Ruined part of someone's 4th of July.

[N_C]

Went for a ride yesterday, part of my route took me through South Sioux City on the MUP. On the way out there were people who live across the street from the trail setting off daytime fireworks in their driveway.

On the way back they were in the middle of the trail setting them off. From about 100' away I saw this & sounded my Airzound at them to let them know I was coming through. They looked at me & instead of move off the trail & cease their firework activities for a little while they continued & quickly lit one more. Thinking it would go off by the time I got there & I'd have to ride through it or stop until it was done. Seeing this I sped up, when I approached it I kicked it into the grass as I passed it, where it went off with very little or no effect. They started chasing me on foot, not that they could catch me, & was yelling all kinds of profanities at me. It sounded like they were calling me everything but a white man. Just in case they did catch me I grabbed the pepper spray & started spraying a cloud of it behind me.

Bottom line, I don't care if people let off fireworks, even illegal ones on their property, hell I've done it. Just don't do it on public property like a MUP.

[M3ta7h3ad]

Fair cop mate, but had it gone off and smashed into your crotch... It'd be your july 4th ruined :)

I sometimes get the same "stubborn" streak in me too :), and you did the right thing imo :) but yea!!! be careful out there :D

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Fair cop mate, but had it gone off and smashed into your crotch... It'd be your july 4th ruined :)

I sometimes get the same "stubborn" streak in me too :), and you did the right thing imo :) but yea!!! be careful out there :D
Sounds like you two really are cut from the same cloth.

[N_C]

Sounds like you two really are cut from the same cloth.

So you condone setting off fireworks on public property like an MUP? Which could also be a safety issue.

The area I live in you can buy fireworks, like the artillery shells, bottle rockets, firecrackers, etc in South Dakota. They are illegal in Iowa, in Nebraska if it goes up hot & comes down cool it is legal, which means bottle rockets & the like are illegal but from what I understand firecrackers & artillery shells are not because they split apart & cool quickly. This info. is from a former County Sherriff.

In South Sioux City, Nebraska it is fine if you set off your fireworks on your private property but not when you do so on public property like an MUP or city park. Most law enforcement officers do not have an issue with the illegal fireworks unless they recieve a complaint or you are caught doing something stupid, like setting them off in the middle of an MUP, shooting them at people, houses, cars, etc on purpose.

I figured because I kicked the firework into the grass before it went off there was no need to call the police.

My thinking is it is illegal to set off fireworks on or in any public place because of the safety issue, people could get hurt & those responsible for the public property do not want the liability & the mess people leave behind which costs money to have it cleaned up, people figure those responsible for the public property will clean up the mess so they don't have to.

I-Like-To-Bike, I knew you were a micro-managing outlaw but I didn't realize you condoned stupid **** such as setting off fireworks on an MUP.

[Bikes-N-Drums]

It's very likely that all you have done was paint a target on your back and may have even planted a seed of hate against cyclists in these people's minds. Of all the ways to deal with someone shooting fireworks on a bike path, kicking the fireworks over was probably the least diplomatic method. I don't see where this accomplished anything other than generating angry chaos.

[Bikepacker67]

I-Like-To-Bike, I knew you were a micro-managing outlaw but I didn't realize you condoned stupid **** such as setting off fireworks on an MUP.

Bwhahahaha!

[brokenrobot]

I-Like-To-Bike, I knew you were a micro-managing outlaw but I didn't realize you condoned stupid **** such as setting off fireworks on an MUP.

He just realizes that if public safety and the rule of law *mattered*, the free markets would give them to us. Since the markets don't care, why should you?

[jsharr]

Not only did you take the law into your own hands, which carries it's own dangers, you also created a greater fire danger by kicking a lit pyrotechnic device into a fuel source. Better thing to do would have been to stop and call the local authorities, as it appears the offenders where there for a while, as the where there on your trip out and back. Just my opinion, take it for what it is worth.

[a77impala]

This forum is quickly going down the toilet, a rider warns the offenders he is approaching and they totally disregard his warning and continue to light fireworks and he responds only by kicking it out of the way. For his effort he he branded as the bad guy and ridiculed for his action. I feel he did the right thing by not causing a direct confrontation but only protecting himself, these idiots responded by showing their true character with both verbal and physical threats.
I get the drift that the majority of people have little or no respect for other people and only obey the laws they want to. That includes many of us bicyclists.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

This forum is quickly going down the toilet, a rider warns the offenders..
I agree, flush the whole idea of productive advocacy when bike advocacy/safety is represented by Dudley Do Right head cases bragging about blowing air horns at and/or squealing on every "offender" of their delicate sensibilities.

Same goes for those who present bicycling advocacy as nothing more than the irrational ranting of counterculture nut cases/economic dropouts whining about those who don't share their wack-a-doodle theories of the proper social order.

[M3ta7h3ad]

This forum is quickly going down the toilet, a rider warns the offenders he is approaching and they totally disregard his warning and continue to light fireworks and he responds only by kicking it out of the way. For his effort he he branded as the bad guy and ridiculed for his action. I feel he did the right thing by not causing a direct confrontation but only protecting himself, these idiots responded by showing their true character with both verbal and physical threats.
I get the drift that the majority of people have little or no respect for other people and only obey the laws they want to. That includes many of us bicyclists.

QFE & T

[sgtsmile]

This forum is quickly going down the toilet, a rider warns the offenders he is approaching and they totally disregard his warning and continue to light fireworks and he responds only by kicking it out of the way. For his effort he he branded as the bad guy and ridiculed for his action. I feel he did the right thing by not causing a direct confrontation but only protecting himself, these idiots responded by showing their true character with both verbal and physical threats.
I get the drift that the majority of people have little or no respect for other people and only obey the laws they want to. That includes many of us bicyclists.


broaden that: this whole website is quickly going down the toilet.

Still some good ideas being presented, but way too much of "my **** is bigger than your ****" going on and preachy closed minded crap being spewed forth as fact.

You are right, the majority of people have no respect for anything but themselves, and if you think about it, that is the source of almost all of the conflicts described on this forum.

[Sporkinum]

Not only did you take the law into your own hands, which carries it's own dangers, you also created a greater fire danger by kicking a lit pyrotechnic device into a fuel source.
Yeah, that was dumb, but at least now in Iowa, the fuel source is green, and not likely to start a fire.

I would be more concerned that the knuckleheads will take it out on the zillion bikers that will be in the area for ragbrai in a couple of weeks.

[cudak888]

I'd say N_C did the right thing, even if a bit on the side of "unlawfulness," shall we say. Those twits asked for it, and they got it.

Chances are his PD would not take much note at a report of such activity in the first place. If they did, they'd either come too late, or simply let the culprits off with a worthless 'slap on the wrist' warning. At least, that's how it works in my neck 'o the woods.

One question though - did any of them actually get the effects of the pepper spray?

-Kurt

[lyledriver]

I would have bunnyhopped the candle just as it went off.
(sorry, just trying to lighten the mood)

[cudak888]

Always helps to carry a sparkler with equal weights upon each end on hand...makes for a good one-way boomerang when you encounter morons like this.

P.S.: How old were these people? Were they tramps, punks, or ordinary middle-class?

-Kurt

[LittleBigMan]

I'm not sure how to respond to the OP. The only thing that occurs to me is to ask if an aggressive stance against the firework offenders was the only option. Of course, I have to admit I'm not a perfect angel, myself. :)

[cooker]

N_C: (adopting stern voice) I think what you did was stupid and irresponsible. Fireworks are extremely hazardous and hundreds of people suffer permanent injury from them every year. They're supposed to be anchored in the ground and pointed up, so they fly into the air and explode far from everyone. It's reckless and dangerous to kick them over at the last minute...who knows which way they will fly and where they will explode? Maybe in some completely unrelated person's back yard? Maybe next to your own face as you ride away?
Sure they were silly to light one even though you had fog-horned your important arrival, but it was just as dumb of you to keep riding into the thick of it, putting yourself in danger, and incredibly stupid to kick them over as you passed by, putting anyone in the vicinty at potential risk of permanent injury or disfigurement.

EDIT, oh, and not very masonic of you, either.

[N_C]

I'd say N_C did the right thing, even if a bit on the side of "unlawfulness," shall we say. Those twits asked for it, and they got it.

Chances are his PD would not take much note at a report of such activity in the first place. If they did, they'd either come too late, or simply let the culprits off with a worthless 'slap on the wrist' warning. At least, that's how it works in my neck 'o the woods.

One question though - did any of them actually get the effects of the pepper spray?

-Kurt

I don't know, kept riding & didn't look back or in my mirror to see.

[N_C]

I would have bunnyhopped the candle just as it went off.
(sorry, just trying to lighten the mood)

don't know what kind of firework it was, didn't care either. I'm still trying to figure out how to bunnyhop on my recumbent.

[supcom]

I think the James Bondesque trailing pepper spray cloud was most indicative of the entire encounter. I wonder if the dispenser is permanently mounted to the rear of the bentmobile.

[N_C]

N_C: (adopting stern voice) I think what you did was stupid and irresponsible. Fireworks are extremely hazardous and hundreds of people suffer permanent injury from them every year. They're supposed to be anchored in the ground and pointed up, so they fly into the air and explode far from everyone. It's reckless and dangerous to kick them over at the last minute...who knows which way they will fly and where they will explode? Maybe in some completely unrelated person's back yard? Maybe next to your own face as you ride away?
Sure they were silly to light one even though you had fog-horned your important arrival, but it was just as dumb of you to keep riding into the thick of it, putting yourself in danger, and incredibly stupid to kick them over as you passed by, putting anyone in the vicinty at potential risk of permanent injury or disfigurement.

EDIT, oh, and not very masonic of you, either.

Gee ok dad, what ever you say. :rolleyes:

Where the firework ended up was to the right side fo the trail where I kicked it. There is nothing but a large grassy area, no houses on this side. Like I said they were across the street from their house. I do not think the firework was one that shot up in the air, I think it was a large daytime smoker.

If you're serious about the masonic comment, it took courage to stand up to what I thought was wrong, maybe some of you don't agree with the way I did so, but who's to say my way is wrong or yours for that matter. It was my choice & won't apologize for it. Yes I know I could have been hurt, especially since synthetic materials are a lot more flammable then natural material clothing. Courage is one of the things taught in Freemasonry.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I don't know, kept riding & didn't look back or in my mirror to see.
You might find out in the future when you least expect it. At least if there is any justice it will be N_C who needs to respond to the tear gassed pyrotechnicians' reaction and not some other cyclist.

[N_C]

I think the James Bondesque trailing pepper spray cloud was most indicative of the entire encounter. I wonder if the dispenser is permanently mounted to the rear of the bentmobile.

Nah, just clipped to my stem in the front.

[SingingSabre]

N_C, I think you did the right thing. Where you live there isn't a drought going on, so the likelyhood of having your city ignite and go up in flames is pretty low. Calling the cops would just get you more ridicule and scorn from I-Like-To-Bike, and he would call you a Dudley Do Right for calling the authorities.

Kicking over some fireworks, at least the consumer-grade type, really doesn't pose much danger. It would be different if you picked them up and pointed it at someone. The kids were causing a disruption on the MUP, and you had to take care of it to be safe. Done. You did good in my eyes.

As a side note: ILTB, you need to stop using the "Dudley Do Right" term. Honestly. DDR is just getting overused by you. DDR is also a popular dancing game. You should hop on one of the DDR systems and dance your woes off. It might do you good.

[N_C]

I'm not sure how to respond to the OP. The only thing that occurs to me is to ask if an aggressive stance against the firework offenders was the only option. Of course, I have to admit I'm not a perfect angel, myself. :)

No it was not the only option, but it is the one I choose.

[N_C]

N_C, I think you did the right thing. Where you live there isn't a drought going on, so the likelyhood of having your city ignite and go up in flames is pretty low. Calling the cops would just get you more ridicule and scorn from I-Like-To-Bike, and he would call you a Dudley Do Right for calling the authorities.

Kicking over some fireworks, at least the consumer-grade type, really doesn't pose much danger. It would be different if you picked them up and pointed it at someone. The kids were causing a disruption on the MUP, and you had to take care of it to be safe. Done. You did good in my eyes.

As a side note: ILTB, you need to stop using the "Dudley Do Right" term. Honestly. DDR is just getting overused by you. DDR is also a popular dancing game. You should hop on one of the DDR systems and dance your woes off. It might do you good.

Don't be too hard on ILTB, he's just a harmless micro-managing outlaw. Who likes to ridicule & ask for proof & justification from everything certain people here in the forums post. I don't take much stock in anything he says.

[N_C]

I am waiting for chipcom to come in here & say I ****ed up someone's liberties & civil rights, yadda, yadda, yadda by screwing with what I fought, sweated & bled for so they could have these rights.

That may be so but laws regarding fireworks exists for a reason, see what I posted regarding such laws previous to this response. If he has a problem with it he can take it up with the state of Nebraska, not me. They're the ones who imposed the laws. If he thinks they are to restrictive he should ***** to them about it, if he *****es to me it'll just go in one ear & out the other, cause I don't give a **** what he thinks about how I handled it.

[Bikes-N-Drums]

I am waiting for chipcom to come in here & say I ****ed up someone's liberties & civil rights, yadda, yadda, yadda by screwing with what I fought, sweated & bled for so they could have these rights.

That may be so but laws regarding fireworks exists for a reason, see what I posted regarding such laws previous to this response. If he has a problem with it he can take it up with the state of Nebraska, not me. They're the ones who imposed the laws. If he thinks they are to restrictive he should ***** to them about it, if he *****es to me it'll just go in one ear & out the other, cause I don't give a **** what he thinks about how I handled it.

It's just an observation... and I don't know you and don't wish to offend you... but you seem to be an unusually confrontational person.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

...cause I don't give a **** what he thinks about how I handled it.
Fess up Big Hot Stuff, you don't give a dang what anybody thinks unless they praise your dingy/arrogant/bustbody actions. Does bicycling bring out the Bozo syndrome or do you come by it naturally and just love to stick your big nose in everybody else's businees at all times?

[brokenrobot]

Fess up Big Hot Stuff, you don't give a dang what anybody thinks unless they praise your dingy/arrogant/bustbody actions. Does bicycling bring out the Bozo syndrome or do you come by it naturally and just love to stick your big nose in everybody else's businees at all times?

So, ILTB, you'll be pleased when none of your neighbors reports the suspicious fellow who winds up robbing your house, right? After all, nobody likes a tattletale or a busybody!

[Artkansas]

Running over and kicking things on a bike is always dicey. A lit fireworks on it's side could have caused a fire, and you know who would get blamed. Worse, it could have burnt you.

But yes, the people doing the fireworks were fools.

[N_C]

It's just an observation... and I don't know you and don't wish to offend you... but you seem to be an unusually confrontational person.

I don't go looking for a confrontation. But when issues present themselves such as this I confront it head on, sometimes damning all consequinces that may come with it. No offense taken.

[chipcom]

I am waiting for chipcom to come in here & say I ****ed up someone's liberties & civil rights, yadda, yadda, yadda by screwing with what I fought, sweated & bled for so they could have these rights.

That may be so but laws regarding fireworks exists for a reason, see what I posted regarding such laws previous to this response. If he has a problem with it he can take it up with the state of Nebraska, not me. They're the ones who imposed the laws. If he thinks they are to restrictive he should ***** to them about it, if he *****es to me it'll just go in one ear & out the other, cause I don't give a **** what he thinks about how I handled it.

Actually I am not surprised at all at how you handled it...you've proven yourself to be a horse's patootie who likes to puff up in public about his exploits at being a safety nanny for long enough that I don't think anyone is surprised. But nice to see that you missed me. :rolleyes:

[-=£em in Pa=-]

On a few different levels, a perfect example of why MUP's are the same as the clap...
To be avoided at all costs.

[chipcom]

I don't go looking for a confrontation. But when issues present themselves such as this I confront it head on, sometimes damning all consequinces that may come with it. No offense taken.

So you didn't want to confront me in a thread that I had not even posted to, let alone posted a response to you, but the devil made you do it, right. I have to admit that you amaze me every day, just when I think you could't be a bigger <insert colorful term here>, you exceed all expectations.

Personnally, I think you are just another wannabe big shot screaming for attention. A dumb ole me just gave you some.

[chipcom]

On a few different levels, a perfect example of why MUP's are the same as the clap...
To be avoided at all costs.

So what hurts worse, riding the silver stallion or the MUP? ;)

[cooker]

Gee ok dad, what ever you say. :rolleyes:

Where the firework ended up was to the right side fo the trail where I kicked it. There is nothing but a large grassy area, no houses on this side. Like I said they were across the street from their house. I do not think the firework was one that shot up in the air, I think it was a large daytime smoker.

If you're serious about the masonic comment, it took courage to stand up to what I thought was wrong, maybe some of you don't agree with the way I did so, but who's to say my way is wrong or yours for that matter. It was my choice & won't apologize for it. Yes I know I could have been hurt, especially since synthetic materials are a lot more flammable then natural material clothing. Courage is one of the things taught in Freemasonry.

Maybe I'm just in a cranky mood today, but your story really irked me. All I know about masonry comes from your sig: it says something about promoting love, charity, brotherhood and morality. Sure, you can say you were dispensing tough love and trying to raise standards of morality, but look at it from their point of view: some kids were having harmless fun and a self-important bully, who likes to blast his airhorn and expects the peasants to scatter, came cruising along, and when he saw they were lighting a firework he actually sped up and raced to the spot to kick it over before it went off, like some sadistic older brother. Not only was it mean, and wasteful, it was dangerous too.

At least that's how it could be interpreted.

[FLBandit]

I dunno, I probably would have cut some slack for fireworks on the 4th of July. It's kind of the American way. Most likely I would have just waited for the lit one to go off then rode on by.

[N_C]

Maybe I'm just in a cranky mood today, but your story really irked me. All I know about masonry comes from your sig: it says something about promoting love, charity, brotherhood and morality. Sure, you can say you were dispensing tough love and trying to raise standards of morality, but look at it from their point of view: some kids were having harmless fun and a self-important bully, who likes to blast his airhorn and expects the peasants to scatter, came cruising along, and when he saw they were lighting a firework he actually sped up and raced to the spot to kick it over before it went off, like some sadistic older brother. Not only was it mean, and wasteful, it was dangerous too.

At least that's how it could be interpreted.

They were not kids, they were adults.

[Enigma198]

Would it really have been so hard to just stop and wait for the firework to detonate? You took the same mindset that many cajers take about cyclist. It was the Fourth. The cops would have most likely made the pyros get off the bike trail as warnings about fireworks are fairly common at New Years, Christmas and the Fourth. What if you had been chased in a vehicle, cut off and a fight had ensued? It would be difficult to present yourself as a victim since your actions made the situation worse. I have been involved in situations after the fact were one person committed an infraction and the self proclaimed "victim" felt justified in taking some action and ended up going to jail. You really should choose your battles.

[silversmith]

You really should choose your battles.

If he'd have been talking about flying the bird after some jerk tried to push his bike off the road then I'd have been sympathetic. Good grief, this guy makes a hit and run attack and then resorts to chemical warfare as he cowardly flees the scene.

[N_C]

Would it really have been so hard to just stop and wait for the firework to detonate? You took the same mindset that many cajers take about cyclist. It was the Fourth. The cops would have most likely made the pyros get off the bike trail as warnings about fireworks are fairly common at New Years, Christmas and the Fourth. What if you had been chased in a vehicle, cut off and a fight had ensued? It would be difficult to present yourself as a victim since your actions made the situation worse. I have been involved in situations after the fact were one person committed an infraction and the self proclaimed "victim" felt justified in taking some action and ended up going to jail. You really should choose your battles.


I did choose my battle. As wrong as it may appear to others here it was the choice I made & I stand by it. Yes I know my actions could have resulted in violence against me by these idiots. It was a risk I was willing to take, I accepted that risk, knowing full well what could have happened.

[savage24]

It's very likely that all you have done was paint a target on your back and may have even planted a seed of hate against cyclists in these people's minds.

+1
I am very glad I don't ride a recumbant in Sioux City.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I did choose my battle. As wrong as it may appear to others here it was the choice I made & I stand by it. Yes I know my actions could have resulted in violence against me by these idiots. It was a risk I was willing to take, I accepted that risk, knowing full well what could have happened.
Why not take your next battle to the playground where you can pursue several of your favorite pastimes; watching children, observing suspicious (in your fevered imagination) activity, and whining to the authorities to take some action to stop some activity which you don't approve, or better yet, taking action yourself.

Look at all these children recklessly running about, climbing up to heights where a fall might cause grievious harm (without helmets no less!), many may have visible bruises. Some even have skinned knees, no telling how that might have happened!:eek: . Might even catch some smoking in the boy's room. Turn 'em all in. Turn in their wicked irresponsible parents too for either allowing such dangerous activity or for not being there where you could have assaulted/punished them on the spot. Be yourself don't hold back -Be the Dud who Does Right among the sea of sinners.

What a Bozo! and Proud of it!

[-=£em in Pa=-]

I have never met anyone who plays with fireworks who
could be considered a stellar intellect. I would also consider
blowing off an air horn in this situation a low level assault or at least a
provocative action. Hillbillies being provoked....obviously no good is going
to come from that situation.