Aggressive Drivers
10-03-14, 09:37 AM
#26
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A while back this guy passed over the double yellow line, so he could tailgate a bus.
Yesterday he rolled through a red stop light, so he could tailgate a bus.
This morning he passed in the bike lane, so he could tailgate a bus.
-mr. bill
Yesterday he rolled through a red stop light, so he could tailgate a bus.
This morning he passed in the bike lane, so he could tailgate a bus.
-mr. bill
10-03-14, 09:59 AM
#27
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It's not rush hour. It's 6:30 am. He simply drives 45+ mph on a 30-35 mph road. Unless he's tailgating someone who isn't going 45+ mph.
-mr. bill
-mr. bill
10-03-14, 10:00 AM
#28
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I commute every day and log a lot of miles. Mostly, I am impressed by the generosity and care of Seattle drivers. However, I've also had some really frightening experiences caused by raging nutcases - sometimes threatening my life. (and oddly they all seem to be near the same intersection - 8th and Market).
A while back, a driver was using the bike lane to pass other cars at the red light. That is, until I was in his way and refused to give up the bike lane for his car. He cursed at me and shouted a threat to run me off the road. And now today, I had a similar encounter with a guy who actually almost did cause me to crash. I had the presence of mind to take his license number and inform him I wasn't going to fight him, I was going to call the police. He sped off. I didn't call the police.
My question - Should I report these guys? On one hand, it happens roughly 3 times a year as much as I ride, and I don't want to be the annoying, frequent-caller to the non-emergency police line. On the other hand, someone should tell these nuts that they should calm down a little. (or a lot).
A while back, a driver was using the bike lane to pass other cars at the red light. That is, until I was in his way and refused to give up the bike lane for his car. He cursed at me and shouted a threat to run me off the road. And now today, I had a similar encounter with a guy who actually almost did cause me to crash. I had the presence of mind to take his license number and inform him I wasn't going to fight him, I was going to call the police. He sped off. I didn't call the police.
My question - Should I report these guys? On one hand, it happens roughly 3 times a year as much as I ride, and I don't want to be the annoying, frequent-caller to the non-emergency police line. On the other hand, someone should tell these nuts that they should calm down a little. (or a lot).
10-03-14, 09:17 PM
#29
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Whenever I call in, the police just put out the driver info (car, plate #, direction headed) on the police radio. They always offer to do a report and have me come in, but I haven't taken it that far yet. Mixed bag of officers - some don't seem to care but I have had some that are genuinely concerned. Some say they aren't breaking the law, while some say they are (one even told me that honking is a form of harassment that can be charged)...
10-03-14, 09:32 PM
#30
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Cincinnati has recently added a "Bicycling Incidents" online form to their Citizen Service Request website: Cincinnati Customer Service Response
T.I.A.
10-04-14, 07:52 PM
#31
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I've never biked in Columbus, so I couldn't make a fair comparison. Cincinnati is the only city in which I've ridden extensively, anyway. It has its ups and downs (quite literally, in many places), but it's pretty good overall. It has a great cycling advocacy group in Queen City Bike, it recently earned a Bronze-level Bike Friendly City designation, and there are lots of improvements being made in terms of bike infrastructure. There are several good mountain biking spots nearby, some diverse areas for road-riding, a burgeoning cyclocross scene, and an increasing number of folks bike commuting as well.
10-05-14, 03:11 PM
#32
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I’d go with the advice that has been given to you about reporting them. It may do no good, but at the very least it’ll start or possibly add to a prexisiting paper trail. And at the very least it puts the police on notice that the particular indivdual is engaging in antisocial behavior.
10-06-14, 12:06 PM
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10-06-14, 12:16 PM
#34
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The thrown cans and bottles can be real deadly missiles, yet apparently no one considers that as they hurl such at you from a moving vehicle. I have only been hit by cups, but I have had cans of beer "explode" and spew beer all over me as they hit the curb... perhaps it was all a misunderstanding and I was meant to catch the beer to join the revelers in their glee... yeah, that's the ticket....
No, this is not something limited to "lane controllers" at all.
10-06-14, 12:24 PM
#35
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I am a fan of the GoPro (or other digital cameras), this gives you everything you need to report to local PD. I have posted this video in other threads, I sent this video to local PD (Eden Prairie, MN) and received positive feedback on the video quality and that they contacted the driver about 3 FT rule and bikes right to be on roads. No ticket was issued, but that wasn't my expectation.
For commercial drivers, I have used "contact us" forms or Twitter, like this one:
Lastly, I had a car buzz me into an intersection, I shouted "HEY!" and waved an arm (give me more room gesture). The car lights up and turns on a siren (un-marked police car). I knew the GoPro was flaking out on me (bad SD card), it was being unreliable at the time... But when I got along side the car, I got my head low enough he could see the helmet mounted GoPro; that calmed him down a lot (but no video).
For commercial drivers, I have used "contact us" forms or Twitter, like this one:
Lastly, I had a car buzz me into an intersection, I shouted "HEY!" and waved an arm (give me more room gesture). The car lights up and turns on a siren (un-marked police car). I knew the GoPro was flaking out on me (bad SD card), it was being unreliable at the time... But when I got along side the car, I got my head low enough he could see the helmet mounted GoPro; that calmed him down a lot (but no video).
10-06-14, 12:34 PM
#36
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^^^ The unmarked car is the one that buzzed you, and put on lights and siren in response to your shouts?
*edit* also on that first video, the car would have almost certainly changed lanes to pass if you had been farther left in the lane. He passed you closely because he thought he could fit through without encroaching into the 2nd lane (i.e. he wouldn't have to *gasp* slow down a bit before waiting to pass!).
*edit* also on that first video, the car would have almost certainly changed lanes to pass if you had been farther left in the lane. He passed you closely because he thought he could fit through without encroaching into the 2nd lane (i.e. he wouldn't have to *gasp* slow down a bit before waiting to pass!).
Last edited by PatrickGSR94; 10-06-14 at 12:39 PM.
10-06-14, 12:39 PM
#37
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Driving erratically in the bike lane and slurring their words as they shout at me? Sounds like a drunk driver to me...
10-06-14, 12:53 PM
#38
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^^^ The unmarked car is the one that buzzed you, and put on lights and siren in response to your shouts?
*edit* also on that first video, the car would have almost certainly changed lanes to pass if you had been farther left in the lane. He passed you closely because he thought he could fit through without encroaching into the 2nd lane (i.e. he wouldn't have to *gasp* slow down a bit before waiting to pass!).
*edit* also on that first video, the car would have almost certainly changed lanes to pass if you had been farther left in the lane. He passed you closely because he thought he could fit through without encroaching into the 2nd lane (i.e. he wouldn't have to *gasp* slow down a bit before waiting to pass!).
BTW in the first video, there was no other car, there was no obstruction to moving to the left lane, just a lack with willingness.
Edit - the unmarked car ... yes, buzzed and then lights/sirens. My guess, he doesn't like bikes on the road and he wanted to intimidate me. However, I played the trump card, GoPro! I laugh all the time about the fact that it wasn't running at the time but still had the desired affect.
Last edited by Hypno Toad; 10-06-14 at 01:39 PM.
10-06-14, 03:44 PM
#39
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I have a stretch of road during my commute home similar to your first video. In my experience when I'm 2-3 feet off the gutter pan, I get passed just the same way as in your video. Typically I hold a line between lane center and the left tire track, and EVERYONE changes lanes to pass. Even the irate dude in a pickup yelling at me to GET THE F OFFA THE ROAD still changed lanes and passed safely.
10-06-14, 04:02 PM
#40
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I have been consistently telling my wife how I feel safer and am treated better when I travel on 4 lane main roads compared to two lane roads.
I feel when I am left of the right tire track drivers pass me more safely than if I am in or right of the right tire track. She still does not believe and argues that it takes one angry person fed up with cyclists to just ram me. I then try to reassure her the odds of that occurring are minimal and that I will not put myself in more imminent danger by being in an unsafe right position.
I feel when I am left of the right tire track drivers pass me more safely than if I am in or right of the right tire track. She still does not believe and argues that it takes one angry person fed up with cyclists to just ram me. I then try to reassure her the odds of that occurring are minimal and that I will not put myself in more imminent danger by being in an unsafe right position.
10-06-14, 04:15 PM
#41
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I have been consistently telling my wife how I feel safer and am treated better when I travel on 4 lane main roads compared to two lane roads.
I feel when I am left of the right tire track drivers pass me more safely than if I am in or right of the right tire track. She still does not believe and argues that it takes one angry person fed up with cyclists to just ram me. I then try to reassure her the odds of that occurring are minimal and that I will not put myself in more imminent danger by being in an unsafe right position.
I feel when I am left of the right tire track drivers pass me more safely than if I am in or right of the right tire track. She still does not believe and argues that it takes one angry person fed up with cyclists to just ram me. I then try to reassure her the odds of that occurring are minimal and that I will not put myself in more imminent danger by being in an unsafe right position.
Gutter-hugging means you get squeezed.
10-06-14, 05:24 PM
#42
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Edit - the unmarked car ... yes, buzzed and then lights/sirens. My guess, he doesn't like bikes on the road and he wanted to intimidate me. However, I played the trump card, GoPro! I laugh all the time about the fact that it wasn't running at the time but still had the desired affect.
10-06-14, 05:41 PM
#43
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10-06-14, 05:51 PM
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If you ever catch a cop doing something wrong, you want to make sure that video gets uploaded ASAP, for the simple reason that the camera can be taken by force and deleted. Better to quietly do the upload and not make a big deal of showing off the camera.
Last edited by El Cid; 10-06-14 at 05:55 PM.
10-07-14, 01:06 AM
#45
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I have been consistently telling my wife how I feel safer and am treated better when I travel on 4 lane main roads compared to two lane roads.
I feel when I am left of the right tire track drivers pass me more safely than if I am in or right of the right tire track. She still does not believe and argues that it takes one angry person fed up with cyclists to just ram me. I then try to reassure her the odds of that occurring are minimal and that I will not put myself in more imminent danger by being in an unsafe right position.
I feel when I am left of the right tire track drivers pass me more safely than if I am in or right of the right tire track. She still does not believe and argues that it takes one angry person fed up with cyclists to just ram me. I then try to reassure her the odds of that occurring are minimal and that I will not put myself in more imminent danger by being in an unsafe right position.
My problem is the people who always pull out of side streets in front of me...
10-07-14, 07:07 AM
#46
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I see your point. In general, I don't worry about the police being that heavy handed around here (it can happen, just not likely). I'm sure there are sport cameras that allow quick uploads via cell phone - however, I'm running an old Hero 2 and it requires removing the SD card or plugging it into the PC to upload.
10-07-14, 07:30 AM
#47
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Possible solution would be two cameras, or a camera and an audio recorder. One visible and obvious, one not so obvious. Taking care with respect to wiretap laws, which are draconian in some places.
10-07-14, 07:33 AM
#48
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.....A while back, a driver was using the bike lane to pass other cars at the red light. That is, until I was in his way and refused to give up the bike lane for his car. He cursed at me and shouted a threat to run me off the road. And now today, I had a similar encounter with a guy who actually almost did cause me to crash. I had the presence of mind to take his license number and inform him I wasn't going to fight him, I was going to call the police. He sped off. I didn't call the police.
My question - Should I report these guys? On one hand, it happens roughly 3 times a year as much as I ride, and I don't want to be the annoying, frequent-caller to the non-emergency police line. On the other hand, someone should tell these nuts that they should calm down a little. (or a lot).
10-07-14, 09:26 AM
#49
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I see this as another reason to not ride too close to the edge.
Stanley Park pedestrian, 71, dies after being hit by cyclist - British Columbia - CBC News
It is an awful situation that makes it easier for the general population villainize cyclists.
Stanley Park pedestrian, 71, dies after being hit by cyclist - British Columbia - CBC News
It is an awful situation that makes it easier for the general population villainize cyclists.
10-07-14, 09:35 AM
#50
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The farther left in the lane you are, the more likely the people pulling out from side streets are likely to see you. Trust me, it works.