Cyclaholic

It was 7.05pm, still broad daylight here at this time of year. There were about 8 of us on the way to a barbecue, some riding single file and some 2 abreast through quiet suburban streets. We came up to a cross intersection where we had a stop sign, we were turning right. The road that we were turning into has a little more traffic so riders were turning as traffic permitted then pulling over to wait for the rest of the group.

I was last in line to turn right and as the guy in front of me turned we hear lots of agressive honking from the pickup truck behind me as it rolled to a stop. I was well to the right with lots of room on my left but untill the cross traffic cleared I had nowhere to go, he kept honking so I looked back all the while indicating that I was turning right. About 5 seconds later he revved up the engine and rammed me from behind pushing me about 2 feet forward, I managed to steady myself, he backed up a bit and floored it around my left spinning the wheels. FDortunately I was towing my cargo trailer which is built like a tank. He and his passenger were laughing as they pulled up beside me, then he swerved into me as he lit up the wheels again, hitting me side on. The impact threw me sideways but I landed on my right leg and stayed up. The left brake was a bit rotated on the bar from the impact but I straightened it OK. There isn't any other damage.

The cops took a statement from myself and 3 of our group that witnessed it, the sweetener however is that one of the guys had his helmet camera rolling and caught everything except the sideswipe. The cops viewed the recording and have asked for a copy.

Moral of the story? I was riding as vehichular as I possibly could, correct positioning on the road, hand signal to clearly indicate intentions, etc. But none of it is any guarantee that this sort of ***** won't happen. This time I was just lucky that this psycho didn't decide to go straight over the top of me, or push me into the cross traffic. Becarefull out there.

randya

Glad you're OK. I guess the guy in the Ute hasn't read John Forester yet.

kartoffel

Glad you're ok.

Press charges: assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, battery, grievous bodily harm, reckless driving, etc.

nelson249

Glad you are ok. Make sure the cops give him the full treatment..

-=(8)=-

Wow...
I hate people !
Glad your not worse off, Cycloholic

fat_bike_nut

Let's hope that psychopath gets punished to the max

I hope you're doin' ok.

Cyclaholic

I'll be staying in regular contact with the cops to do something about this lunatic. I hope they don't treat it as a traffic incident because it wasn't, it was an assault with a deadly weapon.

Under our legal system we (the people) don't press charges, it's the police through the crown prosecutor that charges the offender, my role is that os a witness for the prosecution as well as the victim. I can take civil action for compensation once the cops are done with him. Any ruling against him will favor me in a civil action in terms of allocating blame.

ghettocruiser

I was thinking "Ride with a helmet-cam".

deputyjones

+1, Very glad to hear you were not hurt Cyclaholic. Sounds like the kind of person that is already doing life in jail on the installment plan anyway.

Cyclaholic

Absolutely. I've been meaning to get one but just haven't got around to it, it's now at the top of my shopping list. The thing is that I ride solo 99.9% of the time and if it wasn't for the witnesses I'd have nothing and it would be extremely unlikely that the police would (or could) do anything.

SingingSabre 

I'm glad you're okay, brother!

I want you to keep us updated on how well you assist the po-po in sticking it to this maroon.

Cyclaholic

Interesting you should say that, during my time at the station the officer let it slip in conversation that this guy has a long and distinguished history of criminal behaviour. I asked the officer (rhetorically) when he thought being of good character may become a prerequisite of being allowed to enter into the social contract that is a driver's license. He agreed with the sentiment and spoke of the frustration they also feel with the status quo.

deputyjones

Yeah, not a surprise to me that he would be a regular criminal. There is an alarming level of violence shown here, and violent people tend to be violent frequently. The random nice guy freaking out and doing some violent and out of character is extremely rare.

I agree on the good character issue, and also believe that violent people should have that fact tattooed on their foreheads

sgtsmile

People guilty of Libel used to have SL branded on their cheeks.... sedicious libel....


@the op: very very glad you are ok. That must have shaken you up considerablely.

Cyclaholic

Thank you, and everyone else, for your kind sentiments of support.

I find it kind of strange but it didn't really shake me up at all, just a little frustrated I couldn't get my hands on him at the scene.

Blue Jays

Cyclaholic, what an incredible story! I'm thankful your friend caught this insanity on his camera and that you're not injured. I would venture to say this maniac was emboldened by this attack and will likely be even more aggressive with the next innocent rider. Footage of your experience will hopefully remove him from the road within a few hours before he kills someone.

You also might want to have a trusted bicycle shop check the alignment of your bicycle frame. The impact of the vehicle against your cargo trailer may have slightly twisted the metal, to which you're certainly entitled damages. Another component of the case should be that he cannot come within 50 yards of your location whether by vehicle or as a pedestrian.

gcl8a

If you decide to put the video on the web, let us know.

If you don't want to put it up, I understand.

Cyclaholic

This is what we were all concerned about also, i can only hope they get him off the road ASAP.


I carefully checked my bike today and all appears OK, however I may be able to convince the LBS that I need a new frame . I would love to run into this guy as a pedestrian, oh hellyeah, I have a U-lock with his name on it just in case fate gives me a chance at some real justice.

Helmet Head

That's the moral of the story?

What's next? Learning that locking your doors is not any guarantee that no one will break in?

Guess what? If you keep your tires properly inflated it's no guarantee that you'll never get a flat!

I don't understand why some of you feel so compelled to point out the blatantly obvious.

Anyway, I'm sorry you had to have such an unpleasant encounter with a psycho. Glad you're okay.

Bekologist

helmet head, your criticism of riders riding Vc and still being the brunt of agressive drivers makes you seem a bit, well, angry.

it's obviously not obvious to some of us, hh - you sometimes claim to never encounter aggressive drivers....or that they don't bother you, some such fantastic boast.

Chill out, brother helmie, there ARE agressive drivers out there. despite your erronous convictions, VC buttwaggles are NOT the cyclists' panacea.

Cyclaholic, glad to hear you're okay - keep on keeping on!

Blue Jays

Hi All-

I took this educational story as an excellent first-person narrative of what happens on the roadways and the potential utility of a helmet-mounted camera on at least one rider in a group.

~ Blue Jays ~

Cyclaholic

You and I ride in very different places, or so it seems. I don't think we have any common ground whatsoever.

Cyclaholic

Thanks for the offer. At this stage I want to hold off untill the case has run its course, then we'll see what happens. I'm sure you understand.

Miguelangel

WOW Scary story...glad to hear you are ok... These stories are the ones that make me wish I had some friends like in "the sopranos" (good ole boys italian/american family "in the business") so next time we organize a barbecue it would be in that guys truck and face!!!!

oboeguy

Wow, crazy story. This reminds me that when I start to commute regularly again -- bum knee right now -- maybe I should get a helmet cam. Do they have microphones? I'd love to have had a recording the other day of when I did a trial commute on my bad knee and was buzzed / honked at by four distinct drivers in less than a mile.