Posted on 12/18/2005 5:19:40 PM PST by bikepacker67
So this morning I'm tooling along, cycle-commuting on my way to work, and got buzzed (passed unnecessarily close) by an SUV. Road conditions were clear except for the gutter, which was icy and rutted, so obviously I was where the passenger side tire tracks. The opposing lane was clear, with plenty of sight ahead (although was double line) So this guy was just being an azz.
I didn't flip him off, I didn't scream, I just raised a left hand with a shoulder shrug saying basically, thanks alot for nearly hitting me.
Well, this guy was itchin' for a fight... he slams on the brakes about 50 yds ahead, so I just pass him on the right - of course he has his window down and is cursing me out for "being in the middle of the road", and "what's my f'n problem"
I'm yelling back "Why didn't you use the other f'n lane?!"
So then he gets behind me and decides to "scare" me, revving up close to me, then hitting the brakes a couple times (maybe 20 seconds worth). Mind you, this is a relatively busy main artery through town, and there are cars coming the other way, (I imagine behind as well, but I was too busy keeping an eye on dyckhead).
He then decides that the best course of action would be to get a few 100 yards a head, park his car in a senior center parking lot and, I guess, lie in wait, to "take me on".
Problem for "Genius" was, the parking lot is on the other side of the road - and traffic was coming, plus this guy was 6' even and all of 290 - so he wasn't moving fast.
And I can fly...
About 1/2 mile ahead I hit town, and stopped at a phone to call 911 - I had memorized the plate PLUS, I have the whole thing in AVI format (at least what occurred in front of me - unfortunately not him threatening to hit me from behind)
Maybe I should get a second one of these and point it to the rear!
Here's some stills of the video (in chrono order):
Ohhh.... and the cops took my statement, and later came back (where i was working) and had me identify the guy from a picture they printed up from the DMV.
Good for you. But overly daring. He could easily have decided to kill you and you could have done nothing.
Were you riding to the right of the white line or to the left of it? I'm assuming by cycle commuting you mean you were on a road bike and not a motorcycle, yes?
BITS
No offense, but your pictures shows him clearly in the lane of traffic. The bike lane, if that is one seems to be unplowed. And that looks more like a minivan than SUV.
When was the last time you stopped at stop sign while on your bike?
Glad you're alive.
Isn't that some kind of "soccer mom" type of mini-van?
You should lend the police your camera. I'd like to see the look on his mug when they arrive and question him about the incident.
Mind you, the area here (Redmond WA) is pretty cyclist-friendly, outside of the newbie driver punks.
Well done. What is up with stuck on stupid and angry people in automobiles? It is everywhere. I leave my home as little as possible these days.
By posting the pics with a legible plate number,
accompanied by the allegation, you could be
subjecting yourself to unnecessary litigation
by the perp.
PhotoShop it now. Blur the numbers.
Yes.. "road bike" Well, an MTB with knobbies for winter travel.
Yup. Leftists hate people, and it comes out in many ways.
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How do you pronounce "f'n"? |
LOL... All the time dude. I'm a VC (Vehicular cyclist) biker. In other words, I consider myself (correctly) as a vehicle, and therefor have both the rights AND responsibilities as stated in the rules of the road.
Can't answer for him, but I always do (although I haven't learned the wheelstand I can stay upright motionless for at least a second or two without having to uncleat).
And back in '94 I compiled the state laws regarding cycling, created a flyer detailing them and gave it to the "local" bicycle club (the largest in the country and a bit leftie). Pretty soon the flyers started showing up on counters in all the bike shops around here.
But the lib cyclists still ignore the laws.
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I have the vid... does he really want to challenge his wrongdoing? I don't think so.
BTW, I don't plan on pressing charges (though the local cops who have now seen the vid think I should) I just want him to get a good talking, and my phone # for him to apologize.
Given that I was assaulted with a 3000lb Minivan, I think that's mighty big of me...
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