Woman Arrested For Alleged Road Rage Over Ride The Rockies Tour

The Denver Channel ^

[Millee]

A 66-year-old Western Slope woman was arrested Wednesday after bicyclists on the Ride The Rockies tour accused her of road rage.

The Colorado State Patrol arrested Betty Lorimer as she drove along U.S. Highway 50 in her pickup truck.

Cyclists said the woman was swerving near them and honking her horn continuously as she passed them. She appeared to be upset they were using the highway, the cyclists said. They notified authorities on their cell phones and gave them a description and license plate of the vehicle.

State patrol Sgt. Tim Keeton arrested the Grand Junction, Colo., woman because he said she was so upset that letting her go with just a ticket would have increased her rage and put the cyclists in more danger.

Keeton said a loaded handgun was found in her pickup when it was impounded. But Lorimer said she was carrying the handgun legally.

The 2005 Ride the Rockies tour involves 2,000 cyclists on a 7-day ride from Grand Junction to Breckenridge, Colo.

[skip_intro]

Following 2000 bicyclists riding in their clown costumes would be enough to send anyone over the edge.

[Drago]

http://www.ridetherockies.com/

[B Knotts]

Why do they seem to hold these things on the most dangerous roads imaginable?

[CORedneck]

Happened to a guy I knew. He was driving a little bit fast on US 50 from Gunnison to Salida and someone called him in. He got stopped and ticketed by Colorado State Patrol and when he went in to fight the charges, the prosecutor had signed affidavits of the offense and the prosecutor said that he could elevate the charges from careless driving with its 4 points to reckless driving which either 6 or 8 points.

[Minn]

How is it that bicyclists are allowed the glide right through stop signed intersections, while those of us in cars must stop?

Technically they aren’t. All the same rule apply. But you gotta ask yourself. If there’s no real hazard, such as a cyclist blowing a red light at a busy intersection, why does a bike coasting through a stop sign bother you?

[dd5339]

"I live in thickly settled Alexandria, Virginia. How is it that bicylcists are allowed the glide right through stop signed intersections, while those of us in cars must stop?"

Because the local police don't bother to write them tickets maybe?

As a cyclist, it really irritates the crap out of me to see fellow cyclists running stop signs, red lights, and behaving poorly.

In fact it irritates me almost as much as a bunch of fat, ignorant, lazy, idiots sitting around talking about making a hood ornament out of a cyclist just because they happen to be on "THEIR" road.

Semper Fi

[plain talk]

I don't know to comment on this. 2000 bike weanies vs gun-toting granny. Not sure I'd want to share a highway with any of them.

[N. Theknow]

Why do ALL bicycle riders wear helmets, but over half the folks who ride motorcycles wear a scarf or no headgear at all?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Encountered a pickup driver outside of Fairplay doing the same damn thing while riding up Hoosier Pass back to Breckenridge in 1991 during an Evergreen Cycling Club century. Some cyclists are idiots to be sure but a lot of those mountain goobers just don't like city folks riding their bikes in the mountains. Have had the same kinds of problems while riding my motorcycle in that part of the state.

[Littlejon]

Agree on the sponsored event thing. Sounds like the sponsors failed to provide adequate traffic control, but I am not familiar with the event and don't pretend to know how one would organize it.

That said, I encounter bikers every day on my commute home on the back roads. Most of the time there are at least a dozen of them, riding 3-4 abreast, essentially blocking the entire lane. I have also had several riders in single-file who ride in the middle of the lane, again, blocking the road for cars. They refuse to move and flip you off if you honk for them to slide over and let you by. Some are very courteous and will move over as much as possible to let you by. Others, however, are jerks and think they own the road.

While I think this woman was wrong, based on the (limited) information provided, I can see where one might get a little hot under the collar riding behind a bunch of bikers.

[clearsight]

My sentiment exactly. Whatever happened to ridding single file when vehicles come along behind, simply to let them go by safely. Cyclists do have an attitude and it has caused accidental deaths as a result. There are many blind hills out where we live in the country with speed limits of 60 mph, so you know what happens when you come up over the hill and the lane ahead of you is suddenly blocked (clogged) with cyclists........THUMP....SQUASH....SPLASH...

[dljordan]

"I might become just at nutty as this woman if I came upon 2000 bicyclists. Dealing with a solo rider in the middle of the lane on a windy road with blind turns is enough to push me over the edge."

Many of the cyclists out here are extremely arrogant and will flip you the bird for passing them. They will completely fill the road and it's supposed to be illegal to pass them. Back home in Tennessee they are much more humble.

[Minn]

Do you wear spandex and the gay yellow bracelet when you ride your bike?

I don't have a yellow US Postal jersey. I prefer a ratty t-shirt. Better for wiping sweat. But yes, I wear stretchy Lycra bike shorts with a padded crotch. I'm sorry you, and a few others here, find that offensive. The shorts are designed for functionality. They keep you cool and comfortable. What exactly is the problem?

And you're offended by rubber bracelets that raise money for cancer research? They're gay? Just a little bit uncomfortable with the thoughts in your head when you see guys in spandex Rodney?

[HairOfTheDog]

I too have seen them taking up more of the lane than I think they need to. And it can be nervous and/or irritating if there is not clear path to pass. It's even more frustrating to get stuck behind them when I am pulling a horse trailer that makes me wider and less agile than usual. Caution forces me to follow them, and it really irritates me when they must know I am there and that I am stuck behind them and they still make no effort to use less road. I am sensitive when I am holding up traffic pulling the trailer, and I pull over and allow them to pass at the first safe opportunity.

[rabidralph]

Someone needs a nap :-)

[RexBeach]

Because it is inherently dangerous, especially at a 4-corner stop. In addition, Alexandria is one of the most densely populated cities in America. The traffic is stupendously awful.

Thanks for the post!

[HairOfTheDog]

There are many blind hills out where we live in the country with speed limits of 60 mph, so you know what happens

Just because the speed limit is sixty doesn't mean you have to go sixty around blind hills and corners... You have to be prepared for people, kids, dogs, deer, a stuck car, or whatever might be around the corner, you know.

[kozachka]

"Why do ALL bicycle riders wear helmets, but over half the folks who ride motorcycles wear a scarf or no headgear at all?"

Ummm, because they're smarter?

Do you know what they call helmetless motorcyclists in the ER? Organ donors.

[Rodney King]

Just a little bit uncomfortable with the thoughts in your head when you see guys in spandex Rodney?

Nope, I just think grown men riding bikes while wearing yellow and pink spandex and a yellow bracelet is gay.

[cjshapi]

They are pretty rude in Western PA too. They don't believe traffic laws apply to them and they have no problem flipping people off.