just so you know i don't hate on el lay. the mama texican showed me a link yesterday to an article that describes the most progressive law i've seen concerning bikes and drivers.
the new law makes it a crime for drivers to threaten cyclists verbally or phyiscally. as i was just harassed last week by a horrible and vindictive UPS driver for having the audacity to be already going on the turnaround when he wanted to go when he was stopped, i have to say this law is highly needed EVERYWHERE. (btw, i thought about chasing him, but then thinking of the grievance process and the fact that they are unionized, etc made me wonder what the most effective way to complain about/mentally kick his ass it is...i'm still waiting for the brilliant idea to pop into my head...i have one idea, but is not quick)
the LA times says...
The ordinance, which backers described as the toughest of its kind in the nation, makes it a crime for drivers to threaten cyclists verbally or physically, and allows victims of harassment to sue in civil court without waiting for the city to press criminal charges. (emphasis via the CTX)
read more about it at the link above. and WAY TO GO EL LAY!
HT to the mama texican.
It sounds good in theory, but if the cyclist has to hire a lawyer, gather evidence etc to SUE IN CIVIL COURT, is that really much of a deterrent to harassment?
ReplyDeleteJust wondering...
true, but maybe will make the jump from civil to criminal court?
ReplyDeletealso plenty of people do that in other civil law areas (ie, not biking), and is clearly not a deterrent for them since we (meaning angelenos in this case) clearly live in a litigious american society.
Your welcome. Tu Mama
ReplyDeleteI believe the dutch have a law that puts the blame on the motorist in cyclist car accidents,
ReplyDeleteI always wonder what is, or is not, going through the minds of people when they decide to scream at cyclists from their cars. The last few times this has happened to me, the drivers have nearly crashed because they were so intent on screaming the anti-bicycle manifesto at me. I doubt it would be worth my energy to go after any of them on court, but if they were on the job and in a company vehicle at the time... Well, then it's on!
ReplyDeleteSic 'em, CTX!!