Heroes and Villains on the Road

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People typically ride bikes for any (or all) of the following reasons:

1. They care about the environment.
2. They want to get some exercise.
3. (A distant third): They're looking to save money on gas and/or it's a style choice. "Hey, all the other hipsters are doing it!"

In short, bikers are usually responsible, civic-minded individuals. So it was with pride that I read this New York Times article about Bill Hewitt. I often see his B-Line Sustainable Delivery cargo bikes around Portland. More power to him.

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But we wish less power to Mailand King. According to this Oregonian article, the gentleman backed his Camaro right into a passing cargo bike in a Home Depot parking lot the other day. And then Mr. King got out of his car and was less than gracious to his victim—but this isn't what merits his award today.

No, it was when the cargo-biker, Mike Cobb, tried to get a photo of the Camaro's license plate that King's behavior veered to the churlish. See, Mailand King has his 15-year old daughter stand in FRONT of the license plate so no photo was possible.

As Cobb himself notes in the article's comments: "Identification, contact info. I was happy to supply. I got backed into by a car traveling at 10-15 MPH. I was traveling safely and legally. Clear-cut fault. No need to hide anything."

So to review King's actions: First, hit a biker. Then, refuse to share information about yourself and coerce your kid into the cover-up? Ugh.