amazing... i suggest the following:
- someone should show the policegirl this thread, with a summary of what happened as posted by Mr Knees up in #399 and the transcript typed with due diligence by Mr Glenn in # 582, just so she realizes how she (as police) was easily manipulated by the biker and how moronic(ly) she handled the whole situation. she should brush up on her training and remember not to let her own biases obfuscate her judgement in the conduct of an on-scene investigation
- the video footage of the incident should also be sent to police force training academies/institutes around the civilized world as a good example and case study for cadets/trainees on How NOT To Do It.
visiting other forums and sites where the incident is being discussed, i'm equally amazed that a number of people still insist that the phone issue contributed to the "accident" and/or the biker was simply stupid in the sense that he miscalculated by trying to squeeze his bike in a non-existent gap between a car and the cyclist. people should realize that this is sort of a hate offence by a motorist (sadly, a ducati biker) against cyclists in general, IF the biker's previous "incidents" and comments on the web against cyclists are taken into account. there is a pattern of behaviour leading to it. most telling is his
Post,
"I adjusted my right handlebar mirror with the left elbow of a cyclist. Lol". he succeeded in hurting a cyclist, thought it was funny, then had the arrogance to brag about it online to his like-minded buddies (supported by the video). the mishap was no "accident"... considering other factors, THERE IS MALICIOUS INTENT, phone or no phone, cycle lane or otherwise. the biker clearly had a mission (as part of his daily commute) to scare/hurt cyclists who are on their phones or running stoplights then blame them if they got hurt in the process. the victim here was just unfortunate that he became a "target of opportunity" for the predator ducati biker but it can happen to any cyclist, be it us or somebody close to us (spouse, children, friend, etc). that is not cool