Quote:
Originally Posted by FishermanTim
TV stations must be hurting for stories and/or reporters when they broadcast self-made youtube videos as news?
The latest was a story about a motorist harassing a pair of cyclist riding along the side of a road.
It "just so happens" that the cyclists both had cameras while riding, and even though the motorist appeared to be the instigator in the clip, I would like to know why the cyclist were carrying cameras while they rode? I know when I ride I keep my hands on the handlebars and keep my eyes on the road, and not on a person driving behind me.
This makes me think that maybe, just maybe, these cyclist may have provoked the driver BEFORE they started filming so they could capture the drivers reaction on video.
I know that most cyclist adhere to the basic rules of the road, and don't create problems. There are always cyclists and drivers that just don't get it as well.
Once again, I can't understand WHY they were videoing their bike ride, unless they knew or expected something would happen (something they instigated before the video was started).
Seems like there are more and more youtube idiots wanting their miniscule 15 minutes of fame, regardless of how they get it or who gets hurt in the process!
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If you spend a lot of time on the road or have friends that spend a lot of time on the road on a bicycle or motorcycle, it was an entirely worthy story. Unprovoked attacks or harassment, whether it's just an intentionally close pass or some horn mixed in or more are not common, but they aren't uncommon either.
Pulling out a cell phone, calling the PD, or making a video is fairly easy to do, especially for an experienced cyclist who can probably ride no hands with ease. I and many others always have cell phones close and ready to go. I even have a hot key to load up my video program to record some idiocy.
It's an effective way to fight back against this sort of thing and doesn't require engaging the offender in any aggressive way, and since most can tell exactly what you're doing it seems to quickly diffuse a situation, at least in my experience. I don't always record, but I will whip the phone out to look like I am and a news story like this will only strengthen the effect.
It should be noted the driver certainly isn't making any claims that he was provoked - he seems to be taking his well deserved tickets and citations with out any protest.
The effective prosecution in this scenario was well watched in the cycling community. I think we'll see more of it.