a narrow street doesn't give much space for the cyclist and car. And frankly, a lot of people suck enough at driving that they can possibly clip you. If there's not oncoming traffic, not a big deal, but when there is, you take the whole lane, especially if you are already going the speed limit. Common sense dictates this when on a bike.

[simonov]

Man that was funny, and of course true in parts.

I was up in San Francisco and people were riding on the sidewalks all over the place. Ridiculously dangerous. And going through stop signs. Pisses me off.

Yeah.

I'm normally all in favor of cycling, and we have a surprisingly large number of them here in Orange County, especially here in the barrio and near the beach. I have acquired the European habit, while driving, of always looking around and being aware of cyclists around me.

But it was while living in San Francisco that I developed an attitude. I was a pedestrian most of the time when I was there, and the damned cyclists were all over the place, streets, sidewalks, they didn't care, moving at high speeds and with absolute disregard for traffic signs or signals. It almost seemed like part of the sport, for them, was willfully ignoring the road rules. They routinely treated pedestrians they way they are always whining that motorists treat them.

I only saw that video for the first time a few days ago, but it captured Homo bicycilis sanfranciscalis perfectly.

[EManBevHills]

Well, I am a cyclist. Not a major deal, but I ride a bit. And I've ridden on Mandeville Canyon several times. It's a good training route -- and understandably popular with serious cyclists.

I've observed recently that cycling on the streets of LA has become synonymous with " I'm Going to Play In Traffic", aka roulette.

With real estate values down sharply, the stock market crashing, businesses failing, home equity loans being cancelled, etc., etc., people are increasingly testy. And feeling entitled.

On top of that, most drivers aren't paying attention because the're yaking on their cell phones.

Then too, the roads are all f-ed up. You can't stay on the right if a vertical pothole will grab your tire. Or a drainage grate.

So, I'm not riding to Griffith Park tonight for a spin. I don't feel like taking the risk!

But if we were all less oblivious and a little more considerate, this kind of BS wouldn't happen.

Phew, I feel better now. But watch this. I think you need to slide your mouse to the last video (7 of 7):
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/channel?sec ... id=5914682

[Terry Morse]

I've been a cyclist for over 30 years. I feel that many cyclists give cycling a bad name by trying to act like they're automobiles. I always ride as close to the right side as possible; never ride two abreast, and never, never mouth off to someone in an automobile.
Every year, there is a bicycle race on Angeles Crest Highway in September. Anyone who has driven up from La Canada on Hwy 2 knows how many blind curves exist. When these riders hog the road (2-3 abreast), it is completely unsafe to pass them. You end up going over the line around curves where you can't see if anyone is coming. Recipe for disaster. And most of them don't give a damn. I've complained to the CHP about this, but they are more concerned with the speed crazed motocyclists, than with slow bicyclists.

[HikeUp]

Future road pizzas.

Learn Bicycle Street Skills.

[JMunaretto]

fools

however, it is sad that they are the fastest machines on the highway. maybe they should beep their horns at the cars which are going too slow?

[EManBevHills]

Hot off the presses:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... enced.html

[Ze Hiker]

This is what I said

I hike, bike, run, walk, and drive a car.

You can't attempt to seriously injure someone. It's really that simple.

That said, fellow cyclists, why don't you try to obey some of the laws a little better? You know, like not riding through red lights? Do you think pissing off motorists really helps? Quit thinking about yourself, and think about the cycling community as a whole.

Motorists, you don't rule the road. Don't try to intimidate.

[AlanK]

I hike, bike, run, walk, and drive a car.

That's a damned pentathlon!