| Re: Ride with music or not?
On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400, "David L. Johnson"
<david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote:
>On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 16:43:14 +0000, uza wrote:
>
>> However, on very slow, long (and dreary) solo rides on the bike path, or
>> a stationary, I may ride with my iPod. Without the concern for cars,
>> I think this is okay.
>
>I will not worry about what is safe on a stationary bike, but on a bike
>path this is a very, very bad idea. Imagine that there may be a cyclist
>who is faster than you. He comes along behind you, and calls out the
>standard (though a bit ambiguous) "On your left". Since you are listening
>to Alice In Chains, you don't hear anything, but you decide at that moment
>to pull over, and for some reason you pull to the left side (maybe there
>is a bench there). Anyway, splat.
>
>This has happened to me, with me playing the role of the passing rider.
>Girl I hit was genuinely pissed off that I*had "hit her", regardless of
>the fact that she was not paying attention -- since Alice or whoever had
>her full attention through the headset -- and suddenly veered to the left
>without looking.
Just be aware, and I say this with all sympathy towards you and prejudice
towards the person who merged into you - had it come to adjudication, you
would be the one most likely found at fault, b/c you were allegedly the
faster and overtaking vehicle. (I presume she was riding also?). If the
person was on skates or jogging or walking, then it would also be judged
your fault, as the 'faster vehicle'.
No actual legal cites, just going by somewhat common sense and what happens
on the road.
Usually, I 'spose, fellow riders and athletes are not very litigious and
are like to pass it off with just some grousing, but you can't be too
careful. Myself, I probably would have committed a similar error, but I'm
trying to wise up. Typically, now, I pass at extremely low speeds for ped
and stuff. Guess I've become paranoid about such things.
<rant>
Last week, some woman's dogs came after me and she says 'they think you're
going too fast and don't like it'. What? Huh? I was going like 4 mph and
actually stopped as her dog rushed in front of my bike and turned
broadside. SHe then orders me off the trail and says if I sprayed her
menacing dogs she'd call the dog catcher on me? Again, Huh? What? She was
the scofflaw with pets off leash on leash day, and with menacing growling
dogs. I hardly think animal control would fault -me-, but I wouldn't put it
past the biatch to lie somehow and of course she'd put the leash she was
carrying on the dog while awaiting the AC officer, dammit.
<\rant>
Currently I have an email into the chief asking him about the liability and
backing of the responding officer if I had to use the 'Halt'. But more than
ever, I'm trying avoid these hassles. Just want to keep out of trouble with
these maniacs. ;-)
-B
(Jeeze, I guess I need a dashboard camera to record everything to back up
my innocence.)
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