A doctor convicted of assaulting two bicyclists by slamming on his car brakes after a confrontation on a narrow Brentwood road was sentenced today to five years in prison. Christopher Thompson, wearing dark blue jail scrubs, wept as he apologized to the injured cyclists shortly before he was sentenced. "I would like to apologize deeply, profoundly from the bottom of my heart," he told them, his right hand cuffed to a court chair.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Scott T. Millington called the case a "wake-up call" to motorists and cyclists and urged local government to provide riders with more bike lanes. He said he believed that Thompson had shown a lack of remorse during the case and that the victims were particularly vulnerable while riding their bicycles. The case against Thompson, 60, has drawn close scrutiny from bicycle riders around the country, many of whom viewed the outcome as a test of the justice system's commitment to protecting cyclists.
Dont agree with the judges call for more bike lanes but at least these guys got their day in court. Tip of the hast to hugs for the heads up...
Full story here
7 comments:
I'm not opposed to bike lanes, as I think they help make motorists more aware that cyclists are on the road, too. (And look at the brouhaha raised when lanes were erased recently in Brooklyn.)
On the other hand, bikes lanes shouldn't be a necessary component to sharing the road with motorized vehicles - where cars go, so can I on my bike.
Bike lanes are just another way for motorist to move around speed bumps! :)
We do need more (and bigger ones without gutters and glass) esp here in Orlando but in group rides it's really not possible to stay in a bike lane.
I've been following this story since it happened and I'm glad to see some resolve. As an everyday rider we should really push of more awareness... bike lanes or not its still way dangerous on the streets. I often feel like when I'm riding I'm 100 times more aware of everything because I (we) have to be. I just pray for a day when we can all love each other and give hugs cause I'm so fucking tired of being honked at, yelled at, having shit thrown at me, getting cut off, car doors.
I wish motorist would take their heads out of their asses and just stop and look. Not a day goes by that I don't almost kiss death. But as cyclists we need to bring education to them (motorists) because we risk our live every day we ride.
Regardless of what our city does or doesn't do we have to remain united in our stand for our rights. Our cycling community here needs plenty of water and sunshine so that we may grown larger and larger. Together we can do amazing things.
RIDE HARD AND RIDE SAFE!
That is absolutely crazy! I ride a bike here in the UK, we are also slow on the uptake when it comes to cyclist rights. Why tear up more of the environment just because everyone is a lardy lol.
the overwhelming majority of motorists i encounter are courteous and respectful of my right to operate a pedal cycle on public roads, but it only takes one person trying to "teach me a lesson" for me to have a very bad day. luckily i've escaped without injury each time. i try to let it go and educate motorists when i get the chance, but it's hard to remain calm and rational when people display such disregard for my safety. eventually the cops will start to enforce the laws, and people like that will have to pay for their actions. until then, all i can do is recite applicable law and hope they listen on at least some level. back on topic, this judgement and sentence should teach this guy and other motorists a lesson.
jeez write a book already people. these things happen as frequently as car wrecks. At least the guy got caught.
Just for the record, my beef with bike lanes is that they are not safe at all. There are numerous incidents in where a cyclist has either been door jammed by a parked car or was hit by traffic trying to avoid getting door jammed. As I've said numerous times all ready, there are plenty of bike lanes out there and they are called roads... :)
ez!
SERIOUSLY, never put your guard down in a bike lane
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