[*BCM*] Response to Vehicular Assault? (was: Open letter ...)

[Dionne, James]

Hi,

New to this group and I'm sure I'll see you all at the next ride.

Forget about the police. I was assaulted by a driver that cut me off and
we got into a verbal match. He then grabbed me by the throat. When I
called to a witness to call the cops he promptly let go and screwed out
of the area. I was able to get the license plate. The witness just
strolled away. 

I called the Lynnfield police and they dispatched a cruiser. I explained
the situation to the officer and he said there was nothing he could do
as I was not hurt (is that how it works in a domestic assault?). then he
start questioning me about the road I was on, him stating that it was
restricted to bicycles (a bunch of bull). Anyways I made a report to the
registry requesting a hearing. I also contacted Mass Bike and was told
that a representative would accompany me to the hearing (they never
showed). The hearing person was an ex-cop and clearly anti-bicycle and
seemed disturbed that I don't drive and that I cycle everywhere I go.

Motorist are given the benefit of doubt whenever it comes to a
bicyclist. We are a cancer on the roads. I have given up any hope of
this changing. I am tired of the crap we as cyclist have to deal with on
the roads.

Got hit in January by a guy leaving dunkin donuts who claimed he didn't
see me. I had the right of way, my bike totaled. What happened to him?
Nothing.

OK, enough of my rant. Sorry if I didn't make much sense.

JD




-----Original Message-----
From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org
[mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org] On Behalf Of
Jym Dyer
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 1:46 PM
To: Boston CM
Subject: [*BCM*] Response to Vehicular Assault? (was: Open letter ...)

> And how should one behave when say... an aggressive
> motorcycle is trying to bob and weave their way through
> the mass on charles street near the gardens?

=v= I've been wondering about this for a while.  What's the best
way to stop a motorist in the process of committing vehicular
assault?  The car is running, it may have already hit someone,
it may be about to hit someone, what do you do?  The goal is
to stop the assault and, ideally, not be arrested for doing so
(or, if arrested, not convicted).

=v= I've followed a few of these incidents over the years (not
all of them involving Critical Mass), and Seattle's follows an
all too typical pattern:  those who damaged a precious, precious
car are thrown in jail, but the vehicular assaulter isn't even
charged with anything.  Some judges and juries follow the lead
of the cops here, and despite evidence of self-defense (or the
defense of others), are more upset about damage to cars than
bodily harm to bicyclists.

=v= Actually harming the driver is worse, of course.  Trying to
wrestle the keys away would seem to be the most direct approach,
but is arguably assault and battery.  (Getting anywhere near the
driver at all is something like a mortal sin.)

=v= So, what's the right thing to do?  Have Eddie Murphy shove
potatoes up the exhaust pipe?
    <_Jym_>
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