Cop hits cyclist, issues ticket

[Pauper66]

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=10154901

Bicyclist gets ticket after being hit by police car


By Leland Kim -

KAILUA (KHNL) - A car hits a bicyclist at a crosswalk in Kailua Wednesday morning. It's the latest in a string of auto vs. pedestrian accidents on the island, but this one's a bit different.

[LouC]

Cyclist pulls in front of Cop and gets hit on unregistered bike and gets a taste of the Nanny State.

[RogerDodger]

Accusations of cop bashing in 3 . . 2 . . 1 . .

[Alaric]

He might get her for the bike being unregistered, but in my state (and probably most states)when a car strikes a bicyclist the insurance of the driver of the car is responsible to pay the damage. The fact that a bike is un-registered does not mean that its OK to hit the bike and its rider. Since her bike was apparently damaged the city needs to pony up for the property damage.

[Pauper66]

A bicycle is considered a vehicle here if it is on the streets, and therefor bound by all the same laws as any other vehicle. She also should not have been riding in the crosswalk.

But that doesn' absolve the officer of any wrongdoing, imo.

If a ticket is going to be issued to the cyclist, it should be from a nuetral officer-not the one involved in the accident.

[MrShotShot]

Crosswalks are for pedestrians. Bicycles are vehicles and should be operated in traffic just like automobiles and subject to all of the sames laws and regulations as automobiles.

[gwhughes]

Who's ever heard of getting a ticket while riding a bike?

[sgtmac_46]

Is it legal to cross an intersection on a bicycle in front of traffic in this manner?

If the answer is yes, then it's a bad ticket...

If the answer is no, then there's nothing to bash.......dodger. ;)


This ain't really quantum physics, folks......simple question, simple answer.

[sironin]

Crosswalks are for pedestrians. Bicycles are vehicles and should be operated in traffic just like automobiles and subject to all of the sames laws and regulations as automobiles.

She wasn't riding in the crosswalk. She does deserve the unregistered ticket, but the officer also needs to pony up for being at fault. She had the right of way at the time of the accident.

[Pauper66]

Two ways to properly craoss an intersection with a bicycle:

1. To be as far right in the lane as possible, crossing in accordance with traffic controls.

2. in a crosswalk, dismounted and pushing the bike.

[Pauper66]

I had to re-read the article. Sounds like she crossed the right way.

And we've had the bike reg. law for years here. It's only $15 and you can take care of it at the bike shop when purchasing. Otherwise, you go to the DMV.

My bikes are registered. Partially because I have to, but more so that when I have an incident with a car, I know I'm covered. Drivers are idiots here and NOT bike friendly at all.

[RogerDodger]

Is it legal to cross an intersection on a bicycle in front of traffic in this manner?

If the answer is yes, then it's a bad ticket...

If the answer is no, then there's nothing to bash.......dodger. ;)


This ain't really quantum physics, folks......simple question, simple answer.

The ticket was not for crossing the intersection illegally. The ticket was for not having the bicycle registered. Everyone seems to agree the bicycle had the right of way.

I think the OP's point was that after the officer struck the woman on the bike, he seemed more concerned with whether her bicycle was registered instead of the fact that he had just, you know, struck a woman riding a bicycle. :rolleyes:

[Pauper66]

I think the OP's point was that after the officer struck the woman on the bike, he seemed more concerned with whether her bicycle was registered instead of the fact that he had just, you know, struck a woman riding a bicycle. :rolleyes:

That, and in my opinion, the officer was at fault for hitting her, and the ticket was a bully/distraction tactic meant to intimidate her into not pursuing anything.

Also to consider-the insurance POV. One party is issued a citation, the other is not. Which way will the insurance company rule?

[gdoane]

Ms. Emily Palmer works at a veterinary clinic, a fundamental part in the registration of dogs and cats as pets. For her to fail in her obligations to register is a form of hypocrisy which she should be called on.

The condition of her bicycle was deplorable. The collision didn't cause those bald weather-rotted tires and rampant rust damage. Just looking at the hunk of junk made me want a tetanus shot.

I frankly couldn't believe that she was wearing work scrubs for a day of medical work and riding a pile of dirty junk like that. If I took a pet to a veterinarian and saw the staff taking care of their vehicles as badly as this worker took care of her bicycle, there's no way I'd let such slobs give medical attention to a dog.

The topper though was when she said she wanted another bicycle, but "It doesn't have to be a good bike, but one that's rideable would be nice."

That tells the whole tale right there. Doesn't have to be a good bike? No WONDER she's riding around on an unregistered pile of junk! People who don't take care of their vehicles don't belong on the road. I'd have been ashamed to have my bike shown on TV in that condition. I wouldn't admit to riding it to work, especially not to a sterile professional environment like a clinic.

She not only deserves the ticket, she needs to be taken off the road until she can learn how to properly maintain a roadworthy vehicle.