ATXBS recently reported on a driver who aggressively passed the group in the July Moonlight Cruise and eventually hit some of the cyclists in the ride. A local photographer on the scene caught the incident in this video.
The driver charged in the Moonlight Cruise hit and run. Image courtesy of ATXBS.
The driver fled the scene after striking the cyclists with his car, but police caught up with him and he was ticketed. He was not arrested because the cyclists did not report injury or over $200 in damage to the bike. If they had, the charges would escalate to vehicular assault. Now I finally have a reason to equip my city bike with carbon fiber. Since most carbon parts cost over $200 and have to be replaced after pretty much any accident, I have a sure fire way to get jackasses inattentive drivers charged appropriately for hitting me!
If you see this vehicle while on your bike, proceed with care. Image courtesy of ATXBS.
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on Jul 10th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Didnt APD recently receive a grant to aid in the area of aggressive drivers, the whole cops on buses scheme ? How come that guy didnt get a ticket ?
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I am surprised at the lack of helmet on this ride. Shouldn’t we all be advocating for saftey, especially on organized rides?
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
KJ: Obviously you’ve never been on one of our rides. “Organized” is a bit of a stretch, and safety typically takes a back seat to fun and adventure. This isn’t an ACA ride.
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
KJ, different groups have different ride rules and guidelines. Just as we shouldn’t tell ACA they have to allow helmet-less riders, so we also shouldn’t tell another group they have to wear helmets. My experience on these social rides is that as many as half the people wear helmets. It’s up to the comfort level of the rider.
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I agree that it should be up to the comfort level of the rider. I have never been on one of your rides (I live in Portland, so it would be a bit out of the way). I have just been in a couple of close calls on group rides and figure that we should do the most we can to protect ourselves. No matter how great of a rider we are, there are always people out there that put us in danger (such as the man who was ticketed for his insane driving).
on Jul 10th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
KJ,
Personally, I agree and always wear a helmet.
on Jul 11th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I have an absolute blast at the Full Moon rides! Midnight turns out to be a perfect time, for some people’s schedule, to fit in a group bike ride. I wear Kevlar gloves, but I don’t wear a helmet, or even a shirt. But I’m careful enough to keep to one lane out of courtesy for the few drivers who are on the road that late at night. Especially since the group of drivers out at that particular time is a bit more erratic even than, say, the late-rush-hour drivers Critical Mass sees each week.
By the way, I happened to have met this guy a couple years ago. He calls himself Starlight.