Interesting perspective. It reminds me of the latest tv episode of John Stossel which highlighted the recent rise in nazi-like raids in the homes of suspected drug dealers by local law enforcement. In 100% of the raids studied, the suspect's dog was shot by police. People surveyed on the raids almost invariably didn't care about the sudpect being shot, but they all expressed shock at the dog being shot. I would assume you join with these people.

The 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted to preclude psychopath government officials from, say, running over a cyclist as punishment for rolling through a stop sign. I hope you're a private sector guy.

You were not present. You have no personal knowledge that the driver was at fault. That is the problem. We only have a story told by one side.

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Just for general information. I was hit by and left by the side of the road by a motorist. For a long time I wanted him punished. But I got over it.

That is a silly statement. "An Old Guy" made an idiotic statement. But, why the hell shouldn't someone be shocked about a cop shooting a poor dog because his owner warranted a house raiding? A dog is murdered because some piece of shit is selling a bit of drugs... As long as the guy was not innocent, HELL yes I am more worried about a dog being murdered than a drug dealer who has his house raided and is shot because he threatened the police officer's life... Or in your fantasy is the dealer innocent and was reaching for gum or yawning??

Old Guy's blasé attitude toward a cyclist being run over because in his mind, the cyclist had some culpability in setting off the driver,

While I'd rather see them tranquilize or otherwise incapacitate the dog, I can understand the need. The cops have no guarantee that the dog isn't attack trained, and I'd rather see the dog shot than a cop torn up.

John

That depends. Perhaps the kittens did something really bad to make god angry.

Never said the bicyclists did anything wrong. All I said was we were not there and have no idea of what happened.

I have seen bicyclists, racers, amateurs and pros riding on the road. They fall down. Without any help they fall down. They even knock each other down. Sometimes riding alone they fall off the road and die. They don't make a big deal out of a bit of road rash or even broken bones. But if a bicyclist is inconvenienced and there is a car within a mile - the driver is at fault and needs to be punished.

You get your opinions. I get mine. With your opinions, I would prefer for you to not ride near me.

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As I recall following too close is against the law. Maybe we should put bicyclists who follow to closely in jail.

Obstruction of traffic is when you are proceding at less than the posted speed and 5 vehicles are behind you. At least that is the view of the courts near me. By that definition the group was obstructing traffic - themselves, and had some obligations.

So now we have traffic violations. The bicyclist who told this story admitted that the bicyclists were violating these laws. I bet that is their practice - they simply ignore the law when they are out riding.

I don't mind the law ignoring bicyclists ignoring the law, but to thinnk they are blameless is just wrong.

Never said the bicyclists did anything wrong. All I said was we were not there and have no idea of what happened.

I have seen bicyclists, racers, amateurs and pros riding on the road. They fall down. Without any help they fall down. They even knock each other down. Sometimes riding alone they fall off the road and die. They don't make a big deal out of a bit of road rash or even broken bones. But if a bicyclist is inconvenienced and there is a car within a mile - the driver is at fault and needs to be punished.

You get your opinions. I get mine. With your opinions, I would prefer for you to not ride near me.

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As I recall following too close is against the law. Maybe we should put bicyclists who follow to closely in jail.

Obstruction of traffic is when you are proceding at less than the posted speed and 5 vehicles are behind you. At least that is the view of the courts near me. By that definition the group was obstructing traffic - themselves, and had some obligations.

So now we have traffic violations. The bicyclist who told this story admitted that the bicyclists were violating these laws. I bet that is their practice - they simply ignore the law when they are out riding.

I don't mind the law ignoring bicyclists ignoring the law, but to thinnk they are blameless is just wrong.

Never said the bicyclists did anything wrong. All I said was we were not there and have no idea of what happened.

I have seen bicyclists, racers, amateurs and pros riding on the road. They fall down. Without any help they fall down. They even knock each other down. Sometimes riding alone they fall off the road and die. They don't make a big deal out of a bit of road rash or even broken bones. But if a bicyclist is inconvenienced and there is a car within a mile - the driver is at fault and needs to be punished.

You get your opinions. I get mine. With your opinions, I would prefer for you to not ride near me.

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As I recall following too close is against the law. Maybe we should put bicyclists who follow to closely in jail.

Obstruction of traffic is when you are proceding at less than the posted speed and 5 vehicles are behind you. At least that is the view of the courts near me. By that definition the group was obstructing traffic - themselves, and had some obligations.

So now we have traffic violations. The bicyclist who told this story admitted that the bicyclists were violating these laws. I bet that is their practice - they simply ignore the law when they are out riding.

I don't mind the law ignoring bicyclists ignoring the law, but to thinnk they are blameless is just wrong.

Never said the bicyclists did anything wrong. All I said was we were not there and have no idea of what happened.

Obstruction of traffic is when you are proceding at less than the posted speed and 5 vehicles are behind you. At least that is the view of the courts near me. By that definition the group was obstructing traffic - themselves, and had some obligations.

So now we have traffic violations. The bicyclist who told this story admitted that the bicyclists were violating these laws. I bet that is their practice - they simply ignore the law when they are out riding.

I just think he's quite a good troll. Not so outrageous that you completely ignore him, but he makes (just) ridiculous enough statements that you feel obliged to at least say something. But I suspect he will be ignored more and more going forward.

I started ignoring him after he defended the Ass Hat who was following the two cyclists from Colorado and continually blowing his horn.

And I quote from Mr Old Guy...."The horn was annoying. As it is intended to be. The driver kept a reasonable distance certainly more distance than bicyclists keep. I don't see harrassment."

Never said the bicyclists did anything wrong. All I said was we were not there and have no idea of what happened.

I have seen bicyclists, racers, amateurs and pros riding on the road. They fall down. Without any help they fall down. They even knock each other down. Sometimes riding alone they fall off the road and die. They don't make a big deal out of a bit of road rash or even broken bones. But if a bicyclist is inconvenienced and there is a car within a mile - the driver is at fault and needs to be punished.

You get your opinions. I get mine. With your opinions, I would prefer for you to not ride near me.

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As I recall following too close is against the law. Maybe we should put bicyclists who follow to closely in jail.

Obstruction of traffic is when you are proceding at less than the posted speed and 5 vehicles are behind you. At least that is the view of the courts near me. By that definition the group was obstructing traffic - themselves, and had some obligations.

So now we have traffic violations. The bicyclist who told this story admitted that the bicyclists were violating these laws. I bet that is their practice - they simply ignore the law when they are out riding.

I don't mind the law ignoring bicyclists ignoring the law, but to thinnk they are blameless is just wrong.

Just curious, and maybe this gets answered later in the thread, but if you guys were on the right, how did he sideswipe somebody with the driver's side door?