So, last weeks incident that transpired in Boca Raton involving a group of road cyclist and some moron in a red convertible Lexus. Is still much the talk of the town. Here is the latest article posted on Sun Sentinel.
I am a regular cyclist on A1A in Boca. I generally cycle alone. Occasionally, I have a dachshund in my bike basket. I also drive a Lexus convertible. So I understand the frustrations on both sides of the recent incident.
Mass cyclists have a tendency to appear arrogant, but their heads are down, they are looking at the road and they go pretty fast. A1A has a rigid speed limit. The driver allegedly attacked did not have to overtake the cyclists. He could have waited until they moved in, or simply driven behind them — he wasn't on his way to perform life-threatening surgery.
I am deeply concerned about the ending to your report on the incident (bearing in mind that the cyclist was arrested). Apparently, the driver told your reporter: "In another minute or so, I was going to take out my gun and take a couple of them out. I don't think the whole road belongs to them."
I am amazed that the Lexus driver wasn't arrested on the spot! Maybe I should get a gun to safely ride by bike and drive my car. If I had taken out every driver who has clipped me or my bike, knocked me off my bike or hooted at me (taking up too much of the bike lane), then I could fairly be compared with some of the world's worst terrorists.
GUNS!! What the hell is that! First off, I am not a fan of guns. But I do realize that we live in one of the scummiest place's in the country and having a gun is not that bad of an idea. So what do we do now? Do they make cycling jerseys with enough room for Clif Quench and a piece?
What are all you thoughts on this? Leave your comments. I am really interested in what other people think about this. Was the cyclist wrong for taking a swing? Was the driver wrong for instigating the roadies?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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6 comments:
Both the driver and the cyclist were in the wrong.
I night ride with a gun ALL THE TIME! and when I know im going through a bad section of town, I always pack. I pack even when I go to play bike polo. As an avid gun carrier, "if you carry you carry all the time." Florida law states (summarized) that if you are in fear of your life you have the right to defend it by any means possible. For me this means if you are in a car, and you try and kill me (READ: TRY TO KILL ME, not just you're acting like an arrogant idiot) by running me off the road, I'll FUCKING SHOOT YOU! not your car, not your windows, not your tires, YOU, and continue till the clip is empty.
Now before you flip out... and think that I am some 'wack job,' let me tell you something. I've been carrying for 5 years now. When I carry you don't even know, because the only reason (and they teach you this in the concealed carry class) to pull out you gun is when you ARE GOING TO KILL SOME ONE. Not, when you plan on killing someone. Not, when you want to scare someone. Not, when you want to make a point. ONLY, ONLY, ONLY when you want to take someone's life.
Now this isn't to say that I haven't let a motorist, (or creepy bum for that matter) aware of the fact that I am not helpless. In fact on many occasion, after being run off the road, or harassed by a motorist, I have ridden up next to them at the next intersection, and made them aware (I usually carry in a specially designed shoulder holster that fits under a full zip jersey) that i was carrying a gun by unzipping my jersey for a brief moment to "cool off" and giving them a stern look. Which, is usually returned by eyes as big as saucers.
And, I can say that in 5 years of carrying I've only had to draw my gun once, and it was an incident that didn't involve being on a bike at all, just a aggressive pan-handler downtown.
I ride my bike in the road as if i was a car. I signal when in traffic, I have lights, I obey the laws (well not always the speed limit.) When I ride in my lane, I ride in the middle of the lane (just like you drive in the middle of the lane.) If there is a pot hole or debris I ride around it (the same way i do in my truck.) I HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO THE ROAD AS EVERY OTHER VEHICLE, and the law supports me. But... the law supports me, it doesn't protect me, and until police start supporting cycyclists, and giving motorists tickets for harassing and driving too close (remember the 3 foot law they recently placed... has anyone seen this enforced) I WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY TO PROTECT MY LIFE.
on a side note: I have a very good defense lawyer specializing in personal protection cases involving defense using a gun. I have spoken with him about this matter of defending myself on the bike. In his words exactly, "if someone just tried to kill you, and you are afraid for your life that they are immediately going to try and do it again, you absolutely have the right to take whatever action you feel necessary to defend yourself, even if that includes defending your life with your gun."
So, my friends. Speak softly, and carry a big stick. or in other words Ride carefully, and carry a gun.
Orange you glad you know now.
RIDEING IN THE MIDDLE IS NOT "SHARING THE ROAD"
STATE LAW SAYS YOU MUST RIDE AS CLOSE TO THE RIGHT LINE AS POSSIBLE UNLESS YOU ARE OVERTAKING A VEHICLE AND NO MORE THEN 2 ABREAST.
F.S. 316.2065 - Bicycle regulations
(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing 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 any condition, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, or substandard-width lane, that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For the purposes of this subsection, a "substandard-width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
With respect to the Lexus Driver: It's not illegal to be an asshole, but it is illegal to do what the bikers did.
Riding with a loaded firearm is an idea that is such a delinquent action and is so reprehensible on so many different levels, that it is something usually done by someone who is insecure about resolving a situation efficiently and rationally and lacks the coping skills of comprehension. For someone to say that they unzip a jersey (probably a highly untrue story, but none-the-less was written as a lie for others to believe) to show some driver the weapon they have on their person with the intention of taking someone's life is beyond what a reasonable and sane person would do.
I find that when a person writes something, it is to express their thoughts and it is their intention to have others read and scrutinize it, for that same person not to re-read what they have written proves a personality that is compulsive and acts without thinking. Combine that personality with a firearm and the result is poisonous.
Firearms are not toys, the situations in which they are used does not become a game. When a firearm is discharged, whether or not the intended target is hit, the projectile is guaranteed to hit something or someone.
I also don’t believe that the right to bear arms is something that should be taken away, but it is a privilege that should involve a bit more scrutiny as to the educational level and mental state of the applicant.
By the way, if you pulled up next to me and flashed your gun like that you would have lead in you before you could pull your piece out of the holdster.
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