Other Pasadena biker: kicking a 13-year-old in the jaw is nothing

Dan, I also walk my bike across crosswalks, making doubly sure I am between the two white lines. And if a rude, law-breaking driver gets cute with me, my middle finger is the least of their worries. I make sure my cell phone (with camera) is pointed directly at their front license plate. Then I let them know that info will be e-mailed to the local PD. That usually puts the fear of God into them.

Wow, smart. I'd like to see the PD hang out at some of these crosswalks. Even without a bike, some drivers are crazy aggressive. I'm not sure they all understand it is their legal obligation to yield.

I saw the comments about the peloton and they have earned the hostility. I had my car kicked and was cursed out by them a couple of years ago. My car was stopped and I was trying to turn, but was not able to because of the swarm. I was where I was supposed to be. Was this rider a part of the peloton? That was not clear. Either way, I hope he gets a felony strike for this.

I've been crossing the street by the Rose Bowl, in the cross walk, with a peloton 110 feet or more away. But have endured jeers, etc because they feel they are number 1 priority on the public streets. I wonder if they have ever even bothered to check with actual right of way law? Very sad, as I like to bike (but haven't been a hive member of the peloton)

I have walked around the Rose Bowl for the better part of 19 years now. I do agree that the Peleton riders in general are becoming much more agressive. On the same hand I am also noticing that many parents who are putting their babies and small children in strollers start to show an amazing lack of considerateness towards those around them. Not all of them of course - but I am noticing that some of them think "Well since I have a baby in a stroller that makes you have to get out of my way" Coupled with roller bladers, women walking 5 abreast and refusing to move when you are trying to go around them and everyone wearing an IPOD so you can't get their attention - it's just become too much. Instead of getting completely stressed out about it - I have decided to walk around the Rose Bowl at 5:00 a.m. There are a few walkers out there - no moms in strollers - no rollerbladers and maybe two bike riders. We all greet each other and there is nothing like walking in total silence to think about things and get started for your day. I don't know what the answer is to all of this with so many people trying to utilize the same area at the same time and the threat of violence escalating - but it would be great if people would just start using common courtesy and common sense.

This will teach us to be more careful when attending such crowded events. Thank you for letting those who need to know find out. Benigna Torviso-Marko

Problem is bikers want it both ways. 1. to share the road & be treated like another vehicle. 2. to selectively ignore the vehicle code: not stopping at lights, stop signs, signaling or riding in formation at speeds that clog a roadway (cars would be cited for such behavior). Given that the Bowl often looks like a Critical Mass rally, it is not surprising that conflicts between pedestrians and bikers are on the rise. If a car comes on a pedestrian in a cross walk, it is required to stop and stay stopped for the entire time the pedestrian has a foot on the roadway. I guarantee that would not be the result for bikes at the Rose Bowl. As a pedestrian, you would cross and pick your way as bikes went around you without stopping. Getting run down and then the additional insult of being punched out, is, if true, unacceptable. Some of what passes for acceptable conduct is based on misunderstanding of the code, that is not being addressed by authorities. So if a free for all road rally impinges upon pedestrian rights, nothing will change unless authorities step up. It is very similar to the general rule of motorcyclists, that it is OK to split traffic. When the actual laws, indicate splitting traffic is ok, only if the motorcycle is going 10 MPH faster than surrounding traffic and traffic is going slowly. So splitting is only permissible in heavy traffic going 15 MPH or less with a motorcycle going no more than 25-30MPH. Clearly, splitting traffic at 40-70Mph on a freeway is an offense and dangerous. But when was the last time you saw a motorcycle splitting traffic cited.