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Move, Because I'm Not Stopping
Jason Howard, 36, was fined £2,200 - £300 less than the maximum - after being found guilty of dangerous cycling. He shouted at 17-year-old Rhiannon Bennett and her friends to “move, because I’m not stopping” as he approached them on a quiet Buckingham road in April last year. Rhiannon, a horse management student described as “a bright bubbly girl” by her mother Diana, was struck by Howard and hit her head on the pavement as she fell. How it was determined that Jason Howard was not responsible for the death of Rhiannon Bennett is beyond my comprehension, especially considering his stubborn refusal to yield to the pedestrians. As operators of machines easily capable of hurling through space at speeds greater than 25kph, it is our responsibility to be prepared to swerve, stop, or bail as needed, for our own safety and for the safety of others. Any cyclist who could be so heartless as to utter those words - “move, because I’m not stopping” - to another human being, regardless of where they might happen to be, brings shame upon all cyclists. The attitude that was shown by Jason Howard toward the pedestrians he so coldly plowed down is precisely counter to that of the responsible cyclist, and does much to harm public perception of cyclists in general. Each year, cyclists around the world gather to memorialize and mourn cyclists killed by motorists in Rides of Silence. Jason Howard’s pointless killing of young pedestrian so he didn’t have to squeeze his brake lever is exactly the sort of selfish attitude that cyclists are frequently subjected to by unenlightened motorists. For a cyclist to ruthlessly direct that attitude toward pedestrians - who should be seen as our partners in creating quieter, cleaner, safer, calmer, and friendlier communities - is inexcusable. My condolences are with the family of 17-year-old Rhiannon Bennett. Shame on you Jason Howard. You are a creep. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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