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New York cyclist films harassment from driver and bystandersHarassment video still

New York cyclist films harassment from driver and bystanders

Rafael Huerta filmed incident in New York borough facing problems for cyclists
by Sarah Barth
Sun, May 12, 2013 13:03
37

Rafael Huerta was cycling along a South Williamsburg street, in New York when he was subjected to three bouts of harassment from a driver attempting to pass him.

What the driver didn't know was that he was filming the entire scene - and later posted it to YouTube.

The video below shows Huerta repeatedly being squeezed into the parked cars at the side of the road by a grey Toyota minivan. The driver eventually gets out and accused Huerta of harassing him, and then a number of bystanders join in, blocking the cyclist's path.

He panics and is forced to call 911 and is eventually helped out by a plain clothes policeman.

But Huerta urges viewers not to jump to conclusions about the altercation between the pair. He writes in the video's description: “Please refrain from using racial comments…This man doesn’t represent the Jewish community…And I don’t represent the biking community either.”

But cyclists in Williamsburg are not unused to heavy-handed treatment. Cyclists have recently been ticketed by police for riding along a quiet pavement to get onto a cycle bridge, thanks to poor signposting.

And in 2010 there was a heated row between Hasidic Jews in the area and cyclists over pedestrian safety around bike lanes.

Williamsburg
New York

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37 comments

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paulfrank replied to moonbucket | 10 years ago
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moonbucket wrote:

Really, you want the cyclist to cower in fear and prostrate themselves at the feet of fat oafish louts in (surprisingly roomy 3 ) minivans, and apologise for using the road?

Fat arrogant oafs like this one already believe they own the road, to hell with entrenching that idea in their thick skulls!

Be honest, how many of you watching this wanted to wrap their bikes round his bearded pus? 14

I'd have drop kicked the fat beardy and then smashed his "not so MINI van" up; he looks like he needs to walk a bit more.

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Bob McCall | 10 years ago
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Hope the fat driver meets his maker soon, then the roads will be safer. As a PR exercise, the fat driver and his telepathic muppets have scored an own goal.

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Metjas | 10 years ago
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you never know who you will be dealing with once things escalate - I certainly hope I wouldn't let myself get drawn in if in such a situation, I'd rather get home to the family in one piece, even with a slight dent in my pride and sense of justice.

I'm certainly not sold on the idea of using cameras as a defensive measure, it seems to make situations escalate as one feels empowered by recording evidence. As said above, fine line between assertiveness and aggression.

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monkimark | 10 years ago
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Beardy pregnant man is a knob and a menace, he used his car as a weapon and then got in a mood when he didn't get his way. Maybe the cyclist would have been safer backing down but does anyone think for a second that the driver wonn't do it again and again until he hurts someone?
Fair play to the driver coming the other way for coming to the rescue in a firm but calm manner.
I'd be interested to hear what was said in the languages i didn't understand.

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silkred | 10 years ago
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its interesting looking from the outside... typical of the general sense that we - cyclists - are somehow in the way stopping them - drivers - from feeling free... this driver escalated the whole thing to the farse you see here - its encouraging that the other drivers came and took some control but - WTF - its my general view that the roads are more aggressive feeling now than in other times... makes it tiring and a little emotionally draining to have to cope with them every day...

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richteebis replied to Krazyfrenchkanuck | 10 years ago
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Not sure about US law but in the UK the cyclist was riding in a proper way, there was insufficient room for a car to pass safely (in accordance with the highway code) as the lane they were travelling in was a single lane with no overtaking allowed. Therefore I see no reason for the cyclist to say "You're right I'll be carefull not to do it. Have a good day Sir". In addition to this the car driver attempts to drive the cyclist off the road so I am baffled to hear excuses being made for the drivers actions. Why wouldn't you give a little tap on the car in this situation?!

But more importantly the driver has totally the wrong idea that the car is king! Roads area a shared space.

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Tripod16 | 10 years ago
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It's like being surrounded by a group of enormously large penguins.

The driver getting out certainly didn't feel as threatening as some of the scum on London roads (minus the part about being run into parked cars).

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