I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...

[Denny B.]

This may be off topic, but I need to share..

Yesterday, the 18th, 2 days after my 46th bday..... i was run into by a 400 popund, extreemly rude woamn in a wheelchair, she ran into me, swore at me for not giving her the entire sidewalk to use (there was PLENTY of room for both of us) and ended up running me down. she kicked me, bit my arm and drew blood, and knocked me to the ground while laughing at me.

i came home and my roomate decided we should go look for her to call 911 and report what she did. along the way, a guy crossed the street, whom this woman had obvioously been talking to, lying here story to him, and he saw me, recognised me from the desc she had given him, and he proceeded to beat the living crap out of me. all the while my roomate witnessed this whole event, first hand, right there. he had to watch as i was beaten to the ground.

 we decided to follow him, while my roomate was on the phone to 911 calling for the police. we finallt caught up with the guy and the police were there.

i was asked to get up against the wall, was handcuffed, as well as the guy who beat me up, was handcuffed. long story short, the cops got wind that me and my roomate may be gay and partners and proceeded to treat us both with horrible attitude. i was told that if i were to charge that guy with assaulting me, then the police were going to charge ME with assaulting the wheekchair woman.!!!

Obviously they believed the lies both the guy and the woamn in the wheelchair told them. They let HIM free, and let me go. They would not charge the guy with assault, they let him go. they went on heresay evidence from a lying, mentally unstable woamn in a wheelchair, while i stood there with witnesses to MY experience, the cops threatened to charge me if i were to charge the guy who beat me up.

I had no choice but to accept thier terms,.

I am now seeking legal advice and intend to sue the police.

any thoughts? i am off to get advice from legal services on monday morning. my father is a lawyer and the minister of justice for canada is also a good friend of mine, i sent him an email this morning to the office opf the attorney general of canada, he worked for my dads law firm back in the 80's. my dad gave the minister his first job in law.

they screwed with the wrong guy.

there, ive vented, thank you for allowing me to. i am battered up, sore and really, really upset over this.

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

[VICKY SWERBRICK]

if you had bite marks on you .you have taken photos of the mark and if you had a bruise you should of taken photo, i dont know were you live i would go to your local paper or a tv station on what the police did and you should of got the badge number and his name.
 

---

From: d_...@hotmail.com
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [odspfireside: 48035 ] I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:00:16 -0400

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[jud...@gmail.com]

That sucks.

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

---

From: Denny B. <d_...@hotmail.com>

Sender: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:00:16 -0400

To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com<odspfi...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

Subject: [odspfireside: 48035 ] I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...

[anarchris]

...here's the thing? your story is common and the most famous lawyers,
greenspon, ruby and falconer will tell you that the complaints process
is a joke. consider the 1100 trumped up charges after the toronto G8
summit and how little consequence there was to police. i know about
this personally. police are not motivated to pursue charges on behalf
of us. their priority is their convenience not our dignity. people
like us may disproportionately be in need of legal protection and
redress but we find out the hard way that the system is impossibly
unfair. i hope it's better for you than is typically the case.
nrx

[Mike Girdlestone]

It's a tragedy what happened to you, but without either physical or video evidence to back up your claim there isn't much you can do. Most complaints about the police are investigated by other police officers, so even when you have a solid claim it's hard to get any just from official police channels. The best thing you can do is do sue them in civil court but their you need solid evidence not he said this he says that. A video camera on a cell phone or CCTV can be your best tool in these situations. Good luck.

mpstone33

 

--

[Denny B.]

thanks, trust me, it WILL go better for me, and i hope in the process to create a precedent for all disabled people; we will NOT be treated this way. NEVER AGAIN. wait till this hits the news, its going to be a mess for the Ottawa police, a really BIG mess.

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

> Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 13:22:27 -0700
> Subject: [odspfireside: 48039 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
> From: abolish...@yahoo.ca
> To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

[Denny B.]

i have documented all of my wounds, i have photos of all of them. i even went to the hiospital and had a doctor document them on paper. i have yet to speak to legal counsel on monday morning. i also am waiting for a call back from the local news. i called toronto cbc and they gave me the contact here in ottawa. as i said, i have two VERY VERY good lawyers on my side already, canada's minister of justice, who is a long time friend of my dad, and my dad, who is a lawyer with his own firm in niagara, the minister worked for my dad for 20 yrs. the last tiem i saw minister nicholson was in february, i sat in his office in p. hill for an hour catching up on old times. i sent him a personal email on the issue just this morning and expect top hear back... i will keep posting... clearly this is a case of descrimination, predjudice, and police misconduct in the extreeme. this time they screwed the wrong citizen.... im going after them and nothing will stop me... NOTHING!

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

---

From: vick...@bell.net
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [odspfireside: 48037 ] I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:54:56 -0400

[Wade Suplat]

IMHO....

  Keep your ducks in a row Denny and do not broadcast online what you "can" do...It's better your lawyer and yourself know all your supports and contacts..Don't give the defense any more ammo than they already have..(wall of blue ya know)....I wish you all the luck in the world with this Denny..Remember info is power...keep that power to yourself ultil its time to take these folks to town.

[VICKY SWERBRICK]

you go for it let us know what happens
 

---

From: d_...@hotmail.com
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: [odspfireside: 48044 ] I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:46:22 -0400

[Deborah Masters nee Alexander]

Hi Denny:  Good luck.  It takes all kinds.  Some people are so bitter they cannot be bothered with common courtesies.  (Somebody or everybody most owe her)  I hope you have a speedy recovery. 

See Yah, So Long,


DEB

---

From: vick...@bell.net
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

Subject: RE: [odspfireside: 48037 ] I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:54:56 -0400

if you had bite marks on you .you have taken photos of the mark
 

[Denny B.]

mpstone33,

Well i do have a solid witness who was there for the entire ordeal, he saw the entire thing, he was there when the cops threatened to charge me with assaulting the woman in the wheelchair, my witness saw HER assault me, the cops did not see any of that, they also did not have HER present to identify ME as being the person who allegedly assaulted her!, they completely railroaded me by saying that if i were going to charge thew guy, who was totally witnessed beating me in the street, with assault, then the police would charge ME with assaulting the woman in the wheelchair, and SHE wasn't even there at that occasion, she was never present to identify me as being her assaulter! do you see whats going on? the police fleeced me, they threatened to charge me with assaulting a woman who never even was present in front of me to identify me as her assaulter!!! they went on hearsay and accepted her word as truth, from some remote location!!!?? a complete no no on the part of the cops. clear discrimination and clearly negligent on the part of the three cops. they therefore let the guy, who was clearly witnessed beating me in the street, GO FREE!!

I DO have physical evidence, i also have plenty of photos, and a doctors letter from the hospital documenting my injuries....

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

---

Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:48:06 -0400
Subject: Re: [odspfireside: 48041 ] I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
From: mpst...@gmail.com
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

[Bloggy.Deb]

I have to agree with Wade, Denny. Right now you are in shock. There is an old adage I live by, Softly Softly Walks the Monkey....you carry a big stick - use it judiciously.

Blogggy Deb

[Bloggy.Deb]

Something like this happened to my son, he suffered from PTSD because of the treatment of the police. 

Bloggy Deb

 

From: odspfi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:odspfi...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Denny B.

Sent: August-19-12 9:48 PM
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

[Cynthia Philip]

I use my mobility scooter whenever I need to go out. I do travel on the road instead of the sidewalk for one reason only..... every bump on the sidewalk I go over sends excruciating pain in my lower back. I do travel in the bike lanes though. If I am on a busy road, where there is no bike lane, then I do go onto the sidewalk but get off the first chance I get. 

Then, there are those few streets that have no sidewalk (or have no ramp to get onto the sidewalk), and are very busy where there is no choice but to travel on the road. It is scary but sometimes there is no alternate route that can be taken. I make sure that I have my headlights and tail lights on to make me more visible. 

I never put myself in a situation where I stop traffic though.

Cynthia

 A few days later two very obese women on scooter's blocked traffic on a very busy main street of my town. They were forcing car's to enter oncoming traffic to pass them because they were well below the speed limit. People in cars were asking them to move onto the sidewalk but they ignored all taking up the whole road. I bet they were indignant about the curses they received. How could they have expected any less? Sometimes I'm amazed at the sense of entitlement certain folks have regardless if they are dis abled or able
.  

[Lorene]

I use my scooter on the sidewalk, never ever on the road because we
have crazy drivers here in the city of London who do not how to drive,
go thru the red lights and do not obey signs/rules. (That is what
eveyrone is saying that London has the worst drivers, anyways, for
years.) Besides that, I am hearing impaired and wouldn't hear good on
the road, because of so much traffic noise, sirens, construction, etc.
If there is no sidewalk, I backtrack or cut around to find the
sidewalk to get where I need to go even if I have to take a longer
route. I am not taking a chance travelling on the road. Better to be
safe than sorry.

I have ran into certain people who are commenting that riding scooters
on sidewalks are dangerous. I was with my mom few weeks and one guy
yelled at us to get off the sidewalks. Geez!!!

Yet some of our sidewalks are in bad shape. We have some broken
concrete and some broken on the curbs. Some places are so bumpy to
ride that I have to turn the speed down to go slowly. When I am at the
railroad tracks. I go slowly because it is so bumpy over the tracks
that I can feel my body parts jarred around.

London does not have a bicycle friendly on the roads, only at some
certain parks, like Springbank Park and at the UWO. In today's London
Free Press newspaper mentions that there are a lot more bicycle/car
collisons this year than last year. Just yesterday, a man got hit on
his bike from a car. No helmet and he is in serious condition.

Lorene

[abrowne]

Lorene,

I have no problems with scooters on the sidewalk because a scooter

or a wheelchair is part of the person to assist with mobility;

however, I have serious issues with bicycle riders on the sidewalk.

Esp. after a few years ago, getting hit from behind, knocked over,

and subsequently denied physiotherapy and having to finance it

myself and take time off my business, which also added to thousands.

The bicycle rider that hit me was going very fast and he did not

even bother to stop.  I know of several pedestrians that have been

killed as a result of cyclists on sidewalks ...

But to me, mobility scooters and wheelchairs are not set up to travel

so fast that they can impose injury to somebody like a bike can.

Very often I have scooter riders or wheelchair users use a bell or

a horn to warn people, especially if they are coming up from behind.

Angela

[Paul]

Have you put a red flag on a stick, sticking up in the air at eye
level to drivers.

I've seen them do it here....

Do what is best for you, but some motorized devices like electric
bikes aren't allowed on sidewalks like my city.

Just remember..."It's better to be right, than dead right."

>I have ran into certain people who are commenting that riding scooters
>on sidewalks are dangerous. I was with my mom few weeks and one guy
>yelled at us to get off the sidewalks. Geez!!!
>
>Yet some of our sidewalks are in bad shape.

"thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump...."

>When I am at the railroad tracks. I go slowly because it is so bumpy
>over the tracks
>that I can feel my body parts jarred around.

Those RR tracks are tough on those scooters. Some of them, have the
rubber mats across the xings, but the rails are usually up to 1 inch
above the mats or up to 1 inch above asphalt grade. The wheels on
your electric mobile chairs I find don't have big enough diameter
wheels to properly climb the rail heads without getting caught up on
them in the gaps. The reason you get held up on then is if you
notice the gaps at the xings, you will see rail on it's side which
gives that wide gap. It's all old rail reused for xings as rail has
gotten heavier over the years.... I'm into the rail scene for 2 decades now...

I'm somewhat familiar with the tracks there. CN Dundas Sub east of
Ridout Street. and CN Strathroy Sub, west of Ridout St. CP Galt Sub
east of Wellington St and CP Windsor Sub, west of Wellington St.

Try crossing the tracks at a 45 degree angle and it should be a lot
easier crossing them. You get paired wheel hold up which is why it
is harder.

[Goldielover]

I don't usually have a problem with scooters on the sidewalk - as long
as they're going at a reasonable speed. There's a couple around here
that I suspect may have been souped up a bit, and have more the speed
of a golf cart. I took a nasty fall a couple of years ago trying to
get out of the way of one. I'm not that stable on my feet at any
time, and especially not when trying to jump sideways. I actually do
agree with regulating the speed they can travel. And bikes on the
sidewalks are just wrong.

[Denny B.]

>Lorene,

>I have no problems with scooters on the sidewalk because a scooter

>or a wheelchair is part of the person to assist with mobility;
>
>

SO are bikes angela... and there are laws that bikes are to be used, driven NOT on sidewalks as they present a danger to pedestrians. Also, scooters are by law not allowed, if they MUST be on a sidewalk, to go faster than 4 MPH, and ii have yet to see any of them going that speed on a sidewalk. the one who ran into me was doing at LEAST 15mph.... There are also a class that go over 8mph that are by law to be on aide of the road, just like bikes, buts its not very enforced and u can imagine why - it would be politically incorrect to ask a poor wheelchair person to abide by the law, or give them a ticket for going twice as fast as legally allowed on a sidewalk....

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

[Denny B.]

Denny here,

I have since discovered that scooters are by law not allowed to go more than 4 MPH when on sidewalks, also, they are encouraged to drive on the side of the road, just as bikes have to. The woman who ran into me was clearly going at least 15 MPH when she ran intio me on the sidewalk.

I get more and more angry everyday at the violation of my constitutional rights that those police blackmailed me and woulod not let me charge the guy who was witnessed beating me up in the street in broad daylight, i have a witness and everything, they threatened to charge ME with assaulting the wheelchair woam. Obviously she and the guy who beat me uo know each other, and planned the whole thing just to "get me"

well, im going to "get them" and "those there cops!!

marm my word, i WILL have my day in court and I WILL sue and charge and do everytrhing legally possible to all of them.

I will NOT let this go.

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

> Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:23:30 -0400
> To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com
> From: paul...@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [odspfireside: 48111 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...

[Lorene]

Angela, I know exactly what you meant by bicycles and skateboarders go
whizzing so fast on sidewalks before we see them. We don't even hear
them coming til they past us people giving them a startled jump and
giving us a small heart attack. My mom agrees with me on that as she
never heard them coming. She is hearing and I am hearing impaired.

I sooner have bicycles on the sidewalk as I feel safer as long as I
watch out for them and behind me. I have a small rear view mirror
attached onto my scooter so I can see what/who is behind me.' A horn
is no good to me as I wouldn't be able to hear it.

I have a pet peeve that really irritates me. I hate seeing all kinds
people, young and middle age, even in their 40's or 50's, walking and
texting on their cell phones. They are not really paying attention
where they are going. I either have to slow down to get their
attention if they are a bit too far away from me. Or I would stop my
scooter and I wait til they have approached closer to me. I would say,
"Watch out" aloud to get their attention. Sometimes I say "Excuse me,"
too. Of course I could have used my bell, but I don't want to draw
attention to me when people look at me. I hate that. Sometimes I wish
there was a hole opening on the street or sidewalk right in front of
them, so they can fall in to smarten themselves up and learn a lesson.
Don't WALK and TEXT at the same time, please and thank you very much.
In fact, few weeks on the newspaper and the TV news, the doctors are
seeing people coming to the Emergency with injuries caused by walking
and texting at the same time. That was in the Toronto news that I have
seen the report.

Lorene

[Lorene]

I do have an orange flag installed free of charge from the scooter
store after paying a small charge for the flag. Believe I am grateful
that now the drivers can see the flag riding a bit higher than my
scooter.

On the day I got my new scooter 2 years, I had 2 near accidents with
the cars. One was my fault because I was not watching the lights at
the time. The second was the lady driver who didn't see me across the
street and she nearly hit me. Few days after getting the scooter, off
I went to the scooter store to get the flag.

I have seen people on scooters and wheelchairs have the orange vest
with yellow deflector strips. I don't know where I can get one that is
very affordable to buy. The one I saw wanted $50 and that is a bit too
steep.

Lorene

On Aug 23, 6:23 pm, Paul <paulin...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Chris Carey]

Denny,

How goes your legal battle against Ottawa police services? Can you say without risk of compromising your complaint?



Chris

[Denny B.]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for asking...

So far I have yet to get cleared for legal aid, I have, however, managed to get the police report number, and all three officers' names, and badge numbers. I will be pursuing the Ottawa university legal clinic very, very soon; legal aid is a really tedious experience when attempting to reach them on their so called "phone line" I could hardly hear their automated, excessive menu system. So i went to their website, and of course, there's NO way to apply for legal aid on their website. So.... I may just have to show up in person and ask for service, or an appointment.

Each day that passes, I get more and more angry for what happened to me, the violation of my constitutional rights, the fear of the guy walking out there, free, that he could target me again. All because the police were bigots, homophobic, and a**holes in NOT serving the public properly and for the good of the citizen. I swear on my sweet late mother's grave that i will face them in court and i WILL demand compensation. i will also see to it that this incident is made as public as can be, to embarrass those buggers; I would HATE to think this could happen to anyone...

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

> Subject: Re: [odspfireside: 48119 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
> To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com
> From: chris...@rocketmail.com
> Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 04:10:55 +0000

>
> Denny,
>
> How goes your legal battle against Ottawa police services? Can you say without risk of compromising your complaint?
>
>
>
> Chris
>

[Paul]

I have seen people on scooters and wheelchairs have the orange vest
with yellow deflector strips. I don't know where I can get one that is
very affordable to buy. The one I saw wanted $50 and that is a bit too
steep.

$50 is pretty steep.  $25 is more like it. 

There are different variations and different styles.

I know railroad employees use a different type than construction workers.  Some are 'tear-away' incase you get caugt up on something, so you don't get body 'strangled' .

http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-other-Safety-vest-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ352412839

Maybe here.... http://www.contractorsrentalsupply.ca/london.html

http://www.yellowpages.ca/search/si/1/Safety+Equipment+%26+Clothing/London+ON

[Justice4odsp]

Denny,

It might help to clarify what a scooter is. Are you referring to a 4-wheeled mobility device or the 2 wheeled scooters that sort of look like a motorcycle?

A four wheeled mobility device scooter should not go 15 mph. Are you sure you don't mean kilometers per hour? Any wheelchairs or scooters that I have seen for sale, for mobility, have a rating of a top speed of 15 km/h, not mph.

If you mean a mobility scooter, it might help to look them up online to see what they are rated for. If the scooter was, in fact, going 15 mph, then the person has illegally juiced up the chair and that would add to your case.

That point of clarification will also prevent causing reputation damage to the rest of us who use electric powered mobility devices.

Justice4odsp

[Justice4odsp]

Chairs do not go that fast. Scooters might. The maximum speed I can buy is 8 mph but the chair that goes that fast is useless (at least for me).

Mine goes 7 mph and I keep the speed turned up so I can "sidestep" the people who are meandering on a not-so-straight path as they walk down the sidewalk with earphones in the ears. You can even yell, "excuse me." The ones who walk and read or walk and text at the same time, are even more dangerous.

That's why I avoid sidewalks or take the bus in areas where there be too many people walking on the sidewalk, and not paying attention to the world around them.

Justice4odsp

[Lorene]

Ok thanks, Paul for the link. But it is red colour??? I sooner rather
have orange with yellow stripes. I feel much safer in orange/yellow as
it reflects very good outside and it is easy to spot them anywhere.

The $50 vest that I seen was at something like called TSC (or is it
TCS) stores couple years ago.

I have thought of the Gibraltor Trade Centre on Dundas Street East
here in London. I should make a stop there and see if they have them.
They may or may not carry them. It wouldn't hurt to ask them. I
haven't been there for about 2 or 3 years. I can't take my scooter
there as there is not enough room for me to get around in the store
plus there is flea market/secondhand book /butcher /bakery /clothing /
electronic video games/etc, etc, etc and a produce market all in one
building inside. It is very tight inside as it can get jam packed with
other people and kids. Plus there is a farmer's market outside behind
the building every Saturdays. I have to use my walker.

Lorene

On Aug 24, 5:46 am, Paul <paulin...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >I have seen people on scooters and wheelchairs have the orange vest
> >with yellow deflector strips. I don't know where I can get one that is
> >very affordable to buy. The one I saw wanted $50 and that is a bit too
> >steep.
>
> $50 is pretty steep.  $25 is more like it.
>
> There are different variations and different styles.
>
> I know railroad employees use a different type than construction
> workers.  Some are 'tear-away' incase you get caugt up on something,
> so you don't get body 'strangled' .
>

> <http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-other-Safety-vest-for-sa...>http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-other-Safety-vest-for-sa...
>

[abrowne]

Justice4odsp,

There are many people who are unable medically to obtain a driver's

license, so all this would do is make these people housebound.  I

identified over 83 medical conditions in my case with the region that

can result in the loss of a driver's license medically ... there are likely

a whole lot more.  I would give my right arm to get my license back,

but this isn't going to happen ... and instead I become punished because

I am unable to drive due to a disability.

 

I would go with no license required, but if somebody does something

like the individual Denny is referring to, there should be tickets or

something handed out, like a form of "careless driving", and they

should be able to be sued in certain circumstances (perhaps carry

a form of liability insurance?).

Angela

From: Justice4odsp <justic...@gmail.com>
To: "odspfi...@googlegroups.com" <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 2:50:29 PM
Subject: Re: [odspfireside: 48130 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...

I am fast coming to the conclusion that people who use wheelchairs must be licensed to drive them, at least once. I hate the thought of paying for this test,  but if I become licensed, I would have a better way to defend myself. I say this because I am a very good driver. You can ask any Wheel-Trans driver or access bus driver about how well I drive my chair, can park my chair, and can maneuver through tight spaces. I blow their minds on a regular basis.

If people are licensed to drive the chair, that will get people who are not able to drive the chairs or who have not been able to get them properly programmed so they drive well (and straight) off the road.

[abrowne]

Absolutely, justice4odsp, there are these "scooters" that people can buy

that can go up to 32 km per hour.  These "scooters" have nothing to do

with mobility and anybody can just go to a store and buy one ... a MOBILITY

scooter on the other hand is limited in its speed by reason it can be used

on a sidewalk. 

I personally want an electric scooter.  They are completely operated by

electricity and/or pedal power and are an energy efficient form of transportation,

which does not require a driver's license to operate (which is good, because

MY only other options to get around is bus and taxi).  I would never ride them

on the sidewalk though.  When I was able to ride a bike, I never used the

sidewalk either, because of the reasons you outlined below -- it just seemed

to be too much of a hazard.

Angela

 

  

[Lorene]

Here are two letters to the editor in the London Free Press. I posted
the links.

Lorene



http://www.lfpress.com/comment/letters/home.html?p=52335&x=letters&l_publish_date=&s_publish_date=&s_keywords=&s_topic=&s_letter_type=Letter%20to%20Editor&s_topic=&s_letter_status=Active&s=letters


No respect for cyclists
Regarding the article Close Calls (Aug. 23).

I'm glad that more focus is being paid to the issues we cyclists
encounter when we ride the roads. I agree with one part in the
article, cyclists have to shoulder part of the blame in regards to the
relationship we have with motorists.

As a cyclist and motorist I have seen my share of bad cyclists that
ignore the rules of the road, but at the same time I have seen more
motorists do some insanely dangerous and mind-boggling things on the
road.

Cellphones are on the top of the list. As for our bike path, I think
it is good. But as for our bike lanes on the streets, I find them very
poor. Too inconsistent. One minute you're on it and then it ends. And
poorly maintained.

I recently spent six days in Geneva in upstate New York (Finger Lakes
region) during the August long weekend and this past weekend cycling
in the Guelph and Hamilton area. I could not believe how respectful
the motorists were to us cyclists.

Now with that being said, it's sad to say I find London to be one of
the worst cities to cycle in. Just a total lack of respect. Just
remember this: Who will ultimately win in a collision?

Posted By: Peter Siniowski, london
Posted On: August 24, 2012
Editors Note: As published in The London Free Press on Aug. 24, 2012



http://www.lfpress.com/comment/letters/home.html?p=52050&x=letters&l_publish_date=&s_publish_date=&s_keywords=scooters&s_topic=&s_letter_type=Letter%20to%20Editor&s_topic=&s_letter_status=Active&s=letters


Roads unsafe for scooters

In response to criticism of scooters on the sidewalk, and as a scooter
and bicycle owner myself, I would like to offer a different view.

More people are turning to alternative modes of transportation.
Londoners need to open their minds and focus on making our city
accessible for these modes instead of complaining about their use of
sidewalks in certain circumstances. Although we have many great paths
and bike friendly roads, there are many city streets that are
dangerous for bikes and scooters.

Instead of risking their life, these people are risking a fine to ride
on the sidewalk. They wouldn't be doing so if it wasn't absolutely
necessary.

If London doesn't begin to change its attitude in regards to
alternative commuters, it will continue to lose bright young minds to
cities which have been encouraging bikes and scooters in urban areas
for years.

Posted By: Jessica Herman, London
Posted On: August 3, 2012
Editors Note: As published in the London Free Press on Aug. 3, 2012.

[Justice4odsp]

Angela,

I agree with you 100% about eligibility for a license. However, I'm finding myself caught in an agonizing struggle about the outcome from people such as the one Denny encountered.

I have been screamed at, blamed, and had angry slurs flung at me that I don't deserve because others have encountered a similar aggression. I don't deserve the mistreatment and, as it stands now, there is literally no recourse of action that can be taken against a person who commits such an assault; at least not one that will have a meaningful impact to stop the behavior once and for all.

I don't want the license requirement either, but if getting one will stop the verbal and sometimes physical abuse against those who are feeling the impact of the ones who behave so badly, I'll take it. 

In an ideal world, that woman's wheelchair would be taken away and that would be the end of it. But we all know, the bleeding heart mentality that will support the "poor disabled lady" will prevent proper justice from happening. Denny, sadly, can now attest to that. 

I wanted to throw up when I heard how badly that lady abused him and then how the police further abused him because (I guess) she's seen as being the poor disabled victim.

Denny's story terrifies me because I can see what will happen before it even hits the courts. It's already happening because of similar dangerous behavior from others.

Heck, as you know, ODSP is now likening my wheelchair to a car and refusing to be timely with the repairs anymore. 

Justice4odsp

[Chris Carey]

I wish you all the best, Denny. You may have already answered these questions, but have you considered filing a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission or the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (a new procedure for police services complaints)?

Chris

---

From: Denny B. <d_...@hotmail.com>
To: "odspfi...@googlegroups.com" <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2012 12:06 PM
Subject: RE: [odspfireside: 48120 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...

[Lorene]

Denny, I am wondering is your story of your assault publish in a
newspaper where you live? If so, could you send a link so I can read
it? It should be publish in a newspaper to embarrass the woman in
wheelchair and the Ottawa Police.

I am so sorry this has happened to you. There is no excuse for this.
Keeping fighting for your case against the woman and the police.

Lorene

[Ron Payne]

Good stuff Chris

Denny

I would do a Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act  request first to get all documents from the police before they get changed or go missing. Do it now!

Let me know off list if you need my help?

Ron Payne
Welfare Legal
Hamilton, Ontario

On Sat, Aug 25, 2012 at 2:45 PM, Chris Carey <chris...@rocketmail.com> wrote:I wish you all the best, Denny. You may have already answered these questions, but have you considered filing a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission or the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (a new procedure for police services complaints)? Chris

[Denny B.]

I need ALL the help I can get!

HOW do I do this ?

thank you Ron...

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

---

Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 18:38:58 -0400
Subject: Re: [odspfireside: 48152 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
From: welfarel...@gmail.com
To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

[Denny B.]

Hi Lorene3,

Thank you for your support, it is very kind.

I contacted CBC news, here in Ottawa, but they seem to have lost interest.

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

> Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 17:24:22 -0700
> Subject: [odspfireside: 48151 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...
> From: sym...@yahoo.com
> To: odspfi...@googlegroups.com

[Denny B.]

hi Chris,

At this point, without having secured a lawyer in my defense yet, I am leery of anything I do. I have called a lawyer in Ottawa already, and his casual advice at best was to do exactly this, complain. He is out of toen at the moment, but when he returns I will pursue him.

Denny - Ottawa, Ontario
   d_tjb @ hotmail.com

---

Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 11:45:06 -0700
From: chris...@rocketmail.com
Subject: Re: [odspfireside: 48147 ] Re: I was assaulted and the police blackmailed me into not being able to charge the guy who beat me up...