So. I was out for a ride last thursday night about 11pm. At about 11:55 I was coming to the halfway point in my ride. I was in the left lane coming up to a stop light to make my left turn and start heading home. Out of nowhere a car revs up behind me and passes inside the lane with me, approx. 6 inches from my right hand in the drops. He gets to the red light five seconds before me and gets in the right lane. A second car honks behind me and pulls the same stupid stunt. She got to the red light about two seconds before me.
I was pissed. I coast to the light two seconds later behind a car in front of me in the left lane. I was even with the second car that had honked and buzzed me. The car's driver side window was open and it was young woman behind the wheel, about twenty five years old. She was looking at me and I said
"Excuse me miss, but was it really necessary for you to almost run me down to get to a red light two seconds before me? I mean, the whole right lane was empty!" She kinda babbles something about "Following him." and she pointed at the car ahead of her. I look ahead and the guy jumps out of his car! He was about five foot six/seven and was fairly muscular. "You motherf*cker!" he yells at me "You were all over the road!" I was stunned.
"What!? I'm turning left!" I replied. I hold my line on the road, especially in traffic. He screamed at me "Shut the f*ck up, Mother F*cker, or I might just run you down and kill you, a***ole!" I was shocked. He got in his car and took off, honking and screaming/swearing at me. His chick took off too. When he said he would kill me, I instantly thought of my wife and kids and that this prick would kill me because he couldn't wait two seconds for me to be out of his life.
I really don't understand what went wrong here. I was riding a route I always ride at night. I have two multiple led blinkies on the rear of my bike, one on the seat post, the other on the left chainstay where drivers will see them more readily. I have a ten watt Nimh front light and two bright front halogen blinkies. My riding jacket is bright orange and has reflective stripes and so does my camelbak. It's not like he didn't see me from way, way back. I think it was road/roid rage and it pissed me off and kinda scared me. Made me wish I had my camera on me. I din't even think to get his liscense plate. All I know is what this dink looks like and that he drives a purply/blue Toyota Matrix.
This happened in Hamilton, Ontario right beside Westdale highschool for any Hamilton riders. I looked at my watch right afterwards, at it was straight up midnight on Good Friday. Watch out for this nut, folks. I'm sorry I set him off.
So, I continued my ride home and about five minutes later while I was fuming away, I passed an older dude waiting at the bus stop who yelled out "There goes a smart fella!" as I passed. I laughed and yelled out "Thanks!" because it instantly made me feel better.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Are there bike lanes about? There is a poster here on BF that feels that bike lanes cause all this motorist/cyclist strife.
ME.Alex
drives a purply/blue Toyota Matrix.
This happened in Hamilton, Ontario
Problem 1 and two.
Toyota drivers think their **** don't stink.
Hamilton Ontario is a hellhole chock full of asshats and hillbillies.
Buy a gun and point it in the *******'s general direction. You'll see how fast you get compliance. Works for Jack Bauer.
TRaffic Jammer
Two words.... Full Moon... sounds like he thought he was driving Monaco and tryin' to apex that left. AND YOU RUINED IT FOR HIM!!!! That's not right to talk that kinda **** drivin' a Matrix. Keep an eye out......
Gurgus
Nope. No bike lane. I was going from a four lane, two direction street to a four lane, one way street. I'm not a big fan of bike lanes, but I will use them when prudent. After the point where this incident happend, there is a bike lane, but it starts and stops in less than five minutes riding. I use it because the road there is pretty busy (part of provincial highway eight) but it was at night and the traffic was light. It just spits you out into the right lane anyways. It doesn't even end at a stop light.
Gurgus
Problem 1 and two.
Toyota drivers think their **** don't stink.
Hamilton Ontario is a hellhole chock full of asshats and hillbillies.
Buy a gun and point it in the *******'s general direction. You'll see how fast you get compliance. Works for Jack Bauer.
You are right on both parts. I've lived in Hamilton my entire life (31 years). I guess I'm an asshat since I'm not really a hillbilly(says the guy wearing a flannel shirt as he types this.)
TRaffic Jammer
Don't knock the flannel man, that's Canadian Couture. :lol:
STEEKER
"All I know is what this dink looks like and that he drives a purply/blue Toyota Matrix." So take that info to the Hamilton Cops they SHOULD tell the patrol cars around the area to keep an eye out for him yes I know you have a wife and kids to worry about but what if it happens again ? now aday's death threats are very serious or you do nothing about it. (and you did nothing wrong he was a piece of sh**t)
genec
Nope. No bike lane. I was going from a four lane, two direction street to a four lane, one way street. I'm not a big fan of bike lanes, but I will use them when prudent. After the point where this incident happend, there is a bike lane, but it starts and stops in less than five minutes riding. I use it because the road there is pretty busy (part of provincial highway eight) but it was at night and the traffic was light. It just spits you out into the right lane anyways. It doesn't even end at a stop light.
Bike lanes do exist in the area... oh well... I am sure they will somehow be blamed.
Gurgus
"All I know is what this dink looks like and that he drives a purply/blue Toyota Matrix." So take that info to the Hamilton Cops they SHOULD tell the patrol cars around the area to keep an eye out for him yes I know you have a wife and kids to worry about but what if it happens again ? now aday's death threats are very serious or you do nothing about it. (and you did nothing wrong he was a piece of sh**t)
I thought about it, but without the plate, I beleive I'm kinda screwed. Plus, that road he went straight on leads to highway 403, so he could have been going literaly anywhere. I'm torn.
Bockman
I've always found the repeating back of what they're saying, verbatim, except in a blubbery cry-baby voice really helps de-escalate things.:D
sbhikes
Since there weren't bike lanes in the area then I'm sure the problem was your lane position. You should have been 3.52 inches further to your left.
Edit: Oh and you should have given him a slow-stop signal.
TeleJohn
Tell me about it! It's so rough out there! Today an old lady in her Kia wanted to make a right on red and beeped at me because I was in front of her. I took a 6' peice of sharpened rebar that I happened to have handy and skewered her to the seat through the windshield.
Don't take **** from the cagers!
CB HI
Don’t look for blame with yourself.
Steroids and/or crystal meth do that to such idiots as your muscular driver. Karma will take care of him when the drugs destroy his body and the rest of the little bit of brain he has.
Gurgus
Since there weren't bike lanes in the area then I'm sure the problem was your lane position. You should have been 3.52 inches further to your left.
Edit: Oh and you should have given him a slow-stop signal.
I would have signaled to him, but I didn't even hear his Toyota behind me until he hit the go-fast pedal and buzzed me.
dobber
Problem 1 and two.
Toyota drivers think their **** don't stink.
Ignorant drivers or ignorant riders, the world would be better off without either.
robs02elantra
man, this sucks!! I'm sorry to hear about that.
1. I was run off the road the other day by an ignorant driver. Wasn't happy that I was one inch too far over and swerved towards me as he passed by...pushing me into a pothole and giving me a pinched flat one week after buying my new bike!!! Waterloo Ontario is a rough place, haha.
2. I am moving to the hammer in september. Hows the riding over there, good clubs and fairly good rides to do in the area?
derath
Bike lanes do exist in the area... oh well... I am sure they will somehow be blamed.
Oh I don't know. Sometimes I have to wonder.
Last week I was riding on Beach drive in Washington DC. Beach drive is a 2 lane road, with no shoulder and a speed limit of 25mph. It cuts through Rock Creek Park, a National Park (or maybe state). Beach drive is only open to traffic mon-Fri.
That being said, it is a very slight downhill most of the way, so I was generally going 19-25mph.
Through most of beach drive I was getting passed by cars without incident. For one I was going almost the speed limit, and traffic was never heavy.
That is until I reached a part of Beach drive that has a MUP running parallel. I am not kidding when I say people seemed to be instantly more annoyed of my presence on the road. And it was the only time I had one car pass and the guy yell that I should be off the damn road.
I had gone at least 7mph without incident and within a mile I was bothered enough I decided to try out the MUP. It was in such bad shape I was lucky to hit 12mph and shook the hell outta me.
Bike path to blame? I dunno. It certainly isn't a scientific test, but it sure felt obvious once there was one in view, the cars felt I no longer deserved to be on the road.
Oh wait, I'm not even the poster you are looking for. Oops.
-D
Az B
I've always found the repeating back of what they're saying, verbatim, except in a blubbery cry-baby voice really helps de-escalate things.:D
That's a good one, I'll have to try it sometime.
One time a guy was trying to pick a fight with me and I asked him if he wouldn't rather f*** instead. That threw him off guard! :D
It kind of sounds like the guy in the original post might have been high on something... maybe crack or meth. They make people act like animals rather than human beings, even if they're not previously disposed to acting that way.
At any rate, that's why I have the mace. Homicidal idiots and dogs get maced. I'm thinking about a camera too. After a couple years of collecting these encounters on video, just think how much fun it would be to edit together a little movie of them and show it at parties.
Az
2wheeled
Tell me about it! It's so rough out there! Today an old lady in her Kia wanted to make a right on red and beeped at me because I was in front of her. I took a 6' peice of sharpened rebar that I happened to have handy and skewered her to the seat through the windshield.
Don't take **** from the cagers!:D
You were joking right?
2wheeled
I thought about it, but without the plate, I beleive I'm kinda screwed. Plus, that road he went straight on leads to highway 403, so he could have been going literaly anywhere. I'm torn.
This stuff is bad enough during the day, but at night, the morons really come out. I wouldn't say anything to anyone for fear of escalating a situation...click ignore;)
Sprocket Man
Toyota drivers think their **** don't stink.As a Toyota driver, I must say that you are dead wrong. My **** does stink, in the worse way. For the uninitiated, it can bring tears to their eyes, it will make them flee in horror. My wife runs the other way - she is thoroughly convinced that prolonged exposure to the smell of my **** can cause brain damage. I've smelled it, she may be right.
Gurgus
man, this sucks!! I'm sorry to hear about that.
1. I was run off the road the other day by an ignorant driver. Wasn't happy that I was one inch too far over and swerved towards me as he passed by...pushing me into a pothole and giving me a pinched flat one week after buying my new bike!!! Waterloo Ontario is a rough place, haha.
2. I am moving to the hammer in september. Hows the riding over there, good clubs and fairly good rides to do in the area?
There are some clubs in the Hammer, but I don't belong to any. The riding is generally decent. Lots of one way street with plenty of room if you are into road riding. There are some long bike paths and parks with paths like the one that is part of this ride that I was on. Pier 4/Princess Point and the beach strip has a fairly longish ride on a bike/MUP.
Gurgus
This stuff is bad enough during the day, but at night, the morons really come out. I wouldn't say anything to anyone for fear of escalating a situation...click ignore;)
Yeah, my thinking is that this will be my "modus operandi" from now on. Sometimes, though, it's hard to keep your mouth shut with boneheads.
Blue Order
I really don't understand what went wrong here. I was riding a route I always ride at night. I have two multiple led blinkies on the rear of my bike, one on the seat post, the other on the left chainstay where drivers will see them more readily. I have a ten watt Nimh front light and two bright front halogen blinkies. My riding jacket is bright orange and has reflective stripes and so does my camelbak. It's not like he didn't see me from way, way back. I think it was road/roid rage and it pissed me off and kinda scared me.I'm shocked-- shocked!-- to discover that the evangelist of VC hasn't blamed you for this incident.
What went wrong here is that a nutjob with a sense of entitlement saw an easy mark. It had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the driver. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn't you, it would have been another cyclist, or a safe driver, or an elderly driver, or a driver who is stuck in traffic ahead of him, or a pedestrian-- anybody who interferes with this human time bomb's sense of entitlement.
Glad you're OK. Next time report the mofo and prosecute his *****. He belongs on a chain gang; he doesn't belong at the controls of a deadly weapon.
Blue Order
Bike lanes do exist in the area... oh well... I am sure they will somehow be blamed.As soon as a one-track mind can read this.
Blue Order
Since there weren't bike lanes in the area then I'm sure the problem was your lane position. You should have been 3.52 inches further to your left.
Edit: Oh and you should have given him a slow-stop signal.And POWERWEAVED. Don' forget the steely-eyed alpha dawg POWERWEAVING.
Blue Order
It kind of sounds like the guy in the original post might have been high on something... maybe crack or meth. They make people act like animals rather than human beings, even if they're not previously disposed to acting that way.Come on, animals are rational. It's human beings who act like that mofo.
randya
POWERWEAVING.
:lol:
This is like, expensive hair coloring.
(Ask your wife or gf)
:D
Helmet Head
I really don't understand what went wrong here.
What went wrong here was that a moron came along who decided to teach you a lesson about the widespread Notion that "bikes oughtta stay outta the way of cars". For every one that will act aggressively towards you there are probably 100 or more that wouldn't actually do it, but understand why he's upset and why he feels justified in teaching you a lesson. But you did nothing wrong. It could happen to any one of us.
There is a poster here on BF that feels that bike lanes cause all this motorist/cyclist strife.
False. What I believe is that the widespread prevalence of The Notion causes all the strife. And, I also believe that bike lanes are an official sanction of The Notion. Exactly how and how much the two are connected I don't know for sure, but...
That is until I reached a part of Beach drive that has a MUP running parallel. I am not kidding when I say people seemed to be instantly more annoyed of my presence on the road. And it was the only time I had one car pass and the guy yell that I should be off the damn road.
...I'm not the only one who senses there could be a connection.
Bike lanes do exist in the area... oh well... I am sure they will somehow be blamed.
Now you're paying attention. There does seem to be some correlation between the prevalence of facilties in a given area, and the prevalence of The Notion in that area, and how deeply it is believed, and how compelled the morons feel in teaching cyclists a lesson about it.
Let's see, what city was it where in the last few months we've discussed two (or is it three?) cyclists killed while riding in bike lanes, the incident where the bus driver let out a passenger to assault a cyclist, then let him back on the bus, and took off, and most recently, where a driver stalked a cyclist as he rode along a bike path after he was irked by him being in the road. Oh yes, one of America's bike friendly cities: Portland, OR. Of course, it might all be a coincidence... :rolleyes:
But, we shouldn't be worried about The Notion. It's okay to have our heads buried in the sand about that. What's really important is that we get our political representatives to vote for more of our tax money to go to building bike lanes and other cycle-specific infrastructure to allow to get out of the traffic lanes we're in the way of motor traffic. Yeah, that's what cycling advocates oughtta be doing, getting cyclists out of the traffic sand out of the way of motorists, just like the morons believe we oughtta be doing. Morons and facilities advocates... like two peas in a pod. :rolleyes:
rgtft
Tell me about it! It's so rough out there! Today an old lady in her Kia wanted to make a right on red and beeped at me because I was in front of her. I took a 6' peice of sharpened rebar that I happened to have handy and skewered her to the seat through the windshield.
Don't take **** from the cagers!
The absolute funniest thing I've read today. :D
ItsJustMe
I ride with a video camera, and if I caught that on it, I think I'd probably report it. It's a death threat, and the cops at least have to keep a record of it even if they brush it off and don't talk to the guy.
cooker
Hamilton Ontario is a hellhole chock full of asshats and hillbillies.
Hey, be polite...after all, you might have to move there after the next referendum.
Monoborracho
I love to ride early in the AM, in the dark. This morning I was up at 4:30 and back by 6. Plus, its cooler this time of year. And though we should have our rights at all time, I think it pushes the laws of probability to ride on the city steets late at night, particularly the weekends.
I know some people have to, but if you don't have to, I wouldn't. I don't like to ride on Friday evenings or Saturday evenings after 6PM.
That is when ALL THE DRUNKS COME OUT. Sounds like your guy was not only drunk but also in rut.
"....and then the wheels came off !"
chipcom
What went wrong here was that a moron came along who decided to teach you a lesson about the widespread Notion that "bikes oughtta stay outta the way of cars".
I got your 'Notion' - hangin. You are so freakin predictable.
uberleet
Morons and facilities advocates... like two peas in a pod. :rolleyes:
Yep, there's your rational argument, folks! Don't agree with ol' Serge? Then you must be a moron!
bluebottle1
Hmm.... It appears the guy was trying to show off to the gal following him. And he was driving a Toyota Matrix--not exactly a manly vehicle. No wonder he was pissed. :D
Mariner Fan
Since they were following each other I'm guessing that they were in a fight and he took it out on you. What a jerk. Glad it didn't escalate.
CommuterRun
Don't sweat it, if you haven't seen him before, most likely you will never see him again.
And Karma does work. If he's like that all the time either the drugs will kill him or he'll run into the guy that's just a little bit tougher and likes to fight a little bit more.
Who knows? After that act the chick might have told him to get stuffed.:D
banerjek
It kind of sounds like the guy in the original post might have been high on something... maybe crack or meth. They make people act like animals rather than human beings, even if they're not previously disposed to acting that way.
Not a bad assumption. Could be psychological issues too -- there are a surprising number of people who have the emotional stability of a 2 year old.
There's not a whole lot you can do against these types, but it's good if you can keep your cool and believe in karma. If he pulls this kind of crap on you, he must do it to others. It's just a matter of time before he finds someone like himself or a psychopath who will be more than willing to impose a suitable punishment.
I would advocate against carrying any kind of weapon for the simple reason that you'll feel a need to use it someday -- like today.
straightedge
13087
I bought one of these a few weeks ago. I don't always carry it but it is nice to have especially at night. Considered the pepper spray but know myself well enough to know I would probably spray myself more than the attacker (animal or person). Of course I prefer to avoid any confrontations to start with but in the incident listed here it could have helped had it come down to it. Also, if you feel the need to carry a weapon of some sort make sure it is LEGAL to do so where you live. These are ok in Illinois as long as they are not concealed.
As far as night riding is concerned I don't ride much differently than during the day, except with light and blinkie on and am much more cautious around traffic. I wouldn't have been stopped at the light in the first place if they were aggressive towards you while approaching, but I usually yield to all red lights anyway in my sort of "scofflaw" riding style.
trackhub
Another horror tale from Canada. Any chance, even a very small one, that this might have been the same waste stain that assaulted a courier in toronto a few months back? You know, that incident that resulted in all those pictures being posted? I know it's highly unlikely, I just had to speculate on that.
Don't forget, this individual had a female he had to impress. Threatening and intimidating a bicyclist was a perfect opportunity for this.
Gurgus
Who knows? After that act the chick might have told him to get stuffed.:D
I was thinking about that later on and came to the conclusion that this might be the silver lining in this whole sad, sorry affair. Might keep this dunk from procreating.
Pheard
You shouldn't be sorry you set him off. The meathead needs to learn some manners thats all.
cooker
Another horror tale from Canada. Any chance, even a very small one, that this might have been the same waste stain that assaulted a courier in toronto a few months back?
Hamilton's about 45 minutes from Toronto by car, and the combined population including the region between is about 3 million, so yes unlikely. But hey, ya never know. Here's the link to the earlier incident if the OP cares to have a look.
http://www.citynoise.org/article/2770/by/hool
TeleJohn
13087
I bought one of these a few weeks ago. I don't always carry it but it is nice to have especially at night. Considered the pepper spray but know myself well enough to know I would probably spray myself more than the attacker (animal or person). Of course I prefer to avoid any confrontations to start with but in the incident listed here it could have helped had it come down to it. Also, if you feel the need to carry a weapon of some sort make sure it is LEGAL to do so where you live. These are ok in Illinois as long as they are not concealed.
As far as night riding is concerned I don't ride much differently than during the day, except with light and blinkie on and am much more cautious around traffic. I wouldn't have been stopped at the light in the first place if they were aggressive towards you while approaching, but I usually yield to all red lights anyway in my sort of "scofflaw" riding style.
Be careful that your weapon can't be used against you. Make sure there is a lanyard securing that to your wrist.
The best weapon is the one between your ears.
barba
I hope it never get to the point where I feel it necessary to carry a weapon (beyond my u-lock) to ride. Sorry about your run in with a jerk. It happens to everyone eventually. I think your impulse to not escalate the situation was the correct one.
Paul L.
13087
I bought one of these a few weeks ago. I don't always carry it but it is nice to have especially at night. Considered the pepper spray but know myself well enough to know I would probably spray myself more than the attacker (animal or person). Of course I prefer to avoid any confrontations to start with but in the incident listed here it could have helped had it come down to it. Also, if you feel the need to carry a weapon of some sort make sure it is LEGAL to do so where you live. These are ok in Illinois as long as they are not concealed.
A telescoping laser pointer?
TRaffic Jammer
^^^^^lol^^^^^
Gurgus
Hamilton's about 45 minutes from Toronto by car, and the combined population including the region between is about 3 million, so yes unlikely. But hey, ya never know. Here's the link to the earlier incident if the OP cares to have a look.
http://www.citynoise.org/article/2770/by/hool
No, it's not the same guy. What's funny is that the girl that that happened to is a friend of a friend of mine, but we've never met. I live in Hamilton and work in
Toronto, cycle in both cities and this was the worst incident yet in either town.