Comments on: Regarding the Sentencing of Dr. Christopher Thompson http://amateurearthling.org/2009/11/19/regarding-the-sentencing-of-dr-christopher-thompson/ We're all in this together. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:35:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://amateurearthling.org/2009/11/19/regarding-the-sentencing-of-dr-christopher-thompson/comment-page-1/#comment-932 Matt Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:49:20 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=1734#comment-932 I support cycling - always have. But this comment is innane: "'I didn’t see him', as drivers often say after an accident involving a cyclist, is not a valid excuse; it is evidence of their dereliction of this responsibility, a responsibility that all road users have to be aware of their surroundings, and the potential consequences of their actions." Far too often, I've witnessed self-righteous cyclists "claim their equality on the road" by riding with indifference to whether their movements are anticipated/seen by drivers. The fact is this: cars constitute the vast majority of road traffic, and as a result a drivers' eye is conditioned to seeing larger obstacles. The onus is on cyclists - the equal minority - to do anything and everything certain to make sure they are as visible as possible... and to ride with excessive caution. The law may not require this, but common sense does. I'm sorry, in my experience LA cyclists are far too arrogant on this issue. I support cycling – always have. But this comment is innane: “‘I didn’t see him’, as drivers often say after an accident involving a cyclist, is not a valid excuse; it is evidence of their dereliction of this responsibility, a responsibility that all road users have to be aware of their surroundings, and the potential consequences of their actions.”

Far too often, I’ve witnessed self-righteous cyclists “claim their equality on the road” by riding with indifference to whether their movements are anticipated/seen by drivers. The fact is this: cars constitute the vast majority of road traffic, and as a result a drivers’ eye is conditioned to seeing larger obstacles. The onus is on cyclists – the equal minority – to do anything and everything certain to make sure they are as visible as possible… and to ride with excessive caution. The law may not require this, but common sense does. I’m sorry, in my experience LA cyclists are far too arrogant on this issue.

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