Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Ohio driver sends shocking 4th July parade message to cyclists

SUV had bicycle on bonnet, legs sticking through sunroof, and message telling riders to "follow the rules"...

Organisers of a Fourth of July Parade in Columbus, Ohio have been criticised on social media for allowing a vehicle to take part that had a bicycle attached to the bonnet, a pair of legs sticking out through the sunroof, and a message on the door that read, "I'll share the road when you follow the rules."

Twitter user and local cyclist Spencer Hackett posted a picture to Twitter of the vehicle, which was taking part in the city's annual Doo Dah Parade, which is held on Independence Day.

Similar parades, which combine political satire with a celebration of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, are held throughout the year in several cities throughout the United States, having originated in Pasadena, California in 1978.

Others are held in Ocean City, New Jersey and, in the city of Kalamazoo in Ohio's neighbouring state of Michigan, where five cyclists were killed last month when a pick-up truck driver crashed into them.

> Full coverage of the Kalamazoo tragedy

So far, Hackett's post has been retweeted more than 200 times with a number of those commenting wondering how the driver was permitted on the parade with his vehicle and that he had gone well beyond what should be classified as free speech.

Hackett pointed out that Columbus's city government is pursuing bike-friendly policies, which he suggested may have prompted the motorist's message.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

10 comments

Avatar
ron611087 | 7 years ago
2 likes

Someone should conceal a telemetry device on that vehicle & broadcast when and where that driver breaks the speed limit. Then we'll see who obeys the rules.

Avatar
biketime | 7 years ago
0 likes

This Ohian knows all too well about this crap. Yes, too many of our brothers and sisters do blow through lights.  And, rather than the slow-n-go way, blow through stop signs when cars are present and it's their turn to go.  Not enough roadies run blinky lights, day or night.;

 However, whether driving or riding, I watch plenty of people, including that genius in his SUV, who constantly do "rolling stops" at signs, blow yellow and just-turned-red lights.  Where I live in Cincinnati, 100 miles SW of Columbus, turn signals are pretty much a rumor. 

Last time I got hassled, I politely invited him to ride with me and see how "easy" it was on the street and road. He grunted and drove away.  I gues he didn;t want to soil himself after that first big truck passed him.

 

 

 

Avatar
burtthebike | 7 years ago
0 likes

Next year there will be a tank with an SUV, much mangled and riddled with bullet holes, on the front.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
2 likes

//s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b8/63/c2/b863c246e92b769bac7e3e8be12a801e.jpg)

Avatar
df280 | 7 years ago
1 like

I refused to comment on the actual incident as it's just patently absurd.

Anyway on a better note, I thought it was "Obey the Rules"...

Avatar
sswindells | 7 years ago
1 like

I wonder if it's more aerodynamic than putting the bike on the roof when travelling?

Avatar
alansmurphy | 7 years ago
1 like

Is that bike suitably mounted, must be impairing his peripheral vision - call the cops!

Avatar
handlebarcam | 7 years ago
4 likes

This is not shocking at all. If it is for you then, well, welcome to Earth, is there room on your spaceship for me? We were making some progress, but it was all too much hard work, so we've decided to just go back to flinging our poo at each other, like all the other primates.

Avatar
brooksby replied to handlebarcam | 7 years ago
0 likes
handlebarcam wrote:

This is not shocking at all. If it is for you then, well, welcome to Earth, is there room on your spaceship for me? We were making some progress, but it was all too much hard work, so we've decided to just go back to flinging our poo at each other, like all the other primates.

Sorry, no room  1 It's pretty cramped anyway, but right now I'm waiting for a new catalyser...

Avatar
brooksby | 7 years ago
3 likes

It's just so professional, isn't it?  I mean: the way he's stuck some sugar paper to his car door and scribbled on it with a sharpie...  Absolutely amazing. laugh

So could someone have turned this on its head - "As a cyclist, I will share the road with motorists when they obey the rules?  And if they don't, am I allowed to shoot them (it is the USA, after all)?, and can I go out on a parade threatening to shoot or blow up random motorists whose driving annoys me...?"

 

(In other news: the UAE has warned its citizens not to wear their traditional/formal dress when visiting the US, out of fears for their safety...).

Latest Comments