Mandeville Verdict Observation
Thread started by
Joe Borfo at 11.4.09 - 11:06 am
Mr. Rollers and I went on a big ride last night in the N.E. LA area, and he had made an observation to which I agreed with. That observation was that drivers on the road were giving us the utmost respect as fellow traffic on the road. There were even friendly thumbs up and peace signs from drivers as they passed us safely on the left lane.
From this experience, I have a feeling that the Thompson case verdict and the media attention it has brought has greatly influenced the behavior of a lot of people driving in how they now treat or think of cyclists on the streets.
This may be a passing phase, or this may even be a false observation and we were just lucky to deal with such nice people on the road last night. However, if there is any truth to this observation, it makes me wonder if this is the beginning of a new era for us here in Los Angeles and beyond about cyclists rights.
Do you think that the Mandeville Canyon Incident trial has opened peoples eyes to the rights of cyclists on the streets?
How can we continue to maintain this awareness and promote more people to want to ride the LA streets more often as a means of transportation?
What can we do as Ridazz and as members of the cycling communities to promote this potential change in thinking towards the acceptance of the growing trend of more and more bikes on the streets?
reply
Do you think that the Mandeville Canyon Incident trial has opened peoples eyes to the rights of cyclists on the streets?
--Possibly, but how would we know unless we asked those drivers why they were being friendly? My ride to work this morning... seemed like the usual, honk, speed by, angry-look.
I would say, you would have to encounter the same drivers everyday, and notice a change in attitude (post-case-verdict), but even then...how do you the case had any influence? What if they just found out their lovely neighbor commutes?
md211.4.09 - 11:44 am
reply
Yeah.
I guess I'm just wondering if others have noticed anything different in attitudes.
And so far, from your own account, there isn't much evidence.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by md2
11.4.09 - 11:50 am
reply
This is far from scientific, but I noticed and sensed the same thing. I was only on the road for about an hour yesterday in the day time, but it seemed like I was being given more room while they passed. Just seemed like they were giving more consideration to us on the road.
I was just thinking today that it would have made life on the road a living hell if Dr. Death won that case.
User111.4.09 - 11:54 am
reply
Okay, so we were not alone in this thinking, as unscientific as it may be.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by User1
11.4.09 - 11:57 am
reply
i didnt mean to discount the discussion.
I just dont think people pay enough attention to the news anyway... not only that but a lot of people make for some interesting information processors.
They might think... fuck, I hate cyclist.. but I wouldnt purposefully slam on my brakes to teach them a lesson. If those are the people we hope to target, then Im sure its very few.
The others... the majority, I think, will assume their general anger is justified. They will still act/drive the same, because...well, they're not doing anything as crazy as Dr. Road Rage.
Thats why i noted in another thread... I hope the news cycles treat this as more than a case of road rage. Because people will look for a scape goat to not check their own feelings and attitude towards others.
Yeah, but I'n not trying to hit them (still were left wondering how the courts will handle the cases that are not such a blatant attempt to hurt cyclist).
md2 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.4.09 - 11:59 am
reply
fuck it... maybe you guys are right...
Im taking the helmet off on my way home this evening
md2 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
11.4.09 - 12:01 pm
reply
Thanks for putting this down so succinctly Borfo. Obviously one night's anecdotal observations don't count for a great deal in the overall scheme of things, and I'm not enough of a naive optimist to think that things will change over night.
People on their morning (or evening) commutes are generally at their worst. As it's been pointed out, they're not just assholes to bicyclists, they're assholes to everyone.
While the Dr. Thompson case is only one instance, the jury sent a clear message that his behavior was completely unjustified. Perhaps it will help some people become more aware that they are at the controls of a lethal weapon and that driving isn't a video game. Mistakes, inattention and hostile driving have flesh & blood consequences. On a bike or in a car, we're still human beings.
Given the public's short attention span, perhaps this will be forgotten by next week, but I think it's up to us to seize on this opportunity and generate some momentum for the rights of all users of our public thoroughfares.
mr rollers11.4.09 - 12:05 pm
reply
I think in general the public is ignorant to cyclists and only a small percentage of drivers have even heard about this case. If the benefit is a small perceived improvement in behavior then that is good. But I think it would be hard to correlate the case with the reality of riders in the street.
I hope it does shed light on the plight of everyday commuters, but as the bicyclists get attention it will also bring attention to the larger group of drivers that disdain said cyclists.
I think in most cases drivers don't think much about cyclists until they get into a situation where they have to interact with them.
Foldie11.4.09 - 12:07 pm
reply
i don't think the changing attitudes are a product of that single case, but i do think the case has made an impact
cyclists all across the city are making great efforts to change peoples' attitudes and i think it's working
i think we need to continue our efforts, and in some areas, step them up!
-educate cyclists how to ride safely and respectfully
-educate drivers how to drive with cyclists
-go after people who assault or endanger cyclists (legally)
-facilitate bicycle lifestyle by providing resources for cyclists
-promote bicycles and the benefit to the individual and the community
-i'm sure we can think of more!
snowcone11.4.09 - 12:12 pm
reply
What about some posting around town reminding drivers about Dr. Road Rage.
Kind of like the posters RB just made... but you know... just saying...
what would be a good posting?
md2 responding to a
comment by snowcone
11.4.09 - 12:19 pm
reply
nah... that would come off as a threat. it should be more of a cautionary note.
providing a SHORT (quick read) news story (summary?) to people would work best
it should highlight what the guy did wrong and how stupid he was for endangering peoples lives and hurting people needlessly.
i'm not sure how we should distribute it though.
snowcone responding to a
comment by md2
11.4.09 - 12:22 pm
reply
snowcone,
you're a weird fucker... what are you saying "nah" to?
You just posted a suggestion.
md2 responding to a
comment by snowcone
11.4.09 - 12:25 pm
reply
i was saying no to your idea of posting huge posters to tell people about the case
but now i'm just confused... so yeah ;]
snowcone responding to a
comment by md2
11.4.09 - 12:27 pm
reply
The mainstream public doesn't really care about stories like this. You also must understand the saturation that "we" in the bicycling community have. We live eat and breathe community and bicycles. This is so far from the norm. Just ride down Glen Oaks in Glendale on a saturday morning. I believe you might see a fraction of the public eye notice a story like this, let alone change their daily action/attitude from some thing as measly as some guy gong to jail. He didn't even kill anyone.
ask yourself this:
Who the hell is the balloon boy? He is allready forgotten in my opinion. However, if I lived eat and slept the $hit they feed the general public on the nightly news, I would run some cyclists over too.
parlorbikes11.4.09 - 12:31 pm
reply
"but now i'm just confused."
--you should post that on the "ROTW: Barleye" thread. You seem to know more than everyone who has been around longer, so just chalk it up to confusion
md2 responding to a
comment by snowcone
11.4.09 - 12:34 pm
reply
yesterday on my commute, I noticed drivers giving me a bit room. Or could it be the ugly jersey I was wearing.
I also tried to be the most responsible predictable cyclists I could, didn't run one red light (not even on the orangeline path).
thegodofthor11.4.09 - 1:51 pm
reply
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
