Taking off the door mirror...

[GrumpyGregry]

In my own humble opinion it's more appropriate than causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to someone's property.

From the view of a witnessing policeman, what do you think the action would be in each case?
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I'm sure most of us have made errors in judgement both as cyclists and indeed motorists. Who are you to say that the suitable punishment for such an offence is the expense and inconvenience of a vehicle repair? If I make a mistake while cycling and offend a motorist, should I allow him to slash my tyres as suitable recompense?

See further up. the thread. I admitted criminal damage. The passing policeman though it appropriate and amusing.

And for the love of God, I'm not talking about people causing me offence. I'm not talking about close passes or blocking manoeuvres.

I'm talking about people who have HIT me, INJURED me, and HAD ME OFF my bike with their car/vehicle by reason of their bad driving.

Cue response of "Well, even so, be that as it may, how very dare you, et cetera."

 

[GrumpyGregry]

It's irrelevant really. As cyclists our mistakes may harm just as much as any other road user. If we hit a pedestrian at 20mph+ or caused a vehicle to swerve and crash.
Our choice of travel is not a defence to act as vigilantes.

I fear you don't understand how the transfer of kinetic energy works.

And, I for one, don't ride at 20+ mph around pedestrians.

 

[Brandane]

TLH was sat in it when it happened. THUNK! So yes. I'm sure.

But thanks for checking.

I was just wondering why they might have left a note then, given that "TLH" was sat in the car. Seems odd, but never mind, and thank you for clearing that up.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I was just wondering why they might have left a note then, given that "TLH" was sat in the car. Seems odd, but never mind, and thank you for clearing that up.

Wonder away Sherlock. Off you go.

 

[Brandane]

Wonder away Sherlock. Off you go.

Don't like getting caught out telling little porkies then?

 

[Mugshot]

We are more vulnerable and we are less likely to harm others, but I don't agree that that should give us carte blanche to behave as we like, particularly if it involves dishing out our own interpretation of justice.

So we agree that as cyclists we are not as likely to harm as much as any other road user and we also agree that we don't have carte blanche to behave as we like. Where we seem to have a difference of opinion is whether we should turn a blind eye to any and all actions by other road users towards us.

 

[Boothy]

I've never done it, but if I did take a wing mirror off in retaliation for something, I'd be fairly worried about getting taken out from behind at some point in the future. I think I'd have to commute a different route/time of day or alter by bike/gear to make myself look different!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've never done it, but if I did take a wing mirror off in retaliation for something, I'd be fairly worried about getting taken out from behind at some point in the future. I think I'd have to commute a different route/time of day or alter by bike/gear to make myself look different!

Getting taken out from behind is a matter of routine on my commute. No need to break stuff first for it to happen.

 

[benborp]

I've taken a mirror or three off. I'd say semi-intentionally. Meaning that I'll take the hit of the passing mirror on my arm rather than my bars. They are designed not to offer too much resistance before breaking, but it's enough if the impact goes directly into the bars or arm while holding the bars rigid to have a cyclist straight off. I'm not putting the wing mirror there, I'm not providing the kinetic energy to break it, I'm not reaching out to get it, but I am making sure I control the impact so that it's not me that gets damaged.

I once removed one with my arse but that was purely down to the driver's skill and judgement.

 

[Brandane]

What note?

The post referred to:

Apropo of nothing much the door mirror on TLH's car got smashed last night by a passing car. AGAIN!

Odd but no note was left by the offending driver. Perhaps they are all selfish nobber-twunts after all?

 

[Brandane]

Yes, I read that. I am struggling to see how that makes anything a lie.

Why would the offending driver leave a note, IF there was someone in the car which they had just hit?

 

[Speicher]

I've taken a mirror or three off. I'd say semi-intentionally. Meaning that I'll take the hit of the passing mirror on my arm rather than my bars. They are designed not to offer too much resistance before breaking, but it's enough if the impact goes directly into the bars or arm while holding the bars rigid to have a cyclist straight off. I'm not putting the wing mirror there, I'm not providing the kinetic energy to break it, I'm not reaching out to get it, but I am making sure I control the impact so that it's not me that gets damaged.

I once removed one with my arse but that was purely down to the driver's skill and judgement.

Nothing to do with the size of your bum then?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You would not normally expect there to be anyone in a parked car. I would stop, write a note and then get out to go to put it on the car.

When TLH told me some hours after the event when I got home she said the car turned into the leisure centre car park almost opposite immediately after hitting and smashing her mirror. She got out and walked the 50-odd metres to our house not being the type, on a Friday evening after a tough week teaching, to confront twunts in the street or in a car park. (Which is why she is my better half).

When I went to inspect the damage much later so as to order replacement bits off flea bay I was smiling at the irony of the situation, karma being funny if somewhat unfair stuff, and a tiny part of me hoped against hope that the driver had pulled into the car park only in order to leave a note of, at least, apology. Not that I would pursue them for the costs any more than I would someone who dinked TLH's car door in a car park. (see threads passim)

Some hopes. £30 quid later I've sourced a replacement cover and new lens. I think the motor is ok.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Why would the offending driver leave a note, IF there was someone in the car which they had just hit?

If you are such a twunt that you hit door mirrors of parked cars with your own door mirror how likely is it your observational skills would spot a small, though rather cute imo, woman sat in the drivers seat I wonder?

 

[Jon George]

Thank you @GrumpyGregry for starting a thought-provoking thread. Whether you intended to or not, it deals with an issue that has provided me with the backbone to many a story: namely what is the appropriate response to what society considers bad behaviour? (This can range from a two-year old having a tantrum to one ethnic/religious group murdering another.) As is often said, when the good stand by and do nothing, then evil wins, but when, and how, should you respond? In my many years of experience in rough-pub culture (it was my local), sociopaths are not possessed of the skills to learn from the fall-out of their selfish behaviour, so resorting to criminal damage is a risky endeavour at the best of times. My gut feeling is that you seem to have experienced more than your fair share of aggressive drivers than the average cyclist and wonder whether, at times, your presumably assertive style of riding sometimes tips over into something more. I hasten to add that I am no fan of the current perceived wisdom which says victims should shoulder some of the blame for their situation, but I'm just as guilty as you of instinctively wanting to face down bullies and I know it's often difficult to get the balance right between rewarding bad behaviour by not doing anything, and a shrug of the shoulders. Keep safe.