I don't see how traffic laws have anything to do with respect for life or equality in the eyes of the law.
You've provided a perfect example of the cognitive dissonance that immediately manifests when cycling, traffic, and law are discussed. These are easy points to grab onto, based on one's own frustrated anecdotes. Unfortunately, its selection bias at its least. Cars are everywhere and almost hit you every 10 minutes you're behind the wheel. You know how to look for them, you're forced to when you are being evaluated for your license. Suddenly a cyclist comes along, the first one you notice that is, and once they act even a little sketchy you get to tick another box in your selection bias.
Were he to be 'hit by a police car' while driving in his motorcycle or compact car, and likely killed, would we be discussing the validity of his death and its relation to the traffic habits of other cars/motorcycles/Ferrari drivers? I dare you to tell us yes.
Meanwhile, this is completely independent of the issue of legal respect for life. The disproportionate number of charges dropped or DA's not charing offenders for incidents that involve cyclist deaths.
>Were he to be 'hit by a police car' while driving in his motorcycle or compact car, and likely killed, would we be discussing the validity of his death and its relation to the traffic habits of other cars/motorcycles/Ferrari drivers? I dare you to tell us yes.
Yes. More people die every day and year in motor vehicle<>motor vehicle collisions than in vehicle<>bike collisions. On top of that, criticizing a cop's behavoir is something HN (and many other places) loves to do.
Maybe you would assume that, but from experience much of the vitriol would be focused on the fact that a cop probably broke the law and in the process killed someone. The life of a cyclist is no more precious than the life of anyone else.
You've provided a perfect example of the cognitive dissonance that immediately manifests when cycling, traffic, and law are discussed. These are easy points to grab onto, based on one's own frustrated anecdotes. Unfortunately, its selection bias at its least. Cars are everywhere and almost hit you every 10 minutes you're behind the wheel. You know how to look for them, you're forced to when you are being evaluated for your license. Suddenly a cyclist comes along, the first one you notice that is, and once they act even a little sketchy you get to tick another box in your selection bias.
Were he to be 'hit by a police car' while driving in his motorcycle or compact car, and likely killed, would we be discussing the validity of his death and its relation to the traffic habits of other cars/motorcycles/Ferrari drivers? I dare you to tell us yes.
Meanwhile, this is completely independent of the issue of legal respect for life. The disproportionate number of charges dropped or DA's not charing offenders for incidents that involve cyclist deaths.