Cycling in Sydney Australia
Bystander - THANK YOU!
Hi All,
I took the kids to school today on the Nihola and an ice cream truck driver started beeping behind me as I ascended Campbell Street hill going to Crown Street Public School in Surry Hills. I have an electric motor given the fact that I am probably carrying 150 kg. (self, 2 kids, school bag, cargo trike itself) So, I am not slow. Anyway, I heard him start to accelerate to pass me on the LEFT and then he shouted "Get on the left side of the road. $#%& and a few other things." Of course, I shouted, "I am legally entitled to ride in the middle of a road just as a car, you idiot." By this time, he had passed me but came within several cm of hitting the cabin of the Nihola. Fortunately, by this time we were at the light at the corner of Riley and Campbell Streets. Another cyclist who had dismounted and was crossing the street turned around to hear the shouting and said to the driver, "Thats why you have the job that you do. Idiot!" The name of the ice cream company was Casadel.com.au. I shouted, "Casadel.com.au. I'll give them a call today to report your terrible driving." before the lights turned green. We arrived at school without further incident but my kindergarten daughter asked "why was that man was being so mean?" I said, because some people are just not very smart and don't know how to drive in our neighborhood.
So, I returned home with our 9 month old, put him to bed and called Casadel.com.au and reported the incident. I also found out that a BYSTANDER had rung earlier to report the incident. Lucia at the company said that someone else had reported the driver. How nice! I live in the village of Surry Hills! So, thank you bicyclist who had crossed the road and thank you BYSTANDER who rang the ice cream shop to report the reckless driver.
It's good that I know how to shout from the diaphragm. I've never had such a problem before. I consider myself lucky.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael on -
Hopefully the driver will think twice before opening his mouth again, (if he still has a job), it's a pity the police weren't behind him at the same time. I'm glad yourself and others reported him instead of being ignorant to the situation.
Excuse my ignorance though, as a chocaholic and living in the macarthur region when and where is the "chocolate run"? it has me intrigued.............
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Permalink Reply by rococoabean on -
I consider myself lucky.
Which is sad, as luck should have nothing to do with it. :-(
I fully support the suggestions here that (a) we follow up with the company and (b) 'suggest' to them that we may not wish to patronise them en masse in future.
Oh, and I'd add my own suggestion - that we have another Chocolate Ride ASAP! (It's nearly Easter, after all...)
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Permalink Reply by Neil Alexander on -
Hey, why wait till Easter -- that's in April. Valentines Day is Tuesday. Surely that provides an excuse.
Then there's February 29 which only comes around once every four years so we should mark that appropriately.
There's a full moon in March, too, so that's a significant date to celebrate, not to mention the equinox that month.
Come on! Get with it!! There's any number of significant dates for a Chocolate Ride... (drooool). Even every Friday would be good, to mark the end of the working week. Mmmmm, Critical Chocolate...
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Permalink Reply by JP on -
I've just completed my 3rd Chocolate Ride...of the weekend! And just been hammered by the most godawful storm. But then large blocks of Cadbury's delights for $2 are worth it. I bought 6.
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Permalink Reply by PeterT on -
I consider myself lucky.
Which is sad, as luck should have nothing to do with it. :-(
Very true.
It's just plain criminal intimidation by a licensed(?) user of tool/weapon known to extinguish 1,400 lives a year.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Imm on -
I agree that it is sad that I am considering myself lucky. However, I think it's pretty difficult for many people to change when they are accustomed to traveling great distances by moving a large piece of metal around everyday. People seem to forget that they can actually kill other people (and children) with a car. Given that, my attitude is that I am lucky to have support from pedestrians and other cyclists.
When I spoke with Lucia she said that she was drafting a note to give to the general manager recording the incident. The GM is supposed to ring me back this week. Let's see what they have to say. I told Lucia that things have changed in the inner city and that for their drivers to drive safely, they need to be aware of the changes in the city. She agreed.
Will ring them again tomorrow.
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Permalink Reply by kirby on -
sorry that happened to you and yours, why in this day and age? why are we still seeing this?
I have a English dr at work and today she jokingly refered to Australia as semi civilsed (just a sledge) but when you hear about stuff like this it makes you wonder..
Um... what chocolate run?
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