While commuting home from work, there was a car illegally parked in the bike lane (also blocking a parking garage exit). As I started to pass the illegally parked car I panicked a bit when I thought another car was coming up behind me. I clipped their side mirror with my handlebars, and I heard a 'thonk' but I barely felt a thing.
I have been sending in videos of illegally parked cars, garbage bins, and other dangerous actions that I catch on my camera to our local PD. These reports show that somebody cares, helps populate statistics, and sometimes punishes carbrains. In this case I am hesitant to turn the video footage over because the driver might come after me. What do you guys think I should do?
This is my own Unlisted Youtube Video (I couldn't figure out how to upload to reddit and make text post, I'm not trying to get views)
by FerryRider
6 Comments
With a small caveat that it depends where you are, I’m going to say the answer is definitely yes. One person doing something illegal doesn’t mean you can also break the law, or that they are no longer covered/protected by laws.
Don’t turn it in. Knock all the mirrors off until cagers learn how to park not putting peoples’ lives in risk.
You’re overthinking this on many levels.
After watching the video you can definitely hear something hitting the ground after impact lol. I’d probably hesitate on sending that specific video in as evidence… but excellent work otherwise.
“Am I responsible for my own actions?” -yes
Yup. You are liable. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
That said…..
If I parked on a runway I wouldn’t be surprised to get hit by an airplane. The plane should be mad at me.
If I parked on the train tracks I wouldn’t be surprised to be hit by a train. The train should be mad at me.
If I parked on the ocean I wouldn’t be surprised to be hit by a killer whale. The killer whales are suddenly and inexplicably (although probably rightly) mad at us.
What I’m getting at is that he really shouldn’t have been surprised to have been hit by a ~~~plane~~~, ~~~train~~~, ~~~shamu~~~, *cyclist*.
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I’d leave it alone. It’s safe to say that everyone learned a lesson.