Tuscon driver mows down cyclists
 

I know the driver. :eek: He's a competitor of mine...I've helped him out many times....

all respect = lost.


Tyler Wren Journal: A first-hand account of the Jamis hit-and-run

TUCSON, Arizona (VN) — Most cyclists here in the States have experienced some level of aggressive behavior from motorists. It usually comes in the form of taunts about our spandex, a belch of exhaust accompanying a startling downshift, or an uncomfortably close buzz. But on Friday morning during our team training camp in Tucson, Arizona, the Jamis-Hagens Berman team experienced something much worse. A driver, who police later identified as Rodney Kinkade Jr. of Tucson, came up from behind on our large group, took aim, and used his car as a battering ram. Fortunately, none of us were gravely injured, but the incident highlighted the growing senseless friction between cyclists and motorists.

The Jamis team chose Tucson for its camp location because of its favorable weather and training terrain. Tucson is generally regarded as a bike-friendly city and indeed has long been somewhat of a domestic cycling mecca.

We departed for our ill-fated training ride on Friday at 10:00 a.m., headed out of town on Valencia Road, a common thoroughfare with a generous shoulder bounded by a white line. The 15-rider group was riding two-abreast in a long line, as far to the right as possible, in full accordance with Arizona traffic law. Our team’s strength and conditioning coach Todd Herriott and I were on the front, he on my left, closest to the passing traffic. Kinkade’s tan Oldsmobile Aurora suddenly and violently impacted Todd’s left side. He and I crashed hard on the front of the group as Mr. Kinkade sped away. My teammates also reported that Mr. Kinkade was shouting obscenities at us during the attack through his open car window.

As Todd and I lay on the ground struggling to comprehend what had happened, my unscathed teammate Ben Jacques-Maynes sprinted past us in an impressive pursuit of the fleeing car. Ben did not manage to catch the perpetrator, but he swiftly came upon our team car, which was waiting for us at our next turn and breathlessly explained the situation to our sport director, Sebastian Alexandre. Sebastian quickly resumed the pursuit along with his serendipitous passenger, John Segesta, a professional photographer in possession of a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens. John photographed numerous cars and license plates before the pair returned to the scene of the crime for the team members to positively identify the driver and vehicle.

John nailed him — crystal clear in high-definition on his camera was a shot of Kinkade’s car and Arizona license plate. Mr. Kinkade underestimated the cohesiveness and capability of the Jamis squad. Ben and various teammates spread the word and the license plate number through social media, and within a couple hours an article appeared in the cycling press.

The Tucson Police Department arrived quickly, responding with nearly a dozen officers and two detectives. Aware of the burgeoning attention towards the incident, Tucson police ran the plates and found Mr. Kinkade in his home. According to one of the detectives, Kinkade had washed his car in an apparent attempt to remove the evidence of the attack, but a large scratch remained from the collision. He admitted to yelling at us as he passed, but denied making physical contact. In spite of this denial, he was taken into custody and will appear before the Pima County Court on March 14 on charges of felony aggravated assault. In my opinion, he deserves 15 counts of this charge, as all of us in the group were endangered by his reckless criminal behavior.

In addition to damaged bikes and shredded apparel, Todd and I were among the wreckage of the attack, bruised and battered, but fortunately without any broken bones. The fall-out could have been much worse, but the unprovoked attack by Mr. Kinkade was wholly unnecessary. I understand that cyclists sometimes slow traffic, which can annoy motorists, but we share just as much right to the use of roadway, and no amount of annoyance or delay could justify an assault with a 4,000-pound weapon like his Oldsmobile.

I want to thank the Tucson Police Department for taking the attack so seriously. The city truly lived up to its bike-friendly reputation with its thorough and effective response, and I believe that this incident should not deter cyclists from visiting the city. Rodney Kinkade does not represent the general attitude of Tucson drivers towards cyclists. I am also thankful to all of my Jamis teammates for skipping some training and remaining at the scene of the crime for four hours in order to give the police their statements on the incident.

I’ll be back on my bike and doing my best in 2013, but the close call was a sobering reminder of the danger of cycling on the open roads. My hope is that some good can come of this situation if Mr. Kinkade is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, thereby raising the general awareness of the consequences of recklessly endangering cyclists.

Sound like the driver probably shouldn't be allowed a pistol permit!

What a dick. Would he have gotten away with it if it would have just been a friendly group ride, not a team training ride? Maybe. Be safe out there, people!

Kudos to the team for acting so quickly. The rider who raced after the driver, especially. Hope that driver gets a thought-provoking amount of jail time. Another argument for helmet cams - I just wish Go-Pros didn't look so dorky.

Team ride with a large group, I understand. But those 2-3 riding side by side in the middle of traffic doing 10mph need to stop that siht. People are piss about that. I shake my head and go around them.

The riders were on the shoulder.

I agree, when there isn't a wide shoulder, groups of cyclists need to ride single file. Want to ride side by side and chit chat? You must not be riding hard enough.

Rodney Kincaide Jr dba "Scatterbrane Pickups LLC"?

I did not read the whole thing John. I just came back from a ride. ABout three hours ago, I had to go around these two riders go the same direction on a one lane street. I have to cross over the broken yellow lines to get around them. This is two freaking riders. No wonder people are upset with them / us. When drivers honk a little, they get offend and start with the bird. I like to think most driver do this so the cyclist know a driver is back there and are trying get around them. If I am day dreaming, and I hear a horn, I wave and move over immediately even though I have the right to take up the whole lane.

Pedestians have the right of way too, but try using that excuse AFTER you've been mowed down.

While I can't condone the drivers actions - they are plain wrong - I get pretty tired of militant bicyclists who cannot seem to fathom that they are operating a vehicle ill suited to the road system design. Face it....virtually every road system is designed for automobiles, right or wrong, and whether it be a bicycle or enthusiastic mother pushing a pram, very slow vehicles without sufficient speed or acceleration capabilities to somewhat keep up and move at automobile speeds are a danger to all.

Couple that with the inherent instability of a bike and fragility of the thing in crashes - and ATTITUDE that most cyclists display, well....it is a recipe for failure.

While I'd never deliberately run over a cyclist as it is assault, I think it is only a matter of time before one of the two wheeled nutcases who darts across my path going 15 kmh when I am going 60 kmh - and expects me to stop and gives me the finger when I honk overstresses my ability to react and I turn them into roadkill. Or at least damaged human.

You need to keep them separate. Cars and bikes need different paths...mixing them is just a recipe for a lot of hurting...

D.

Well said! +1

In town here they just re-striped Highway 101 north and south. From 2 lanes to a regular left lane and on the right w/ an image of a bike and a couple chevrons. I don't see much good coming from it. It is a VERY popular stretch of road for cyclists...I can see where some are going to ride side by each down the middle...or the club rides where they take up the whole lane. I prefer to ride alone and stay far to the right. I've still had my run-ins w/ kids throwing siht at me.

This?
Skatterbrane - Contact Us

Let's give equal time...

Contact Todd Herriott


And don't forget...

http://www.jamishagensberman.com/contact/

I ride in the city most of the time, mixing it up with cars and buses, sometimes with a bike lane, sometimes without. It works out fine.

When there's a bike lane, I use it and drivers mostly remember to look before turning across it. When there's no bike lane, I stay to the right whenever the road is wide enough to let drivers pass me, most everyone gives me at least 2 feet of clearance. When the road is not wide enough, I take the lane but also ride fast to get through the narrow part as quickly as possible. Typically the speed limit is 20 to 30 mph on city streets here, when I'm hustling along at 25 mph I'm not blocking traffic too much. As I've said before, bike riders and car drivers get along quite well in Portland, which suggests that they could in other cities as well.

On rural roads, I think you've got to ride single file. At least watch your helmet mirror and get back in single file when a car appears. There's no reason why bikes and cars can't co-exist that way. There are some two lane roads that go over the West Hills of Portland, car speeds are 45-50 mph, 5-7% grade so the riders are going 10-12 mph, and there is at best 8 inches of irregular "shoulder" past the fog line. Bicyclists ride that regularly, I've done it often enough. Cyclist rides in predictable straight line almost on the fog line, driver moves over toward the centerline, there is enough room and no-one is really inconvenienced. Yeah, a real bike path would be better - someday - but sensible behavior trumps physical infrastructure.

How so?

I think you ought to stay all the way to the right or in the bike lane.
Not in the actual road.

Especially if you can't maintain the posted speed limit.


KT

i'm glad the guy got caught.

i ride all the time. as i understand, a cyclist has to obey the same laws and have the same access to the roads.

i ride very unoffensively. i try not to flip anyone off, or yell. i dont have enough of a defensive position on a bike to become an ass to someone with a hair trigger. just not worth it.

i dont go down the middle of the lane, ever. i'll get out there if i have to make a legal left..but once that left is done, i'm scooched right back to the side of the road.

Just my perspective, but around here if it's a single rider, they obey the traffic law. If it is a group, usually on a run, they tend to test the limits of the law. If there is no bike lane, stay to the right of the white line. Not on the line, to the right! I have to stay to the left of the white line or I will be pulled over. You need to stay to the right of the white line or you will be hit!

seriously? i assume you mean..you(the cyclist) could accidentally be hit?

Ok, Ok, that's what I meant. Kinda like I 'could' be pulled over.
Are these guys seriously obtuse enough to think that they will win when they are playing with a 3000-9000# vehicle?
I know what the law says, but I guess common sense isn't as common as I thought it was.

Here's a very real perspective I face frequently:

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3618d329.jpg

Imagine you are doing 40mph and so is the oncoming vehicle as you come around this blind curve, except it's a truck.
There is a bike in the middle of the lane in front of you.

What are your options?

This screen shot is about two miles from our place and this is a very real scenario I have faced often over the last 23 years.


KT

Let's say instead of a bike, it's another car, or a pedestrian. What's the difference. Weren't you ever taught not to play in traffic?
See the white line? Bicycles should be to the right of it!

The above picture is part of a very popular cyclist route. Hundreds of riders every week.

Sometimes huge packs of riders cruise through there.

I anticipate them.
Tourists use the same road.

I cannot remember any news of bike accidents out here, which really surprises me.



KT

Would you expect to walk that road and not have a high probability of being hit. Cyclists should have the same mindset, but they don't because they think the 'law' will prevent it.

I wouldn't walk or ride that road.

I have in the past, but not now.



KT

Looks like parts of the roads I mentioned above.

Your action as a driver: slow until the oncoming truck passes, then put your left wheels over the centerline and pass the rider with a couple feet clearance.

It will delay you about 30 seconds. Far less than Hugh R's motorhome will delay you when you come upon it. Bummer, but read the law of your state: cars do NOT have exclusive use of that road.

The rider's action: Stay to the right to the extent possible, in this case he can't be to the right of the white line (the roadway ends there) but he can be nearly on it, and don't dilly-dally, ride like you mean it and get out of that narrow part as quickly as you can.

That's not the law in California. You may not agree, but there it is.

I don't think we are disputing the 'law', rather the actions of 'pack' riders.

And Trekkor, I love your tile work!

I'm pointing out that if you think riders must always stay to the right of the white line - as you stated in no uncertain terms above - you are simply wrong.

"Roadway: Bicyclists can ride wherever they want if they’re traveling at the speed of traffic. If traveling slower than the speed of traffic, they can still position themselves wherever in the lane is necessary for safety. The law says that cyclists must ride as close to the right side of the road as safely possible except under the following conditions: when passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards, if the lane is too narrow to share, or if approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. CVC 21202"

California Bicycle Coalition » Sharing the road

If a lane becomes so narrow that a car cannot safely pass the rider, the rider can "take the lane", basically a defensive move to prevent a car from making an unsafe pass. That is law too, see above. I personally consider that a pretty rare case, and I will not take the lane unless I am also riding as fast as I physically can, to get out of there soonest. If a rider takes the lane but just mooches along, that is obnoxious.

That said, drivers are obnoxious all the time. Camping in the fast lane, tailgating, driving 40 on the freeway, double parking, speeding, cutting each other off, failing to use pullouts, on and on. I don't often hear of jerks in SUVs ramming another car because that car held him up on a windy road or whatever. Some drivers display their worst qualities when a cyclist is involved. It's a power thing, they think they can act with impunity. In this case, not so.

Thanks.


When I come around a blind corner, I see the truck first, then the bike in the middle of the road.

Honestly, I don't know how we don't have more bikers getting hit.


KT

I know it's not law, just my opinion as I have good sense. Here in NY, when a vehicle is overtaking a cyclist, the cyclists must run in single file as closely to the right hand edge as permissible. More than not, that doesn't happen. That's what I mean by testing the law.

Trust me, I'm not advocating that anyone go out and mow down cyclists. My beef is with the pack riders that are clearly trying to use the pedestrian laws to their advantage. A cyclist isn't a pedestrian. I stop whenever I see someone attempting to cross the street, crosswalk or not. How many times have you seen a cyclist not stop at a stop sign, or red light? If you wanna play in the street, you need to follow the rules.

I would sure like to hear the other side of this from Mr. Kinkade. Reading Mr. Wren's clearly one-sided account doesn't really tell us everything we need to know. If we believe him, why of course the Jamis-Hagens Berman team are completely blameless in all of this. They were just riding along, obeying all traffic laws, minding their own business when this man attacked them. Totally unprovoked. Honest - just ask everyone on the team.

I suspect there may be more to the story. I wonder how long Kinkade was stuck behind these guys while they refused to move over and let him pass. I wonder if they were actually only two abreast and as far right as possible. I wonder if Mr. Herriott was possibly the aggressor, moving over in an attempt to damage Kinkades' car once he was finally able to pass, and simply lost control when he did.

As a former exceedingly avid cyclist, I've seen it all, from inside the group. What Don says is absolutely spot-on: single cyclists (and I would include pairs or threesomes) seem to respect traffic law a good deal more than groups. I quit group riding over 20 years ago for that very reason; I simply got tired of all of the angry motorists - motorists whom, it was clear to me, had every right to be angry with us. I saw cyclists damage cars that were finally able to get past our groups, either by smacking them with their tire pumps or kicking them with their cleats. I even remember guys carrying rocks in their pockets just to throw at cars that they felt slighted them in some way.

It's the perfect crime for the puffed up, self righteous militant cyclist. Any incident whatsoever will almost always be blamed on the motorist, and these cowardly heroes on their bicycles know it. And they know the motorists know it, so that emboldens them even more.

This situation has gotten quite bad in the areas surrounding Seattle, the rural farm country with all of the nice driving and riding roads. It's just a hop skip and a jump for all of the Seattle cyclists to throw the bike onto the rack and drive out into the country, where they swarm the back roads en masse. Most are very conscientious and do their best to get along with all of the other road users. Guaranteed, though, on a nice day like today, one will encounter at least a group or three that think they are above all of that.

I followed just such a group today, riding three, four, five abreast across the entire lane on a road with no passing zones for miles. They were doing fifteen mph or less and simply would not let me pass, despite repeated toots of the horn. Oh, they looked back, they knew full well I was there, but would they go single file to let me by? Hell no. I was stuck behind them for a couple of miles.

So (and I've mentioned this here before, but have not actually followed through), here is the new plan: can of bear spray in the car and on the bike at all times. The kind with about a 30-40 foot range. Next time (and there will certainly be a next time, with spring and summer approaching), when I finally have room to go around a group like this, I'll be passing slowly enough to make sure my passenger (if I have one) or myself has time to hose down each and every one of the sorry SOB's. I'm hoping to start a movement, where more and more motorists fight back like this.

Go for it, enjoy the time with your defense lawyer, maybe she'll be cute.

What needs to be done is some stings. Get a video camera in an unmarked sheriff's car, record what Jeff described, then light 'em up, write the whole group citations, impound all the bikes as evidence. Word will get around quickly.

If it is such a problem in your area, deal with it productively. Get newsies, motorists' groups, commercial drivers, etc together, pressure law enforcement.

Your bear spray vigilante fantasy is fun (I guess), but you won't ever do it, because you're not dumb and you have too much to lose.

Thank you Jeff. Good to have an insider perspective.

Good luck with that in NY. It's just like hitting a deer. "He ran right out in front of me."

Not really, but you'll not go far with that attitude.

Saving this so that I can re-read it this summer . . .

When you have a big speed differntial, it raises the stakes, so to speak. I would think, just from a standpoint of self preservation, cyclists would have the sense to stay to the right, but often as not, they don't. I have seen clots of cyclists on roads with no shoulder and 50 mph speed limits. I have seen groups riding on the winding levee roads that was straight up dangerous. If I got a flat on a road like that, I would be buying a rim rather than try to change it there. Just because you can, does not always mean you should

I pay attention to what is going on when I am driving. I often think this is the exception, rather than the rule. People driving, on the phone, texting, weaving along. I am lucky, there are miles and miles of good bicycle trails around here, both paved and un paved. I have commuted by bike before, when I lived in San Francisco, I tried to choose my route to minimize my interaction with cars, rode in Golden Gate Park as much as I could. Lived a block N of it for a few years and a few blocks S for a few years, used the park as an expressway.

There are some crazy folks out there. You can't tell which ones by looking, so I stay as far away from all of them as I can.

The law states a cyclist can take up the whole lane and that my btich with most of the inexperience cyclist that ride in the streets today. They don't have to do so ands allow cars to pass without any issues. I have and will never do stuff like that as long as I have been riding.

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