2 road rage incidents in PBC/Broward in last 24 hours. (Miami: buy, law)

[Trusses]

Mob of angry bicyclists charged with assault on Delray Beach driver: 'I didn't even know it was coming' (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/08/20/0820_cyclist.html?imw=Y - broken link) - a guy in his Lexus convertible "honks" at the cyclists to let them know he was passing them? I dont buy it. He got impatient I guarantee. I dont understand why people in cars act like this when they know people on a bike are a heck of a lot more vulnerable. Witnesses say the man in the Lexus hit one of the bikers as he passed the group, but hasn't been confirmed yet.

BSO: Hit-and-run driver kills woman in Dania Beach - Breaking News - Broward - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/breaking-news/story/1196365.html - broken link) - this story is very sad.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

^^ there is more to this story coming out today, but as a bicycle commuter, I knew there was before this....
The angry old man admits he might have 'bumped' the back wheel of the bike when they were stopped.
Its a bad situation for everybody. Some of the roadies are very arrogant and dont abide by the rules of law or common courtesy, but on the flip side, car drivers are way more violent towards bicycles and act on it regularly. Neither car nor bikes tend to obey the laws but the difference is bikes dont hit and kill stuff, regularly.

[Trusses]

^^^ Yup, that was my point really. These guys are on bikes and this man in his Lexus convertible is a 3000lb (or whatever weight) vehicle. You dont mess with people on bikes.

[housingcrashsurvivor]

i bike a lot and i've been clipped, fortunately without serious incident (knock, um, pavement?). motor vehicle drivers are required to give bikes 3 feet of clearance when passing but rarely do and they likely don't even know the law. most, like the last one who clipped me, are pretty much brain dead. but as the saying goes, you can't (or shouldn't) beat a brain dead driver, or something like that.

the true shame of this story is not the driver's poorly executed pass nor the cyclists' resultant poor behavior but rather the palm beach post's poor judgment in passing opportunity to educate readers that florida law requires automobiles give bikes a safety margin of 3 feet when passing.

please share the road. thank you.

http://www.sharetheroad.org/lawenf/LEG604onl.pdf (broken link)

Driver's Handbook recommends that a motorist passing a cyclist maintain a clearance of 3 feet.

Bike safety law in effect | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader

A state law went into effect Oct. 1 to protect Poyner and other bicyclists, requiring drivers to leave at least a 3-foot gap when passing bicyclists. Drivers who break the law may be fined.

[Charles22]

Wow. I'm lucky if I get a one foot gap. Just as long as they don't hit me or ride my tail forever.

[vigo]

Sorry, but I just don't get the whole idea of a bunch of grown men dressing up in Lance Armstrong costumes and riding 4 or 5 abreast in a regular traffic lane where the speed limit is 40 mph, holding up a line of cars behind them. I've also seen them riding in the regular car lane when there's a perfectly adequate bike lane on the side of the road. Instead of riding within its lines, they ride just left of the line, then they get pissed when we honk? Gimme a break.

[Trusses]

Respect the riders. They are everywhere, in cities and states across America. But in S FL it's pretty evident that the dont get the same respect. People are rude, impatient, honk and curse, and even hit them. But it's S FL, why would they think this wouldn't be an issue?

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Trusses

Respect the riders. They are everywhere, in cities and states across America. But in S FL it's pretty evident that the dont get the same respect. People are rude, impatient, honk and curse, and even hit them. But it's S FL, why would they think this wouldn't be an issue?

Because it's South Florida the cyclists are also rude and are probably riding to their next burglary site. Then they are going to cut in front of you at Publix and start speaking Spanish to the rude cashier.

[harttogo]

I admire the bicycle riders and realize no matter how rude they may be, they are on a 25 pound bicycle and I am in a 2500 pound car. This obligates me to respect the rider or else cause death or serious injury. I Wish I could join them. But the problem I have is passing bicyclists on a narrow two lane road with no bicycle lane, like Orange Drive, just when a line of cars are coming from the other direction. If I courteously pass the bicyclist I risk a head on collision with other cars coming from the other direction. To avoid this I don`t pass the bicyclist until the line of cars from the other direction is gone. In the meantime I am following this bicyclist at 25 mph with a line of irritated motorists honking their horns at me because the speed limit is 45 and most people go even faster.

[Trusses]

[quote=compelled to reply;10444946]Because it's South Florida the cyclists are also rude and are probably riding to their next burglary site. PROBABLY NOT. Then they are going to cut in front of you at Publix and start speaking Spanish to the rude cashier. PROBABLY.