A cyclist in Minnesota filmed a driver in a black SUV overtaking him too closely and after confronting the motorist, realised that he had told off the city’s Chief of Police.
Ward Rubrecht posted the video on YouTube of the incident which took place in the city of St. Paul. After the car passed, Rubrecht caught up with the motorist at the next set of traffic lights and spoke to the SUV driver.
“Three feet when you pass a cyclist sir, you should know the law. This is a narrow lane. I’m entitled to a full lane,” he says. Rubrecht then asked the police officer for his badge number and it was when he read his badge, he noticed that it was the city’s Chief of Police Todd Axtell.
Rubrecht said: “Westbound on Selby Avenue at Syndicate Street, Minnesota license 493 PHK passed illegally closely without signaling. When I caught up to the vehicle at the next red light, I was surprised to find the driver was a St. Paul Police Officer.
I had a short conversation with the officer, who was at first defensive and blamed my road positioning for his illegal and unsafe pass. When I asked for his badge number, he asked me to pull off the road across Hamline Avenue. There, he was more apologetic, and gave me his card. Turns out it was St. Paul Chief of Police Todd Axtell.”
Aside from a bruised ego, no one was injured. This situation has the rudiments of a great public education campaign.
I’ve never seen some one cycle so far away from the pavement/side of the road.
Then you must not ride much in cities. A badly timed car door opening when you’re too close and it’s gonna be a bad day.
Why are you critiquing the cyclist when the motorist was exhibiting bad behavior? He was allowed to be riding where he was, even the officer admitted that.
because Joe doesn’t know the law either but Joe isn’t the chief of police so we will give his willful ignorance a pass .. for everyone, cyclists are allowed by law, to take full lane, if hazards exist ..
No but as a cyclist, I know that the nearer I am to the pavement, the easier it is for a car to give more room while overtaking. People that moan about being cut up on a bike just need to move over, and stop giving cyclists a bad name
Forgive my asking but are the parked cars the “hazards” in question here?
What a hall monitor.
He stayed in primary for no apparent reason. That’s definitely not a narrow lane, you could get 2 columns of tanks down there! That being said, whether his road positioning is poor or not, driving too close and risking a vulnerable road users life was still avoidable. Both parties could learn from this I think
#respect come first, is always the thought of other families waiting for that cyclist’s to come back home safe.
Geez, I dunno. Yes, entitled to a full lane, but he probably could have been a little further to the right, and still have been perfectly safe from getting doored.
This actually turned out pretty good. The officer was level-headed after the initial interaction and the cyclist could have been farther over.
He’d get more respect from motorists by making an effort to stay to the right.
You only need a metre to avoid an opening door.
Staying in the middle of the lane here like an arse I think he was just fishing for a chance to piss someone off and get on the Internet.
Well played Dufus… Well played.
The Dufus is anyone who thinks leaving enough of a lane for someone to try and squeeze past you while you ride is a good idea… There is never any reason to risk another road user by your actions – sorry, but you’re just not that important!
How good is that camera though?
I didn’t watch all the film, just untill they stopped at the lights. Seems like the cyclist intentionally stayed in the middle of the lane, almost asking for trouble. Small penis syndrome or just for attention, likes and views.
He was fishing for trouble, i cant stand people who purposely put themselves in a position to create a confrontation. For some it doesnt matter what vehicle they are using, they insist on occupying more space than needed to be safe, thereby putting everyone else in a dangerous position. thankfully the vast majority of people are respectful of each others “bubble on the road” – I ride motor bikes, cycle ALOT, and drive cars alot and unfortunately these ‘confrontationalist’ exist in all modes of transportation (even flying) … maybe its just arrested development and their ego that creates this
The camera is using a wide angle lens which will make the distances seem further away than they are. That may account for what we see as a wide road/too far away from parked cars
The other cars gave plenty of space. Funny how the police officer gave none , he should know better
You could of got a tank through that space. Did he hit him? No. Don’t see the issue. Petty.
Looked like a good pass to me, since he was riding in the middle of the lane.
Being a cyclist my whole life. Road Nazi’s like this who think the deserve the whole road make the rest of us look bad. Slow moving vehicles keep to the right of the roadway, not down the middle of the roadway douche bag. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.15