Man On Bike Struck By Pickup Truck - Police Issue Cyclist Ticket

[matcom]

<snip>

TOLEDO, Ohio --A northwest Ohio man's fall off his bicycle left him with a bruised leg, a big hospital bill and a ticket from police. Police fined Melvin Surprise III, of Toledo, because he was riding his bike on a sidewalk when he was struck by a pickup truck pulling out of a parking lot.

City law says anyone 15 and older can't ride a bike on the sidewalk. Violators face a $93 fine.

Surprise, 22, pleaded innocent to the charge in Toledo Municipal Court on Monday. He plans to fight the citation, saying the law discriminates against adult cyclists.

He was riding his bicycle on a sidewalk along a heavily traveled street on July 22 when he was hit.

The driver, Michael Garvin, 17, was not cited. Police said a trailer park and large vehicle parked nearby created a blind spot. "I never even saw him," Garvin said. "The bike literally appeared out of nowhere."

Lt. Kevin Keel, who heads the police traffic bureau, said a citation should be filed when one person's negligent action causes an accident. "If the officer can determine fault, we strongly suggest they file charges," he said.

To add to the injury, Surprise was taken to Toledo Hospital as a precaution and billed $800 because he is unemployed and does not have medical insurance.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/08/02/ohio_cyclist_ticketed_after_falling?mode=PF

[KitchenWitch]

1. ahhh the matcom news

my day is now complete! :D

[radwriter0555]

2. GOOD. Bicycles are legally classified as VEHICLES and should NOT be on the

sideWALK unless peddled by a toddler or kid.

I can't count the thousands of times I've been zoomed at, swerved at, and almost had my dog (on leash) run over.

Bikes belong ON THE STREET PLEASE.

:)

[LisaL]

3. It might be legal for them to ride on the street,

but I get so tired when I have to try not to run them over with my car. When I see them pedaling in hight traffic I am constantly amazed as of how they managed to make it alive so far. I also almost hit one of those fools riding on sidewalk as I was pulling out the driveway. They really do come out of nowhere fast. At the time I thought I would have been in trouble if I actually hit the bicyclist, but it's good to know I wouldn't have.LOL.

[DS1]

5. Oh poor you

:eyes:

Did they delay your trip by five seconds because you had to concentrate on driving?

[AmyDeLune]

4. There are many good, law-abiding cyclists out there,

however, it's the ones that are inconsiderate and do stupid things that get our attention and hold our memories.

I can't count the number of times I've seen cyclists zoom through stop signs and red lights, nearly been run over by them on the sidewalk, and seen motorists narrowly avoid accidents with/because of them.

[Scout]

8. we have several "scenic drives" with curves, blind spots....

and of course the cyclists just love to ride these roads, especially the one that follows the river. Many of them have a bad habit of riding two or three wide, or not anywhere near the shoulder. You can't pass them on a double yellow line around the curves, etc., and of course they won't move over to the right.

I don't think I've EVER seen a cyclist actually stop at a stop sign or a red light (unless there is obviously traffic in the way).

It sucks sometimes to live in a college town ... summer is so much nicer when the students are gone.

[Coventina]

6. Let's face it: it sucks to be a bicyclist

When I rode my bicycle to high school for four years, I was constantly yelled at and literally attacked at times by both peds AND motorists!

The motorists would scream "Get on the sidewalk!" and would even swerve AT ME! and the peds would throw eggs and stones at me.

No thanks.

It's a car for me until the great oil crash.

[skypilot]

7. When I read the headline...

...I was sympathizing with the cyclist until I read that he was riding on the sidewalk. In my city people ride their bikes on the sidewalk all the time and I'm tired of dodging them. I walk almost everywhere and I'm at the point where I think cyclist should give pedestrians the same respect that they demand from motorists.

[miss_kitty]

9. ahhhhhhhh-Quick!

where is mark414?

:rofl: