Subj : Dash cams
To   : AUGUST ABOLINS
From : JOE MACKEY
Date : Thu Jan 07 2021 08:25:14

  Aug wrote --

>  JM>   He said that bikes were to be stopped at red lights,
>  JM>   WALKED through intersections, and then ridden onto the
>  JM>   next corner. 

> I remember that part. That's the way it actually was  
> communicated. 

  I never recall any such ordinance here.
  And its against the law to ride a bike on a sidewalk.

> I don't see anyone get off their bikes or miraculously rise from  
> their wheel chairs to cross an intersection.

  We have some people who ride those wheelchairs in the street.  The reason
they give is the sidewalks are "uneven".
  We've had a few of them in the street get hit.
  One I remember vividly was a student at the university, a real nice guy,
who was crossing an intercession when a woman, yakking on the phone, in a
big SUV, ran over him and dragged he and his chair nearly a block. He and the
chair were tangled up under her 
  He was in bad shape and spent some time in hospital.
  No idea whatever happened to her, charges, etc.  I know she was charged
with hit and run but don't recall anything more.

>  JM>    Don't get smart with me boy, he growled, and asked to see
>  JM>    my license. He then looked it, across the street and back
>  JM>    to the license, gave me a dirty look and handed it back
>  JM>    to me.  :)
> 
> I don't understand.. WHY did he stop you?  What did you do wrong  
> in his eyes?  Is it because you rode across an intersection  
> instead of walk?  If the latter.. did he not charge you?

  The latter.  No charge, just a warning.
  I never had any problems before or after this event.
  I've been in a couple of accidents, generally at intersections.
  One time a woman turned right in front of me and no time to take evasive
action, I slammed on the brakes and dropped the bike.
  She was stopped by an onlooker and at first said she didn't see me, then
it was she was trying to get around me.
  OK lady, which was it?
  That was the time I busted my left shoulder and cost me about over $1000
in hospital/doctors bills.
  (I had no insurance and paid cash.  When the bills came the charges were
all half of what insurance would have been charged.)
  I was told by a cop friend I should have just run into the car.
  About 10 days later a similar thing happened to another bicyclist and he
did hit the car.  The car had $3000 in damages and the driver was cited with
a hefty fine.  The guy on the bike?  He only had a bent front wheel.
  At a red light I always try to get at the end of their hood so if they do
look they can't help but see me.  Lots of times motorists turn without
looking. In this town a pedestrian is either a member of the quick or the dead.
   Joe
  
   

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