Yesterday, along a road I occasionally ride, a cyclist was intentionally hit by an SUV. Thanks to a helmet cam worn by one of the victim's friends, the perpetrator was ID'd and arrested. Thank God, the cyclist is OK and only suffered some cuts and bruises, but obviously it could have been much worse.
Very disturbingly, the perpetrator is (was) Dean of Students at University School of Nashville. It could have been one of his students that he hit!
But, other than the disgust and anger I've felt about the crime itself, I've been equally shocked, disgusted and angered at the hate for cyclists that's been expressed in the comments sections on the Facebook pages of local news media, which reported the story. Many people are blaming the cyclist, saying it's his own fault that he was hit, because they were riding side-by-side. Well, this was on the Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a federal recreational road. While I personally believe that the safest and best policy when riding on a highway is single-file, there are signs along this highway stating that cyclists may use the full lane, and that motorists are allowed to cross the double yellow line and pass cyclists in the oncoming lane, when safe to do so.
Really people? You actually let yourself get angry because you got delayed by maybe 30 seconds at the most until such time as it was safe to pass a cyclist? Astonishing.
Links to news stories:
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/loc...ideo/462473001/
http://wkrn.com/2017/07/08/cyclist-hit-by-car-in-williamson-county/
http://www.wsmv.com/story/35842161/arrest-made-in-bicyclist-hit-and-run-on-natchez-trace-parkway
Be careful out there, riders. And, if you're one of the people who tends to be prone to anger at cyclists, please just stop and think for a second - it's not that critical! Geez, lighten up! You're delayed by maybe half a minute until you can get around. Believe me, I understand. I drive a WRX and ride a Yamaha R1 and I've been held up plenty of times by bicycle races out in the backroads. But you will live. Have some patience. It will BE OK! I promise!
Very disturbingly, the perpetrator is (was) Dean of Students at University School of Nashville. It could have been one of his students that he hit!
But, other than the disgust and anger I've felt about the crime itself, I've been equally shocked, disgusted and angered at the hate for cyclists that's been expressed in the comments sections on the Facebook pages of local news media, which reported the story. Many people are blaming the cyclist, saying it's his own fault that he was hit, because they were riding side-by-side. Well, this was on the Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a federal recreational road. While I personally believe that the safest and best policy when riding on a highway is single-file, there are signs along this highway stating that cyclists may use the full lane, and that motorists are allowed to cross the double yellow line and pass cyclists in the oncoming lane, when safe to do so.
Really people? You actually let yourself get angry because you got delayed by maybe 30 seconds at the most until such time as it was safe to pass a cyclist? Astonishing.
Links to news stories:
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/loc...ideo/462473001/
http://wkrn.com/2017/07/08/cyclist-hit-by-car-in-williamson-county/
http://www.wsmv.com/story/35842161/arrest-made-in-bicyclist-hit-and-run-on-natchez-trace-parkway
Be careful out there, riders. And, if you're one of the people who tends to be prone to anger at cyclists, please just stop and think for a second - it's not that critical! Geez, lighten up! You're delayed by maybe half a minute until you can get around. Believe me, I understand. I drive a WRX and ride a Yamaha R1 and I've been held up plenty of times by bicycle races out in the backroads. But you will live. Have some patience. It will BE OK! I promise!