In an unusual story out of Orlando, cyclists have claimed that motorists are challenging them with intentional close calls known as “punishment passes.” These close calls are used as a kind of threat, encouraging cyclists to stay off the roads.
One cyclist said that she has had cigarettes thrown at her, been hit while training for a triathlon and even had to avoid people throwing beer bottles at her. She believes that the minor inconvenience of waiting for a cyclist turns into the need to rush, which makes some drivers more aggressive.
There are an estimated 50 million cyclists on the roads throughout America every day. Many have turned to wearing GoPro cameras or similar styles of cameras to record their rides. Why? They’ll have evidence of the drivers who get too close to them and push them off the roads or cause collisions.
Cyclists in Central Florida have said that they want more laws in place. They want to have safer roads and to have drivers held accountable for their actions. Today, only 10 states have bike rider safety laws in place to protect cyclists.
If you are a cyclist who is legally traveling on the roads, there’s no reason that you should have to worry about getting into a traffic accident. Cyclists have every right to be on the roads, and no driver should attempt to push them off the roads because of road rage or being in a hurry. Cyclists have rights, and if you’re hit, you can file a lawsuit against the driver for your injuries.
