County waves balls at bike safety, gives Chicago man 10 days in jail for hitting bike riders with car
The city of Chicago shamelessly revels in publicity about its supposed bike-friendliness, but this apparently doesn't mean Cook County's criminal judges will come down on drivers who viciously refuse to share the road. Chicago Breaking News reported yesterday that Chicago resident Armando Reza, 18, pled guilty to charges that, in a 2009 incident in Brookfield, he and a friend struck two cyclists with a car—not only deliberately, but while Reza was legally drunk and did not have a valid driver's license. Having spared the county's strained justice system the hassle of a trial, Reza has been sentenced to 10 days in jail and two years of probation. Neither of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries, but that's still a pretty light sentence for hitting someone with a car.
The most disturbing detail, is that, according to the story, "[Reza's friend Erik] Fabian was allegedly driving first and purposely struck one bicyclist before they stopped the car and switched drivers so Reza could take a turn" (our completely fucking incredulous italics). Fabian was also charged in the incident, and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Something tells us Cook County Judge Carol Kipperman doesn't bike to work. Considering how dangerous drivers can be to cyclists even when they aren't trying to kill you, Kipperman should've taken this much more seriously.
Happy Bike To Work Week, everyone!
POST-SCRIPT: Eagle-eyed Philip Montoro at the Reader points out the same judge also sentenced a woman to only 60 days in jail for a reckless driving charge that left two people dead.
