The Jerk
A Note from Fatty: Today’s post comes from Mark, who has a great story about an encounter with a motorist last weekend.
Tomorrow, by the way, I will talk about knee warmers. I have a considerable amount to say on the subject.
The Disclaimer
I realize in writing this that I am about to reinforce nearly every misconceived negative stereotype about people in the state of Idaho. In actuality, Idaho is a great place to live and ride, with wonderful, easily accessible road and mountain rides throughout the state. Generally speaking, the people sharing the roads and trails are courteous and friendly.
The Setup
Last weekend, my friend Curtis and his son drove up from Salt Lake to spend the weekend with my family in Boise. Of course he brought his bike. Saturday morning, we rolled out from my house and started pedaling towards the foothills for some climbing and peace on the back roads north of town. To get to the foothills, though, we had to ride through downtown Eagle. Normally this is no big deal. There’s sometimes a bit of traffic—Eagle is a small town that has grown into a bedroom community—but the roads are wide and rarely are there issues.
I’m sure we’re all used to hearing a horn honk once in a while, particularly on a windy day when it can be more difficult to hold your line. But this time, the horn kept honking. And honking. And honking. And instead of just moving around and going on his way, eventually the redneck driving the little beat up Chevy pickup pulled up next to me and did something I have never experienced before: he started moving over and deliberately pushing me onto the shoulder and off the road.
The Meeting
Infuriated, I yelled “pull over, jackass!” to the driver. He obliged. I pulled up to explain to him that I had a right to use the road just like he did (I was excited to use the “roads are for taxpayers” line). He got out of his truck, took off his hat, and got ready to fight. I tried in vain to explain what my rights were. He seemed to think that because I had no license plate on my bike that I had no right to use the road. Based on the exchange, I learned that this man was fond of words beginning with the letter “F.” But I thought it pointless to try and explain to him that consonance as a literary device is best executed with varying words rather than the same one repeated endlessly.
Civilized discourse (if it can be called such when only one of the parties meets the requirements for both civilized and discourse) was getting me nowhere, and Curtis suggested we move on and continue our ride. But as I tried to move away, each time the redneck in the truck turned and stood in front of me. He was determined to settle this his way. For some reason he kept calling me little [fill in the blank]. Now I’m not very tall, but I’d hardly describe myself as little. Realistically, I don’t think a physical confrontation would have lasted long, nor do I think it would have prevented or materially delayed me from finishing the ride.
Nevertheless, I focused on keeping my cool and trying to move on. Until Tex reached down and lifted up his jacket to grab something from his belt. I had no idea what he was reaching for and thought “hit him now or it could get ugly.” A powerful right cross to the chin put him on the ground, and before he could say “Campagnolo,” my left cleat was pressed into his windpipe.
OK, just kidding. That’s just what in hindsight I wish I had done. The reality was that all he had under the jacket was a cell phone, so I continued standing there trying to make peace.
The Constabulary
After Curtis and I made several attempts to leave, a witness to the incident offered to call the police. Interestingly, this fellow seemed pleased with the idea because, as he put it, “I know everyone here.” We were two blocks from the police station, so two cruisers carrying three uniforms promptly pulled up to assess the situation. They separated and questioned the three of us. Curtis and I received a warning about making sure not to impede traffic. I don’t know what the other guy got, but I distinctly heard the words “Operating without a permit, DUI, and disorderly conduct” as they radioed in his license number.
The officer asked me what I would like done, and I told him I just wanted someone to explain to the guy that cyclists have a right to use the road. The officer agreed and then asked me for directions to the new mountain bike trail that was just built in the foothills.
Curtis and I pedaled off and don’t really know what happened from there. But I do wonder how this macho redneck would have felt if he’d had the snot beaten out of him by a man dressed shoulders to knees in lycra.
Comment by dug | 05.15.2007 | 9:53 am
mark, you are like buddha, like ghandi, like mlk. cyclists are better for it everywhere, but i can’t even imagine the self-restraint required to do what you did.
wait, yes i can. just last week i was riding up emigration canyon in slc, ut. two miles up from the zoo, and a woman in a white suv pulled up next to me, passed me, then swerved perpidicular to my bike lane (yes, i was riding in a legal and painted bike lane) and stopped, astride the bike lane.
i locked up both brakes, slid sideways gently into the rear of her vehicle, and then scooted around the driver side. i smacked the rear side panel as hard as i could, hoping to dent it, but no such luck, so i continued up to the driver window, which she was just rolling down, angry at me for touching her car.
the buddha was far from me that day, and i let fly with colorful vindictiveness, being careful to vary my word choice, and i asked if she would have pulled that kind of stunt if i were a cement truck, or if her husband rode a bike. she quickly rolled up her window.
what? what is it that makes people do this? the use of a brake pedal and a steering wheel is part of driver’s education, right? RIGHT?
Comment by Brewinman | 05.15.2007 | 9:54 am
Just goes to show that stupid people are everywhere (and they reproduce)
Comment by SpikeBlue | 05.15.2007 | 11:04 am
Mark, I hope you discretely keyed his truck when you rode away.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a once a year “Drivers Bike to Work/Bikers Drive to Work” Day? We could terrorize all the newbies on bikes. (evil laughing ensues)
Comment by bikemike | 05.15.2007 | 11:21 am
mark, even though this a funny story and well told, i might add. i somehow don’t remember steve martin’s character in the movie riding a bike and confronting a redneck. maybe, i need the director’s cut.
Comment by Clydesteve | 05.15.2007 | 11:26 am
Mark, good story. Your restraint made the good ending.
Nitpick: I think the redneck was actually guilty of a poor use of alliteration, rather than incompetant use of consonance.
I would love to be able to think of remarks like your considered explaination of consonance as a literary device, during such a confrontation. What I usually think of is if I haul back and deck this turd, am I going to lose my balance and slide onto my butt, as I shift my weight in my road shoes?
sp
Comment by Clydesteve | 05.15.2007 | 11:27 am
incompetent, not -tant. I am so ironic.
Comment by Tim D | 05.15.2007 | 11:49 am
Dug, my friend Simon had a similar thing happen to him a few years ago. Being the wag that he is (and owing to him doing close on to 30mph in a full triathlon tuck) he went head first through the rear windscreen. He was so far into the car, he had to get out the rear passenger door.
I am also reminded of a friend from university. While riding through Glasgow, a car cut across him to turn left and fetched him off, but didn’t stop. So Harpic (called so cos he was clean round the bend) chased the chap down, smashed his indicator lights then said “When you get them fixed maybe you will remember to use them”.
Comment by msk | 05.15.2007 | 11:54 am
lucky the police were on your side – a road rage story from canada with attached video
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_10838.aspx
in essense a 21 year veteran of the toronto police force assaulted and caused bodily harm to a cyclist who just stopped at an amber light – all caught on tape by a group of school kids working on a project about surveillance cameras
now that is ironic
Comment by Den | 05.15.2007 | 12:12 pm
The biggest problem is that the idiot will blame you for whatever happened to him that day. No matter what, it will be your fault. People like that never take responsibility for their actions or behaviors. It’s always someone else’s fault. He’ll blame you for his DUI, operating without a permit and disorderly conduct.
The sad truth is I pity the next cyclist he comes accross…
You still did the right thing though. It pays to keep your cool, now if I can only remember that myself.
Comment by Mrs. Coach | 05.15.2007 | 12:24 pm
“and before he could say ‘Campagnolo,’ my left cleat was pressed into his windpipe”
Oh my gosh, that is one of the funniest things I have ever read.
How ridiculous is it that I never worry about Bob racing, but when he’s commuting, I always tell him to be careful?
Comment by Al Maviva | 05.15.2007 | 12:40 pm
I have been involved in a couple incidents that I dealt with in a Ghandi-like manner… if Ghandi was a weightlifting extra in a Chuck Norris movie. The only one I’m willing to cop to in writing is the one last year where the woman tried to run me into the guard rail when, riding up the shoulder of the road, I passed her gridlocked van. Funny, but you can punch out a minivan and leave basketball sized dents without even breaking your hands, as long as you don’t hit a strut in the body work. I would never have guessed that. There have been some other incidents that didn’t end so well for the driver, but like I said, my general practice is to avoid confessing to crimes in writing.
Locally, a drunk hick pulled a similar stunt on a slightly built racer. As the rather large, drunk, homophobic moron found out, sometimes them little pure climbers aren’t really bicyclists – they just ride bicycles to keep in shape for world class kickboxing events and ultimate fighting… Yeah, the little guy dropped a fellow who outweighed him by 100%. He’s kind of a local hero for that.
Comment by BotchedExperiment | 05.15.2007 | 12:45 pm
Den– you’re exactly right. I once got T-boned by a car while on my bike, and the next day, while I’m at work with a knee brace and a cast on my hand (and a shoulder that is messed up to this day), the guy calls me and tells me and wants to know how I’m going to pay for damages to his car!
Comment by Fritz | 05.15.2007 | 1:15 pm
The occasional encounters like this are a nuisance. Did you see this about the cyclist who was whacked in the head with a baseball bat last week?
Comment by JET(not a nickname) | 05.15.2007 | 1:15 pm
Way to keep your cool and not go to that guys level with physicality. I have left a few dents in quarter panels as I ride by. Mostly it’s with intersections and the moron doesn’t even look before going. I was riding with one guy a few years ago who used biking as a cardio workout for his boxing training. He was also a hothead. Without going into details, some little punk (abundant in these parts) kept swerving at us as he went by (would swerve, slow down, and then do it again) and honking. When we met at a stop sign, I’m pretty sure the driver said something to try and impress his girl with him even more, but before he finished the sentence, my friend was unclipped, off of his bike, and pulling the guy out of the car through his window. I’m pretty sure he would be in prison if I didn’t pull him off. Even though he was wrong in that reaction, it was still pretty cool to see.
Comment by MTB W | 05.15.2007 | 1:18 pm
Excellent post! Very funny yet a little too familar for comfort. The worst is when it is a truck full of teens/college age kids. You showed good retraint, otherwise the cops may have taken the whole thing differently. I’ve only ridden a road bike for less than a year but I’ve never had anyone actually stop – from the sounds of it, its only a matter of time.
A friend of mine took a trip to south america and when a vehicle got too close to him, he would give it a kick to let the driver know he was there. That worked fine until one driver reached under his seat for a gun – oops, wrong guy to piss off.
Comment by dpcowboy | 05.15.2007 | 1:19 pm
Den and Botched…
The really odd thing about your stories is that this pattern is irrevocably true. People of limited intelligence who want to revert to a physical provocation when they are clearly wrong…just don’t learn. This especially applies to non-cycling motorists who are reckles iwth their vehicles. They just don’t want to learn. There is probably so much garbage in their psych. profile that years of counseling wouldn’t get at the issue. They aren’t wrong, you are. It took me lots of years of cycling to realize that these types just CAN’T admit fault…impossible.
So now, I immediately try to assess what my chances are in an altercation with them. If I feel confident, I get focused on that inevitability, but still try to solve the issue peacably. And then, when they get in my face or throw the first shove or punch, I am sorta ready mentally, and I let it all go. I know this technique is the worst side of me, but I take some hope in knowing that the driver/offender got a lasting reminder of who was really wrong. Not that they remember for long.
Comment by eclecticdeb | 05.15.2007 | 2:01 pm
It’s true, the longer we ride, the more idiots we run into. However, I managed to run into one this morning when I wasn’t riding.
I was coming up behind a cyclist and wanted to make a right turn. Because I am a rider, I know better than to speed up and attempt to turn in front. Instead, I slowed down, let him pedal on his merry way, and made my turn behind him. In all, it added about 2.5 seconds to my turn. However, I guess those 2.5 seconds were very special the the idiot driving the SUV behind me — he proceeded to lay on his horn, then followed me into the parking lot where he felt the need to yell untold insults through his rolled down window. Things like “he was sick and tired of all the granola crunching bike riders slowing down his commute and that people like me only encourage more cyclists”.
After he was done, I told him (in my nicest voice) that I felt sorry that he was having such a bad day, so early in the morning and could I buy him a cup of coffee to help his day get off to a better start?
He replied with the classic F*&^ You and sped off.
Comment by Mrs. Coach | 05.15.2007 | 2:21 pm
In Brazil a lot of people riding bikes carry guns (bike theft is a pretty big problem there)
Imagine the possibilities.
Comment by Kathy | 05.15.2007 | 2:29 pm
I guess it’s the boobs, and I don’t mean the idiots. As a woman, I just don’t get hassled that much. I’m 42, but with the helmet and sunglasses on (and just a quick glance from motorists) I’ve been told I look like a college student. A motorcyle almost pulled out in front of me once, but stopped in the nick of time. The driver actually caught up to me and appologized.
The only time I was worried for my safety was out on a lonely country road and a dog gave chase. I could feel him by my right ankle and sprayed some pepper spray at his face. It wasn’t just for me, but hopefully the experience will keep him from chasing other bikes that go by. Although I don’t condone violence, those drivers who force a confrontation with a cyclist, if it’s a negative enough experience, maybe they’ll leave the next biker alone.
Comment by LanterneRouge | 05.15.2007 | 2:53 pm
eclecticdeb, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten so mad if you offered a granola bar along with the coffee.
Comment by MTB W | 05.15.2007 | 3:23 pm
eclecticdeb – great response!
Mrs. Coach – I guess I won’t be riding in Brazil!
Kathy, I have to agree with you. Last weekend, I saw a woman sitting on the side of the road with her bike. I stopped riding to ask if she was alright (she was, just waiting for her husband to catch up) and while I was stopped, another cyclist coming the other direction asked the same question as he pedaled along. However, not more than 45 minutes later, I was riding back into town when my tire got slashed to pieces from gravel on a crappy road w/no bike lane (lots of cars flying by so I stayed close to the white line w/all the rocks and debris). So, I started walking. At least 6 other cyclists passed me and no one even slowed down (wouldn’t have helped but I would have appreciated the courtesy). Should I bring a bra next time?
Comment by monkeywebb | 05.15.2007 | 3:35 pm
My favorite stupid motorist story involves a friend of mine. Two years ago on my first ride of the year I was halfway through a right corner when a car zipped by forcing me into the curb. There had to be less than a foot between the car’s tires and the curb, and to this day i don’t know how I didn’t end up face down on the sidewalk. I jumped out of the saddle spitting expletives and caught the car at the next stoplight. I smacked on the passenger window ready to give the driver a piece of my mind…and recognized her. I was so shocked I just waved and said ‘Hi.’ She now works down the hall and has no idea she almost killed me.
To increase awareness about cyclists’ often contentious plight on public roadways join one of the many “Ride of Silence” events tomorrow evening (May 16). To find one near you visit http://www.rideofsilence.org. They’re everywhere, even Idaho, Utah, and Australia.
Comment by MTB W | 05.15.2007 | 4:02 pm
Sorry, I was being glib. OK, I know its off topic and inappropriate. . . just ignore me. I’ll chalk it up to a long day at work.
Comment by dug | 05.15.2007 | 5:23 pm
mtb w, some advice i got from edward abbey: “never apologize, never explain.”
Comment by Rider34 | 05.15.2007 | 6:51 pm
FYI……don’t smack the side of a schoolbus that cuts you off. Those things must be made of lead! My hand still hurts!!!!!!!
Comment by Mike P | 05.15.2007 | 7:39 pm
My favorite part of the story:
“But I do wonder how this macho redneck would have felt if he’d had the snot beaten out of him by a man dressed shoulders to knees in lycra.”
My brother and I ride road out into the country several times a week and encounter a redneck with an attitude problem about 2-3 times a summer. I imagine I’d say something similar to above, “do you really want to tell your buddies you got in a fight with 2 guys wearing spandex,” if one ever stopped. Then again, my brother is a 6′5″ 250lbs Sherriff’s department intern, and I’m 6′4″ 190 with a really large air pump strapped to my bike. I don’t think he’d think it was a good idea to continue if we got off our bikes.
High School / College kids are annoying, but they’re just trying to show their buddies how ‘cool’ they are by yelling at someone on a bicycle. The aggressive, in a hurry, possibly intoxicated drivers are the ones that I’m afraid of.
Comment by The favorite older sister | 05.15.2007 | 8:33 pm
I used to think the drivers were bad, but now the runners are in the lead here in lovely colorado! Here is one that is over the top and exemplifies crazy! My friend Nancy, all of 5ft and 100 pounds was just beginning a ride last week on an open BLM trail with her dog. She encountered a runner and he went nuts. Began yelling at her because the dog was off the leash. He then begins to kick the dog and throw rocks at her. Meanwhile Nancy is clipped into her pedals trying to get control of the situation and get her dog away from the guy. The dog never even approached him. After he was finished with the dog he turned on Nancy! Yup, assaulted her! Charged her and threw her down and off her bike. Jammed up her fingers and cut up her hands and arms . She couldn’t ride and returned to the parking lot…where he awaited! She was holding a packet of papers while she wrote down his license plate and he charged her again. Took them away from her and shredded them. The police finally arrived and charged him with 3rd degree assault and burglery! He still thinks he was justified because “the dog was not on a leash!” He then told her to go to a spa and she would feel better!
We rode that same trail today and…took a leash this time!!!
Comment by Weean | 05.15.2007 | 11:16 pm
Mrs Coach:
How ridiculous is it that I never worry about Bob racing, but when he’s commuting, I always tell him to be careful?
Unfortunately it’s not ridiculous at all. This post is giving me the willies, and I can’t say that I’m particularly inclined to let my (non-cycling) wife read it. Kudos to Mike for taking the moral high ground (but let’s be honest, to Al M as well for doing something about these incidents).
Comment by Weean | 05.16.2007 | 1:51 am
In a bizarre case of synchronicity, I have just received a link to a survey organised by Drexel University, asking what (US residents) think of having enclosed bike commuter tunnels that free them from the dangers of motorists.
>>>I invite you to take a survey that my freshman design students and I recently developed to evaluate public interest in building a dedicated bicycle infrastructure
The basic premise behind the design is to give people with an inclination to exercise while commuting to work the opportunity to do so.
The proposed plan is to also attack several problems facing our society:
1) Obesity and Type II diabetes caused by excessive caloric consumption and insufficient exercise,
2) Particulate and asthma-causing emissions,
3) Global warming caused by fossil-fuel-based CO2 emissions,
4) Dependence on foreign oil.
Thank you for your time.
To take the five-minute survey, please click the link below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=677663423612
Comment by telegirl | 05.16.2007 | 3:18 am
I am actually taking a break from roadriding right now -I guess I am not enough of a girl to avoid being almost killed.
All in one day:
1. decending down a windy road with no real shoulder, a truck (large, 4 door work truck) passes me and cuts in front of me. That would have been fine, but he was towing a long, flatbed trailer that took me off the road. I guess he didn’t realize that bikes can go that fast down a hill.
2. on a flat, long line of sight, see several cars approaching from behind. Notice that pickup truck following first car is way into the breakdown lane- with his large, oversized mirror coming right at the back of my head. Road in front of me is broken asphalt – mirror coming at me- I drop down onto my top tube, duck my head as low as possible – Mirror passes right over the top of me. Nor sure how I missed it.
3. slightly stressed, I am hoping to make it back to my car in one piece. I am crossing the Connecticut river, NH to VT, big wide breakdown lane, I ride as close to the bridge rail as possible. See small white car weaving into the breakdown lane. Coming right at me. I have nowhere to go and actually think that it is good I have a Road ID so that they can identify my body. Car swerves out around me and just as it gets next to me, leans on the horn and the passenger throws trash at me and screams.
Too much for one day. Maybe I can get girl lessons so this doesn’t happen? I am always amazed at what people will do to those on a bike – I guess it is easier to be bullies to cyclists.
Comment by TimK | 05.16.2007 | 4:09 am
Crazy crazy crazy.
I’ve heard that some police, particularly in California the source of most televised high speed police chases, are working on a “gun” to mount on cruisers that fires a sticky GPS device at cars they are pursuing, so that they can allow the car to run without chase and then simply track it by the GPS dart. I want one of these for my road bike so badly I can’t stand it. To simply go to someone’s house and have the opportunity to put sugar in the gas tank for revenge would be nice.
I had a confrontation last year where I made the mistake of passing a thug who had gotten out of his van and wanted to fight because I called him a Plucking Glass Bowl after he nearly side swiped my wife. I simply yelled “we are legal” and rode by. He caught up to me and I braced for impact with the van but he simply threw a near full soda bottle and hit me in the arm and helmet. I got the license and reported it to the police hoping that something would be done. Unfortunately the police don’t have enough money and manpower to actually follow up.
I’ve considered carrying a gun, but I know the accident stats for guns are far higher than I care to deal with.
As for dogs, I’ve found A WHISTLE (a nice loud one) works really well to deter them. Or if you are a guy who can get a deep bark, that works too most of the time. Pepper spray can come back at you or other riders, I don’t use it.
Safer rides to all of you.
Comment by britman | 05.16.2007 | 4:37 am
yeah it like this in IL all the time ive had the same thing happen to me lots of times by the old guy who thinks that because hes been driving for ever owns the road or the redneck but now when the cell phone calls the cops and they think they can win its great to see them get a ticketand ten they think no one is watching and try it again they seem to think the cop has gone or wont stop them again but when you have an iq of 1 its hard for them to figure it out there are a few cars in my town with my foot print in the side because they drove to close to me and then its im going to call the cops cos you hit my car go right ahead and call guess who wins this round too but the best one has to be when my sons school busdriver knocked me off my bike 3 times and two of the times i was wearing a high vis jacket and she said she couldnt see me crossing a 4way stop while i was making a left turn and her a right the kids saw me cos i hurd them scream for her to stop cos she hit me again so i called the bus office and was told theres no way this happened and im lieing to them so the cops where at the schol the next day and asked the kids on the bus if anything had happend on the ride home lastnight and they all said she hit a guy on a bike and kept going well now this 75 yes thats right 75 yearold is not driving a bus anymore but people in cars dont car about us cos we dont pay taxes to ride a bike but we do have to go by the same traffic laws in IL as cars doso if i run a stop sign then i will get a ticket if im stopped by the cops and its not just when im on my bike its the samr thing when im riding my motorcycle toobut ive not been knocked off that yet and now with more people riding bikes and motorbikes cos of the gas prices more of us are going to get runover
Comment by TimK | 05.16.2007 | 4:44 am
In case you needed more evidence to lose hope in some folks. Freedom of speech and all, this guy thinks he is clever:
http://tinyurl.com/29enrh
He’s got a couple more if this one doesn’t fit your needs. Then again if they wear it on their sleeve (or bumper) then we would at least know who they are.
Comment by Al (female) | 05.16.2007 | 5:17 am
I’ve been lucky enough on a bike so far. The worst abuse I’ve received is the occasional honking and obscenities flying out car windows, and one interesting “conversation” at a red light. You guys aren’t making me feel too good about the cross country bike trip I’m starting in a couple weeks though. I wonder how many foot prints I can leave on cars throughout the US and Canada….
Comment by Jose | 05.16.2007 | 5:49 am
Mrs Coach, I once had to do an improvised downhill race agains a bunch of tugs with machetes. No kidding. A friend of mine almost crashed in front of me. I don’t want to imagine the possibilities.
Comment by Kathy | 05.16.2007 | 6:02 am
I guess I should qualify my experience. I regularly do 18-35 mile road rides alone, and other rides with groups, but I do try to avoid high-traffic times whenever possible. If you’re a commuter, that’s not possible and it’s a whole different ballgame.
I quit riding with one group of friends because they would regularly blow through stop signs and stop lights. They seemed to think that hitting the brakes to be cautious should be avoided at all costs. Not that any of you do that, but those cyclists who do give us all a bad name. I live in a college town and regularly shake my head at students who are riding in the road traveling the wrong way down a one way street, both sides of the street lined with parked cars.
About the pepper spray, you do need to use it wisely. When I got the dog I held the spray down by my foot, right by his face. With my pepper spray and cell phone I feel safer when riding alone, whether it’s justified or not.
Comment by Lins - Australia | 05.16.2007 | 6:38 am
Haven’t had any confrontations yet and don’t wish one. Where I mostly go to to ride is a country area. It’s very quiet and here I’ll have cyclocross tyres on the 29er and ride a route of a mix of bitumen and dirt. One thing though: the bike is pink (what a give away) and chivalry is not dead so if ever I am stopped (usually to answer phone) and a car approaches it always stops to see if eveything is alright. I get everything from an arm leaning out the window with a “G’day” (Aussies – remember the Newcastle Song? “…lean an arm out the window and say something real suave, like G’day) to “Yerright?” Last week my rear hub seized up so I had the pink bike upside down on the grassy verge and a softly spoken chippy in a ute pulled up to assist. He ended up driving the bike and I 30km into town to my bike shop after quietly saying that he needed to go to Bunnings (big hardware store) at some stage anyway. That was after I phoned my husband to tell him what was happening and gave him the rego plate number. All turned out well as we were actually in need of someone with his skills so he also saved me from having to find a chippy through the Yellow Pages.
Comment by CJ | 05.16.2007 | 6:55 am
Have y’all considered carrying a loaded paintball gun?
(joking)
It’s tough to find safe roadways to bike on. Be careful y’all.
Comment by Tim D | 05.16.2007 | 7:54 am
Kathy, I stopped going out with our local road club for similar reasons.
The only time I’ve had anything thrown at me, in 30-odd years of riding was while on a three week tour of Arizona and Utah. Some kids threw a bottle of coke at us. That one incident was more than off set by the number of people who offered help, beds for the night, to top up our water, run us into town for supplies etc. A couple even bought us beers one night cos they recognised the weird tans on or hands and faces from our gloves and helmet straps, and knew we must be bikers.
Comment by Coelecanth | 05.16.2007 | 8:19 am
I’ve noticed that in all three of the violent encounters I’ve had there was a horrified woman in the passenger seat. I sooth my angst with the hope that these encounters showed those women exactly what type of person they were associating with. Maybe, just maybe, it got them to leave a potentially dangerous relationship. I know. A faint hope that, but it helps keep me sane.
Something to keep in mind: my three encounters have come over almost 20 years of commuting by bike. For every one of these horribly interactions there have been literally thousands of drivers how have passed safely and gone on their merry way with not so much as a single curse out the window. We tend not to remember these folks because, well, why would we? They didn’t get the adrenaline going and so don’t stick in the memory.
The vast majority of drivers are perfectly nice folks who have no interest in causing us any harm.
Comment by Den | 05.16.2007 | 9:08 am
I’ve also started making a point with considerate motorists. They give me a break, wiat for me to clear the intersection, whatever, I give them a friendly wave or say a nice and loud “Thank you” in a sweet apperciative voice. If there’s other cars around I let them see what I’m doing. I figure if they see an example of good behavior and see someone getting thanked for it, they may try it. It won’t change the world, but it could at least open a few hearts and minds…
Botched – did you tell him that you’d be happy to pay him after he payed your medical bills?
Comment by Den | 05.16.2007 | 9:09 am
I’ve also started making a point with considerate motorists. They give me a break, wait for me to clear the intersection, whatever, I give them a friendly wave or say a nice and loud “Thank you” in a sweet apperciative voice. If there’s other cars around I let them see what I’m doing. I figure if they see an example of good behavior and see someone getting thanked for it, they may try it. It won’t change the world, but it could at least open a few hearts and minds…
Botched – did you tell him that you’d be happy to pay him after he payed your medical bills?
Comment by Den | 05.16.2007 | 9:18 am
sorry for the double post…
Comment by sans auto | 05.16.2007 | 10:25 am
Riding through Idaho I ran into the nicest people. It was almost annoying trying to fix a flat as a line of motorists ask if you are OK or if you need help. Later that same day in Idaho I had a bottle thrown at me.
In Utah i have had problems with city buses. I have a database on my computer of close calls and call and complain every time. Yesterday i actually made a contact where I may be able to talk with drivers and share expectations of cyclists.
If you ever want respect from motorists, you have to ride predictably and follow the rules.
… unfortunately when I use my hand signals around here (especially for a right turn) the motorists think I”m friendly and wave back. Apparently Utahns don’t even understand the principles behind signalling.
Comment by Andrea | 05.16.2007 | 11:13 am
How did Texas (TEX) end up getting insulted after the encounter with with the stupid driver in Idaho?
Comment by David | 05.16.2007 | 12:27 pm
Mark.
I am a little surprise at your actions and the reactions of the blog readers from your story and this is why. Your on a bike, he is driving a truck. Now I know that he was in the wrong but he would not suffer any injuries if he decided to run in to you and take you out. Second; in your verbal parlay with this person you and mention that he reached into his jacket at the belt level for something you thought maybe a gun. Where you armed? Because if he was armed and you would have been writing this story from a hospital bed or worse not writing it at all.
I have a few stories of jerks darn near running into me or cutting me off or riding my tire. I have flown the bird many of time at these drivers, but what I have never have done is confronted any of these yahoos while I am riding. That is just a bad idea because you are so venerable to an attack.
So my suggestion is to pull off to the sided and let the Jerk go by, give them the finger, keep the license number and turn, just do not confront anyone who is in a car and have a very clear advantage in doing you harm. Clearly you have a lot of people who likes you and look forward to read your stories, don’t let them down.
Look forward in reading more stories
Comment by obwilton | 05.16.2007 | 12:39 pm
I have had a paintball gun shot at me while riding though! I guess moving targets are hard to resist.
I think the best we can do with poor human driving behavior is move on as long as it’s “No harm, no foul” as they say in basketball. Returned violence only seems to make the circle go round and the kind of person who “goes off” on a cyclist only leaves a wake of anger and violence wherever they go in all phases of their life.
I think the best thing for us now is cell phones (and they seem to come with a camera like it or not). As more emotionally unstable motorists learn that cyclists carry cell phones, they will hopefully just leave us alone.
My neighbor had a good story. He was yelled at and almost sideswiped by the same teenagers that other posters have mentioned. Not too much later in the ride, he sees the car at a liquor store up the road. Hey this is Wisconsin and there are liquor stores almost in the middle of nowhere (and they sell water too and have saved my a$$ more than once on a hot day). He called the police on his cell, and surprise, some of them were under age. As Tom Waits says “…they had to stand naked at the bottom of the Cross and tell the good Lord what they did.”
Comment by mark | 05.16.2007 | 12:52 pm
Dug- thank you. I have never been so flattered. More importantly, I will reread this to my wife next time she gives me that look that she does when I have overreacted or lost patience prematurely.
To all those who suggested keying, kicking, and otherwise damaging the truck- if you saw the truck, you would realize the futility of such an exercise.
Coelecanth- I think what kept me grounded was that I DIDN’T want to have to call my wife and have her horrified at what I had done. Not to mention I had a bunch of family in town for some pretty important stuff later that day, so it could have been a real mess had I allowed things to escalate further.
Andrea- no offense was intended. Hope none was taken. I know from reading “It’s Not About the Bike” that Texas has its share of rednecks as well, but likely not a disproportionate number. Tex came to mind because of the border collies in the back of the truck and other telltale signs that the guy was a ranch hand (we still have those around here).
David- Appreciate your admonition towards caution. You are right that I could have fared far worse than I did. My hope in all of this truly was to help this guy see the light and try and make the roads a bit safer for all of us. Maybe not the right approach, but oh well.
Finally, much credit goes to Curtis for keeping a cooler head than I did throughout. Had I been with anyone more hot-headed (which in reality is nearly everyone I know except my wife), well the lycra-man beating may have been a reality. :)
Comment by greg | 05.16.2007 | 4:24 pm
I’m a mountain biker at heart, but have many friends that are roadies. I’m having a hard time understanding why a person would want the abuse that accompanies road riding. My buddies have tried to convert me to road riding, but when I read stories as this, I lose my motivation towards the sport. It’s strange to me to realize as to how a group of people can withstand the abuse that comes with riding on the road. Some almost wear it as a badge of honor. Almost every roadie I’ve talked to has a similar story, and they light up with a content, zealousness when they tell their story.
I have traveled many miles on the road, and have not been heckled once. It might be my lacking of proper spandex. It might be that I know I’m a pedestrian and know that I need to follow the rules set forth for pedestrians. It is true that there will always be that redneck out there. I believe the only way to cure this is to get them out on a bike or in a pair of running shoes, to know what it’s like in a road situation. This is improbable.
Every time I almost commit to getting into this end of the sport, I read a story like this and for the love of life and family, opt out. Please ride in safe places. I cringe when I see that guy in the middle of state street, or on the white line in a canyon setting.
Continue the push for better bike access on our roads, and when it appears safer, myself and scores of others will join in, til then I’ll see you from above, in the dirt.
Comment by Andy Carpenter | 05.16.2007 | 4:58 pm
In response to TimK’s link to CafePress and the offense jerk that is selling t-shirts, mugs and stickers (“Stay The F*#@ Off the Road A*&hole”) here is what I did. I have a shop (for personal use) on CafePress and read over their guidelines on acceptable use of language in their stores. I wrote them a letter which follows…
In reading over your guidelines on: Questionable Material & Prohibited Content Guidelines, it recently came to my attention that there is a shop owner that is selling merchandise with offensive language that advocates physical harm to the cycling community. [link: http://www.cafepress.com/bullshit4u. I believe this store violates your policy and it really angers me that such a store can exist on CafePress. I thought you should be aware. I believe in free-speech as much as the next American citizen but this type of activity has no place in the marketplace. It is akin to radio personalities in the past few years at Clear Channel Radio stations advocating violence against cyclists. They paid the price as a result and I would appreciate a response in what is being done about this matter.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Hopefully they will pull this idiot’s store and put them out of business. Having been the victim of obnoxious drivers and dangerous riding situations and confrontations too many times over the years this is exactly what cycling doesn’t need.
Comment by AndyC | 05.16.2007 | 4:59 pm
In response to TimK’s link to CafePress and the offense jerk that is selling t-shirts, mugs and stickers (“Stay The F*#@ Off the Road A*&hole”) here is what I did. I have a shop (for personal use) on CafePress and read over their guidelines on acceptable use of language in their stores. I wrote them a letter which follows…
In reading over your guidelines on: Questionable Material & Prohibited Content Guidelines, it recently came to my attention that there is a shop owner that is selling merchandise with offensive language that advocates physical harm to the cycling community. [link: http://www.cafepress.com/bullshit4u. I believe this store violates your policy and it really angers me that such a store can exist on CafePress. I thought you should be aware. I believe in free-speech as much as the next American citizen but this type of activity has no place in the marketplace. It is akin to radio personalities in the past few years at Clear Channel Radio stations advocating violence against cyclists. They paid the price as a result and I would appreciate a response in what is being done about this matter.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Hopefully they will pull this idiot’s store and put them out of business. Having been the victim of obnoxious drivers and dangerous riding situations and confrontations too many times over the years this is exactly what cycling doesn’t need.
Comment by TimK | 05.17.2007 | 7:24 am
@Andy C, Thanks for the letter to Cafe Press. Keep us posted on the response you get from them.
Unfortunately, the guy who made these probably won’t change his mindset. Like I said, I kind of like the idea of him wearing his hate where I can see it and know it. But yeah, he really shouldn’t be able to sell this crap at CP.
Comment by Erin | 05.17.2007 | 1:39 pm
“High School / College kids are annoying, but they’re just trying to show their buddies how ‘cool’ they are by yelling at someone on a bicycle.”
the funniest thing about these kids is that they don’t understand that if you yell at a cyclist riding 20 mph from a car travelling 55 mph, the cyclist CANNOT HEAR YOU.
but don’t worry. you’re, like, wicked cool anyway.
Comment by MAJ Mike | 05.17.2007 | 2:53 pm
Bad people continue to do bad things when good people don’t take a stand to stop it. Sometimes peace and love just isn’t the answer, which is why I have a job. I am not saying we should be picking fights, but we can’t be the shrinking violets that get pushed around by the bullies either. Lots of these people do this stuff because they think it won’t catch up with them. If it does, it might just save the life of the next cyclist down the road.
Comment by Josh from Provo | 05.18.2007 | 6:58 am
I don’t know what it is about me biking that elicit so much anger from drivers. The shoulders are ample in the Provo/Orem area and I always make sure to stay within them as to avoid impeding traffic. It is amazing though the things that have happened to me over the last few bike-riding seasons. Just last year some driver decided it would be funny to through a croquet ball at me while driving between 40-50 mph. It didn’t hit as intended, but had it; undoubtedly I would have taken a major spill as those balls are extremely dense and flying at 40-50 while I’m going 20… Aside from flying balls, the high-schoolers around town love honking and screaming interesting phrases and curse words for no apparent reason. People are stupid sometimes, I just don’t understand it.
Comment by Jay | 05.18.2007 | 3:38 pm
A freind of mine (an off duty parole officer at the time) was riding the bike path near Marina del rey in Los Angeles. He was accosted by a young man who demanded his money. He asked the young man if he had a gun. the answer was no at which he added that one should always bring one to a gun fight. At that point he pulled out his gun and arrested the young man. In Los Angeles you basically don’t mess with people anywhere at anytime unless you’re prepared to die. I yell and gesture but if anybody looks like they are coming after me i run like hell and call 911.
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