Hit and Run Sideswiped on Riverside
Thread started by
trickmilla at 05.27.09 - 3:09 pm
Not me. but a good friend.
Last night. Riverside Dr. Rider rubbed by car. Rider went down. Car went on.
No plates, no id.
Just another reckless asshole who got away with it.
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i was just telling raquel last night how much i hate riding down riverside drive. i'd rather roll through frogtown.
revolutionary05.27.09 - 3:18 pm
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fuck, this same thing happened to me a month and a half ago. in a four lane street! fucking asshole couldn't switch lanes. it happened so fast i had no chance to get the plates or make of the car. i still have pain in my shoulder cos of it. i remember walking into a store afterwards with blood all over my hands, tripping people out.
i hope your friend's all right.
coldcut05.27.09 - 3:19 pm
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this happened in sunland, on foothill blvd.
assholes everywhere.
coldcut05.27.09 - 3:21 pm
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These Hit and Runs don't seem to happen when we ride in groups. Don't ya think?
All these accidents are when riders are solo. Except for Monday's Wolfpack. The group accidents are usually a driver who has gone all aggro and trying to cause trouble. I don't know. The number of incidents are just way too high lately.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by coldcut
05.27.09 - 3:24 pm
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I trust everyone had good lights and shit?
User1 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
05.27.09 - 3:29 pm
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there was a hit and run on wolfpack a while back
i think they got a partial plate and description.
dude was never found.
but fuck,
they had the plates of the dude that hit Jen Diamond a couple of years back but no face id. i'm pretty sure they just talked to the guy and let him go.
This shit needs to stop!
trickmilla responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
05.27.09 - 3:38 pm
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wow, what time?
we were in that vicinity and Griffith Park around 1030ish-11:45 ish
sciencefriction05.27.09 - 3:44 pm
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Are there more incidents occurring or are people just reporting them more and more?
Jen Diamond's story still really bothers me. The kid who owned the car said that "he was asleep at his friends house, and someone took his car with out asking, and whoever took it, hit Jen"
Nobody was ever prosecuted.
unbelievable.
Mook responding to a
comment by trickmilla
05.27.09 - 3:49 pm
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I hate riding on Riverside too, no stop signs and few traffic lights make for a high speed roadway. I go threw Frog town 90% of the time.
Mook05.27.09 - 3:51 pm
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what part of riverside are we talking about, exactly? i like taking it more than san fernando. fuuuuuuuuck san fernando.
ruinedbyidiots05.27.09 - 3:59 pm
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most of the time no... but there was a hit and run on Wolfpack a couple years ago... dude took off down riverside, ran a light, got on the 5 fwy entering on the
off-ramp came back out and took off to parts unknown.... we didnt get shit for plates and the street was empty, there was no way to catch the motherfucker.
hearing about Jen DIamond's story kills me because I know this is the same fate I'm heading towards with my case.
THIS IS FUCKING BULLSHIT.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
05.27.09 - 4:04 pm
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yeah, i've noticed that. it always is some crazy motherfucker that decides to go after riders during group rides.
when riders are hit solo and left for dead it makes me wonder about the sanity of all car drivers.
coldcut05.27.09 - 4:06 pm
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it's simple. we live in a fucking selfish society. everyone is thinking about themselves and if you can get away with something it's ok. the math makes sense. it's far easier to hit someone and run than to get caught drunk hitting someone.... and it's fucking hard to prove someone was driving a car involved in a hit and run. it's bullshit.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by coldcut
05.27.09 - 4:12 pm
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I remember reading Jen's story when Lars first posted it. That scenario has always freaked me out. You're riding home & say nite nite to your sweetie. You make a left & he make a right and you're all on your merry way home. BLAMO!
yea. thats always freaked me out.
maybe i should stop saying BLAMO.
sorry. :(
revolutionary05.27.09 - 4:23 pm
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yeah. it's fucking bullshit and it's sad.
coldcut responding to a
comment by Roadblock
05.27.09 - 4:24 pm
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The more I hear about these incidents, the more I'm wanting to get a CCW from the ATF.
This Riverside Drive sounds just about as bad as Bear Valley Rd and Mojave Drive up here.
Multiple lanes, long distances between stop lights/signs, and way too many people with over-powered vehicles.
I always thought about this idea of installing "Leadfoot-activated" speedbumps along problematic roadways.
Essentially, sensors are placed every 1/2 mile with speedbumps every 2 miles.
If some jerk-off speeds away from an accident like this, they'll hit the speedbump at high-velocity and go flying out of control.
Hell for them, if they survive.
bentstrider05.27.09 - 4:55 pm
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How would a firearm be useful in this situation? You'll get hit by a car, crash on the ground knocking the safety off and shoot yourself in the fucking balls.
Mook responding to a
comment by bentstrider
05.27.09 - 5:11 pm
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Hey, I'm not the one who carries his pistola in the waistband.
Anywho, enough about the gun, maybe we should just stick to my second idea of the speed-activated, speed-bump.
Yeah, my ass might get knocked to the ground, but the jerkoff will most likely suffer a totaled car and face that looks like ground beef after hitting the speed-trap of doom.
All these years of advocacy and warnings don't seem to be getting out to the mentally-handicapped of this country.
Time to bring back shock-treatments and such to make them obedient.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Mook
05.27.09 - 5:16 pm
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For yourself maybe.
It just seems to me that there are too many people out there that shouldn't even have licenses and how they manage to get through the cracks seems to baffle most everyone else.
Now as far as the perpetrators of incidents like this, the last thing they need is nurturing and counseling, especially if this is a multiple offense where they still haven't learned anything.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
05.27.09 - 5:36 pm
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i agree with the first part, but whether your being tongue in cheek or not, violence is not the answer.
"they hate us, we hate them, we cant win"
ruinedbyidiots responding to a
comment by bentstrider
05.27.09 - 5:42 pm
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They're being violent, how else are they supposed to be controlled?
Reminds me of those kids over at the alternative high-school who've been held-back for 2-3 years and need actual Probation Officers to keep them in check.
If they need to be told "NO" over a dozen times in an hour, then what's the use in even having hope for them.
If you have a better, non-violent solution for these losers, then please enlighten me.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
05.27.09 - 5:56 pm
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we need to take it upon ourselves to bring these people to justice because no one else will
anyone could be hit and left to die at any time, so consider this problem to be an eminent threat to your life
if we don't make these people face some real consequences, the problem is only going to get worse and worse
we need our own "amber alert" system
text message a description of the car and location to all the ridazz, then if anyone is close by they can keep their eyes open
snowcone05.27.09 - 6:45 pm
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The reality is everytime you go out on the road your putting yourself at risk
Some areas are more risky than others.
Lower income areas seem to have a higher rate of hit and run incidences,
as drivers may not have licences, registration, insurance, or respect of rules.
The only hope is as driving an automobile gets more expensive with rising gas prices,
and registration fees. these types of motorist will be fewer.
Dedicated81805.27.09 - 7:32 pm
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Lower income areas seem to have a higher rate of hit and run incidences,
as drivers may not have licences, registration, insurance, or respect of rules.
please.
coldcut responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
05.27.09 - 7:42 pm
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Judging from my own experience..... its not always about income levels.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
05.27.09 - 7:58 pm
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Lower income areas seem to have a higher rate of hit and run incidences,
as drivers may not have licences, registration, insurance, or respect of rules.
I believe it's both a combination of the above and the addition of younger drivers added to the mix.
Usually when one doesn't have the proper paperwork, they're naturally going to fear for their own ass and disappear into the night.
Another unfortunate thing with these red-sticker vehicles is the fact that they're almost always a type of "throw-away" vehicle that's only used for basic needs, then abandoned after catastrophic breakdown,
The younger drivers on the other hand are the ones who are given the keys to their parents fancy rigs then cut loose.
Simply put, these are the true, dumbshits of the road that seem to get a high off of intimidating others that are either smaller or slower than they are.
More often that not, I've gotten the most harassment from these losers whether it was on my bike, or pulling a 53' foot trailer towards the 15 on up to Wyoming.
Although I have scared the shit out of some young punks after rolling up behind them on the next light and stopping millimeters away from the rear-bumper of their shitty S-10.
bentstrider
responding to a comment by coldcut
05.27.09 - 8:05 pm
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oh bentstrider, I wish you could just pull up in a big rig behind any asshole who tries to force us off the road.
danya responding to a
comment by bentstrider
05.27.09 - 8:13 pm
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What? /i doesn't work today? oh noes for broken close tags!
danya05.27.09 - 8:14 pm
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"eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, right?"
Depends on who you ask.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tit_for_tat
JB05.27.09 - 8:23 pm
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I could always just say, "jerk-off peeled out in front of me, then just stayed there. These big-boys don't stop on a dime."
And tyler, your towering figure should be enough to get the pint-sized shits to straighten up and fly right.
I have a yet to see an aggressive driver who stands over 5'6 and has any muscle.
Most of the time they're covered in tattoos and have the appearance of someone who hasn't eaten in two weeks.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by danya
05.27.09 - 8:25 pm
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I can remember a time in Los Angeles when a high number of motorcycle/traffic cops would descend upon a problematic hot spot...and go after any vehicle that was part of the reoccurring problem, i.e. drivers near an elementary school that keep blowing through the cross walk.
It seems as though this is what's need on these problem areas I keep hearing about. Actually getting it to happen sounds like another thing altogether now that I know how things work. It's worth the fight though.
BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji05.27.09 - 9:12 pm
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Well, now that you mention it, I'm quite sure there are plenty of ridaz among us that have children of their own.
Perhaps a joint, PTA involvement might actually light a fire where it's needed and get the appropriate man-power out to said areas.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
05.27.09 - 9:23 pm
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That sounds like an awesome idea. That makes me think of how many minors that ride and have been victims of hit and runs.
BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji responding to a
comment by bentstrider
05.27.09 - 9:27 pm
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I'm thinking more speed bumps, period. Other traffic calming measures. How about lower freaking speed limits. People shouldn't be driving like maniacs near a park where kids are playing.
ephemerae05.27.09 - 10:09 pm
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+500,000,000 on lower speed limits.
Mook responding to a
comment by ephemerae
05.27.09 - 10:18 pm
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Then why do they slow down to 10mph to go over them?
Chickenshits, leave the big toys for the military and the commercial, class-A holders!! Civilians with Class-C just aren't meant to have or handle certain shit.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
05.28.09 - 6:38 am
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i know a lot of people who drive SUV's or trucks will actually SPEED UP to go over bumps and humps, and lowering the speed limit isn't going to do anything really. It would require a narrowing of the lanes to make it hard to drive at higher speeds. then they can throw in some bike lanes while they're at it
snowcone05.28.09 - 7:42 am
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I actually think dips are more effective than bumps.
There was this one time I saw this PT Cruiser speeding down the street in front of my friends house.
They bottomed out on the dip and tore their oil-pan to shreds!!!
There was oil and possibly, transmission fluid, all over the street!!!
With high-ground clearance vehicles, it may take a little time before their suspension is shot to shit.
It all depends on how good it is, or if they decided to pour all that hard-earned cash into a body lift-kit and an exhaust system instead.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by snowcone
05.28.09 - 8:02 am
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I hate waking up to news like this. : (
I think it would be a good idea for us to compile a list of all the hit & runs that have happened this year. It seems like they are occurring a lot more frequently over the last month. Let's make a list, draft a request for protective measures and REAL punishments. This is a serious issue and if hit & runs are actually increasing then so is the risk of any one of us getting killed on the streets. Let's take the request to everyone in the city - city council, police commission, state legislature, school boards, everyone we can think of.
There's this one on Riverside,
Roadblock's hit & run
The hummer in DTLA
What others?
List the others here and let's make a case, it's our lives at stake here!
kryxtanicole05.28.09 - 8:10 am
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Trying to slow down traffic on major thoroughfares isn't going to help. That will just create more angry and frustrated drivers, and more traffic. What we need are more lights, etc. on less traveled streets so cyclists can use them more effectively to get from point A to point B.
JB05.28.09 - 8:11 am
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A true cycling utopia would be,
elevated bike ways above surface streets.
sort of a bicycle freeway system
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by JB
05.28.09 - 9:24 am
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No, what we need is drivers willing to go reasonable speeds, and if they can't handle that on their own, force them to. I'm a big fan of raised intersections for this reason- the intersection of Colfax and Busway is raised in such a way that a driver can't safely/comfortably go over 35 mph, while a cyclist doesn't even notice the difference.
Also, a big problem is how aggro the drivers here are, thinking they have a right to go 5-15 mph over the speed limit. When we went out to Claremont, I was shocked to see everyone driving peacefully around large, open neighborhood streets- I kept waiting to see the drivers start swerving in and out of lanes and shit to get ahead of the 'traffic'. I eventually realized that no, for some reason, the drivers out there (at least in that area) were all totally happy just driving along at the speed limit.
danya responding to a
comment by JB
05.28.09 - 9:34 am
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*insert Roadblock's comment about Amsterdam*
danya responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
05.28.09 - 9:34 am
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Still waiting for RB's explanation as to how LA has a better traffic situation than Amsterdam. Or something to that affect.
User1 responding to a
comment by danya
05.28.09 - 12:26 pm
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Off topic, but sort of on topic.
I wish more people biked, and biked correctly. I just took a walk outside and while I'm walking along and singing to myself and enjoying the weather, people were stuck in their steel coffins, honking at each other and yelling. The weather in LA is so fucking nice, I couldn't imagine being stuck inside a car.
Of course, the people I did see on bikes were riding on the sidewalk and their bicycles were nowhere near correctly fitted (I hate seeing people struggle with bikes with their seats so low...I just wanna pull em aside and fix them up and say, "NOW your bike is gonna be so much more fun to ride!"). Durr.
HappyLand05.28.09 - 12:37 pm
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I bought my Subaru STI just so I could speed faster than the other motorist,
but I still enjoy being able to drive up curbs,and over those pesky beater Hondas that get in my way while I'm in my 4x4 truck.
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by danya
05.28.09 - 1:28 pm
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The Netherlands has an AMAZING traffic situation.
Separated Bicycle Highways with great signage get you across the country without the need for a map and without worrying about cars on your ass. Bike lanes EVERYWHERE once you exit the bicycle highway. Traffic circles to calm traffic. Bicycle Signals. ... absolutely amazing. A national train system.... You can compare the population and area of the Netherlands to Los Angeles county and see what is possible here in LA.
So far, in my bicycle travels.... LA is the fiercest meanest of all.
Cities/countries I have ridden thus far and in order of friendliest to meanest:
The Netherlands
Portland
Santa Cruz
San Francisco
New York City
Miami
San Diego
Tampa
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Roadblock responding to a
comment by User1
05.28.09 - 2:01 pm
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krista this sounds like the best idea yet. If we compile evidence ie. pictures of injuries, plate numbers, car descriptions etc... along with records and statements of past incidents...
pretti*ugli responding to a
comment by kryxtanicole
05.28.09 - 2:16 pm
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But, it is ON topic...the biking "correctly" thing--or more like safely. It frustrates to fucking hell to see folks that know better ride without not only others drivers in mind, but, importantly, fellow cyclists! Some riders provoke drivers just by the way they ride and the attitude they have on the bike (guns, really?). This makes for a fucking lame-ass and dangerous sitch for the rest of us. Now, a pissed off driver is going to teach the next rider a lesson and do something stupid, rather than have a changed mind (hopefully) because a rider acted on behalf of a larger community, instead of his/her own agenda and us-and-them mentality.
The bike activism aimed at the clueless, checked out, or angry asshole driver is a community-wide imperative, and these amazing ideas give me hope that the carnage can end. Yet, my point is that so is day-to-day, ride-level activism aimed at riders of the “stop being a dickwad” category. Our cycling community needs to put pressure on riders that leave pissed off drivers in their wake for all of us to deal with.
My friend, an ex-messenger and totally experienced rider, just got hit by a lady that was texting and not paying attention. Luckily, he walked away with only a tacoed rear wheel, a sprained wrist, wicked bruises, and mass scrapes. These kind of drivers are the fucks we need to educate, rather than make them our enemy, by ceasing the bullshit "grow up already" antics, riding on sidewalks, provoking drivers and peds (in group rides, especially, I've seen it too many times to count--dudes, handle your beer or seek help), and etc. Radical activism aimed at non-cyclists, like CM, rocks, but so does radical activism aimed at ourselves...Juss' sayin'
bici_chica responding to a
comment by HappyLand
05.28.09 - 2:58 pm
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I'm sick of this - 2 (reported) hit and runs in the east valley in the same day. Plus last week I was riding home on Erwin crossing woodman at the green light, and halfway thru the intersection a car runs the red right in front of me at full speed - if I had been 4 feet forward it would have been terrible. He didn't even go thru at the end of the yellow - it had been red for a while.
Drivers in this city don't give a shit about anyone and get bigger and bigger cars so that they can have the upper hand in an accident. And they drive so recklessly and think nothing of it. It makes me sick.
Maybe we should have a hit and run protest ride. Drivers are always asking us what we're riding for - maybe we should tell them something they actually need to hear. And we can make signs for our bikes so they get the message.
Ayla responding to a
comment by Roadblock
12.3.09 - 2:54 pm
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oh, and one other idea. Do you think there would be a way to get Traffic schools to spend some time talking about how to drive with cyclists on the road, and adressing reckless driving? I think every LA driver could use that kind of info, and probably the people in traffic school could really use it. Plus they have to be there, so they might as well get something useful out of it...
Ayla12.3.09 - 3:00 pm
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