Canada taking action?

NGale

Is Toronto finally doing something for cyclists by taking action against a taxi driver who cause the amputation of a cyclists leg. Somehow I don't think this would happen in the UK

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/11/21/taxi-bicycle.html

attica

NGale wrote:

Is Toronto finally doing something for cyclists by taking action against a taxi driver who cause the amputation of a cyclists leg. Somehow I don't think this would happen in the UK

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/11/21/taxi-bicycle.html

I'd like to think a cabbie would face similar charges in the UK, it's called hit and run.

always_tyred

It appears somewhat similar to the Glasgow case, where the driver did not manage to succeed in doing anything other than property damage, but received 4 months, £2k fine an 18 month driving ban and a loss of his profession.

Both were contingent on there being witnesses and the driving abuse being astonishingly flagrant.

NGale

I don't know if we would though. The cabbie in Glasgow was only done because another cabbie came out as a witness, even then his sentence was quite frankly a joke for attempting to kill someone.

It seems that cyclists are fair game in this country, if you a pedestrian or motorist your protected, but get onto a bike and you seem to lose all rights and you become a legitimate target for all the nutters out there.

I am currently off my bike, because I was taken off my bike by a motorist who seemed to find it halariously funny to open his door on me as I rode past. I am now undergoing physio on my back after being catapulted over the door when my bike came to a dead stop but I didn't.

The driver, well she drove off, leaving me to be tended by a passing pedestrian and another cyclist and the witnesses in the car behind her took no interest and drove off himself.

The police now have a very good description of the driver!

Crapaud

NGale wrote:

I don't know if we would though. The cabbie in Glasgow was only done because another cabbie came out as a witness, even then his sentence was quite frankly a joke for attempting to kill someone. ...

The guy was jailed, fined, suspended from driving for 18 months, now has a criminal record and lost his job (he's very unlikely to get his taxi license renewed). Action was taken. What more would you have done?

It's irrelevant that it was another cabbie that was the witness. If anything it reveals that not all cabbies and, by extension, motorists, are irresponsible, homicidal loons.

Drivers do get the jail, lose their licenses and get fined all the time here. Somehow it all gets forgotten, or conveniently ignored, on cycling fora when calls for tougher actioin are called for.*

Could it be that your own accident has caused you to be a bit blinkered and bitter?

*This doesn't mean that tougher action, in general, isn't needed.

downfader

I read this story early last week and also drew similar thoughts on what had happened in aberdeen. :? It appears to have been a case of "Oi! You nearly had me there!" from the cyclists and the driver taking exception. This case is more tragic as a guy has lost a leg and this could impact his life in so many ways. I knew a guy from Portugal who was in the army there, stepped on an enemy landmine and lost his left leg - they managed to save most of it because his comrades leap into action, the cyclist was just left.

Not even an a***hole would deserve that imo.

NGale

I have worked in a prison and done sentence calculation. on a 4 month sentence he would be released at the three quater point, take off time for early release under the goverment scheme of 14 days off the sentence. for serving over three months he could also get released on tag. So in theory he could be released after just under two months. Not exactly much jail time now is there.

A man can get more time inside for stealing a loaf of bread than maming a cyclist using what is effectivly a dangrous weapon.

Something about the law is cackhanded.

Oh yes and that fine...that too can be paid off while in jail...by simply serving the fine out by not taking those 14 days on ECL.

As for the loss of a livelyhood....well he didn't think about that at the time did he? most right thinking drivers would do such a thing.

Eau Rouge

And what would be gained by keeping him in prison for longer, other than letting his new drug addiction really kick in and letting him move on to the harder drugs before his release?

downfader

Prison affects different people in many ways. I have known 2 ex-cons who have gone straight because of seeing the violence and rape that goes on. Chances are he will see something similar and start to realise the gravity of his circumstance.

STEFANOS4784

downfader wrote:

Prison affects different people in many ways. I have known 2 ex-cons who have gone straight because of seeing the violence and rape that goes on. Chances are he will see something similar and start to realise the gravity of his circumstance.

You are surely joking right? If not i sugget you stop watching films like SCUM

downfader

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

downfader wrote:

Prison affects different people in many ways. I have known 2 ex-cons who have gone straight because of seeing the violence and rape that goes on. Chances are he will see something similar and start to realise the gravity of his circumstance.

You are surely joking right? If not i sugget you stop watching films like SCUM

No I'm not joking. Despite all the Daily Mail have ever said about holiday-camp prisons it aint like that. I knew an ex car thief who said the "screws" would love to leave doors on wings open for guys to stroll in and have a visit with the sex offender lads and so on.

These two taxi drivers will simply be seen as fresh meat

always_tyred

NGale wrote:

I have worked in a prison and done sentence calculation. on a 4 month sentence he would be released at the three quater point, take off time for early release under the goverment scheme of 14 days off the sentence. for serving over three months he could also get released on tag. So in theory he could be released after just under two months. Not exactly much jail time now is there.

A man can get more time inside for stealing a loaf of bread than maming a cyclist using what is effectivly a dangrous weapon.

Something about the law is cackhanded.

Oh yes and that fine...that too can be paid off while in jail...by simply serving the fine out by not taking those 14 days on ECL.

As for the loss of a livelihood....well he didn't think about that at the time did he? most right thinking drivers would do such a thing.

It will be interesting to see how the TO case comes out then. Thus far he's only be charged.

The cabbie form the Glasgow incident had a completely clean driving record prior to that, and the cyclist wasn't badly hurt.

To get a cab licence in Scotland I believe that you need to undergo a disclosure check, which would be failed with any sort of criminal record. There is a recession on, he's unlikely to be qualified to do anything else. Really, the cabbie is going to be paying for his bad judgement for many years to come.

As I say, lets wait to see how the enlightened and civilized Canuks deal with things before knocking blightie. If you read the Bicycling and the Law column at Velonews, you get the impression that matters are similar, or worse, in the US than here and o the grass may, or may not be greener.