By adamg on Thu., 6/5/2014 - 3:10 pm
Capt. John Greland at C-6 reports that around 5:55 p.m. on Tuesday, a motorist took exception, by way of his fist, to a bicyclist obeying traffic rules at Dorchester Avenue and Columbia Road.
Greland says the motorist, apparently headed straight, beeped at the bicyclist in front of him. When the bicyclist refused to move and told him the light was red, the driver got out of his car and punched the bicyclist in the face, giving him a bloody mouth and knocking him to the ground - possibly into unconsciousness - Greland says.
EMTs took the bicyclist to the hospital; police will seek criminal complaints against the driver in South Boston District Court.
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Comments
bikes/cars on the road
By MarkB
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 9:48pm
Discuss THIS -- until motorists learn that A.)roads weren't made just for cars; and B.)they don't OWN them, then MOTORISTS can keep THEIR asses off roads.
motorists are defensive for a reason.
By cinnamngrl
Sat, 06/07/2014 - 9:50am
they are not entitled to the road for the simple fact that a license to drive a car is granted by the state. Bicyclists are entitled to be on the road, because there is no reason to license to operation of something that doesn't kill you if it hits you. Motorists were not licensed until they killed people.
I know, huh?
By stinky
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 12:23pm
But some people aren't ready or able to bike, so we need to allow at least some cars. For now.
Pete, seems like you're just
By carl wittig
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 8:40pm
Pete, seems like you're just baiting.
I disagree!!!
By anon
Sun, 06/08/2014 - 8:45am
I disagree. The law for cyclists is the same for cars. As an avid cyclist I cannot believe how people in vehicles can act so very aggressively to someone out there on the road following the laws of the road. We are not protected in a half ton steel cage, why do people in cars feel it is ok to cause bodily harm to cyclists who are obeying the law while trying to excersize and have a good time? Cars don't purposefully smash into other vehicles, why is it ok to kill someone on a bike?
Bikes were the first machines
By Jesse D
Mon, 06/09/2014 - 11:47pm
In all 50 United States DRIVING IS LEGALLY A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT. I don't agree with this, but the fact remains. Most roads were built over trails which horses, then wagons, then bicycles, AND THEN cars rode over. No license is required to ride a bike or a horse. Cyclists are required to obey traffic laws. Many don't. However, TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT! BUT three lefts do make a right. SO, .....was alcohol involved?
People with road rage don't
By Heather
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 3:21pm
People with road rage don't belong on streets behind the wheel of a car.
Did the driver flee?
By Greene
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 3:39pm
What happened after the battery?
Good question
By adamg
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 3:42pm
Somehow they IDed the driver because they know who he is for issuing a court summons.
The punchy puncher constutuency
By Chris Rich
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:15pm
..are like odd rogue males that usually have a collection of bar fights, street scrapes, a spouse battering or two and the array of lout life moments that end up being noteworthy to cops.
And if, you think about it, the various neighborhoods are like small towns clustering to make a city.
So Hyde Park will have a Punchy McPunch Punch or two, Rozzie, wherever the endangered townie subspecies still anxiously roost.
In many cases it's some judges cousin as nothing emboldens a Punch A Lot Lord like the impunity that comes with a whoyaknow.
bicycle violence
By elaine canty
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 8:14pm
This was an episode of bullying,pure and simple.I know because I am the police witness who was there and attended to the innocent victim in this despicable incident.For anyone to suggest that the victim "got what was coming to him" needs mental health counseling.
Thanks, Elaine
By Michael Kerpan
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 8:55pm
For your attention to the victim -- and your comment.
Care needed
By nm
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 10:22am
Elaine -- I am not a lawyer, but if you are called as a witness to anything it may be worthwhile to avoid commenting further, could allow claims that you are biased etc. Of course, I agree with your sentiments.
Regarding the majority of this comment thread: Are we so easily baited? Seems so.
Underlying psychology of driver
By Markk02474
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 12:51pm
The driver was completely wrong, but I can picture his emotional state.
He was not expecting someone to suddenly stop for a stale yellow or just turned red light, especially when bicyclists blow through red lights all the time. The expectation was set that bicyclists don't stop for red lights and bicyclists as a whole plus no enforcement by police are to blame for that. Add in state lawmakers for not having any fines stick for cyclists, and the result is low law compliance.
So, with the driver on his way through the red light, he has to jam on the brakes to not kill the cyclist. Well, that is an adrenaline jolt to the body intensified with the realization that he could have killed someone.
Now, pumped full adrenaline, higher mental functions are impaired and lower fight-flight ones dominate. Reason is disabled. When there is then a verbal confrontation with the cyclist, fight happens.
In any sort of road rage incident (fueled by hormone release) it is best to disconnect from the situation and not confront, regardless of vehicles. Don't try to lecture anyone who is pumped with adrenaline because the message doesn't get through and it only pisses them off.
Nobody is surprised that you
By Scratchie
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 1:17pm
Nobody is surprised that you can empathize with a psychotic bully, Mark.
Tell us more, Mark
By SwirlyGrrl
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 1:20pm
Like, you seem to know so much about this incident - did you make bail yet?
Or are you just making your usual specious and bizarre driver privilege arguments absent logic, reason, facts, and any sense of responsibility for drivers?
I strongly doubt that Mark
By Scratchie
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 1:28pm
I strongly doubt that Mark actually has the cojones to throw a punch at someone.
We can just...
By anon
Mon, 06/09/2014 - 12:16pm
... run those red lights.
Red lights?
By DB
Sat, 06/14/2014 - 12:01am
Motorized vehicles run red lights in this city constantly. Everyone should just be punching people all the time.
Townies in Southie love to
By Heather
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 3:26pm
Townies in Southie love to make excuses for criminal behavior while blaming all the ills of the world on yuppies, it seems. I guess that's why they are making the millionth movie/book/documentary about your favorite criminal Whitey, while everyone pretends they are ashamed of him...sort of.
was wondering that too. I
By anon
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 3:52pm
was wondering that too. I wonder how many prior violent and driving offenses this out of control motorist has on record
Violence / Ignorance
By Jon Ramos
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 3:47pm
They go hand in hand.
Ignorance/Violence
By Cappy
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:29pm
Thy also go foot to foot.
Hoof/Mouth
This driver is
By anon
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 3:57pm
obviously an asshole, however that does not negate the fact cyclists are just awful.
We're simply dreadful, trying
By Waaarrrgh
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 6:37pm
We're simply dreadful, trying to get from one point to another without a motor. The audacity!
just awful?
By redditseddit
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 7:50pm
Just awful for waiting at a red light, in that way that drivers are always insisting that cyclists never do?
the most angry and aggressive
By anon
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 3:58pm
the most angry and aggressive drivers in the state are the those really cool stud muffins that ride speed bikes. never fails that every time I see one they are driving aggressively. too cool not too ya know.
kewl stoory bro
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:58pm
kewl stoory bro
Reminder that Levi's makes
By gotdatwmd
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:04pm
Reminder that Levi's makes some lovely commuter jeans with a loop in the back to holster a U-lock, that could come in handy for defense purposes should one be faced with a life threatening situation.
Straight
By joneshill
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:06pm
Is this post based solely on the tweet? The tweet doesn't say anything about the intended direction of the driver. Based on my past experiences of getting honked at while stopped at red lights, it is because the driver behind me wants to go RIGHT on red. That's reasonable UNLESS there is a vehicle in front of you! I'm wondering if that's what happened in this case.
I asked Greland
By adamg
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:09pm
And he said it appeared the driver was going straight.
A vehicle in front of you
By anon
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:16pm
You mean, like, a bicycle?
Or do you mean that you expect a cyclist to run a red light so a motorist can turn?
Yes, both cars and bikes are
By joneshill
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 5:46pm
Yes, both cars and bikes are vehicles. You shouldn't expect to be able to go right on red if a vehicle is in front of you and they aren't going right.
This is true, but as a
By Frost
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 11:28pm
This is true, but as a cyclist I'll often try to move to the left of the right lane if I sense the car behind me wants to go right on red. We're living in a society after all...
I only move to the right because i am afraid they will get out
By cinnamngrl
Sat, 06/07/2014 - 9:53am
of the car and punch me.
Nope
By Steve Brady
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:23pm
I bike through there almost daily. It's a No Right On Red intersection.
You all know the story.......
By RichM
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:32pm
The police he will ID him, catch him, bring him before a judge who will slap him on the wrist sending him on his way to repeat the cycle........
"repeat the cycle"? That's
By Refugee
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 9:10am
"repeat the cycle"? That's longhand for"bicycle".
Jetpacks for all! Problem
By Finn
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:43pm
Jetpacks for all! Problem solved!
We were promised flying cars
By RichM
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 7:27pm
We were promised flying cars by now.......;)
Damned if you do...
By Sally
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:44pm
Damned if you don't. I'd really love to hear some expressions of support from the dozens of regulars on here who complain constantly about how cyclists NEVER stop for red lights.
OK, I'll Start
By Suldog
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:50pm
Hooray for a cyclist who was obeying the rules of the road.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
I second that emotion!
By whyaduck
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 5:07pm
Kudos to the cyclist.
They Don't
By relaxyapsycho
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 5:00pm
Ever.
Not a problem.
By PeterGriffith5
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 5:20pm
Not a problem.
In this instance, Cyclist was 100% in the right. The Assaulting driver was 100% wrong.
#swirlyjustice
Even though she won't take over for Emily Rooney, I'm glad that it wasn't Swirly.
This fanboy comment is a
By anon
Fri, 06/06/2014 - 4:50pm
This fanboy comment is a little bit creepy, PeterGriffith5.
Personally, I'd rather get out of the way than be knocked unconscious. When I'm in the crosswalk and someone guns it for me, I sprint to the sidewalk regardless of whether or not the driver lawfully should have stopped. Obviously the cyclists was legally in the right for not running the red and the motorist was an aggressive psycho for punching him. Would be interesting to read an interviews of both cyclist and driver.
Innocent etc.
By Lunchbox
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 5:49pm
Maybe the motorist was framed! The cyclist probably blew the red, ran into a lawfully proceeding car, then blamed someone else for his bloody nose.
Seriously, though, hat's off to this non-scofflaw cyclist. Damn shame this happened.
It's been almost two hours since this was posted
By Brian Riccio
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 4:51pm
Has no one checked the hospitals for Swirly yet?
Here!
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 5:01pm
Busy. Back soon.
(at 5:55 pm Tuesday I was commuting home with the Mister, taking pics of our bikes with the big giraffe at the Legoland Discovery place)
Can I borrow your kids?
By Stevil
Thu, 06/05/2014 - 6:35pm
So I can go?
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