Motorist vs bike courier in Toronto

Steve Carlton · 01-29-2006, 02:28 PM

A lively discussion on citynoise, a photo blog site about this series of photos taken by a member who witnessed this altercation. The courier Leah joins the discussion 27th Jan 2006 - 22:45 GMT. No shortage of opinions there, but we'll need the astute observations of the OT denizens to really get to the bottom of this. I copied most of the pictures to here because I think citynoise is experiencing bandwidth problems. Enjoy...

Steve Carlton · 01-29-2006, 02:29 PM

Flatbutt1 · 01-29-2006, 02:33 PM

linkey no workey.

Whatever the provocation was, the dude sure wasin the mood for assault. Whew. Just stomping on the derailleur like he does would be grounds for me to stomp on his neck, let alone the rage on his face as he goes for the babe.

BlueSkyJaunte · 01-29-2006, 02:42 PM

That can't be Canada. All the Canadians I know tell me how Utopian and polite their society is!

jorian · 01-29-2006, 02:52 PM

That guy must have crossed the Windsor bridge from Detroit.

jorian · 01-29-2006, 02:55 PM

No derailleur - that chick is riding fixed gear. I like her already.

ernestedward · 01-29-2006, 03:24 PM

Wonder why she didn't whip out the U-lock from her back pocket and have at him.. Looks like she held her own anyhow, though.

lm6y · 01-29-2006, 03:25 PM

Looks like a single speed freewheel. No self - respecting fixed gear rider would have a front brake !

masraum · 01-29-2006, 03:38 PM

yea, assuming she didn't do something stupid and obnoxious to provoke him, and his attack was due to something irrational, she should have stuck him.

Bob Goding · 01-29-2006, 03:42 PM

Down at the end of the thread, the photographer admits that its a hoax!
To Im6y-----have a look at www.fixedgeargallery.com and ask yourself how many of the over three thousand posters have no self respect.
Try self preservation!

lm6y · 01-29-2006, 04:08 PM

Thanks for the link Bob, I stand corrected. Back when I used to ride fixed gear ( makes me sound old don't it?) road rash was just part of it. I had never seen brakes on a fixed gear before the bikes on that site.

I just don't think I could do a trackstand anymore, but man it was fun!

Steve Carlton · 01-29-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Goding
Down at the end of the thread, the photographer admits that its a hoax!

Actually, no. Someone logged on as "h00l." The original poster is "hool."

Brian 162 · 01-31-2006, 06:14 PM

Front page of today's Toronto Star had the heading URBAN CONFLICT. According to the story, the guy tossed food from his parked vehicle.The courier took offence to it picked up the food and tossed it back into his car.He jumped out of his car threw 2 coffees at her and as we say game on. In the process her bike lock key scratched his paint. Any way it was broken up, the police came but didn't charge any one.

Willem Fick · 01-31-2006, 11:49 PM

From the blog:

"Hello all! I am the girl in the pics. My name is Leah and although I am a courier, I was WALKING my bike up Agusta when the incident took place. He was driving and opened his door (while driving) and yelling profanities he threw his beef patty on a bun out of his door. I walked over to his car, and right or wrong, I opened the door and "gave" him back his food (which he MUST have dropped by accident!) He then lost it, and jumped out of his car and threw 2 large Timmies at meand then grabbed me by my helmet and tried to toss me around a bit.It was at that point that my bike lock key (that I wear on a bracelet around my wrist) scratched his car. I have read all the postings about people sympathetic to the car driver due to the expense of repairing the scratch but sorry folks, i doubt that it will cost him anything to repair as it was a 1.2cm mark in the clearcoat only(did not damage the paint) but regardless a scratch none the less. Then with some "encouraging" from some helpfull bystanders he got in his car and drove away...or so I thought! People were comming up to me and saying that I should have him charged but at that point I just figured I had made my anti-littering point and and eye for and eye with the coffee shower, I mean I did throw that patty right. But just as I was getting on my bike to ride home he came running back and thats when the photos start. He had driven half a block and decided that the scratch was worthy of a more thorough beating I guess. Now for a bit of clarity on a couple of things... The blonde girl is his girlfriend...she also makes a pretty good shield from an angry mob! I was NOT punching anyone! especially not with keys in my hand! I was just trying to save my bike (I just built it a week ago!!) And as for the police charging him.... He took off in his car as soon as he heard the sirens....they chased him down but it is not a crime to leave the scene. They were going to charge him with a variety of things including assult with a weapon x2, mischief x2, aggravated assult, etc, but the police informed me that if I went ahead and placed those charges then they would have to charge me with mischeif for the scratch. So in the interests of good karma (and my own sanity) I have opted to "let it go" and allow the universe to repay this angermanagement case in its own way. And finally to those who say that i must have had a sudden case of self ritousness in regard to littering.....YOU ARE WRONG! I hate littering and NEVER do> In fact I am constantly picking up litter and make my son pick up litter at the park. I just feel that it is such a fixable issue in the world today. If everyone would not throw their own piece of litter then there would be none!! What a concept eh!? enjoy the beautiful winter riding!"

Isabo · 02-01-2006, 01:10 AM

So many urban cyclists have an attitude that I find it hard to sympathise when they get some payback. Camden in London seems to be the worst for anti-car cyclists that need some karma adjustment.

Joeaksa · 02-01-2006, 02:02 AM

Glad she held her own and this jerk deserved to be arrested. One for littering, and two for assualt. Three he owe's her for any damage to the bike.

Hope his photos go all over the internet and he is identified for what he is.

Joe A
(Long time bike rider who has dealt with jerks like this before)

wcc · 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Willem Fick
He was driving and opened his door (while driving) and yelling profanities he threw his beef patty on a bun out of his door. I walked over to his car, and right or wrong, I opened the door and "gave" him back his food (which he MUST have dropped by accident!) He then lost it

There is no doubt about it that guy is a *****. But she asked for an altercation when she "gave" back his burger. This situation was complete avoidable. She should have calmed him down and sent him to talk to her manager, remember he's the customer. In the meantime call the local authorities and have him picked up for littering or at least a fine. Too bad it escalated to that....

TerryBPP · 02-01-2006, 03:42 AM

Reminds me of a funny thing that happened to me last week. I'm pulling out of my neighbor hood, heading to work. I pull up to the same red light as I do every morning. And I'm waiting to make a right turn on red. I'm sitting in this spot for maybe 10 sec when I hear a knock on my passenger side window. I look over and see a 5'5" european (italian?) in full bicycle regalia (spandex). Hes probably 30 with a slicked back pony tail. As soon as I look over he gives me the finger and starts yelling at me. By the time I rolled down my window he hauled as around my truck and sped off.

I realize that I had blocked the path from the sidewalk on one side of the entrance to the other for the few seconds I was sitting there. It was good for a laugh all the way to work.

David · David's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Willem Fick
From the blog:

"Hello all! I am the girl in the pics. My name is Leah... I hate littering and NEVER do> In fact I am constantly picking up litter and make my son pick up litter at the park. I just feel that it is such a fixable issue in the world today. If everyone would not throw their own piece of litter then there would be none!! What a concept eh!? enjoy the beautiful winter riding!"

Amen to that!!! So many areas have become *****holes just because people don't pick up their crap. If I walk by trash and there's a trash can nearby, I put it in the can.

Joeaksa · 02-01-2006, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 125shifter
Amen to that!!! So many areas have become *****holes just because people don't pick up their crap. If I walk by trash and there's a trash can nearby, I put it in the can.

As well I love the jerks who see you coming in the mirror and flip ashes off of their cigarette's at bikes and motorcycle riders. One or two emptied their ashtray in my direction and that got a boot in the door for their actions.

Joe A