Advocacy & Safety - Aggressive driver caught on tape

So this morning I'm tooling along on my way to work, and got buzzed by an SUV. Road conditions were clear except for the gutter, which was icy and rutted, so obviously I was where the passenger side tire tracks. The opposing lane was clear, with plenty of sight ahead (although was double line) So this guy was just being an azz.

I didn't flip him off, I didn't scream, I just raised a left hand with a shoulder shrug saying basically, thanks alot for nearly hitting me.

Well, this guy was itchin for a fight... he slams on the brakes about 50 yds ahead, so I just pass him on the right - of course he has his window down and is cursing me out for "being in the middle of the road", and "what's my f'n problem"

I'm yelling back "Why didn't you use the other f'n lane?!"

So then he gets behind me and decides to "scare" me, revving up close to me, then hitting the brakes a couple times (maybe 20 seconds worth). Mind you, this is a relatively busy main artery through town, and there are cars coming the other way, (I imagine behind as well, but I was too busy keeping an eye on dyckhead).

He then decides that the best course of action would be to get a few 100 yards a head, park his car in a senior center parking lot and, I guess, lie in wait, to "take me on".

Problem for "Genius" was, the parking lot is on the other side of the road - and traffic was coming, plus this guy was 6' even and all of 290 - so he wasn't moving fast.

About 1/2 mile ahead I hit town, and stopped at a phone to call 911 - I had memorized the plate PLUS, I have the whole thing in AVI format (at least what occurred in front of me - unfortunately not him threatening to hit me from behind)

Maybe I should get a second one of these and point it to the rear!

http://www.mobilewhack.com/images/oregon_scientific_atc_1000_hands_free_action_sport_videocam.jpg


Ohhh.... and the cops took my statement, and later came back (where i was working) and had me identify the guy from a picture they printed up from the DMV.

Good job. Never ceases to amaze me how much "courage" some people get from alcohol, or motor vehicles.

I did see a bumper sticker on route 128 one day that read "driver is armed with a video camera".

Wow, that's crazy! I'm sorry you had to deal with that kind of moronic behavior :mad: Does it happen often where you are? Is that why you have the cam?

Wow, that's crazy! I'm sorry you had to deal with that kind of moronic behavior :mad: Does it happen often where you are? Is that why you have the cam?

No, on both accounts.
It doesn't happen very often, although buzzing happens all the time.
And I bought the camera because I'm addicted to gadgets. :D

That guy is going to have several helpings of humble pie. Video + audio footage ought to give the police plenty of leverage, not just a case of your word versus his word this time. Keep us updated!

That guy is going to have several helpings of humble pie. Video + audio footage ought to give the police plenty of leverage, not just a case of your word versus his word this time. Keep us updated!

Well the audio isn't much, that's for sure. Too much wind.
The video is only what happened in front of me, not behind.

I'm not sure I'm going to press charges, I just wanted the cops to scare the crap out of him, and to explain that I had a right to the road, he must pass me safely, and that I was NICE enough to not press charges, even though I had evidence.

I'm quite conspicuous when I ride and it's likely this guy will see me again (he lives right in that town), so rather than have him hunting me, I'd rather have him thanking me.

post the video?

That guy is going to have several helpings of humble pie. Video + audio footage ought to give the police plenty of leverage, not just a case of your word versus his word this time. Keep us updated!


I doubt the police will do anything. I was armed with all sorts of information on a complete bozo, and they told me that as long as he didn't hit me, there was nothing they could do.

Sounds like you're being more than fair. It will also be nice to have that embedded in his driving record in case he pulls any more stunts like that, and the fact that he got caught on video ought to give him WAY lots of reason to avoid crossing you again.

WHY do we not have an :evil: emoticon around here, anyway... :p

Well the audio isn't much, that's for sure. Too much wind.
The video is only what happened in front of me, not behind.

I'm not sure I'm going to press charges, I just wanted the cops to scare the crap out of him, and to explain that I had a right to the road, he must pass me safely, and that I was NICE enough to not press charges, even though I had evidence.

I'm quite conspicuous when I ride and it's likely this guy will see me again (he lives right in that town), so rather than have him hunting me, I'd rather have him thanking me.

DUDE, you simply have to press charges, gotta send a message.......

post the video?


+ 1

By the way,

(1) did you show the cops the video when they came by?

(2) did the mention of the video footage seem to increase their interest in pursuing it?

WHY do we not have an :evil: emoticon around here, anyway... :p

For this guy, we need a :PWNED: emoticon. :D

The more of these cameras, the better. Way to go, Bikepacker! :beer:

By the way,

(1) did you show the cops the video when they came by?

(2) did the mention of the video footage seem to increase their interest in pursuing it?

The cops haven't seen the video yet, but they know I have it.
I was at work when I talked with them, and didn't have access to a computer with SD memory card slot.

Yeah, I'm sure it will be a rude, rude awakening when the road-rager finds out it's not just his word versus the cyclists' word :evil:

The cops haven't seen the video yet, but they know I have it.
I was at work when I talked with them, and didn't have access to a computer with SD memory card slot.Be careful what format you output it in, then, because codecs are to video as fonts are to documents, you don't want to pick a codec that you have but they don't. I'd recommend burning it as a DVD-ROM if you've got the capability.

Tomorrow I'll drop off a CD copy for their perusal.
The cop did think that the camera was VERY COOL, and asked about purchasing one himself!

Be careful what format you output it in, then, because codecs are to video as fonts are to documents, you don't want to pick a codec that you have but they don't. I'd recommend burning it as a DVD-ROM if you've got the capability.


I don't. Hmmm....

DUDE, you simply have to press charges, gotta send a message.......

The problem is that this guy is SURE to see me again, and next time might be on a less travelled road.
I just want him to understand he was wrong, that I had him dead-to-rights, but I was NICE enough not to hang him by the nads.

I don't. Hmmm....Then Windows Media Player .wmv format might be a good bet. You can convert stuff to Windows Media Player for free using Windows Movie Maker on a WinXP computer (Start > Programs > Windows Movie Maker), or with the free Windows Media Encoder from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5691ba02-e496-465a-bba9-b2f1182cdf24&DisplayLang=en

If you haven't used Windows Movie Maker before, it's pretty simple to use for cropping video down. Open the program, click "Import Video," then aim it at your .AVI file. Once it's loaded the file, it'll probably split it into a bunch of sub-clips that all appear in the middle window. You can select them all, right-click them and choose "Combine."

Then, before dragging the video to the timeline below, use the preview window at the right to find the beginning of your incident, and click the lil' "Split" icon below the video window. Then find the end, and split it again at that point. Now your combined video is split into three pieces, and you can drag-&-drop the piece that you want down onto the timeline and click "Save to my computer" or "Save to CD."

Windows Media Encoder 9 will work on Win2000 if you don't have WinXP, and you can still crop the video, or just output the whole thing and tell the cops "it's minutes 14 through 20" or whatever.

I really wish I had a cam pointing backwards...

Be careful what format you output it in, then, because codecs are to video as fonts are to documents, you don't want to pick a codec that you have but they don't. I'd recommend burning it as a DVD-ROM if you've got the capability.

or a video cd would be good as well. plays in most dvd players and only reqires a normal cd burner to make. the software that came with the drive often has the option.

The cop did think that the camera was VERY COOL, and asked about purchasing one himself!

This could be the kind of news story that would benefit all road cyclists. Bascially a story about how some driver was busted due to a video cam mounted on a bicycle, noting that 'these camera's are now commonly used by cyclists'. If drivers think these things are common and that we can capture them on video, they may just think before being A-holes to cyclists.

I 'm thinking of getting a cam like the one you've got there, bikepacker...I'm still packing pepper spray, i'm dosing the next assnut that gets out of their car to assault me....what is up with drivers these days? I wonder what the police would have done if they would have found the guy across the street from his car, sitting on the curb, blinded from the pepper spray after you called 911?

I think the LAB could do every bicyclist in the country a HUGE favor if the stopped dinking around about bike facilities and just push bicycling PR to the masses for a couple of years, americans drivers are way seriously wacked about bikes in the road.

I'll figure it out....
Worst case scenario I'll borrow a laptop and show the cops myself.
I want this guy 'talked to' with the cops seeing clearly the buzzing, my lane position, his actions, etc.

As a followon suggestion...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=451254&postcount=3

Windows Media player can play .AVI format.

That camera is a very cool thing. Is it wide angle enough to get a good view of what you're doing? Having forward and backward facing is a good idea. I think actually most naughty motorist behavior starts behind us. Is it heavy?

Windows Media player can play .AVI format.

That camera is a very cool thing. Is it wide angle enough to get a good view of what you're doing? Having forward and backward facing is a good idea. I think actually most naughty motorist behavior starts behind us. Is it heavy?If the .AVI is encoded using a codec that I don't have, I can't play the .AVI. It's like someone giving you a Word document that's got some unusual font in it. If you don't have that font, then having Word installed won't ensure that you see the document as it was intended to look.

I have another suggestion for anyone who gets this camera and runs into a situation like this. Shout out the license plate numbers of any vehicles you see nearby whose drivers might be witnesses, loud enough that the camera can pick them up.

The problem is that this guy is SURE to see me again, and next time might be on a less travelled road.
I just want him to understand he was wrong, that I had him dead-to-rights, but I was NICE enough not to hang him by the nads.

IMHO, this is the VERY reason that you need to press charges.
I don't think the severity of what he did will hit him unless you cause him inconvenience in a major way. In addition, I don't think that he will see that you did him a favor by not pressing charges, he will only remember that you reported him to the cops. If he decides to have ill will against you he will have it whether you press charges or not.

But then again, its your decision and no one can tell you what is right.

Here's some stills of the video (in chrono order):

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7056/roadrager17pk.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8770/roadrager22cv.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1340/roadrager30ur.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1994/roadrager49gk.jpg

Isn't there some way you can get more codecs? I seem to recall seeing a site that had all kinds of old and obscure codecs for download. Sorry I can't remember what it was. I was surfing around looking for something else at the time.

BTW, those three pics of him buzzing are three separate incidents... the first pic is what initially made me raise my left hand iin a "what the hell" gesture.

Is that the guy's car?

IMHO, this is the VERY reason that you need to press charges.
I don't think the severity of what he did will hit him unless you cause him inconvenience in a major way. In addition, I don't think that he will see that you did him a favor by not pressing charges, he will only remember that you reported him to the cops. If he decides to have ill will against you he will have it whether you press charges or not.

But then again, its your decision and no one can tell you what is right.

I'm still on the fence.
I guess I'll wait to see the cops reaction to the vid.

You can clearly hear me screaming "You better not F'n hit me!" when he was behind me.

Is that the guy's car?
His SUV, ya.

Oh, nice... a Christian "fish" symbol on the rear. Way for him to represent, yeah... :rolleyes: Maybe it's his wife's SUV or something.

I'm still on the fence.
I guess I'll wait to see the cops reaction to the vid.

You can clearly hear me screaming "You better not F'n hit me!" when he was behind me.

Dude, that azzhat will be scared sheeyatless of you from now on if you press charges, HE WILL KNOW your the dude with the camera on board.....

Dude, that azzhat will be scared sheeyatless of you from now on if you press charges, HE WILL KNOW your the dude with the camera on board.....

He'll already know that anyway.

I dunno why, but I guess I am just willing to let it go, AS LONG AS HE ACKNOWLEDGES HE WAS WRONG.
This is a small town, in which I manage the local hardware store. I travel this road all the time.

I'd much rather have this guy both fear my camera, and thank me for not jacking his insurance rate thru the roof.

I know... deep down I'm a wuss.

Isn't there some way you can get more codecs? I seem to recall seeing a site that had all kinds of old and obscure codecs for download. Sorry I can't remember what it was. I was surfing around looking for something else at the time.Be very careful about downloading codec packs from just any old place. Prime bait oftentimes packed with spyware/adware installers. I prefer to stick with what Windows comes with, and manually add DiVX from DiVX.com if I need it.

How's he gonna feel about you posting a picture with his licence plate number perfectly visible?

How's he gonna feel about you posting a picture with his licence plate number perfectly visible?


I doubt he peruses Bike Forums.

I doubt the police will do anything. I was armed with all sorts of information on a complete bozo, and they told me that as long as he didn't hit me, there was nothing they could do.

They were BSing you.

Threatening, harassing, behavior is a crime in and of itself. The fact that a motor vehicle is being operated in a threatening, harassing manner, at the same time, makes it just that much more of a crime.

You never know what these folks already have on their driving records. It might be enough to cause a judge to pull their license. We should be so lucky.

They were BSing you.

Threatening, harassing, behavior is a crime in and of itself. The fact that a motor vehicle is being operated in a threatening, harassing manner, at the same time, makes it just that much more of a crime.

You never know what these folks already have on their driving records. It might be enough to cause a judge to pull their license. We should be so lucky.

Exactly, call the local city/county attorney if they try and shrug it off, DON'T BE A SALLY!

I know... deep down I'm a wuss.


I'd let it ride as well with an acknowledgment that you have the right to ride on the road.

People's attitudes have to be kept in perspective...

my 20 year old daughter made a couple of nasty comments about cyclists while we were driving down a windy mountain road behind a couple of slow cyclists... and I was just waiting for the safe moment to pass without freaking the old girl out...

she said they should get the hell off the road...

I thought WTH..??

sense of entitlement...

gotta edumacate them slowly...
or they get bullish about it...
and no one gets anywhere...

good call Packer..

if he wants to harass you and its a small town, you can still press charges up to some reasonable statute of limitations....or you just marlinspike his tires one stormy night when he's at the bowling alley.

It's been so long since I've lived in a small town but you are certainely in a fishbowl on a fence trying to fight the old boy's network on a bicycle, but this fella deserves a throwdown, i hope the police in your municipality see it that way as well, instead of giving it the brush off. I'd add a copsize can of pepper spray to your handicam, that will put the sonnofa gunner in his place if he messes with you again! and as you kick the sorry bastard when he's down, you can recite the motor vehicle code to him, al a some drooging out of A Clockwork Orange....

I don't want to sound retalitory, but these asshat bastards have threatened me enough, i take it as a personal threat, and maybe someday, I will incur some rightous wrath against a road rager, and will proudly go to jail while they sort the assault out if need be. Screw the cagers that want to fight bikers for riding their bikes in the road!!

i hope the police in your municipality see it that way as well, instead of giving it the brush off.

Nope, no brushoff... two cruisers showed up, and they were very accommodating and when I said I was "sorry" for dialing the 911 number instead of the regular number (I couldn't remember it) they were adamant than I had done the right thing.

Tomorrow will be the day of truth, when I go back down with the vid.
But like I said, I don't necessarily want to screw this guy to the wall, I just want him to know that I COULD screw him to the wall.

I'm going to burn two copies... one for the cops, and one I want the cops to give to him.

I'm with the others. If you have the option to press charges, don't turn it down. You want this bozo to have a record. It might deter him from doing it a second time. And if it doesn't, the record will only help the next person, who might not escape uninjured.

I also like the idea of posting the video here, if the mods will let you post something so big.

post the video?
I wish I could post the video, but the best I've compressed it to this point is 50 meg!

Hmmm.... I'm using VirtualDub, and it only lasts about 90 secs... can someone tell me what button to push? The "Any Key"? :D

unfortunately, when you get the law involved, a 'little fear' doesn't work past kids the age of five that just got caught stealing gum at the corner store.... what do you expect them to do, slap his wrist and say, "bad driver, here's some 8x10 glossies we want you to study, go sit on that bench for 10 minutes"..for the law to have an impact, charges need to go thru, this guy needs to get mugged, printed and cattleprodded to make any impact.... ask if charges can be filed on your behalf due to the preponderance of evidence, if there is enough this pulls the burden off you and places it strongly on the letter of the law...I hope you go thru with it, also write a letter to the editor of your local rag, make it into a public thang....

I wish I could post the video, but the best I've compressed it to this point is 50 meg!

Hmmm.... I'm using VirtualDub, and it only lasts about 90 secs... can someone tell me what button to push? The "Any Key"? :DI'd suggest Windows Movie Maker and output the file as a 320 x 240 .WMV, 15 frames per second, try for about a 3MB file. If you want to show us the general drift of what occurred, that should be good enough for that purpose. But for the police, go with the full 640 x 480 size at high bitrate, of course.

Personally, I don't know if I want to raise my blood pressure by actually watching the video ;)