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News, commentary and humor about bicycling and other topics of the day

 

Angry driver bites off part of cyclist's ear

Over in New Castle, Ind., Curtis A. Cross, has been accused of biting off a chunk of cyclist Jeffrey H. Guffey's ear on April 1.

The Star-Press of Muncie, Ind., reported that Guffey told police he shouted at a driver of a sport utility vehicle, "Slow down, there are kids out there!"

The SUV driver -- later identified as Cross -- pulled to the side of the street and got out of his vehicle, telling Guffey he "wasn't going to talk to him like that," according to a police report.

Guffey said he told the driver, "I'm just asking you to slow down. I don't want trouble, but there are kids out."

The man hit Guffey in the face, then "took him to the ground, where he struck him some more with his hands, then bit off his ear," city patrolman M. Chase Hightower said in a police report. "Guffey stated the man then got up and spit his ear out at him."

New Castle Police Chief James Nicholson said "a good chunk" of Guffey's left ear was torn off. Guffey was treated at a hospital. Cross has been charged with one count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury.

Here's a video from WISH-TV in Indianapolis about the incident:

Labels: bicycling, crime, Indiana

Roger 1 comments links to this post 10:57 PM

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Obama "breaking away" in Indiana

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama decided to bask in the glow of this weekend's Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

The Associated Press reported that Obama, the junior U.S. senator from Illinois, "waded into Bill Armstrong Stadium on Friday and was greeted by a colorful array of spandex and a raucous student body. The race announcer credited him with bringing the good weather."

Obama climbed to the receiving stand and waved, but he made no remarks, AP reported. He then walked along the edge of the track as students and race participants strained to shake his hand or take his picture. Obama then watched the 32-team, 100-lap women's race.

The Little 500 continues today with the men's race, which was immortalized in the 1979 film "Breaking Away." For those of you who haven't seen the film, do so. It's a classic coming-of-age movie involving four Bloomington friends who wind up racing the Little 500 as the "Cutters," named after the people who worked at limestone quarries surrounding the southern Indiana city.

The Bloomington area also is known as being the home of the Hilly Hundred, one of the Midwest's best bicycle events.

Labels: Indiana, movies, politics

Roger 0 comments links to this post 2:14 AM

Saturday, March 22, 2008

"Russian roulette" in Indianapolis

After more than 200 accidents and four deaths involving cyclists and motorists in the Indianapolis area last year, the Indianapolis Star reports local cycling advocates are hoping education and respect will go a long way to a safer 2008.

"It's intimidating as a cyclist," said Jonathan Juillerat, general manager of Nebo Ridge Bicycles in Carmel. "Riding city streets sometimes feels like Russian roulette, so I made a conscious decision not to ride as much because of that. Eventually, I feel like my number will be up because motorists aren't paying attention."

Nancy Tibbett -- president of the Central Indiana Bicycling Association, best known for putting on the Hilly Hundred and N.I.T.E. Ride each year -- told the Star that Indiana has a long way to go before being thought of as a bicycle-friendly state. She also said most roads in the Indianapolis area aren't designed for motorists and cyclists to co-exist.

She did note that progress is being made on bike lanes and bike routes in the region. Until then, she suggest that motorists and cyclists can share the roads if they traffic laws.

The Indiana Bicycle Coalition is attempting to educate cyclists and motorists about their rights and obligations. The coalition has published brochures urging cyclists and motorists to share the road and to follow the rules of the road.

Labels: advocacy, cycling, Indiana, safety

Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:46 PM