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Close Encounters of the #%&*@! Kind (Legal too)
Mar 31, 2023 at 02:47 AM
Mar 31, 2023 at 03:10 PM
I would have gone even more harsh: 1st offense should have started with DQ and suspension for the next race and the 3rd offense ending with the racer getting booted from the club permanently with no option to join or form a new team until board review and approval the next calendar year.
Mar 31, 2023 at 03:15 PM
Runners lane violations are tricky to enforce without video. Did they get pushed in (momentary, it happens) or are they just using it like an expressway?
Either way it highlights what thin ice park racing is on at all times.
Either way it highlights what thin ice park racing is on at all times.
Mar 31, 2023 at 04:40 PM
I think there would be a way for a middle ground.
Namely, put sub-teams under pressure. taking points away from them, threatening them with expulsion, adding marshaling duties and the like might get teams to police their own people better.
Namely, put sub-teams under pressure. taking points away from them, threatening them with expulsion, adding marshaling duties and the like might get teams to police their own people better.
Mar 31, 2023 at 05:46 PM
I don't think that's enough pressure. Sub teams are cliques; expel a "team" and they reform under a different name. I'm also not sure it's the people hunting for points that are the culprits.mugwump said:I think there would be a way for a middle ground.
Namely, put sub-teams under pressure. taking points away from them, threatening them with expulsion, adding marshaling duties and the like might get teams to police their own people better.
TBH it seems like (yet another) a place where USAC could help; if USAC had a standard set of safety rules for clubs to follow, then violations could lead to a USAC suspension. Something as simple as "obey the rules of the venue" would be sufficient, although it would require the venues to suspend speed limits in writing... maybe a non starter.
Apr 02, 2023 at 03:33 PM
Someone's dog tried racing along with the 1-2-3's this morning... (46:51) 
https://youtu.be/eWjn6MsGc4M?t=2811
https://youtu.be/eWjn6MsGc4M?t=2811
Apr 04, 2023 at 01:24 AM
Yikes, was talking to a guy who was super pissed off about the dog running into the pack on Sunday.
Apr 04, 2023 at 04:34 PM
In the safety vein: https://reported-web.herokuapp.com/ is awesome.
If an Uber driver or Taxi is blocking the bike lane, or in the traffic light bike box, or parked illegally, take a pic and TLC will 100% prosecute (worst case you must be on the phone when it goes to court although so far, all my cases have pled guilty). I also report regular cars and trucks, the local precinct is obliged to respond to the complaint immediately.
There's also a Slack channel if you want to nerd out.
If an Uber driver or Taxi is blocking the bike lane, or in the traffic light bike box, or parked illegally, take a pic and TLC will 100% prosecute (worst case you must be on the phone when it goes to court although so far, all my cases have pled guilty). I also report regular cars and trucks, the local precinct is obliged to respond to the complaint immediately.
There's also a Slack channel if you want to nerd out.
Sep 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I was staring down a court hearing on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, for two red light tickets I was issued on March 3, 2020.
Then, yesterday, I got a letter postponing the hearing until October 6, 2026!
Then, yesterday, I got a letter postponing the hearing until October 6, 2026!
First Court Date: March 23, 2021 at 2:30pm
Second Court Date: November ?, 2021
Third Court Date: November 01, 2022
Fourth Court Date: March 23, 2023
Fifth Court Date: November 20, 2023
Sixth Court Date: October 21, 2024
Seventh Court Date September 30, 2025
Eighth Court Date October 6, 2026
The sixth was postponed because I was in the hospital. Otherwise, it is all on NYC.
Of course I don't want to lose and pay two tickets. At the same time, this does seem unfair. Anyone know if there's a statute of limitations on this, or if the tickets can be dismissed because the state keeps on delaying?
Interestingly, a defendant can only postpone once. THere's nothing on the DMV website stating why the state can do this, or for how long.
Sep 29, 2025 at 02:04 PM
I did some quick googling and unfortunately it doesn't look like there is a SOL for red light tickets, so until it's resolved it can hang out there indefinitely. Fortunately though, at this point, I'm willing to bet if you show up whenever the hearing is because it's been so long a judge would dismiss them (but obviously caveats for our justice system because it rarely makes sense)
Sep 30, 2025 at 01:04 AM
@Matt Budofsky
Thanks for looking. I couldn't find anything either.
Possibly of interest is there's a Supreme Court case, Barker v Wingo, which asserts that a defendant has a right to a speedy trial.
Here's the case briefs guide on it:
https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/criminal-procedure/criminal-procedure-keyed-to-saltzburg/trial-and-trial-related-rights/barker-v-wingo-3/
"In its opinion, the Court used a four-factor balancing test to determine if the right to a speedy trial had been denied:
The Length of the Delay: the court concedes that five years a great time for delay
Thanks for looking. I couldn't find anything either.
Possibly of interest is there's a Supreme Court case, Barker v Wingo, which asserts that a defendant has a right to a speedy trial.
Here's the case briefs guide on it:
https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/criminal-procedure/criminal-procedure-keyed-to-saltzburg/trial-and-trial-related-rights/barker-v-wingo-3/
"In its opinion, the Court used a four-factor balancing test to determine if the right to a speedy trial had been denied:
The Length of the Delay: the court concedes that five years a great time for delay
The governmental reasons for delay: to determine to delay in order to get a better witness against the defense is not a good reason; however, to do so because of witness availability is
The defendant’s responsibility to assert his rights
prejudice to the defendant
In the case at hand, the court found that there had been little prejudice to the defendant, because he had failed to assert his right or object to the delays until they had already occurred. Also, the court felt that Barker was gambling on the outcome of Manning’s trial, which is why he waited for the delays. Thus, the court held that Barker was not prejudiced by the delay."
Sep 30, 2025 at 01:51 PM
Unfortunately NY decided to pick the most confusing naming scheme for their court system. The NY Supreme Court is actually the lowest level of court in NY (think trial court similar to a district court) and the NY Court of Appeals is the highest (think the NY equivalent to the SCOTUS) so although it may be persuasive to another court it has no precedential power
Oct 01, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Can't believe I'm sharing another bike crash with you, less than a year after my big, bad one.
But so it goes.
So, today, October 1, 2025, just before noon, I was riding south on Closter Dock road, hustling to get home for a zoom meeting, when a driver heading north decided to make a fast, sharp left onto High Street. I was already at the intersection when she started the turn.
So, today, October 1, 2025, just before noon, I was riding south on Closter Dock road, hustling to get home for a zoom meeting, when a driver heading north decided to make a fast, sharp left onto High Street. I was already at the intersection when she started the turn.
Seems like I probably was hit by the grille and rolled onto the hood and then fell off the hood and hit the ground.
To give you a sense of the driver's line, when I hit the ground on the right side of the car, I was on the edge of High Street's white stop line, and her car was in the middle of it. It's less than a 90-degree angle when turning left from her position, so, whether or not she realized it, she was taking it pretty fast.
I'm not sure if there were witnesses at the moment, but a few folks came out right away. It took the cops what felt like several minutes to arrive, but, considering the Closter PD's station was a block away, they could have walked it in three minutes or less.
Didn't think I was injured, but I asked for EMTs to come and check me out. Lots of soreness. Not alot of road rash. Helmet was ok.
I ended up walking to the station to wait for a ride. When my people didn't answer fast enough, I decided to take a cab home.
Bummed about the bike. Snapped the fork. Dented the top tube. Not sure I can find another like it. The left ergo lever was also smashed, as was the saddle (bent rails). The rear wheel is fine, but the front is probably done for. Not sure what else yet.
Didn't think I was injured, but I asked for EMTs to come and check me out. Lots of soreness. Not alot of road rash. Helmet was ok.
I ended up walking to the station to wait for a ride. When my people didn't answer fast enough, I decided to take a cab home.
Bummed about the bike. Snapped the fork. Dented the top tube. Not sure I can find another like it. The left ergo lever was also smashed, as was the saddle (bent rails). The rear wheel is fine, but the front is probably done for. Not sure what else yet.
That written, anyone have to deal with this in term's of the driver's insurance. How long does it take? I'm going to get the bike officially checked over by a bike shop tomorrow..
The Closter PD wanted the bike's serial number. So, I said I'd provide it after I got home. I called the cop who was with me. He said it could take up to a week before the report is finalized, then they put it on a website called crashdocs.org. All the same, he volunteered that the woman was going to get several summonses, and he'd think the insurance company would want to pay out fast.
The Closter PD wanted the bike's serial number. So, I said I'd provide it after I got home. I called the cop who was with me. He said it could take up to a week before the report is finalized, then they put it on a website called crashdocs.org. All the same, he volunteered that the woman was going to get several summonses, and he'd think the insurance company would want to pay out fast.
Anyone have experience with this?
Oct 02, 2025 at 12:47 AM
JP immediately call L&C and get their professional services. Do not hem and haw, seriously, call them right away, get the police report, and they will work it out from there with you.
Oct 02, 2025 at 01:12 AM
Glad to hear you dont have any serious injuries and bummed about the bike. It sounds like the PD is doing a god job on their end.
Oct 02, 2025 at 01:28 AM
+1 to what @David Yang said.
Also, very happy that you got out of that scrape relatively unscathed. Once the crash begins, the bike's only job is to save you - and it looks like it did just that.
Also, very happy that you got out of that scrape relatively unscathed. Once the crash begins, the bike's only job is to save you - and it looks like it did just that.
Oct 02, 2025 at 07:48 PM
Damn. That really sucks JP, hope no hidden injuries show up the next couple of days.
Oct 03, 2025 at 12:47 AM
spoke with Tom Lucarelli this morning:
Since I'm only bruised, I don’t have a personal injury case. Significant damage to my bike, which I have, means I have a damage claim.
They (L&C) don’t take a fee on damages, but htey can help because they know that insurance companies have a big edge.
First, get the police report. That will identify the insurance information on the vehicle.
KNow that for bikes over $5k or so, the insurance company will want an insurance adjuster examine the bike, possibly because they don't believe bikes are that expensive.
Generally, the insurance company is going to need is a detailed estimate. They’ll want to know what the bike was, if it’s repairable. And how old it is, so they’ll depreciate it. Once you gather all the info and send it to the insurance company. Call them when the report.
I, JP, actually have bike insurance. It's from BikeInsure, that I get from USACycling. https://www.bikeinsure.com/coverage
Tom Lucarelli suggests working with the bike insurance company. The driver's insurance company is going to try to beat down any claim. It’s going to be a much more adversarial process.
Bike insurance company will probably ask for a right of subrogation, meaning they'll sue the insurance company if need be.
Anyone have experience with BikeInsure paying out?
Oct 03, 2025 at 12:54 PM
No experience with bike insurance, but I've dealt with one of the major yellow cab ins cos many years ago (2010s) and they are notoriously awful to deal with, even with professionals on your side. Private vehicle insurance is somewhat less so, but they will still be on the far side of difficult especially when they're not dealing with an opposing insurance professional (aka you). Tom's advice is sound: Let Bike Insure pay you out and haggle with the vehicle insurance company.
I have to imagine Bike Insure will be somewhat nice to deal with since they wouldn't get business if bad word of mouth got out? Good luck and let us know how it turns out since now I'm super interested in getting coverage by them if it turns out they're a solid company.
In the meanwhile, do you have a bike to ride until then (assuming you're physically okay to)?
I have to imagine Bike Insure will be somewhat nice to deal with since they wouldn't get business if bad word of mouth got out? Good luck and let us know how it turns out since now I'm super interested in getting coverage by them if it turns out they're a solid company.
In the meanwhile, do you have a bike to ride until then (assuming you're physically okay to)?
Oct 03, 2025 at 01:51 PM
damn JP, whatever good luck check karma is working on for you better be taking this shitty luck into account and then some. Glad to hear you're generally okay, but major bummer about the bike. Hopefully they don't drag you through the wringer for too long and you can get back out there soon