Don't buy Tupperware!

Shabby

Was casually cruising along Clarendon Street (South Melbourne) on my home from work last night, when smack, I was collected by the rear view mirror of a white Camry!

Somehow I managed to hold it together and ride in the two inches of gutter I'd been donated by the fat slag in the "Tupperware" car, so I wasn't injured. But as anyone knows, near misses like that are really just luck. One man's near miss is another's broken spine.

The thing that really pissed me off was the fact that when I caught up with the beast of a woman in that car, her response was "I didn't see you". Becase she was reading her diary, which was still on her lap. I should have just dealt out some instant karma then in the form of a punch in the face followed by "Sorry, I didn't see your face".

So I let fly with a few magic words and went to the Cop Shop to report it, only to be told that there was nothing they could do. Hence, I'm now overreacting and starting a worldwide campaign to boycott Tupperware. Let your food perish in non-resealable vessels for the sake of cycling safety!

Blimp

If you feel strongly about the matter, don't let the coppers fob you off. Insist on making a statement, and ask them to treat is a complaint regarding negligent driving.

If they decline or refuse to act, take the matter to your local state MP and/or police ombudsman.

If this fails, find out where she lives and torch the Camry. I am told a box of firelighters under the tyre works a treat!

Chris_L

I find it staggering that the cops sat there and said they could do nothing. I have never had that reaction. What sort of details did you give them? Was there a #? What was your tone when you spoke to the police? Is there another police station you could take your complaint to?

__________________
Stop the world...
This is where I get off.

MediaCreations

At the very least, let the local Tupperware head office know how you feel. Tell them you've posted your story to a world wide forum.

I'm sure they'll help you sort things out. They can't afford having people giving their company a bad name by driving around in a company car like that.

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Shabby

Hmmm, my tone was that of someone who'd just been almost run over. It was much calmer than the barrrage the fat chick got, but when you're full of adrenaline you always seem a bit wierd..

I gave the car details license and an accurate description, but yes I should have forced them to file a complaint. Planned to ring them and follow up today, but my guess is they'll just speak to her anyway, not even smacking her on the wrist.

Lazy legs

I agree with MediaCreations, go to your local Tupperware distributors and complain to them, if you get no luck from them let us know and I'll join you in your campaign against them.
The CWC is over now so I've got time on my hand and can just as well use it against Tupperware.

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Mike

FAILURE
It lies in the perception
Not in the situation.

steve

Its enough to piss you off isnt it!

I have no doubt they'd take a different view of her if they pinged her for doing 103kph on a freeway with no-one around except a pig hiding in the bush waiting to pounce

Your life isn't worth much is it!

cheers!

__________________
Steve

CyclingForums.com

Blimp

I gather Steve doesn't like coppers much....

As a former 'pig hiding in the bushes', the best approach in this case is still:

1. Insist on making a written statement
2. Insist your complaint is investigated
3. Ask for a copy of the police report to assist with your civil claim
4. Follow up with the ombudsman if necessary.

Don't forget, police are very lazy. Steve, one day I'll explain how bored, lazy police pass the time. Ever heard of 'police snooker'? A tip, don't drive a red car...

steve

No its not that, it just shits me that an action the puts someones life in danger isn't treated as it should be.

My example of pinging people for speeding is the other extreame, 99.9% of people doing a 'few' km over the posted limit when its safe to do so ARE NOT GONNA KILL ANYONE. Yet they are penalised more than this person for example: http://www.cyclingforums.com/t279.html He got off. This prick went to work today, came home, ate dinner, had a few beers, watched the news taking special note of the Iraq war, probably then got his rocks off with his wife and then went to sleep. You see he only has to live with himself. The fact this bloke was a peice of shit before he killed the cyclist simply means he has less to lose.

I've had a police officer here in Ballarat say to me "You have to expect that" when some stupid bitch nearly killed me.

I've also complained about a truck driver on the western hwy who spent about 2.5km on the wrong side of the road (2 blind corners and one blind crest) The POS at the Ararat police station said it was to much trouble to do anything about 'him' because he was probably from interstate. Its not hard to firgure out why so many of these drug fucked truck drivers get killed on this road, 3 in one week not long ago.

This same idiot at Ararat (I sware this guys on the take!) basically told me to f#%k off when I complained about a guy in a green hilux 4x4 who tried to run me over at the Halls Gap/Ararat intersection and then stopped and yelled abuse at me when the stupid brain dead f#$k realised he'd missed me. I guess I deserved it because i'm a cyclist right!

How can anyone expect me to go for the road safety bullshit they force on us? Its not poilce I have an issue with, its the overall aproach which they're forced to take.

cheers!

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Steve

CyclingForums.com

Chris_L

Steve,

Is there someone else down there you can complain to, maybe a higher ranking officer or a chief-commissioner of police? It sounds like it's a common problem in Victoria (lucking I didn't need the cops down there because no drivers gave me any crap) - and you may not be the only one. Perhaps you could get in touch with Bicycle Victoria and other cyclists who may have copped the same thing. A submission to the chief-commissioner with a few signatures on it might get something done.

As I said before, I have never had this problem in Queensland.

__________________
Stop the world...
This is where I get off.

hmwright13

The police's response is to be expected. You need to get others to back up your desire for action to be taken. Contact the Tupperware corporation and let them know the information on the vehicle that nearly killed you. They tend to be very supportive (at least from my dealings with them. Second, make it public knowledge that the police have refused to take action against a person who was reading and thereby showing criminal neglect in the operation of a motor vehicle. Cyclists are not the only small targets on the road. There are also pedestrians, like small children and elderly, that will benefit from your actions. Maybe if the police department's attitude is put up to public scrutiny, it may make a tiny difference, which is better than none at all. I agree with all the posts here, except for torching her tires , although it would be good to see that happen to the self-centered wench, because I don't think you should dirty your hands with that inferior piece of trash. Make what she did public knowledge. Let parents know that this woman who is trying to sell them things may be endangering their kids by reading when driving. Contact the local schools and give them flyers of what to be on the lookout for, since I know from speaking to crossing guards that often their kids are in danger from careless motorists. If you almost got run over due to her negligence, it is only a matter of time till she really hurts someone. I have three sons and they all ride bikes, the eldest rides to and from school every day. The thought of him out there with these creeps makes me want to torch somebody's tires!!!

Randal Lovelace

And I want to retire to Australia.....at least I know where not to settle, eh?

__________________
Randal Lovelace on Nishiki Sport

randalranman@wmconnect.com

Riding is like breathing, it's something you have to do.

HellonWheels

While I agree that what she did was reprehensible, her weight had NOTHING to do with it. I'm also a plus sized woman, and a cyclist, and I took offense at your comment. Commenting negatively on someone's race, religion, sexual orientation, size, etc to me is immature.

Shabby

Fair comment, no offense intended to you, or anyone else who is overweight. Having lost about 15kg since returning to cycling, I have first hand experience on how much more fun life is when you're not burdened with excess weight.

Her weight is no doubt a product of living in a car, driving everywhere for work and play. Hence, her comfort in the car is why she seemed to forget that she was in charge of a 1500kg machine capable of causing injury and death to others. I'm not anti-car, but the people who make the biggest deal out of me riding to work (and the perceived danger of it) are the overweight, unhealthy people who tuck into massive meals every day. These are often the same people who say they are naturally big, which is an excuse.

Obesity is a societal problem, manifesting itself at an individual level. People like this woman are integral to the maintenance of Australia as the second fattest nation in the world, and they pass on their habits to the next generation (or they induce eating disorders in their offspring.)