Rex G

Sunday, late afternoon, my wife and I were westbound on Westheimer outside the West Loop when I saw a blonde woman on a bike, ahead of us, get into a verbal confrontation with three "vatos" in a small red car. (I think they passed her too closely.) Well, Westheimer traffic being what is is, she caught up with them again, shot the bird, and fired a nicely huge wad of phlegm onto the red car.

OK, they probably deserved the words and phlegm, but the scary part is that the red car then went some distance past the cyclist, then pulled into the Palm Restaurant parking lot, and parked facing the street, where the vatos seemed to be waiting, out of sight of approaching westbound traffic. I know, because I pulled into the next driveway, and waited a discreet "tactical" distance behind them. (I have a badge.) My wife memorized their plate, and dialed 911, but did not send the call.

Well, the cyclist did not pass by; I think she had the wisdom to get onto a parallel street. The vatos eventually pulled back onto Westheimer, went back to the east, and seemed to keep going. We resumed our trip west toward REI, and passed the cyclist again.

Just another Sunday afternoon in the big city! Just to be clear, no, I did nothing heroic; I am glad nothing bad happened.

CSOM

Yikes... but that's just one reason I wouldn't bike down Westheimer. You know, besides the whole "10 lane urban freeway with stop lights" kinda thing.


Just out of curiosity, would you have blown the tires?

Rex G

No, they were parked, as if planning an on-foot ambush; I was not going to do anything unless they got out of the car to try something stupid. I am VERY glad it did not come to that! Moreover, shooting at cars is mostly just Hollywood. Cars will still scoot along just fine on flats, anyway, until the wheels wear down and the frame starts dragging.