The low end of human life, more like
So this guy in a pickup truck overtakes a group of cyclists, slows down, and knocks over the lead rider before speeding off. And laughs all the way home. CBC reports his lawyer tells the court that his actions were the “low end of bad driving” but that he wasn’t malevolent.
What does “low end of bad driving” mean? Is that like a low-level of bad, kinda like mediocre driving? Or the towards the worst of bad? The best of bad? Is the best of bad actually the worst?
The cyclist in question dislocated his shoulder and broke a couple of ribs. Others were injured when they collided with the lead rider after he fell. But there could very easily have been deaths.
What sort of psychopath does that? Here this guy is, safely encased in a quarter ton of steel and rubber, ploughing into a bunch of people balanced precariously on two wheels amid a sea of cars, why – because (and I only speculate) they impeded his progress along a (four lane) road? For that they deserve to die?
Dictionary.com defines malevolence as behaviour that is deliberately harmful or spiteful.
I hope they throw the book at this guy when they do get around to sentencing him. Or better still, take away his license and make him bike to work for five years.
I had a much more typical car-bike interaction coming home today, during rush hour. I was scooching alongside a long line of cars behind a red light when I clipped one woman’s right side mirror. It was one of those that swivel back and forth, so I stopped and put it back after making copious “I’m sorry” gestures.
The driver rolled down her window and asked if I was okay. I said I was and apologized about hitting her mirror. She said not to worry about it. And on we went.
