Los Angeles Biking Anti-Harrassment Law

meepin' bicyclists.

Someone should shoot these hippy freaks.

Them's a lot of words. Could somebody please read this meep and summarize it for those of us who just don't give a fuk? Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

<span style="font-weight:bold">B.Bicyclist.</span>A person riding a bicycle.

oh meep, well played comment previewer!

This "law" and others of its ilk, are evidence that legislators are both over-compensated for their "work" and have way too much free time.

It would not be worth paying attention to, except that they listen to and act upon the over-valued demands of idiots with over-developed senses of self-importance, who apparently also have way too much free time.

^ ?
The law actually was born from the over-developed sense of importance on the part of automobile drivers, many of which have no clue that the vehicle code of California actually allows bikes on the roads, and even within painted lanes.

The acts in the new law, while perhaps already covered by a penal code, were nearly unenforceable (try getting a police officer to arrest someone who uses a car to force a bike off the road unless he/she actually witnesses it), and by providing clear civil penalties, gives citizens the ability to enforce in the absence of police action. The police (probably excepting traffic patrol) "have better to do" with their time than to follow up on the complaint of a biker who gets meeped with.

There was a need, and if legislators aren't answering the needs of their constituents (idiots) then why are they there?

Now you don't need the "?"

Of course, because of the meep-tards who will read this, I am obligated to point out the obvious: Nothing I've offered even suggests that the motorists this law is aimed at are excluded from the class, "... idiots with over-developed senses of self-importance."

@StartRecordingNow

The acts in the new law, while <s>perhaps</s> already covered by a penal code, were <s>nearly unenforceable</s>(apparently) not enforced.

... if legislators aren't answering the needs of their constituents (idiots) then why are they there?

Jesus crackers.

What code is used for this comment box?

Not HTML, and certainly not anything the little meepons above it claim to execute.

It's broken. Just accept it and move on.

@witty_screen_name

Them's a lot of words. Could somebody please read this meep and summarize it for those of us who just don't give a fuk? Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

SEC. 45.96.02. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.
A person shall not do or attempt to do any of the following:
A. Physically assault or attempt to physically assault a Bicyclist because of,
in whole or in part, the Bicyclist's status as a Bicyclist.
B. Threaten to physically injure a Bicyclist because of, in whole or in part, the
Bicyclist's status as a Bicyclist.
C. Intentionally injure, attempt to injure, or threaten to physically injure, either
by words, vehicle, or other object, a Bicyclist because of, in whole or in part, the
Bicyclist's status as a Bicyclist.
D. Intentionally distract or attempt to distract a Bicyclist because of, in whole
or in part, the Bicyclist's status as a Bicyclist.
E. Intentionally force or attempt to force a Bicyclist off a street for purposes
unrelated to public safety.

Oh, and lest we forget, the definition of "Bicyclist."
---A person riding a bicycle.

I am missing your apparent objection. I know you'll correct me if necessary, but your objection appears to be that there is law already on the books (though apparently unenforced).

This ordinance simply puts the power to enforce in the hands of a cyclist (via civil action).

The City of Los Angeles, nearly paralyzed by motor vehicles, is undergoing a push to increase use in alternate forms of transportation, including bicycles.

Part of that includes educating drivers, bicyclists, etc. The generally held perception here (in Los Angeles - you know, home of the "car cultutre") is one of great animosity between drivers and cyclists.

Legislating something like this is intended, in my opinion, to remind drivers that bicycles are allowed on the road. Ad for those that don't remember, a bicyclist wont have to find LAPD to implore them to go find some meep to write a ticket. LAPD has better things to do.

Ive been commuting to work via bike in Los Angeles for a year now, and have had a few very scary situations where i was 100% in the right, but was nearly creamed by some meep who flew the bird while passing me less than a foot away, or sped up to get in front of me to make a right turn, or one of a hundred other meep moved drivers make around cyclists.

^ lol, meep your bike meepa. Ride a horse.

@Wotak

Feel free to use wotak. :D

My brother has 2 duis and can't drive for a while, so he's been biking for the last year or so. So far I can verify that he's been actually hit by a car once (car was leaving a parking lot, stopped, looked at him, waited until he was in front of him, nearly past, then pulled out. knocking him off and bending some part of his bike. Guy apologized, then sped off.) This was around the corner from my house. I live in a podunk suburb of a podunk city in Oklahoma, and he's been known to bike 20+ miles a day. I have no doubt something awful could happen to him. I'm sad that he's a retard, but I'm not interested in having him murdered by a ton or two of steel hurtling down the road and deciding he's an easy target.

tldr: I'm for acknowledging bicyclers.

Well, Rabidwire, simple fact of the matter is that it's his fault and it will be at least partially his fault if he gets hit by one because he got two dui's and he is only on a bike because of them.

Let's all go 10 miles an hour because StartRecordingNow can't afford a car. WOOHOO!