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‘Road Rage’ Case Highlights Cyclist Vs. Driver Tension

NPR has an article related to the recent Thompson-Road Rage case:

Bicycling magazine called it “the road rage incident heard ’round the cycling world.”

A driver in Los Angeles was recently convicted of using his car as a weapon against two cyclists. And the case is focusing attention on the often uneasy relationship between motorists and bicyclists who have to share the road.

What is interesting is how this is being used to highlight bike safety awareness nation-wide.  From the article and it’s comments, you can tell that the anti-cycling sentiment is strong.  The laws clearly state that bikes are traffic, just as valid as any automobile.  But it seems many drivers don’t feel this way:

“When you pull up alongside them and ask them to stay out of your way, they yell at you,” he said. “They’re extremely provocative, they’re asking for trouble, and this is not the worst case that’s going to happen. Someone’s going to get killed, and to be frank with you, the residents aren’t going to feel too bad about it.”

Nice choice of words, has anyone ever been asked to get out of the way by a driver who wasn’t screaming obscenities at you? Never minding the point that a driver has no right to ask or tell a cyclist to stay out of the way.

via ‘Road Rage’ Case Highlights Cyclist Vs. Driver Tension : NPR.