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Two weeks ago today, a motorist on Wilshire Boulevard came to an intersection and found herself behind somebody who was preparing to turn left. Under normal conditions this would mean slowing down and waiting but since it was a cyclist, the motorist accelerated and screamed “Get out of the road!” The incident escalated and resulted in the arrival of Beverly Hills Police Officer Prenesti who greeted the cyclist by yelling “You idiot!”
It’s clear that motorists are 1st Class citizens in Beverly Hills and that pedestrians and cyclists are not only 2nd Class but must travel at their own risk, unsupported and unprotected by those charged with providing for the safety and quality of life of the community.
This harsh charge is backed up by the fact that Beverly Hills holds the dubious distinction of being #1 in the State of California for pedestrian deaths for a city of its size.
As we approach the anniversary of Bloody September 2006 when 3 pedestrians were killed on the streets of Beverly Hills and a cyclist was killed by a hit & run motorist, it is evident that we have a long way to go if we are to consider the streets of Beverly Hills safe for humans.
If the same number of deaths were caused by drive-by shootings, we’d call it a gang war and we’d call in the militia. If the same number of deaths were caused by the “West Nile Virus,” we’d call it a “Public Health Crisis” and we’d be spraying DEET from the rooftops.
But because the deaths are simply the result of motor vehicle collisions, we call it “traffic” and return to the task of speeding it up even more.
Isn’t this the missing chapter from Collapse, Jared Diamond’s excellent book on great societies and the behavior that caused them to fail?
After the jump is a letter from the Beverly Hills cyclist. On September 6th a group of cyclists will be riding to the Beverly Hills Traffic Commission to speak in favor of multi-modal cooperation and shared space.
Subject: Bicycle Harassment in Beverly HillsI've been commuting to work daily by bicycle for two years now. I own a car but I choose to ride my bike instead for several reasons including the following: parking at UCLA is very expensive; riding my bike uses no gasoline; riding my bike does not pollute the air that we all breathe; riding my bike puts one less car on the road that would contribute to traffic congestion; commuting everyday is great exercise; I can get to work faster on my bike than in my car because traffic is so bad; and I just enjoy riding.
I believe that we should be doing everything we can to encourage alternative forms of transportation like bicycling to make this city more livable. It makes me very sad to think of how many other potential cyclists are out there that refuse to ride because they fear harassment form motorists and police.
I was riding to work as a graduate research assistant for my PhD studies at UCLA at around 10:40am Tuesday morning (August 21, 2007). I was westbound on Wilshire preparing to make a left turn onto Spalding from the left turn lane when a black Ford Explorer swerved into my right of way, nearly knocking me over into oncoming traffic. I was just able to maneuver out of the way to avoid a collision. At this point I was close enough to Spalding that it was my judgment that the safest course of action was to continue a few more feet along the yellow line and then make the left turn onto Spalding rather than trying to force my way back into the left turn lane. As soon as I made the left onto Spalding the black Explorer quickly accelerated and drove right up to my rear wheel and began to honk at me. I slowed down to pull over and then stopped. She stopped behind me and then I asked, "Why are you honking at me? You nearly killed me back there."
She then told me that I don't belong in the road and that I shouldn't be riding my bike in the first place. I responded by saying that is no excuse to put my life in danger by pulling a stunt like what she did back there. I told her that what she had done could be considered vehicular assault and that I had not broken any law. She said she was calling the police and she rolled up her window and then held down her horn for a few minutes and would not speak to me any more. I told her to go ahead and call the police because she is the one who broke the law not me. She then started driving in reverse down the street to flee the scene and I followed her and waited next to her because I wanted to make sure she would be there when the police arrived. I knocked on the hood of her car gently (not hard enough to leave a mark of any kind) and said, "Excuse me, I'm trying to talk to you." But she continued to ignore me so I just waited for the police to arrive.
A police officer arrived a few minutes later and immediately yelled at me to go sit down on the curb with my bike without asking either of us what had happened. I started walking to the curb and told him that this woman had nearly killed me when she swerved into my lane. He then angrily yelled, "How stupid are you? What are you doing riding in the middle of the street with your bike blocking the road?" His response surprised me because bicycles have equal rights to the road according
to CVC21202.I said, "Excuse me, but aren't you going to listen to me so I can tell you what happened? And why are you being so hostile to me before you even hear me out?"
He wouldn't listen to me at all and he then went over to the driver and talked to her for a few minutes. When he came back over to me a second police officer had arrived and was standing near me, but he wasn't really getting involved. It seemed like he was just observing things.
After speaking with the woman for a while the first police officer walked over to me and then started yelling at me in a very abusive and degrading tone. He yelled (before he had even asked for my version of what had happened), "You idiot! You're lucky I wasn't here to see it because if I had seen even a tiny bit of what happened I would have arrested you on the spot!" (I don't know what exactly the woman told him that I did.)
I said, "Why? This woman tried to hit me with her car and nearly killed me. Why are you taking her side before you even talk to me?"
He said, "Oh, so you're saying she's lying?"
I said, "I can't say either way because I don't know what she told you."
He said, "I can't believe how stupid you are! You shouldn't be riding your bike like that and If I had seen you in the road in front of her car I would arrest you for illegally detaining her."
I said, "Why are you talking to me like this? I'm a safe cyclist and I obey all the laws when I'm riding my bike. She is the one who broke the law by swerving into my lane nearly killing me and then honking at me even though I was legally riding on the street. I'm not a criminal."
Then he just started laughing at me and he then mockingly said, "Oh, now you're gonna cry?! Look at you, you're really going to start crying?! How old are you?!"
I said, "Well, I'm getting a little emotional because I feel like you won't even listen to my version of events and you just automatically took her side. You can't treat people like this. I'd like your name and badge number. "
He said, "You'll get it."
I then said, "She's the one who broke the law not me."
He then said very smugly, "You quote me the section of code that she violated and then I'll write her a ticket."
I said, "I can't remember the exact number of the vehicle code. But I know it's illegal to drive like she was back there and then to harass me with honking." He just ignored me.
He then went to write my ticket. He stopped after a few minutes and talked to the woman driver again and then on his way back by me he said, "You're really lucky she's such a nice woman. If she had wanted me to I would have arrested you for vandalism."
(I assume that he is referring to when I knocked on the hood of the woman's car after she had put her window up and was honking.) At this point I just completely stopped talking because I finally realized that it was pointless for me to try to talk rationally with him. He then gave me the ticket and I got on my bike and rode away.
I think this is just the kind of harassment that discourages people form bicycling in and around this city.
I have included California vehicle code 21202 which states I may use the entire right hand lane when the lane is a 'substandard width' or 'to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb' (such as on Spalding) and when preparing to turn left (from Wilshire). The person driving the Ford Explorer violated my rights under CVC21202 and CVC27001 regarding riding a bicycle in the street and regarding the use of horns.
The ticket says: "22400 VC - Deft used bicycle to block vehicle traffic movement" and "21955 - Ped in roadway"
Citing officer: D. Prenesti #421, serial no. 74700.
Other vehicle: Black Ford Explorer, XXXXXXX [license plate number redacted]
Operation on a Roadway: California Vehicle Code 21202.
(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time 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 conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.Use of Horns: California Vehicle Code 27001.
(a) The driver of a motor vehicle when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation shall give audible warning with his horn.
(b) The horn shall not otherwise be used, except as a theft alarm system which operates as specified in Article 13 (commencing with Section 28085) of this chapter.
Amended Ch. 993, Stats. 1977. Effective January 1, 1978.
Photo by richardmasoner via Flickr
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This is infuriating. I'm not a cyclist and I get peeved as much as the next person who has to make a left turn at 5 mph behind a cyclist, but that is no reason to become an aggressive driver and endanger the life of another person. The most infuriating part of this story is the blatant dereliction of duty by the police officer. How can he made an assumption without hearing both sides of the story? I hope this officer gets reprimanded. I hope the cyclist was able to find another witness who'll corroborate his side of the story.
That is so fucking outrageous. Easy E said it best: Fuck the police.
if you hate drivers so much than ride your bike on the side walk-- oh you don't want to? The pedestrians are too fragile and slow for you to ride safely? Well that’s how drivers feel about you.
Beverly Hills can suck it! I'm going to run there on Thursday with the Nike crew and I'm going to take my time crossing the streets and piss off all the drivers. Yeah!
Regarding Post #3: Riding one's bike on the sidewalk, while often safer for the cyclist, is actually illegal. Cyclists are required by law to use the road - so, drivers, please share it.
Exactly, riding in the sidewalk can get you a ticket. Officer D. Prenesti #421 should be reprimanded and should probably go back to the code books to refresh his memory. Good old BH PD have nothing better to do than harass law biding citizens. Try to cop that attitude anywhere else and you'd get a law suit. In fact maybe that will shake things up in BH. Hit them where they would feel it most.
It is a good thing the license was redacted; some people might want to do a little Internet searching, find the car, and key the hell out of it.
The law recognizes bicycles as vehicles - period. If you have a problem with that, write your city councilman. I'm sorry to all those that feel inconvenienced by the law, but I don't understand the logical disconnect that allow people to think it's ok to literally threaten the lives of people obeying laws they don't like.
In theory, I completely support cyclists - it's better for the environment, it's good for their health, etc. I would love to see LA (ALL cities!) be bike friendly - I might even dare to ride my own bike.
In reality though, cyclists infuriate me. I would never physically endanger another person, but I'll respect your right to the road as soon as you start actually behaving like a motorist. As in, stopping at red lights, not riding the wrong way down a one way street, not riding three abreast in the main road when there's a bike lane right next to you and most importantly, not coming out of nowhere like a bat out of hell in front of my car and giving me the finger as I slam on the brakes trying not to kill you.
Also, please don't let your 8 yo kid ride down PCH where there's no shoulder, in holiday traffic, with no helmet.
Yeah, some cyclists are a-holes and disobey the law. I'll tell them to cut it out at the next meeting. Seriously, I'm a cyclist and I obey the law - just because some guy on a bike cut you off last week doesn't give you the right to hurl your 6,000lb death machine at someone because they're trying to make a legal left-turn.
Wow... that story is unbelievable!! Just wow.
Also.. riding on the sidewalk in the city of Los Angeles in not illegal, as long as riders do not show "wanton disregard" for the safety of other sidewalk users.
Riding on the sidewalk in Santa Monica is illegal..
Bev Hills..I'm not sure.
Currently in West Hollywood, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk too. Can't find any info on the city of Beverly Hills website regarding sidewalk riding.
"I might even dare to ride my own bike" is a pretty telling comment. I bike commute, and the comment I get most often from coworkers is "I'd love to do that, but I don't feel safe riding." That's what makes stories like this one break my heart. The more of us who are out there doing it, the safer we should be, and the more awareness motorists should have about our right to the road. Having that cop completely undermine the law feels like we're moving backward.
I understand the infuriation with cyclists who don't follow the rules of the road, I really do, but to paint all of us with that brush is irresponsible. Cyclists are certainly no more likely to run red lights, ignore posted signs/directions, and behave aggresively than motorists are.
Long story short: The attitude that cyclists don't deserve our share of the road puts me and people I love in danger. I promise not to swing out at you like a "bat out of hell" if you promise to try not to kill me--deal?
Regarding post #5. Riding on the sidewalk actually is not illegal. You can ride a bicycle on the sidewalk just as long as you not blatantly trying to harm property or a person.
Sidewalk Riding (LAMC 56.15) Prohibits the riding of bicycles (or other human power devices) on sidewalks (bikeways or boardwalks) with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Disallows the riding of bicycles on Ocean Front Walk in Venice.
http://www.bicyclela.org/Law.htm
I hate smug bicyclists almost as much as I hate hybrid drivers.
You bike riders may have the law on your sides, but remember, cars have the laws of physics on their side.
I also find the bicycle in the left turn lane rule dangerous. Not only could the cuclist get hurt by the speed of the traffic, but crazy road-ragers. When I was young, the rule was that you had to get off your bike and walk it, like a pedestrian.
But I understand this would slow you down so much, it would negate the benefit of cycling. So I accept it.
What makes me crazy is when some cyclists don't act like any of the rules of the road apply to them, weaving between lanes and making sidden left turns from the right lane, etc.
poster #15. please take your Hummer/Escalade, whatever it is you have, and drive into a melting glacier. thanks! :)
This is what gives cops in LA a bad name. They are insufferable pricks. In every scenario in LA -- such major chips on their shoulders. And gimme a major break with all the unloading on the bike guy. Bicyclists might be annoying to drive around, but they have every right to be on the road too -- and unlike us gas guzzling, road-clogging car drivers, they're actually part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
What irks me the most is the POWER trip Officer D. Prenesti #421 had towards the cyclist and the B%$#H behind the wheel. The whole right of the road can be worked out but the a-hole attitudes of the Officer and driver will never be resolved. I hate people sometimes!
BTW... just because riding on the sidewalk is not illegal in Los Angeles, it doesn't mean bicyclist should be harrassed for riding in the street abiding the traffic laws.
To the person who commented above that "cyclists are certainly no more likely to run red lights, ignore posted signs/directions...than motorists are", you are not being honest with yourself. I've lived in Venice for 4 years and have never seen a single bicycle stop at a red light. The most you get is a slow-down, then a speed-through. Also, I've almost run into dozens--DOZENS--of bicycles coming the wrong way down Speedway. I don't say this to defend anyone who tries to physically endanger someone with an automobile, but the majority of bicyclists simply don't follow the rules of the road.
Fuck cyclists. They should stay on the sidewalk.
Josh: It's hard to make an unassailable argument one way or another with merely anecdotal evidence, which we're both relying on. I commute through Venice (and have lived thereabouts for 8 years), and see the behavior you're talking about--it's my fondest wish that we'd get consistent bike/pedestrian ticketing on Speedway, the bike path, and Main. At the same time, it's in Venice that I'm most often dodging cars running red lights (Pacific and Washington, anyone?) or going straight out of a right-hand turn lane. It may just be the case on both sides that you don't notice the cyclists OR the motorists obeying the rules, you only notice the ones behaving badly. Taking the city overall (with tourist-y spots like the beach as outliers), I'll stand by my statement that cyclists are no more guilty of traffic infractions than motorists.
The real danger on the road comes from people who drive too fast, don't pay attention, and who become enraged while driving. Does the BH PD condone road rage? I think they have in this case. Traffic officers should come down hard on people who speed and who can't keep their emotions under control while behind the wheel. Perhaps the BH PD should come down hard on officers who can't do their jobs properly, too.
Re Post #9, you say you'll respect our right to the road as soon as you start actually behaving like a motorist? Why exactly do we have to EARN your respect. You don't have a choice in the matter. And are you saying that motorists don't run red lights and stop signs? They don't speed? Most cyclists don't break any laws that actually interfere with other vehicles. So get off your high horse and get used to living among others. If you feel like enforcing laws, go become a cop and get your knocks off.
more bike lanes!! we wouldn't have so many problems! and to you non-bikers with a tune - chill out - you've got enough time not to commit vehicular manslaughter. I personally don't get on my bike and think "now who can I dart in front of today?" Think of us as dolphins swimming on the side of your car. we're trying to get from here to there in a timely fashion just as you. only we "the dolphin" have about 20 pounds of steel under us where as you "the whale" are over 1,000 pounds of reinforced whatever with combustibles. so do as the whales do and take it easy.
Stephen keep us updated about this!!!
i used to commute to usc from hollywood via bicycle. occasionally i would find some road rage, but rarely. usually i was going faster than traffic and i think that fact dumbfounded the people paying for gas. but, two years ago, i was involved in a hit and run because of road rage. the detective said he had four fatal cases on his desk and he couldnt devote any man power to the case..even with the drivers plate number. (he ran over my bike three times with me on the ground inches away) so i would have had the support of the police if i had died i guess...at least thats what he told me. somehow we need to inform the police of the law. we need some high profile spokesperson or something...or maybe we all need to ride while wearing gucci to get that socal respect. i think alot of people assume that all cyclists have dui's so that they cant drive. btw...i have healed and still commute by bike. robin williams are you reading this?
I don't know how it works in LA/BH, but in/around NYC there is a group in every police department that deals with oversight. Civilian complaints, professional standards, etc.
You should call the BH PD (since their web site sucks ass and doesn't include good documentation about this) on their non-emergency number (310-550-4951) and explain that you'd like to speak with a supervisor regarding a problematic encounter you had with a member of their department during the course of a response to a 911 call.
Whoever you speak with should be able to provide you with additional details about the necessary paperwork you need to file for your complaint. Your ticket will likely be thrown out in traffic court -- but the complaint you file will normally trigger an internal review of how this officer behaved. If it is part of a pattern of hot-headedness or otherwise rude behavior, he will be subject to disciplinary action (loss of pay and/or vacation days, as well as a nastygram in his personnel file).
Yes, there are three sides to any story -- but this sounds way too much like what the standard MO of most PDs (big or little city) when it comes to angry SUV vs pedestrian or bicycle.
Let us know how this works out for you.
Yeah we live in LA the police here are some of the most corrupt police i have ever seen in my life man. They do whatever they want and nobody with any real power does anything about. I got arrested in Hollywood riding my bike and accused of being high, I don't do drugs or even drink alcohol, but they still dragged me in and ask me where "I got the stuff"-"the stuff" that didn't have or ever do. they harrarssed me and told me they were going to put my face through a glass store front door if I moved, all while handcuffed. Never read me any rights but told me I was under arrest Then then continued, after blowing .000, because I don't drink, to run me through every single ridiculous sobriety test they knew. I told them to take my blood and I'll pee in any cup they want me to because I have nothing to be afraid of, except them. They told me if i didn't say i was high i would be in jail for the next 5 days. I said"if that's what i have to do to prove my innocence then so be it." they were kind of taken back by that. Shakled on the bench with gang bangers and wasted criminals, I heard officer Nichols say,"He just keeps saying that he's sober and honest...and he passed all the tests" then they had to let me go, not before giving me some J-walking ticket....on my bike? That's weird and then still said I was high on something anyway and i just had to laugh, take my ticket and ride home now at 2:30am hoping not to run into anymore cops. Pretty firghtening ordeal all together. Officer Nichols and officer Kim Wilcox division, short little white guy and a Korean guy that just mostly watches and might ask some weak questions.
I'll get off from work after 14hours plus doing art dept. and set dressing and get harrassed by the cops or the sheriffs on my way home, they asked me if I was on parol once too, funny stuff out of context. Its just been a part of everyday life for me for the past 2 years. I know all of the police aren't bad but unfortunately the bad ones make all of them look bad, esecially when they are not punished for their misconduct. Good luck everybody.
The Beverly Hills Police Officer's Association is trolling for donations to it's Black and White Ball. I suggest that bicyclists send a postcard to the address for donations mentioning how you will not be giving money and telling all of your friends not to, mentioning the officer involved.
Black & White Ball
The Beverly Hills Police Officer's Association
C/O FTA Events
437 Canon Drive Suite 108
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
These are our streets, goddammit!
Could it be that the BH PD and some of its citizens view people who ride bikes as undesireables? I wonder what other "types" get harassed as soon as they step into BH?
I see motorists rolling through stop signs all the time, does that mean we should ban cars? After all a car rolling a stop is way more dangerous than a bike doing the same, duh!
Ultimately it comes down to the cop and the SUV driver not knowing the law. The cop should be reprimanded and the driver prosecuted for reckless driving at the least.
To all the angry drivers who may have lost five seconds to a cyclist lately: I drive, I bike, I have a good job, and I pay taxes just like you for these streets. They are mine too, share them with me. We need to just show each other some respect.
Posting anonymous bombs is lame, by the way. If you're going to say something you have to stand by it.
you should seriously consider contacting internal affairs.
Wow, is this story frightening.
I ride my bike to work everyday. I ride in the street - it's safer than riding on the sidewalk, because drivers pulling out or going through an intersection usually won't be looking for a bike coming on the sidewalk.
I ride on smaller roads but not tiny side streets, and I obey stops signs, traffic lights, and use my turn signals (the things between my shoulders and wrists).
I will take the lane if I feel a car cannot pass me safely without switching lanes, and I will not ride in the gutter or too close to parked cars.
I will also use a certain finger if I feel that a driver has endangered me - it frightens me to think what might have happened if that close call had happened to a less experienced cyclist.
Please, both drivers and cyclists, be patient, courteous, and share the road.
The BHPD welcomes your comments:
www.beverlyhills.org
this story is ridiculous, and I only hope some sort of justice will come out of it.
regardless of whether cycling on the sidewalk is illegal or not, which in most cases it is, it is also more dangerous in general to do so. Cyclists can be hit by cars coming out of driveways, cars making right turns (and left), and any number of unseen obstacles because no one on the moving street can see you that well. It just isn't safe.
I commute a long distance each day by bike, I respect the drivers and the traffic laws because I used to be one of them and know how it feels, and in turn I can only hope those of you who drive will do the same. But I'm not holding out much hope.
and you know what? fuck you if you say I should go back to the sidewalk, why don't you stick to the freeway?
FYI, the Beverly Hills Traffic Commission meeting is Thursday, Sept. 6th, 2007 at 10am in Conference Room A of the Beverly Hills City Hall (455 N. Rexford Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210).
Hopefully the wronged cyclist will have a supportive but non-disruptive cyclo-posse.
REALITY CHECK: It is ILLEGAL to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. I got a ticket for this once in Santa Clarita.
Don't tell cyclists to ride on the sidewalk. And eat a dick please.
Is there an invitation for all bicycle riders of Los Angeles to this event?
Please provide some info as to where to meet and what time.
Thank you
I never knew that in Santa Clarita it is illegal. I want all those 8-year-olds riding on the sidewalk getting tickets and seeing how the soccer mom's have it at a city council meeting.
Fuck, I'm not riding my bike on McBean Parkway, are you crazy?
And for the record, sidewalk riding laws are city specific. In the city of Los Angeles, it is legal. But cross into another city limits and your guess is as good as mine. At least WeHo posts it (well, in some places)
We all, motorist, cyclists and law enforcement, have a vested interest in safer streets. Officer D. Prenesti should keep in mind that even police officers aren't safe on our streets and in fact stand a greater chance of dying as a result of a car crash then as a result of a gun shot.
Fact remains. this year in the United States 43,000 people will die as a result of motor vehicle collision. It doesn't matter if you are a pedestrian, cyclists, mass transit passenger or vehicle driver we all deserve safe streets and the full support of our law enforcement officers.
On Thursday morning we ride to Beverly Hills to speak before the Traffic Commission urging the City of Beverly Hills to provide cyclists with equal access to the road and the full support of the Police Department.
Join us for the ride.
www.MidnightRidazz.com
Unfortunately, my experience when dealing with the police is that whoever made the call is the one they speak to first regarding the alleged incident. After that, the police will talk to the other party and good luck to you on convincing the officer that anything occurred other than what the first person said.
I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying that's the way it's been in my experience (a dog beef--her off-leash chihuahua bit my shepard--I was told that CERTAINLY my shepard could have "handled the situation." My dog's supposed to get bit because she's not obeying leash laws?).
Quate: "if you hate drivers so much than ride your bike on the side walk-- oh you don't want to? The pedestrians are too fragile and slow for you to ride safely? Well that’s how drivers feel about you."
Yeah you tool, its called 'SIDEWALK"! Get it
SIDE - WALK!
Not freakin Side - ride
Bikes have every right to be on the road as you do.
Its their for pedestrians, I bet London to a brick I could beat any car within a 10 mile radius of any major city hub that I could beat them in a street race.
I just rang both the city council, Chamber of commerce, Beverly Hills City - Operations Bureau, Police Department and am really stuck on who else to ring. Try it yourself:
Beverly Hills City - Operations Bureau, Police Department: (310) 285-2101
Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce: (310) 248-1000
Beverly Hills City - Library, Mayor and City Council: (310) 285-1013
Remember to report Citing officer: D. Prenesti #421, serial no. 74700
Either pick up the phone and make a local call or use Voip and air your disgust at these groups. Be nice, but get them to take down you complaint and forward it on. Make this cop pay for his arrogance and negligence. Come on it will at leat be a laugh as we all get his nose collectively rubed in the shit storm he has created! :)
I MADE them get out a pen, right down my disgust at this police office in question and told them to forward it to their supperior and the relevent body.
Seriously though, I am a avid cyclist, I rider through the city every day and I will London to a brick I could beat any one in a car any where within 10KM radius of the city in a street race. This disgusts me and if any cop acted this way I would say be suing both him and the driver.
The fact that any one not in a fuel gusseling vehicle is not welcome in this city is so pathetic, this will influence any decision to travel, shop or do business in this area
My biggest problem with cyclists is the fact that they're demanding that everyone else share the road with them. The last time I checked, the rules of the road were that smaller vehicles give way to larger vehicles. If I'm driving in a car, it is just plain stupid of me to take on a semi-truck and think that I'm going to come out of a confrontation like that alive. Likewise, all cyclists need to be aware that it is not the norm for them to be in the street and many cars and drivers cannot anticipate their movements. They've also repealed the Vehicle Code section that allowed cyclists to blow through red lights. It is now illegal for a cyclist to proceed through a red intersection.
That said, I do support the concept of human powered vehicles, and I think the government should do more to encourage bicycling by building REAL bike lanes that exist between parked cars and the sidewalk like they do in places in Europe. If bicyclists had their own protected lanes, then motor vehicles would no longer be a threat to them. This notion of painting a stripe on the side of a motor vehicle lane and calling it a bike lane is stupid.
Also, any policeman that refuses to listen to both parties should be sent back to some sort of remedial school. Maybe if we required police in this country to have college degrees and conflict resolution training, we'd end up with public servants that truly serve the public interests instead of their own.
Fry the cop's ass.
Get the goddammned fascist pigdog in as much trouble as humanly possible, NOW.
Smear it all over the media. This ought to play real well on TV, especially in Lala land...
Make enough of a stink that that pile of steaming horse dung will think twice the next time. Too bad we don't know the bitchcunt's license plate. :-)
There are good drivers, and there are bad drivers.
There are good cyclists, and there are bad cyclists.
There are good cops, and there are bad cops.
And sometimes shit happens.
I live in the bay area and work in SF. A month ago my motorcycle was hit and run by a driver. Luckily there was a witness who took the drivers license plate down. But, when I went to the police to have them intervene they tried to tell me that since my motorcycle was parked in the dirt (6 inches from the street) that it was on private property and thus they had no jurisdiction. I had to scream and yell to even get a case number. They couldn't care less.
It's very frustrating when the powers that be won't do their job. I really feel that this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of corruption.
Don't forget to send the gift that keeps on giving a courtesy reminder from the state that your car needs to come in for emissions testing.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/complaints/svc2.htm
40,000+ people killed on US roads in 2006
3,000 people killed 9/11
.....maybe somebody should invade General Motors HQ et al.
stupid cop who doesn't have a brain. most of them don't have college degree, and just being plain stupid.
dear author, riders, and commenters alike:
this article and letter are perfect examples of why you should all carry a camera with video capability (i rec. the canon powershot 800) AT ALL TIMES.
since i moved back to hell-a eight years ago, i have been hit seriously four times, and otherwise crashed into at least six times. Several crashers immediately became abusive even though it was their error that caused the accident. Several also began issuing threats, in addition to one who spit on me.
since these occurrences were reaching absurd numbers, AND the crashers ALL without exception, lied to their own insurance companies, i do not get in the car without a digital camera and a film camera. one crasher did grab my camera and smash it on the pavement, but i had my trusty second camera and you should have just seen her face when she saw me documenting her and her license plate. (yes it was a woman, in a bmw SUV incidentally.)
i had to sue one jerk from new jersey in court here, and my photo documentation won it for me.
re: Officer Prenesti - i think i might have had a lesser but equally obnoxious time with him when i had to report something to the station. is he ginger-haired? do contact the police captain in writing so it goes into the officer's file.
good luck to you. GET A CAMERA!
jgw
Sounds like it's time for Critical Mass to hit Beverly Hills.
Boston riders have a simple solution to this:
A U-lock or a hammer strapped into an accessible spot.
Putting a huge dent into the roof or quater panel of a vehicle that almost killed you tends to teach people to respect the Cyclists around them.
If they won't respect you maybe they'll fear you.
The BH PD also have a comments section at http://www.beverlyhills.org/presence/connect/CoBH/Homepage/Local+Government/Departments+Divisions+and+Offices/Police+Department/LG-PD-Email_PD
Make sure you give the officer's identity and a link to this page to show them the level of negative publicity this is giving them.
We should get this in the hands of some reporters as well.
Sigh. Yeah, go to the meeting, they will not listen to anything you say because it is not on the "agenda". Send letters, they will ignore you because you are not a resident. And even if you are, they will marginalize it. The people have no more power in this country, nothing short of a full revolution will turn this country around now.
Although I do agree that steps must be taken to make streets safer for bicyclists, I must say that you’ve chosen to take a very dramatic and inflammatory way to get that message across.
This article is riddled with fallacies and questionable “facts.” The cyclist was greeted by a police officer yelling “You idiot!” for no reason whatsoever? Are we led to believe that people in Beverly Hills hate bicyclists? I doubt that.
Calling bicyclists 2nd Class citizens because of this obviously one-sided tale of one particular scenario is extreme. I know of plenty tickets that were given to your so called 1st Class citizens for crossing the little Bicycle lane to make a turn too early when there wasn’t even a bicyclist in sight!
I have not researched these figures you provided regarding pedestrian deaths in Beverly Hills but I like the way you casually glazed over the fact that there was no clear distinction between pedestrians and cyclists, putting it in such a way that would make it seem as if they were one in the same. Plus the dehumanizing of motorists by stating that “…the streets of Beverly Hills (aren’t) safe for humans” was a nice touch hinting that motorists, obviously not human, are still safe.
Comparing the unfortunate deaths of 4 people in Beverly Hills and comparing it to a gang war is ridiculous and I won’t even respond to that with anything but facts, you should try it.
31 deaths in the San Gabriel Valley alone in 2006 and no, THAT doesn’t even qualify as a “Gang War.” By the way here is a link to my information which you can read for yourself.
I read the articles in the links you posted to "back up" your data and didn't see the figures you presented. I didn't see a single comparison between Beverly Hills and any other city. Also note that in that article it DOES say that because of the business district the population would increase from 35,000 to 150,000. That throws a little wrench in your "city its size" comparison.
You spiral your commentary further into nonsensical banter by claiming that “we…return to the task of speeding (traffic) up even more” and insinuate that this behavior will cause the downfall of our society!?!
One final comment; while I fully support your intentions to make our streets safer for bicyclists I must add that I think you are doing more damage with your over dramatized presentation.
~HektikLyfe
P.S. As a complete change of subject I have to add that the live preview below the comments is a fantastic touch!
Jgw, would love to read a report by you about your traffic incidents! How did someone smash your camera and not get arrested??
I just called the Beverly Hills Police Dept. The first woman I talked with, Badge#908 said she knew nothing about this. I said, ok, please give me to someone who does. I started to give her all the details, and she said I don't know what you're talking about and I'm going to put you on hold now, "so you can consider what you want to say." She never came back.
I called again. I said, "I don't want to talk with you, I want to talk with someone who knows the situation, or a PR person." She said, "Ma'am I can't help you. And maybe we should end this conversation." I said, "Maybe we should, since you have an attitude here." I asked for her badge and name, but she hung up on me.
I called a third time and talked to Badge# 918. She said "What do you mean, it's all over the internet? If you want to believe the internet, fine, but you're only hearing one side of the story." Then she wanted to argue. Finally she let me talk to the Watch Commander, Sgt. McAvoy.
At first he pretended he knew nothing about it. Then he admitted that he knew all about it. He wanted me to repeat to him all the details of the case. I said, "Officer, rather than misquote this, I suggest you look it up on the internet. If you give me your email I'd be happy to forward this to you." He said no. Then he asked if I wanted a report form. I said sure. He said, "I have more facts for you, but it sounds like you don't want to hear both sides of the story, so I won't, and you can file a complaint." (Passive-aggressive, much?)
I said I want the facts, and I do want to hear both sides. (Had to beg. I'm from LA.) He said Officer Prenesti didn't see the bike at first, and gave the man a ticket FOR STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. I asked the WC why the officer didn't even listen to the side of the bicyclist. He said, "You mean like you're doing right now?" (Wow. Passive-aggressive AND sarcastic.)
I asked, so it's ok for a car to just stand in the middle of the lane, but not a bike? He changed the subject. Then he faxed me 4 pages to fill out a complaint. Because, you see, his time is so much more valuable than mine, and was not clear whether he wrote down my verbal complaint or not.
I don't ride bikes, and I don't like them in the middle of traffic, either, but I respect that they take that risk. And the police were totally disrespectful and out of line. This could happen to any one of us if our car isn't a new SUV or other monster in BH.
I recently invested in an Oregon Scientific ATC 2000 helmet cam (there's a handlebar mount too). With a 2Gb Sd card you can record just over an hour at VGA resolution. (approx $250 all in, inc rechargeable batteries) - I call it an a$$hole repellant - though it's not 100% effective. Only had it a few days now & have some stuff for Youtube, nothing terribly juicy.... yet.
Just record all your trips up to an hour each time & delete the uneventful vids, upload the interesting ones. I relish the opportunity to respond to an ignorant driver's abuse "go home and search for your license plate on youtube, realise what you did wrong... *then* you can apologise." Though Youtube may have issues with publishing these peoples license plates.
Glad to hear you or your bike did not suffer any damage from the motorist or police officer.
This is a great time to sue the motorist and police officer / department. The police do have professional obligations, which from your telling of the story were not met.
I carry a camera with me all the time. A cellphone camera might work better - though a helmet mounted video system was the best suggestion.
As I told my wife after driving my bike in a car dominated suburb (I live in SF)-- I feel like a minority / aka 2nd class citizen.
Motorists, next time you get "stuck" behind a slow vehicle, count how much time you spend at intersections-- you'll have a chance to reevaluate your use of time once you realize how many minutes are spent idling at intersections.
And compare the energy efficiency of cycling with any other form of transportation -- and know that transportation is the largest use of hydrocarbon / carbon emissions in the US.
What I love about cycling is the number of options at every intersection.
If I'm proceeding straight through the intersection, I avoid the right turn only lane. If traffic is too fast for a vehicular left, I can do a box turn, and often a pedestrian left.
I also recommend you research BikeEd in your area-- motorists, cyclists, pedestrians-- all users of the public roadways.
And the natural energy and financial efficiency of cycling.
I can exercise to increase my lifespan, and get where I want to go.
A very reasonable post from Ohio about
traffic laws.
I love the video idea. I also want to have shirts, jerseys or jackets made that say, "Smile! You're on my live webcam."
"if you hate drivers so much than ride your bike on the side walk-- oh you don't want to? The pedestrians are too fragile and slow for you to ride safely? Well that’s how drivers feel about you."
I get pulled over by police all the time around here for riding on the sidewalk. Usually I'll switch back and forth depending how much room there is on the road.
I used to be a serious cyclist in Europe but riding a bike in most places in the US is a death wish, too many a**hole SUV drivers/drunk rednecks/cowboys etc.
The best defense against them I ever saw was an ex Army Ranger buddy in Texas who usually rode his bike with an M-16 slung on his back. It wasn't loaded but I assure you no driver was willing to find out...
Simply Abhorrent.
"You bike riders may have the law on your sides, but remember, cars have the laws of physics on their side."
These are the same motorists who cry foul when an 18 wheeler with the laws of physics on their side nearly runs them off the road. It comes down to selfishness and an unwilliness to share the road with anyone who gets in their way.
It's not that the BHPD favor motorists. They actually favor motorists driving SUVs. The local car dealerships "donate" SUVs to them and they (the BHPD) drive around all day (city driving BTW - super horrible gas mileage) giving out mainly three types of tickets:
(a) jaywalking
(b) no full stop at a stop sign
(c) no front license plate
I worked in BH for years and received each of these at least once. We all know that as a whole LA is a horrible place to ride a bicycle. Its dangerous and the drivers (which appear to be 80% SUV) have no respect for one another or anyone else. It's basically who can have a bigger SUV, an arms race, and the pedestrian / bicyclist is unarmed.
Yes, it's frustrating when a cyclist holds you up for a few seconds, but to not be safe around them is ridiculous. That's somebody's life.
Hello From the State Capital!!!!!
I must say I found this little story on a website called digg. Now I am sure there is more data I will need I can tell you that the officer has actually committed a true dereliction of duty and has not followed acceptable police practices. The good news is I am personally forwarding this to the Gov. State Attrny Gen and several other well placed officials I happen to work with regarding cycling issues.I would recommend that if you are going to have people show up at a town meeting you all please speak with out anger and in a calm manner.Please do quote vehicle code sections 21200 et al.
As for motorists you do need to realize Bicycles are legal to be on any street other than a posted highway. They must make left turns from the proper lanes and must fallow all vehicle codes. While there are some who either don't know or don't care to do so they are still expected to. Just like some people never do the speed limit ect in a car.
Please post any follow up info original poster. Thank you
On a world basis, most traffic co-exists on the basis of mutual respect. Anyone that significantly delays another road user for no reasonable excuse needs to GET OUT OF THE WAY.
If might was the only rule on our streets and roads, only semi trailers, humvees and armoured trucks would travel them. Fortunately, most people simply want to get where they're going, no more, no less.
Re: post #14 -- Beverly Hills is its own city; L.A. municipal code does not apply. In Beverly Hills, it is illegal to bike on the sidewalk.
The described behavior of the police officer (and of other law enforcment officers in other stories) one of the main reason, why I will never visit the US, allthough I have relatives there.
In my home country Gernmany I don't have to be afraid of the police. If anything like that wouild happen here the officer would lose his job immediately.
The last time I checked, the rules of the road were that smaller vehicles give way to larger vehicles.
You didn't really check, did you.
Re post 74
When it comes right down to it a car is required by law to yield a space of 3 feet to pass a cyclist.(please see and read CVC21200 in its entirety) A bicycle by same law is NOT required to ride in the gutter nor on a sidewalk and is also to ride WITH the flow of Traffic. In Cali. it is illegal to ride more than 2 abreast unless the bicycles are moving at the speed of traffic.
Re post 71
The Rule of law regarding vehicles is that slower traffic is that slower traffic is to be on the right lane, This is why on roadways such as I5 say on the Grapevine you have a lane to the right for trucks; they are quite large but as slower traffic they are required to "get out of the way" of smaller faster cars.
I know its tough to understand the fine points of traffic laws However the point of the matter is that by reason of law the motorist in this case from what we have been able to see is guilty of several infraction. the Officer is also guilty of some serious issues that will be address from the State level. The cyclist actually can sue and file charges against the City and the officer, however he can bring traffic litigation against the motorist as well. The only question is if the time would be worth the trouble.
Re post 74
I did forget one thing you are not understanding traffic laws and "rules of the road please include yourself in the reply to post 71.
I feel sad for people who are so ill informed on the rules of driving. I will thank all of the people posting as I will be able to draft new traffic laws regarding license renewal requiring a much tougher test and to require everyone to retest every other renewal. Again we here at the State Capital thank you for this valuable information.
I contacted the BHPD about this matter and here is their response. Hopefully, something will be done about this guy
/Users/shawn/Desktop/Picture 5.png
I will never spend another dime in Beverly Hills again.
Beverly Hills does suck big time. I'm glad I left, and I'm glad I don't have to go back.
The 95% of the Beverly Hills police that are jerks give the 5% that are nice a bad name.
A response from the BHPD after contacting them about this
http://discarted.com/images/Picture%205.png
99.9 percent of the time, policeman look at the car and clothes, they take sides with the person that looks like they have more money. If you are riding a bicycle they are assuming your cannot afford to drive in L.A. there really is no recourse in most cases like these. i always try to give bicyclers more room when I pass them and to note there position and mine. i was hit by a car on the way to school when i was a teenager, the policeman said i was lucky i wasn't injured badly but did not right the driver a ticket even though he didn't look before he made the turn. the driver didn't get a ticket, and my bicycle tire and fork were destroyed.
when bicycling, try to bike with a friend or two.
---- if you hate drivers so much than ride your bike on the side walk-- oh you don't want to? The pedestrians are too fragile and slow for you to ride safely? Well that’s how drivers feel about you.
Where I come from, it's illegal to even rollerblade on the sidewalk, nonetheless ride your bike on it. I get mad when I'm behind a cyclist just as well (yes, it does slow you down) but you just gotta deal with it.
i have found teh police in Venice and SM much more aware of bicyclists due to the amounts of bikes there daily esp in the summer. i think a bicyclist protest outside of the police station in beverly hills is in order.
I read your website. I appreciate the trouble you must have put into it.
My first thought was to recall this: some people automatically agree with the group or class of people they psychologically identify with. In other words, for some people the rich or the elite can do no wrong. These people should not be employed in a position where their faulty judgment about justice affects other peoples lives. They should not be politicians, judges, or police officers.
My analogy to this is a burglar who has been successful fifty times and begins to think he owns the town and that even God is on his side. Then he is caught by one person who is not intimidated. You are that person now standing up to this incompetent professional.
ms_spambait.at.hotmail.com
(member login account failed)
This is one of the most outrageous things i have read in a long time. The most amazing thing is that the cyclist was able to be so calm in the face of flagrantly anti-social and outright bizarre behavior from the motorist like the horn honking that implies she somehow felt threatned by someone on a bike (yeah, it's a good thing you redacted her license plate number), and then unprofessional conduct from the part of the police officer. I hope the officer is given desk duty and the driver is somehow ticketed. But kudos to the cyclist for being so calm and level headed throughout.
Is it just me, or does the size of SUVs make their drivers feel more able to be the most aggressive drivers on the road? Why did I read this and think "Of course it was an SUV driver involved in this incident."
Finally, isn't it amazing how many problems cycling solves -- from foreign oil dependency and climate change to traffic congestion to U.S. obesity epidemic -- and yet still the knee-jerk reaction from the police is to immediately identify with the motorist.
F-F-Fuck tha police.
first off the motorists talking about cyclist running stop signs... you show me a motorists that stop at a stop sign at the line where you are supposed to stop because we all know that none of them due. They pull foward out into the bike lane and then stop making cyclist having to swerve into traffic. What needs to be done is a critical mass in beverly hills
This is infuriating! Officer asshole should be fired immediately. If you want change, though, you'll need to speak the only language people here in BH understand: MONEY. Get a couple of people with similar experiences together (there are a ton i'm sure) and you've got yourself a class action lawsuit. ANY lawyer would take this. Just watch the "share the road" signs pop up after this case is settled.
When dealing with cops that are violating the law its good idea to ask for their information so you can file a formal complaint with Internal Affairs. Reason being that Internal Affairs operates independently of the enforcement agencies so they wont be as quick to back officers in their claims as its their job to investigate corruption. Just the act of filing a complaint marks the officers record as i recall(perhaps permanently). Typically speaking if you tell the officer(or his/her commanding officer) that you intend file a complaint with IA in light of the abuse they will usually want to sing a different tune.
I used to live in Beverly Hills and I've encountered numerous asswiping drivers who think they're priviledged to get the right of way when driving past pedestrians and cyclists. I've encountered numerous close calls at Pico and Robertson or Robertson and Whitmore on my bike to UCLA or even for breakfast at Nick's. No matter if the law supports you, Beverly Hills drivers will not give up until they gain a victorious edge regardless if they did something bad (can you say in a metaphor "invading iraq"?).
The cops are the worst because depending on where you are, blocking traffic "violates a greater good". How dumbly vague can that quote be by our tax payers? That's why I ususally carry my index card full of California and Local Penal Codes when encountering Torrance Cops who are like this when riding to work now. Los Angeles overall isn't a bike-friendly city and things like this make me want to leave Los Babylon to Portland, Austin, The Bay Area or Berlin. They're Bike Friendly Cities.
I hate drivers from Southern California. They'll do anything in their way behind the wheel to live their daily shallow lives.
Re post 79 -- I received the exact same message.
"Is it just me, or does the size of SUVs make their drivers feel more able to be the most aggressive drivers on the road?" (comment #84)
Actually, it is because of attitudes and myths such as this:
"The last time I checked, the rules of the road were that smaller vehicles give way to larger vehicles." (comment #46)
Many people believe that if they are in a large truck or SUV that other people are -required- to give way to them.
People like the guest who wrote #3 are allowed to have drivers licenses, even though they have clear homicidal intentions.
Get that smelly,
NUISANCE SKANK
and her bicycle
OFF THE ROAD.
crap, I wish I wasn't in Boston when this meeting went down.
I got hit-and-ran-over by a black sedan in Beverly Hills in May on bike on my way home from work. I almost called the cops, but didn't. Maybe now I should be glad I didn't? Of course, if the cop pulled this crap with me, he'd learn what 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 means pretty quickly.
http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?t=971
#93 - looks like Officer Prenesti is exercising his right to internet access. lol
And I thought that the cops here in Brooklyn were among the worst...
Don't talk to motorists, or especially motorcops. I'd never talk to anybody but cyclists and pedestrians.
If a motorcop tries to mess with you just cut onto the sidewalk - motorcops will never bother a cyclist on the sidewalk - then cut back to the road when they leave.
Never carry ID or give your legal name when you are cycling. Take only cash with you, never credit cards. You don't need a legal identitiy to ride a bicycle.
If you are a cyclist there is nothing good that will ever come from talking to cops or motorists - they are not going to do anything in your best interest. Never stop for the motorists - just make evasive manuvers.
Luckily, in crashes with other cars, SUVs kill their occupents at exactly the same ratio as do bicycles. It's nice to know that their safetly is a complete illusion.
Personally I always keep a large U-Lock handy. If I see an abusive driver, I always gesture at them with it. The message is clear - Don't mess with the cyclist if you value you're property - and crazy SUV drivers always value their property the most.
I have recently started commuting to work on my bike. I am terrified not by the people who don’t see me but by the people who do. I find it totally bizarre that people are bulling me with their cars. No matter how upset they are to be sharing the road with me, I can’t imagine that accidentally killing me would feel that righteous.
why are so many non-SoCal people commenting on life in LA? they need to STFU.
Officer Prenesti: he should transfer depts and become part of BH Bicycle Police.
Commenting on one of those first comments, way back there:
Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is actually NOT illegal. I thought it was, so I looked up the code and found out it was legal. At least in the City of Los Angeles. Beverly Hills might be different.
The LA Municipal Code states that bicyclists are allowed to ride on the sidewalk as long they do so in a manner which does not endanger pedestrians. No number of a speed limit or objective standard is given. I'm paraphrasing the code there. So, slow enough so that you don't knock people over, I guess.
I live in the area. I think there is something to the notion that BHPD is more vehicle-friendly. If you've ever driven through the neighborhoods you'll notice that stop signs are really just slow-down signs, even when cops are around. Jogging is perilous.
Why do drivers presume that they own the road, not want to share it, AND THEN vote down measures to build bike lanes????!!!! This is just plain old-fashioned discrimination.
You think that's bad? I know of a woman who was riding her bike down a country road with a friend, when an asshole in a pickup truck decided that she and her cyclist friend were bowling pins. It was the middle of the afternoon in broad daylight, very little traffic and he purposefully ran into their rear tires, knocking them off the road into the ditch, first one, then the other and then sped off. The friend suffered a concussion and a broken arm, they never got the guy's license plate number.
On a related note, another cyclist in my town had a glass bottle hurdled at his head by a passing jerk in a pickup. Thankfully he was wearing a helmet.
Why do drivers presume that they own the road, not want to share it, AND THEN vote down measures to build bike lanes????!!!! This is just plain old-fashioned discrimination.
Officer testosterone and SUV B*&^) probably went and screwed at the nearest Dairy Queen after the whole incident. Notice that the subject is a graduate student pursuing her PhD and she has to deal with some ill-informed cop who reduces her to tears. Wow, this country sure is backwards.
It sounds like CA is a horrible place to bike to work/school. I'm glad I'll never go there. Luckily Daley loves bicyclists here in Chicago. I've never had any trouble like what I've seen described here. I guess people don't lie when they say California is full of weirdos. Sounds like their full of rich a-holes too.
Sounds like a bunch of jerks in LA. Makes me glad I live somewhere where folks can share the road with bikes and not tell them to "get on the sidewalk". Ignorant fools.
I have a bike cam up in SF. Definitely would have caught something..you can see some examples
http://www.bluoz.com/blog/index.php?/archives/76-the-bike-cam.html
http://www.bluoz.com/blog/index.php?/categories/11-cams
or you can search Youtube and Google vids for 'bike bullet cam'
get a hard drive recorder and you can go for hours
I bike to work and I hear some hilarious arguments from my bosses friends about how we have to maintain an out of control death spiral car culture. My favorite..."Some people are too fat to ride a bike."
Selfish fat lazy pigs would lose a little weight riding your bike instead of driving murderously along a freeway.
I wish I could sue them for messing with my lungs with their pollution but that won't be for a few more decades, if we are still here.
Beverly Hills will be too hot to comfortably support human life in 40 or 50 years so the problem will be solved for us. Yea for global warming!!!!
Watch out Alaska you are about to get slammed by out of control LA car drivers waiting to do to you what they did to Beverly Hills.
haven't you guys heard of critical mass? in SF and NYC a bunch (hundreds to thousands) of bicyclists get together for a bit of legal mass protest/chaos once a month. you should stage one for beverly hills. somewhere around wilshire and santa monica at say 6 pm on a friday would make a good statement.
signed...a former angeleno in nyc.
I've had similar experiences in Philly, except the police just do nothing. They write a report and then file it in the garbage...
These sorts of situations are why cars have break away mirrors and glass windows, and why bike locks make such great clubs.
The police may not be able to help, but I do a couple thou in damages to a car in about 4 good swings, all the while reminding said SUV owner that they are terrorist supporting ahole
It is often an excuse of drivers to say that cyclists are not following the rules. In any case, you owe other drivers 'care and caution' as a driver, regardless of whether they are in a car or a bike. In fact, the old rule of 'don't pick on people smaller than you' should really apply. That is, if you're feeling like an agressive ass on the road, why don't you try to run a bus or a tractor trailer off the road. Don't pick on bikes and walkers.
As I'm a driver and an avid cyclist, I try to follow the rules on my bike as much as I would in a car so that I don't discredit myself as a biker.
And to address the writer above who complains that bikes cut through traffic, read your CVC!!!!!!! Motorcycles and bicycles are allowed to cut lanes in California so long as they do it safely and within a reasonable speed differential to surrounding traffic. If you have any questions here, ask the CHP motorcops. They do it all the time, not because they are cops, but because they are motorcycles.
OK, let's all be safe out there!
I wish I was surprised by the BH cop's actions. Sadly, I'm not.