Cyclists Threaten timid little man in LandCruiser...

[human909]

This goes to the heart of what the problem is - motorists think they are driving quite safely as long as they don't hit anyone. That's all that is required. Courtesy and consideration for other road users goes out the window

It doesn't help that the police constantly reinforce this notion. And even when a clear incident and injury has occurred the penalty (if one is given) is extremely small. There needs to be whole scale reform.

[neoppg]

Could I suggest that just 2-3 witnesses to Merv the Perv's handiwork should:

a) contact ABC Radio with their story
b) make a statement to Qld Police about road rage on Gladstone Rd. - driving dangerously, unnecessary use of the horn, failing to travel fully in one lane (ie lane-splitting).

Going by this bloke's aggression and his very public complaints, the welfare of the Brisbane cycling community would just about demand it. Good to see that The Australian took a different more balanced view about it.

I will be at abc radio on Monday morning.

They called you yesterday? Looking forward to meeting you and Sara on Monday

Yes, I will be there for sure. See you then.

Anthony

[cyclotaur]

Do you reckon this story was sponsored by ARB? Nice up close photos of Merv's "catalog truck".

Interesting fact: The founder and owner of ARB and the proprietor of a well known Melbourne bike shop are closely related .... Neither of them can stop idiots buying their merchandise and giving 4WD-ers or cyclists a bad name.

This time it's a 4WD-er but, from some comments on here and a few other threads, there appear to be just as many 'angry/frustrated/outraged men' riding bikes these days as there are driving cars. Most of the time it's not really about the road rules etc etc. is it..? Hmmm...?

Serenity Now !!!

[Howzat]

Most of the time it's not really about the road rules etc etc. is it..? Hmmm...?

This is what it's about.

[cyclotaur]

Most of the time it's not really about the road rules etc etc. is it..? Hmmm...?

This is what it's about.

OK then but, just for balance, maybe this as well ..... ?

Like I said, idiots and angry people are everywhere. To quote completely out of context (or maybe not ?), " It's not about the bike." Or the car/4WD ..... Or the skateboard (personal experience )

[biker jk]

Most of the time it's not really about the road rules etc etc. is it..? Hmmm...?

This is what it's about.

OK then but, just for balance, maybe this as well ..... ?

Like I said, idiots and angry people are everywhere. To quote completely out of context (or maybe not ?), " It's not about the bike." Or the car/4WD ..... Or the skateboard (personal experience )

So a cyclist doing some damage to an inanimate object is equivalent to a driver killing a cyclist? You have some twisted logic there sunshine.

[Xplora]

. He was just being greedy.. sharing the road goes both ways you know.

I didn't want to toot him.. I yelled out twice and he chose to ignore me. Myself and 99% of other cyclists (when riding solo) keep to the left on this road, not sure why can't?

The rule is 'as practicable' and has no bearing on YOUR opinion of his decision making. I will often claim a lane in a ridiculous place (from a driver's perspective) but I have to dominate that space to ensure I am safe for my entire commute. For example, I will claim for the entire 50m up a hill blocking cars because experience has shown me that cars cannot execute passes safely or legally in that spot.

If your rider has clearly said "what's your problem?" then perhaps you need to look at yourself. If you want to rely on road rules, you'll find that your beeping has broken the rules. You are no better than him. Arguably you are worse, because you failed to realise that there is no rule that demands courtesy on the road. Lack of knowledge, AND breaking the rules.

Your failures are just as inexcusable as his were...

[cyclotaur]

This is what it's about.

OK then but, just for balance, maybe this as well ..... ?

Like I said, idiots and angry people are everywhere. To quote completely out of context (or maybe not ?), " It's not about the bike." Or the car/4WD ..... Or the skateboard (personal experience )

So a cyclist doing some damage to an inanimate object is equivalent to a driver killing a cyclist? You have some twisted logic there sunshine.

Gee, you have to keep it simple on here don't you.

I certainly didn't make that comparison - but you did. Nice work .... sunshine.

[ColinOldnCranky]

All the public comments about boys in Lycra and stuff and how come only other cyclists are coming forward is pretty much because there must not have been any other cars there..... Which makes me think, why was he persistent in staying in the left lane and intimidating every rider at the time????? And in a dedicated bike lane????? Simple, by his interviews he has had some bad experiences with cyclist and at that time he wasn't backing down and took that 2.something tonne car and used it as a possible death machine on a bunch of innocent people.

We all are motorists as well as cyclists, but Merv with the Nerv clearly had some pre meditated thoughts that morning. How he did not collect someone going up that hill still amazes me. I don't think he actually realises just how close he was to everyone and I certainly don't consider him to have any skill behind the wheel of a car to be able to put it in that situation at all..... Remember. It's 2 lanes and the right hand lane was free, and approx 6:30 in the morning. Not peek time at all.

The trouble with so many of these stories is that they can easily become "he said - she said". However once Hull opened his mouth on the radio I got to the point that you allude to here - he is exhibiting stereotypical behaviour and applying his own prior issues (based on fair or otherwise assessment of prior experience) to a specific situation to which it should have no relevance.

So some are asking where are the other witnesses? Fair question as cyclists themselves are prone these days to comment on specific instances with a pre-existing ace to grind. However Merve manages in this case to at least let me fairly assess on which party is credible.

As deveil' advocate, I would wonder where are the cyclists video - I find it hard to fathom that there would not be at least several riders with GoPros etc running at the time of the incident. If none comes forward then it makes one wonder if it is disadvantageous for the cyckists to bring it out. (I also note that Merve's cameras were not working and hence he is not able to trot out any video to support him being intimidated by all you scary cyclists - yeah, right Merve )

And I wonder why we haven't heard from the good lady that Merve claims was witness to all you scary cyclists.

At the end of the day thogh, Merve has, from his own utterances on radio,made it easy for honest people to assess his credibility and it is found wanting.

PS Perhaps there is video out there. If so I'd like to be able to see and hear it. Ditto has the good lady popped up and commented?

[ColinOldnCranky]

Open missive to Merve (as if he'd be on t his thread, but that is what open letters are all about):

Dear Merve

I am not one that readily accepts statements, even video, of all cyclists as credible. you will see lots of me raising my doubts here on cyclists assessments on video evidence, questioning their POV when making statements, etc.

But by your own statements on the radio you have given me little doubt. What you have indicated is that you take pre-existing anger issues you have with a certain group on the roads. And then act on them by taking them out on unrelated parties.

That gives you no moral high ground in this case, More generally it makes you an ongoing danger to road users. Perhaps even other groups you have a dislike of. You should be off the road until you work it out.

An understanding of the road code would be nice too. Indeed an obligation to do so.

[il padrone]

So a cyclist doing some damage to an inanimate object is equivalent to a driver killing a cyclist? You have some twisted logic there sunshine.

Gee, you have to keep it simple on here don't you.

I certainly didn't make that comparison - but you did. Nice work .... sunshine.

Umm.... it kind of came across that way to me. When you use the phrase "just for balance"

[cyclotaur]

So a cyclist doing some damage to an inanimate object is equivalent to a driver killing a cyclist? You have some twisted logic there sunshine.

Gee, you have to keep it simple on here don't you.

I certainly didn't make that comparison - but you did. Nice work .... sunshine.

Umm.... it kind of came across that way to me. When you use the phrase "just for balance"

Well it was certainly not my intention. My first post had nothing whatever to do with either of the other threads.

I'll leave it at that.

[ColinOldnCranky]

'cos I had a great ride today, got really oozy and needed some time to stop dripping, herein is a transcript of Mervyn Hull's interview at http://blogs.abc.net.au/files/mervyn-hull---angry-cyclists-.mp3. Swervin' Mervin in the blue corner, journo in the red. Time tags inserted here and there.

And perhaps it will be useful to you in your interview 2nd Womble. Go get him.


Well, well where I travel I go up Gladstone road, right? - into Dornoch Terrace (right?) yes where they are supposed to be riding two lanes. In other words two abreast. They're all over the road, right? And every day on the road y ou hear "cyclist down, cyclist down, cyclist down, you know. Anyway, and I'm just tooted the horn to get 'em all across the road in their right lane, you know? So, I've gotta get up into Dornock Terrace to turn left. And when I go up there you don't know which way they're gonna go! And I'm just tootin' the horn 'cos some of them go straight ahead, some of them are this way and they're all over the place. Anyway, ahh, by the time I got down Dornock Terrace and got to work there were twenty of 'em. Comin' in all directions. right? I have got cameras but they're not working, outside. Uum. My manager, Gary Leigh, he was outside, umm, doing a quote for a lady. And they come up with all thiws abusive language which I say on air (sic) ) right? which she didn't have to cop that. And they're wanting to fight me - calling me a fat bastard d'you know and all this blah blah blah. And I said, anyways I said "well come on in here, you know? But he wouldn't, you know? And he said, ahh...

What do you mean. you come in here to talk about it or what?

Yeah, Come in and talk about, you know? Instead of yelling out abuse across the road. IN ohter words I wanted him to stop his language and carrying on like an idiot. Right?

1:33
So, did you, did you swerve into? Did you get too close to the cyclists No no But you tooted them – what? Once, twice, three times? ?

I just kept the horn blowin’.

OK, because you were having difficult working out where they were going? That’s right. Where they were on the road, where they were turning or what? ?

1:52
That is correct.

Alright. ?

After that happened, aah, he, twenty or so were yelling out, and they’re all like this. Now a lot of these guys runs red lights. Yellow lights. What? There IS good bike riders out there. But these, these blokes, there are certain of them that are a pack of idiots. And they ride together. Right? And they’re ringing up ??? one of my secretaries didn’t know – Jacinta – what was going on. And they were ringing her up, abusing her, saying we’re gonna get that bastard tomorrow, right? Well we’re all waiting for him, right?

2:32
So let me, I need to understand this correctly. So cyclists, they weren’t riding two abreast up Gladstone Road, they were all over the road as far as your concerned?

Yeah – taking up the whole lane which should be for car lanes, you know. We should be able to go to work without worrying about them, riding up the road, taking up one side of the road. It happens every, it’s been going on for years.

2:54
The same group of cyclist? ?

No, just cyclists, just cyclists in particular. You know, they just don’t know what they’re doing, you know. I’m talking about, the good ones know what they’re doing, the bad ones don’t. You know?

So these guys, obviously recognised your vehicle which had your business advertisement on the side of it…?

No no. It’s HUL01.

So, OK, they followed you. ?

Well, they know it ‘cos I always come through there. OK. The same way. It’s HUL01. It hasn’t got nothing to do with the business, see. It’s my personal number plate.

So they but they knew where your business was. So twenty or cyclists came to your business. ?

3:34That’s right, in all ways

Stood outside and while you were talking with a customer and started swearing and abusing you? ?

Threat-threaterners and everything like that.

3:44
What sort of threats Mervin Hull? ?

Er. Ahh. You’ll never have a panel shop at West End after we finish with you. We’ll get you closed down. Right. And I said hold ??? we’ll see who gets who who closed down, you know. And I said just go away, leave us alone.

So this has happened to you before Mervin Hull? ?

It’s been going on for years. It’s been a problem for years in West End.

What’s been a problem? Cyclists have been coming to your business and abusing you and threatening you? ?

4:14No. Just he way they ride. You know. OK. It’s err, they’re not meant to be riding on main roads and everything like that. You know.

Do you think it was provocative or at all helpful to drive along side and blast your horn? ?

Um. I was, I wasn’t beside ‘em. They’re in front of me. And it’s not being provocative. It’s just me, just getting them all to move over, right. Because you don’t know which way they’re gonna go. OK. So I will go the same route. And nothing will change.

4:50
Alright. And you’re expecting some sort of police escort to drive through with you. Do y ou know who the motor cyclis.. Do you know who the bicyclists are? ?

Well, there’s a couple of different groups apparently. So I’ve heard, like, from my neighbour next door who rides a bike himself. And there’s two different groups. They just gotta find out which group it is.

Now, do you as a car driver… Sorry, go on. ?

Yep.

Do you as a car driver show courtesy to cyclists on the road and consideration? ?

5:23
Yes I do. Yes.

Alright. So,.. so, for some reason you're frustrated with the behaviour of bike riders, of cyclists on the roads around West End. There are two groups around West End that you feel make it difficult for other drivers in your area. ?

Yeah, make it, well, drivers, ALL the drivers are frustrated with it. You know. Everybody in West End is frustrated with it.

Are you worried that the cyclists are going to come back and harass you or your business again? ?

Oh, if they do I’m not worried because I’m still gonna do the same route. As I always do. You know. You know. You know. Nothing’s gonna change.

Mervyn Hull, thankyou very much. ?

Thank you.

[Xplora]

I just read the red bits... wow, Mervyn... should have stuck to panel beating... any reasonable person who isn't just loving themselves to death would come away from his comments with an image of a dangerous nutjob on the road. He fits the stereotype of idiot slackjawed 4WD driver perfectly. I don't like an entire group of people, I'll physically threaten them... despite their actions being totally within the law.

Either brush up on the law, Merv, or give up driving. Your actions against lawabiding citizens is utterly unconscionable. God help you if you ever expect those cyclists to help you out in your hour of need.

[jindydiver]

The photo above clearly shows 3 pairs of additional driving lamps.

You're referring to the ones on top of the roof? I'm pretty sure they're not driving lamps or classified as such although I'm probably wrong there... I'm pretty sure they are spotlights for hunting off-road on private property.

Yep, you are wrong, they have nothing to do with hunting.

[Summernight]

The photo above clearly shows 3 pairs of additional driving lamps.

You're referring to the ones on top of the roof? I'm pretty sure they're not driving lamps or classified as such although I'm probably wrong there... I'm pretty sure they are spotlights for hunting off-road on private property.

Yep, you are wrong, they have nothing to do with hunting.

What's their point then?

[KenGS]

You're referring to the ones on top of the roof? I'm pretty sure they're not driving lamps or classified as such although I'm probably wrong there... I'm pretty sure they are spotlights for hunting off-road on private property.

Yep, you are wrong, they have nothing to do with hunting.

What's their point then?

Compensation. I can't say for what as it's a family forum.

[il padrone]

What's their point then?

Compensation. I can't say for what as it's a family forum.

Ah I see they have a point..... a prosthetic one

[Mulger bill]

Compensation. I can't say for what as it's a family forum.

He doesn't need lights to compensate, he has a big horn.

Hunting lights are swivel mounted or held in the hand.

[il padrone]

I will be at abc radio on Monday morning.

Heard the discussion on ABC612 (using tunein). Your message came across very well. Shame they didn't get Swerv'n Mervyn on to explain himself..... but I guess that would have been a bit of a debacle and he knows he's done a stupid thing.

[jasonc]

Shame they didn't get Swerv'n Mervyn on to explain himself.

probably something to do with not being allowed to have his 2.3 tonne car to "protect" him from those pesky cyclists.

I listened in and thought it was a bit light on. The "bike lane" on gladstone road, and in fact most on-road cycle lanes in QLD are just fud. All they do is put you next to parked cars. i.e. door zone.

EDIT: can someone send this one into the ABC. It explains why we don't use the bike lanes or ride wide when we do use them

[ldrcycles]

So right? the issue here right? is that the halfwit in the um 4wd right? has no um idea what the hell he's doing and should hand in his driver's licence before he kills someone right?

It would have been nice if the interviewer knew what the rules were regarding cyclists and horn use and was able to pursue Swervin Mervyn on those points.

[Slvr32gtr]

I am somewhat disturbed reading through the comments on the Courier Mail pages for these articles. The amount of hate and threats towards cyclists is appalling.

It actually makes me nervous to get out there amongst the general driving population when you realise how ill-advised and stupid some people are. The scariest part being that when the accident does happen, its me who gets hurt.

[jasonc]

The scariest part being that when the accident does happen, its me who gets hurt.

which is why we yield even though they have to give way (i.e. we have right of way)

[The 2nd Womble]

I very much doubt you'll get Swervin' Mervin to answer his wife let alone the phone these days.