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.
Now, now, you should be nice to newbies. We're not supposed to scare them off or be rude to their weird concepts of road safety..
Again, you need to actually READ the rules of the road, Bud.
OK.. You know Fenway Golf? That hill? Well continuing on (passing FG on your left) about 3.5 miles further into Hampden.
What are these 'rules'? That a vehicle (by that I mean an actual motor vehicle, by your definiton the little girl across the street with her Big Wheel could qualify) should travel 20 mph lower than the speed limit for miles and miles on end to accomodate a cyclist?
Um, the speed limit looks like 40 mph.
That's pretty much what I figured as it looks rural. If he comes back and tells me he rides at that pace I'm going to have the best laugh I've had in a while.
What the heck has happened to FR? Don't we have any law and order types anymore?
You're serious, aren't you? You really expect cars to drive 20 mph below the speed limit to accomodate you?
You want him to sell at 40 mph? Just how does one do that?
I bet you are just as ignorant of the laws regarding bicycles on highways in your locale as you are of his -- not to mention your ignorance of basic English language skills.
So tell us: What are the laws regarding cyclists where you live? What specific rights and rules apply?
I'll tell you what they are here:
RCW 46 - Bicycle Laws in the State of Washington:
RCW 46.04.071 Definition of "Bicycle."
"Bicycle" means every device propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is sixteen or more inches in diameter, or three wheels, any one of which is more than twenty inches in diameter.RCW 46.04.200 Definition of "Hours of Darkness."
"Hours of darkness" means the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, and any other time when persons or objects may not be clearly discernible at a distance of five hundred feet.RCW 46.04.197 Definition of "Highway."
"Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.RCW 46.04.500 Definition of "Roadway."
"Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder even though such sidewalk or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles. In the event a highway includes two or more separated roadways, the term "roadway" shall refer to any such roadway separately but shall not refer to all such roadways collectively.RCW 46.04.670 "Vehicle."
"Vehicle" includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, including bicycles. The term does not include devices other than bicycles moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. Mopeds shall not be considered vehicles or motor vehicles for the purposes of chapter 46.70 RCW. Bicycles shall not be considered vehicles for the purposes of chapter 46.12, 46.16, or 46.70 RCW.RCW 46.61.160 Restrictions on use of limited-access highway by bicyclists.
The Department of Transportation may by order, and local authorities may by ordinance or resolution, with respect to any limited access highway under their respective jurisdictions prohibit the use of any such highway by funeral processions, or by parades, pedestrians, bicycles or other non-motorized traffic, or by any person operating a motor-driven cycle. Bicyclists may use the right shoulder of limited access highways except where prohibited. The Department of Transportation may by order, and local authorities may by ordinance or resolution, with respect to any limited-access highway under their respective jurisdictions prohibit the use of the shoulders of any such highway by bicycles within urban areas or upon other sections of the highway where such use is deemed to be unsafe. The Department of Transportation or the local authority adopting any such prohibitory regulation shall erect and maintain official traffic control devices on the limited access roadway on which such regulations are applicable, and when so erected no person may disobey the restrictions stated on such devices.RCW 46.61.700 Parent or guardian shall not authorize or permit violation by a child or ward.
The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.RCW 46.61.750 Effect of regulations - Penalty.
(1) It is a traffic infraction for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780. (2) These regulations applicable to bicycles apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any bicycle path, subject to those exceptions stated herein.RCW 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780 and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.RCW 46.61.758 Hand signals.
All hand signals required of persons operating bicycles shall be given in the following manner: (1) Left turn. Left hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle; (2) Right turn. Left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle, or right hand and arm extended horizontally to the right side of the bicycle; (3) Stop or decrease speed. Left hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the bicycle. The hand signals required by this section shall be given before initiation of a turn.RCW 46.61.760 Riding on bicycles.
(1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. (2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.RCW 46.61.765 Clinging to vehicles.
No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.RCW 46.61.770 Riding upon roadways and bicycle paths.
(1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited-access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists. (2) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.RCW 46.61.775 Carrying articles.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.RCW 46.61.780 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.
(1) Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined in RCW 46.37.200 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the state patrol which shall be visible from all distances from one hundred feet to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. (2) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.So c'mon "ShadowDancer," be brave enough to step out from the shadows you hide in and give us a real man's answer.
OK, the pines threw me off a bit.
No.
I expect a car to pass me SAFELY like they would any other vehicle over to the side, travelling slower then they are.
Again... look at the pics. I'm not in the middle of the damn road.
I ride and I always stop at stop signs.
Truckers the best? at what, being a-holes?
Here in North Texas easily 60 percent of the
truck drivers hog the left lane, tailgate,
and act belligerent when I attept to pass
(on a motorcycle).
What you ride is not a vehicle in the sense it is intended on a highway. Get over it. If you can't keep up with traffic, use the bike lane or get a trainer and ride at home and take the bus. The world doesn't revolve around you even though you think it does.
As a cycle-commuter, in any situation where I could not keep up to the speed limit and where I'd acquired an "entourage", at the first opportunity I'd pull off and let them pass; if i went for more than a couple minutes I'd pull off.
In this state if you're holding up more than 5 vehicles you are required to pull over at the first opportunity and let them pass. However, from personal observation it seems that the vast majority of (presumably) licensed drivers are unaware of this law. As they demonstrably are of other laws regarding driving.
Every cyclist capable of reasonable thought soon figures this out. Maybe that's why it's the lib cyclists who flout the laws. Evolution in action?
I know you weren't in the middle of the road, I never said you were. I said that he wasn't in the middle of the road either and was hugging the left side of the lane to give you room as he passed. From the pics, this didn't seem to be an extraordinarily busy stretch of highway. I know the shoulder/bike lane was not all there but there was a good deal of room left without ice and snow. You had to know when a car was coming up behind you. Being as they can travel faster than you, wouldn't it have been easier to just hit the bike path for a minute while they pass as opposed to making them slow down and follow you for lengths at a time?
Interesting, because I've been driving 37+ years and I have seen same. Can't speak for California (I escaped that hellhole a long time ago), but I do see it in Washington. Not as much as I'd like, but I see it.
Can't answer a bit for North Texas truckers, but my experience of the vast majority of Washington truckers is that they're considerate folk. (Ack! Given the politics of the two regions, does this mean presumably lib truckers are better behaved than presumably conservative truckers?)
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