Todzilla

I have.

Back in the 80s, I was bike commuting about 20 miles a day. One stretch of my ride was up a hill on a two-lane road. I looked up and saw the dreaded car-in-each-lane-coming-toward-me (is there a term for that?). So I bailed out on the side of the road and digitally indicated my displeasure to the driver (bad move, I know now). I got back on my bike and proceeded up the hill.

Driver does a 180, passes me, then abruptly stops right in front of me. "You know I didn't appreciate your hand gesture!" He says, embodying every motorist who'd ever cut me off, drove me off the road or otherwise showed disregard for my cycling safety. Anyway, we exchanged some words, the nadir of which had me utter an invective that impugned both his intelligence and sexual proclivities all in a choice two word sound bite. (Please, I was young and impulsive). I hopped on my bike and went around him.

He jumped in his truck (yes, a truck) and came after me. He pulled up even with me, then veered hard to the right to knock me into a tree. I pre-emptively swerved right onto the shoulder, he drove off the road onto the shoulder after me and I wiped out in a cloud of dust, but no metal truck trim up my ass. He sped off, honking all the way.

I didn't get his number, but he did this in a company truck. Enraged, I called the company who foolishly informed me as to which driver it had to have been. I went to the Magistrate and filed charges against him for Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill. Seemed a bit harsh, but the Magistrate convinced me that is what it was.

He lost his job and showed up in court with his pregnant 18 year recent bride (he was 19). I choose to opt for a first offender program in which he would complete a year of weekend community service and I would drop charges.

I learned to never try to out-road-rage a motorist. It has carried over to my 4 wheel driving philosophy too.

San Rensho 

Good for you. I've never been able to get cops to press charges. I was intentionally run down by a car that I had gotten into an altercation with, cops wouldn't press charges because the driver said I ran into him. Second time, again some words,, this time the guy gets out of his car and comes at me with steering wheel lovking device. Luckily, a cop car is cruising by, I flag them down, they see the guy and the club, but since they actually didn't see him brandish it at me, they wouldn't charge him, but the cop demonstrated his retracting baton for me and suggested I go to a cop supply store and buy one.

Mr. Underbridge

We're luckier around here - we actually have a couple of cops who patrol the local MUP so they know what it's like. I actually passed them on my commute this morning. At a crosswalk on a 4-lane road, a car in the near lane stopped to let us through, and a car behind him passed and was about to blast past until stopping at the last minute - I expect about the time he realized he was about to hit some cops.

Since they see this crap and get to experience how dangerous it is, I'm sure they let the other cops know how it is, and the result is a much more cyclist-friendly police force.

CB HI

I have gotten 2 motorist prosecuted. One for trying to force me off the road twice and one for hit and run. Both motorist claimed everything was my fault, because I was not in a bike lane, but then again, there were no bike lanes at the locations of either incident. Both got fines and 6 months on probation.

littlewaywelt

have the cops write a report and then go to your state's attorney / district attorney office
if the cops refuse to help, go to the sa/da's office.

Wino Ryder

Very interesting thread. I too am a veteran of the cycling/commuting wars. Although I've had many negative encounters over the years with beligerent motorists, it has never escalated into actual fisticuffs, or brandishing of weapons. I have came much closer to that with dogs, than with humans.

Everyone chime in with any and all experiences on this matter. Like I said, very interesting thread.

Az B

Lately, the idiots have all been driving company vehicles with names and phone numbers prominently and conviently provided on the sides and backs of the vehicles. Makes it easy to report them. I guess they want to get fired.

Az

Wooscary

I got deliberately knocked off yesterday, after having words with a guy after he pulled out of a side road. I couldn't get any sense out of him so rode off, noticed him over my shoulder following me, next thing I know sideswiped. On my way down I managed to grab his wingmirror and rip it off (whoops). Got his details, went to police etc. But it would appear he was using fake plates.

Damage - front wheel dead, lump of flesh removed from end of finger and a bruised knee. Lucky I'm used to falling off bikes eh?

nelson249

Glad you're ok.... glad you also managed to "remove" his mirror for him.

CB HI

Even more reason for the cops to track him down and put him in jail.

Wino Ryder

[QUOTE]
Just sorry you could'nt grab his head and rip it off. But you did well, nevertheless.

Glad you're O.K. though!

FlyingAnchor

Just so many things to say about that(as steam comes from my ears) Good that you are well. Did you save the mirror?
Steven
And welcome wooscary

thepathunder

On my commute leaving the bike shop yesterday evening a pick up truck slammed in to me directly from behind.
A cop, in a unmarked car, witnessed the whole thing.....seeing him get out of the car as I'm screaming at the redneck......thought I was in the movies.

3-5 business days for the police report.....mmmm can't come soon enough.



J

Wooscary

Cheers for all your sympthetic words. The mirror ended up in quite a few pieces and a replacement will probably cost him more than my new front wheel! Ahh well Not heard anything from the police so I'm assuming dead end.

TBH pretty much every time I am out riding there will be some kind of altercation between me and atleast one motorist. There are a lot of idiots out there. I drive a car, but I'd like to think to a higher degree than the drivers mentioned in this thread.

I hope everyone who has recounted accidents here is ok and that they don't let it put them off.

Wooscary

Cheers for all your sympthetic words. The mirror ended up in quite a few pieces and a replacement will probably cost him more than my new front wheel! Ahh well Not heard anything from the police so I'm assuming dead end.

TBH pretty much every time I am out riding there will be some kind of altercation between me and atleast one motorist. There are a lot of idiots out there. I drive a car, but I'd like to think to a higher degree than the drivers mentioned in this thread.

I hope everyone who has recounted accidents here is ok and that they don't let it put them off.

PunkMartyr

Is this a regular thing or something, motorists messing with you because you are on a bike and they feel tough? I don't get how people can be so stupid. It sounds like in these stories they tried to deliberately hit you guys.

AEO

it's not like motorists regularly harrass bikers, you just hear it more because this is a bike forum :-)

haven't been hit by a car myself, but I did write up a complaint about a reckless driver I encountered this morning. I'll see how it goes through.
WTH is with the disproportional amount of people in big cars like pick ups and SUVs that have worse drivers?

I know the guy in a $35k sports car doesn't want to hit me. Although the guy in a $35k pickup could care less what he hit.

littlewaywelt

...that and a forum fillled with stories of uneventful commutes and courteous motorists would put everyone to sleep.

mandovoodoo

1972, cut in front of, went over the car, left the scene. Wheel & frame dead, lost a little skin. Now I'd press charges.
1973, run over by VW van, no jail, he got a ticket, I got a new bike. Police were helpful.
1977, sideswiped by a truck, accidently, didn't realize I "was moving" - no damage except I took out his window with my elbow. Decided not to press charges - little old man w/o malice.
1977? Girlfriend attacked by guy in passenger seat of truck. Charges, jail, etc. Real trial, but she pressed the charges.

Since then, little call for it. I hardly ever get hassled.

dhaval.bhavsar

What I can't comprehend is how can a motorist hit a biclycist, and just walk away. I mean, you come this close to death, and then they are just left off the hook. It just doesn't work.

discosaurus

My only collision was a couple years ago with a 16 year old kid in his Mustang and his girlfriend in the passenger seat. I was riding with my dad, who naturally freaked out when someone threatened his daughter. He's a laid back guy, but absolutely frightening when angered. Dad's reaction was enough--the kid probably thought he was about to get dragged out of his car, beaten, and then throttled and left to die on the street. He didn't, of course. Dad just yelled. I didn't have to press charges because I filed a claim against his insurance. I got a new bike and gear and paid time off work.

That kid probably never saw his girl again, either. She immediately called her parents who picked her up on the parking lot where we were waiting with two police cars and an ambulance. She was terrified.

cLin

Damn 1970s.

Mofopotomus

hahaha

I've not been hit by somebody but I get quite a few people that like to merge into me. The cool thing is that I'm pretty vigilant and see them coming so I just end up between them and the cars on the side. No injuries, but what pisses me off is that they've just directly threatened my life and they don't even know it.