Tuscon driver mows down cyclists

[WolfeMacleod]

I know the driver. 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.

[widgeon13]

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

[herr_oberst]

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!

[jyl]

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.

[look 171]

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.

[jyl]

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.

[jyl]

Rodney Kincaide Jr dba "Scatterbrane Pickups LLC"?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jyl

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.

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.

[Red88Carrera]

Originally Posted by look 171

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.

[Iciclehead]

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.

[Red88Carrera]

Originally Posted by Iciclehead

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

[lowyder993s]

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.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by jyl

Rodney Kincaide Jr dba "Scatterbrane Pickups LLC"?

This?
Skatterbrane - Contact Us

[Red88Carrera]

Let's give equal time...

Contact Todd Herriott


And don't forget...

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

[jyl]

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.

[trekkor]

Originally Posted by look 171

even though I have the right to take up the whole lane.

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

[vash]

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.

[Red88Carrera]

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!

[vash]

Originally Posted by Red88Carrera

. 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?

[Red88Carrera]

Originally Posted by vash

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.