Advocacy & Safety - Called the police dept. on a cyclist tonight.

Wife & I were on our way out to do some shopping. We were on I-29 south bound. We see a cyclist riding on the shoulder against traffic. This idiot was on a nice looking road bike, bike jersey, shorts, helmet, the whole nine yards. I called the non-emergency number to report this. Not only is this illegal but it is very unsafe. Granted he was on the shoulder which gets very narrow on the bridges he'd have to cross. And further up from where we saw him the exit entrance ramps are the combination style. Where traffic can take the exit & on the same lane/ramp traffic can get on the interstate. A great way to get sandwhiched between 2 cars going highway speeds. This was also as the sun was setting as well. He was not that visable.

Call me a busy body if you'd like but this was pure dangerous stupidity. We took the north bound side home. Did not see him, so hopefully an officer got him off of the interstate.

Good call in my book. I called the local non-emergency on a couple of kids on gas powered scooters today...weaving in and out of the two lanes going their direction on a 4-lane that carries traffic routinely traveling at 45+. Not trying to get them in trouble, trying to save them from their own stupidity.

I say goo job as well.

good call, someone could have gotten hurt trying to avoid him on the bridge or on one of the entrance/exits you describe.

He may be in full kit, but he's not all there, ya know? Every cyclist that I've seen on Interstates has been pulled over by cops here in the Northeast. Aside, are bikes allowed on certain sections of Interstate in the West?

He may be in full kit, but he's not all there, ya know?

I've noticed a lotta that :rolleyes:

Great job. Did you also manage to report all the speeders as they pass, too? Im sure there must have been at least ten within that same stretch of road.

Wife & I were on our way out to do some shopping. We were on I-29 south bound. We see a cyclist riding on the shoulder against traffic. This idiot was on a nice looking road bike, bike jersey, shorts, helmet, the whole nine yards. I called the non-emergency number to report this. Not only is this illegal but it is very unsafe. Granted he was on the shoulder which gets very narrow on the bridges he'd have to cross. And further up from where we saw him the exit entrance ramps are the combination style. Where traffic can take the exit & on the same lane/ramp traffic can get on the interstate. A great way to get sandwhiched between 2 cars going highway speeds. This was also as the sun was setting as well. He was not that visable.

Call me a busy body if you'd like but this was pure dangerous stupidity. We took the north bound side home. Did not see him, so hopefully an officer got him off of the interstate.

Why didn't you call the cops on the guy in the SUV that told you to get on the sidewalk and stalked you? Darwin will take care of the wrong way cyclist and calling the cops just reinforces in the cops minds that cyclists are ALL law breakers and further erodes our image.

Call me a busy body if you'd like but this was pure dangerous stupidity. We took the north bound side home. Did not see him, so hopefully an officer got him off of the interstate.

I don't usually agree with N C, but I will this time. Good call.:) You may have saved another motorist a lot of emotional trama.

Five years ago this week (I remember because it was a few days before RAGBRAI), I nearly hit a suicidal woman walking on the interstate at night - scared the crap out of me! I was shaken up for a couple of days. Some poor soul behind me did hit her and his windshield was caved in right in front of the drivers seat. The other day there was a guy hit and killed walking against traffic in the road. The news said police had received a call about him and were on their way when they got another call that he had been hit.
It ain't no fun re-living the sight of some dumbass splattered on your windshield when you close your eyes and try to sleep at night.:eek:

Why didn't you call the cops on the guy in the SUV that told you to get on the sidewalk and stalked you? Darwin will take care of the wrong way cyclist and calling the cops just reinforces in the cops minds that cyclists are ALL law breakers and further erodes our image.
I suspect that the OP thinks playing the role of the "good cyclist" and sic'ing the police on the Untermensch cyclists will boost his own standing amongst those who dislike all cyclists, "good" or not. Doesn't work.

To answer another poster; cycling on the shoulder of the Interstate in some states is legal; or at least it was when I bike commuted on I-80N (now I-84) in the late 70's near Hermiston OR. There was no such thing as wrong way cycling on the shoulder, though going in the same direction as traffic is certainly easier on the eyes in the dark and creates less intense wind turbulence.

Aside, are bikes allowed on certain sections of Interstate in the West?

flipped - I have no first-hand knowledge but I seem to remember reading that in some places where there are no other suitable roads for cyclist that it is allowed.

flipped - I have no first-hand knowledge but I seem to remember reading that in some places where there are no other suitable roads for cyclist that it is allowed.

South Dakota is a state where cyclists are legally allowed to ride on the interstate. There are very few secondary roads with services between towns.

As far as I know a cyclist is not allowed to ride on any of Iowa's interstates or roadways with minimum posted speed limits.

Aside, are bikes allowed on certain sections of Interstate in the West?

Yes they are. My commute includes a small section of Interstate 5. It is allowed and it is the only way to get there.

Other areas where the Interstate is the only road, bicycles are also allowed.

In Nevada, we had to ride on the 1-80 if we wanted to get west out of Reno and it was legal.

OP, did you ever stop to consider this person may have gotten on the interstate going the right way and then decided it was a bad idea and he/she wanted to get off and was heading back to the nearest exit?

Probably not.

In Nevada, we had to ride on the 1-80 if we wanted to get west out of Reno and it was legal.

OP, did you ever stop to consider this person may have gotten on the interstate going the right way and then decided it was a bad idea and he/she wanted to get off and was heading back to the nearest exit?

Probably not.

Doesn't matter. He never should have got on the interstate. I doubt it anyway. He was close to an exit & heading away from it. If he was heading back the way he came why did ne not take the exit he was closest to?

People still routinely bike on I-84 in Oregon. This is through the Columbia River Gorge - it is by far the flattest way past Mt. Hood. The alternative would be to bike the highway over the mountain in the road with the trucks. On I-84 at least there is a paved shoulder, although sometimes you are pinned in between a wall and traffic with not much room. I saw some tourers and racers, but a lot of apparently homeless with everything they owned on their bike. Bikers seemed to go with traffic. You can park on the shoulder there too to go hiking.

There are no interchanges to deal with on that stretch. I would hate to bike past one of those. The law says on on-off ramps you have to follow the ramp off and then back on for your own safety. I like that they allow people to bike on the interstate because I think that even with the higher speeds, having a paved shoulder is safer. We have NO paved shoulders in Iowa, even on many divided highways, except I-80 and that is illegal to ride on. It is the exhaust from the constant stream of vehicles that would bug me on a busy interstate.

That is a tough call about reporting a wrong-way rider. Good to get them off the road, but it does attract the attention of cops - some of whom want to help, some who want to harrass. I hate seeing all the drunks who lost their licenses tootling around town riding up the middle of the lane the wrong way. They wont even get out of the way for other cyclists. I dont bother calling the local small town cops because they are related to, or friends with, everybody and will not enforce ANY laws EVER (unless you aint from around here) - thus stop signs, seat belts and child restraints are optional here. There is nothing like living in a town with 85 year old drivers blowing every stop sign despite the fact you are entering the intersection on your bike with the right-of-way - but I am digressing.

I apologize for the lack of apostrophes but when I use one on my replies I get a search screen - WTH?

-Clay

Doesn't matter. He never should have got on the interstate. I doubt it anyway. He was close to an exit & heading away from it. If he was heading back the way he came why did ne not take the exit he was closest to?

Sure it matters. Would you like it if you made a mistake and in the midst of trying to correct that mistake, were harrassed by the police because someone thought it was their civic duty to tell on you? I myself (and I'm sure several of us has), have made mistakes on a bike wrt ending up on a dangerous road, simply because I was unfamiliar with the area.
BTW, why did it matter that they were on nice bike and in full gear? I sense a bias here...

He may be in full kit, but he's not all there, ya know? Every cyclist that I've seen on Interstates has been pulled over by cops here in the Northeast. Aside, are bikes allowed on certain sections of Interstate in the West?

Its the same every where. Where ever theres a residence on a apparant interstate its legal to ride or walk. Youll generaly see such areas in older cities or parts of cities. Here theres a stretch of interstate 21 that is like this. Theres a half dozen or so homes along a 2 or 3 miles stretch that have been their sence before the interstate was put through.

Speed go from 55/65 to 45/55 and it goes from typical highway/interstate of 2 lanes each direction to one per direction. It still has the typical break down lanes making it alot wider than a typical main road infact its nearly 4 lane widths.

Its realy quite plesent to ride on. Haveign a full lane to your self on a bike can sure be lots of fun stay a little right of center useing say first 3rd of the lane and you can have cars passign you at 60mph with like 10 foot of clearance heh.

Doesn't matter. He never should have got on the interstate. I doubt it anyway. He was close to an exit & heading away from it. If he was heading back the way he came why did ne not take the exit he was closest to?

From what you describe im guessing this isnt a rare section of interstate with homes that have drive ways leading on to it. On these rare stretches its legal to ride bikes on them but no where else. Generaly they are clasified as routes like interstate 21 goes from interstate to route down south of me about 20ish miles do to some very old homes that are there. Speed drops acordingly. Personaly i try to avoid roads where the speed limit is 55 or above. More often than not theres a better and often times faster route to where im going so why risk my neck on a 55 mph road when i can take the 35 mph one where ill be doign 25+ on the long flat/downhill.

The guy you reported was foolish to ride there unless he had no other choice. In full kit its obvious he did not just break down in his car and was going to get gas or some such.

Sure it matters. Would you like it if you made a mistake and in the midst of trying to correct that mistake, were harrassed by the police because someone thought it was their civic duty to tell on you? I myself (and I'm sure several of us has), have made mistakes on a bike wrt ending up on a dangerous road, simply because I was unfamiliar with the area.
BTW, why did it matter that they were on nice bike and in full gear? I sense a bias here...

If it was a mistake, the guy was off the road and long gone before the cops got there... if it was intentional, for whatever reason, the cops would have issued him a warning or ticket, and educated him on why what he was doing was so stupid.

Either way, the OP did the right thing.

If it had been someone driving a car the wrong way on the interstate would you have a problem calling the police to report it? I think not.

Bad analogy. A car takes up a whole lot more space and goes way faster. If you think this was justified that's cool, but I hope you've got the non-emergency # on speed dial since the last time I checked, there's a whole lotta people driving faster than the speed limit on the interstates...

I personally think that there should be road signs. Perhaps a few "Share the Road", "Bicyclists must ride on the right" type signs.

"Bicyclists must ride on the right" type signs.

I like this one:

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/5462/2h/street.safeshopper.com/images/c0bl8ir.gif

Bad analogy. A car takes up a whole lot more space and goes way faster. If you think this was justified that's cool, but I hope you've got the non-emergency # on speed dial since the last time I checked, there's a whole lotta people driving faster than the speed limit on the interstates...

And you called MY example a bad analogy???? What the **** does a car speeding have to do with a cyclist riding the wrong way on a road he's not supposed to be on?

From what you describe im guessing this isnt a rare section of interstate with homes that have drive ways leading on to it. On these rare stretches its legal to ride bikes on them but no where else. Generaly they are clasified as routes like interstate 21 goes from interstate to route down south of me about 20ish miles do to some very old homes that are there. Speed drops acordingly. Personaly i try to avoid roads where the speed limit is 55 or above. More often than not theres a better and often times faster route to where im going so why risk my neck on a 55 mph road when i can take the 35 mph one where ill be doign 25+ on the long flat/downhill.

The guy you reported was foolish to ride there unless he had no other choice. In full kit its obvious he did not just break down in his car and was going to get gas or some such.


No this is not a rare section of interstate. 55 to 65 mph, an average of 40,000 vehicles a day use it. There were plenty of other choices. Granted they involve going north then back to the south to get to the down town area. I realize he may not be from this area & not familiar with where he can ride. But common sense should have told him to ask directions or buy a damn map.

Is there a possibility that his car was disabled ahead, and he was riding back to the previous call box?

Is there a possibility that his car was disabled ahead, and he was riding back to the previous call box?

In full kit? And he'd passed one exit already...

I vote for busy body. MYOB!

...calling the cops just reinforces in the cops minds that cyclists are ALL law breakers and further erodes our image.


I only abide by the one rule I made for myself........
Dont impede anyone elses forward motion.
Car, bike, ped, etc.....
After that, its do whatever needs to be done however I
feel like doing it. Very simple


I like that. Very simple, easy to follow, fair and most of all, safe.

ALL cyclists???

More of a question to San Rensho's response to £em in Pa's post.

ALL cyclists???

More of a question to San Rensho's response to £em in Pa's post.

I think its human nature to generalize and stereotype. When the cops see a few cyclist breaking the law, they assume all cyclists do the same. The next call they get for a law breaking cyclist reinforces their belief and they will have no regard or respect for cyclists in general.

This leads leads to the belief that many cops have that cyclists shouldn't be on the road, and if they are, they have to hug the curb and never take the lane. I had a cop pull me over for taking the lane, even though I was going as fast as traffic and the lane next to me was completely open.

Cops have a bad opinion of and just don't care about cyclists. Another time, a cager came at me with a Club (steering wheel lock) when we got into a verbal exchange after he tried to run me off the road, and the cops caught him, but would do nothing because they didn't witness the actual assault.

Cops are not friends of bicyclists and tattling on a bad cyclists just reinforces cops bad stereotype of cyclists and makes it worse for all us good riders.

We have NO paved shoulders in Iowa, even on many divided highways, except I-80 and that is illegal to ride on.

Iowa doesn't have much for interstates as it is. I do know that a good portion of I-380 has paved shoulders, though I think in Johnson county they may not be. I seem to remember fixing a flat (on a car) on gravel between Coralville and North Liberty once. All the areas around Cedar Rapids are paved though. Still, it is totally illegal to ride a bike on the interstate in Iowa. Any vehicle that does not drive 40mph + is not allowed and there are signs on some on ramps that say that bicycles, pedestrians and other type stuff is not allowed. The Iowa state patrol will be quick to enforce these laws too. Luckily we are in a state that has an insane amount of roads and you don't need to use an interstate to get anywhere at all. There is always a side road or a 2 lane highway that goes to the same place.

Cops are not friends of bicyclists and tattling on a bad cyclists just reinforces cops bad stereotype of cyclists and makes it worse for all us good riders.

Actually, I've had very good experiences with the police while riding my bicycle.

The worst experience was when a sheriff's department bus carrying prisoner's passed WAY too close to me... nearly running me into a curb... there was a Sherriff's van immediately behind, and before they even pulled next to me, I could see the officer in the Van yelling into his radio, and his partner next to him shrugged helplessly and waved to me, seeing that I was ok.

I have had to file assault charges on a motorist (well, motorist AND passengers), and the police impounded the truck they were driving, and held it for several months... the DA then plea bargained the case down (with my approval). Turns out the person was 17, and driving daddy's brand new SUV (still had temp tags!) the police ended up holding the truck for like 2 months... I bet his dad was PISSED! :roflmao:

I've only ever had one cop tell me he couldn't do anything because he didn't see it... and that particular motorist didn't really do anything but rev his engine... the only reason I talked to the cop at all was that he was sitting right there.... Wasn't paying attention to anything, though.

Compared to the USA, Ontario does not have many limited access freeways. There is no excuse or reason to ride a bike on them. It is also illegal in this province. (An fyi for any who might visit) All on ramps are clearly marked so there is no reason to get on one by mistake.

Regarding speeding: I would question the obsession many have about speed on interstates. You are aware that many of these roads were designed for 85mph with the POS cars from the 60s and 70s and the limit was lowered NOT for safety, but to save fuel in the 1970s? The safety card was played after. Far more dangerous than outright speeding is suddenly changing lanes, tailgating, not signalling, and a miriad of other offences that are harder to prove in court, but more likely to cause injury or death.

Massachusetts law says that bicyclists may use all public roads in the state, except divided, express highways where bicycles have been prohibited.

Such roads have all been posted by the department of public works. Typically, the signs say no bicycles, pedestrians, horses, or scooters / mopeds.

You would have to be pretty dense to miss the signs, usually posted at the on-ramps.

Massachusetts law says that bicyclists may use all public roads in the state, except divided, express highways where bicycles have been prohibited.

Such roads have all been posted by the department of public works. Typically, the signs say no bicycles, pedestrians, horses, or scooters / mopeds.

You would have to be pretty dense to miss the signs, usually posted at the on-ramps.

How about the big 'WRONG WAY, DO NOT ENTER' signs that this cyclist must have passed to head the WRONG DIRECTION on the freeway.

If I saw a cyclist tooling down the freeway around here, I might think 'what an idiot', but one going the wrong way down the same interstate???

I'd be curious to know how wide the shoulder and just how narrow it gets at the bridge(s) he has to cross. I also wonder you would have called the cops had you observed a motorist backing up on the same stretch of highway. I'm thinking you would not. I would have voted to cut the cyclist a break, here. None of us knows for certain why he was on the road. Let the cops catch him on their own. It would be mostly his own safety at stake. I would have let it pass.

Bottom line, for me, however, is that it isn't important what you did or would do in the future. I'm certain that, if the cops bothered to come at all, they would have informed him that he isn't allowed on that road and asked him or assisted him in getting onto some other road - end of story.

Personally, I can't see calling the cops to protect the guy from himself - but, that's just me.

Caruso

Is there a possibility that his car was disabled ahead, and he was riding back to the previous call box?

There are no call boxes along the interstates in Iowa. We saw no disabled car on the side of the road. If there was he was closer to the exit we saw him near. Yet he was riding away from it.

Personally, I can't see calling the cops to protect the guy from himself - but, that's just me.

Caruso

And if in the narrow portion at the bridge some car sees him, is afraid they're going to hit him and swerves into the next lane without looking, hits another car and causes a big accident?

I know, never happen, right? Wrong. Some idiot ran across the freeway here rather than walk a half mile to an underpass and go that way... caused a 3 car accident, two people were killed. Neither of them was the fool crossing the freeway.

That person riding the wrong way on the freeway was breaking several laws, endangering himself, and possibly others.

I think the OP did the right thing, if the guy was just in a huge hurry and cutting through, (WHY on the wrong side, though?) and got off on the next exit, then he was long gone before (IF?) a cop went by. If he was just dumb, then like you said, the cops would escort him off the road, with either a warning or a ticket.

Either way, the cyclist got off lucky... he's still alive. (If he'd been killed on the road, there would have been emergency vehicles on the scene when the OP went by again)

Who's to say that next time he won't be so lucky? Maybe there's a tired motorist who's been driving for 36 hours straight, running on nothing but caffeine about to fall asleep and swerve onto the shoulder? Not to mention the debris on the side of the road... glass, pieces of rubber tires, metal, discarded junk, you name it. I've had to walk on the side of a freeway before... it's NOT FUN. I hopped the barrier and got down to a road as soon as I possibly could.

I vote for busy body. MYOB!

You would, outlaw. I'm willing to bet I was not the only one who called the police. In fact I'd even bet someone called 911 & not the non-emergency number.

Tell you what outlaw, you come to Iowa, wear a shirt or jersey that says randya on it, ride on the interstate the wrong way. When I see you I will not be a busy body & call the police & let's see if you survive the experience. Let's up the ante, ride on Interstate 235 in the greater Des Moines/West Des Moines area between the hours of 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm. I can guarantee you one of 2 things WILL happen. You will either be killed because a motor vehicle will hit you. Or a police officer will find you & take your ass off of the interstate & probably arrest you.

So prove me wrong. Come to Iowa ride on I-235 & let's see if you can make it from beginning to end with out getting hit or harrassed by the police. This is a challenge I present to you. Do you accept it?

BTW I-235 has over 200,000 vehicles on it a day if not more. Most of them moving at well over 65 mph the speed limit is 55 mph.

Who's to say that next time he won't be so lucky? Maybe there's a tired motorist who's been driving for 36 hours straight, running on nothing but caffeine about to fall asleep and swerve onto the shoulder?

They're called truck drivers. Despite what the law says this happens all the time.

Personally, I can't see calling the cops to protect the guy from himself - but, that's just me.
I think it highly unlikely that the Proud Busybody OP squealed in order to protect the guy or out of any concern for other cyclists.

Great job. Did you also manage to report all the speeders as they pass, too? Im sure there must have been at least ten within that same stretch of road.

There is little that any of us can do with the exception of taking personal responsiblity for ourselves and committing to being a "good citizen" and making a positive contribution to society at large and our community in specific. If your definition of good citizen extends to turning a blind eye to an obviously dangerous situation without taking any action then that is your decision. A very poor one with far reaching consequences, but your decision.

Are you not the same person who lamented the fact that you want to ride the wrong way against traffic and don't wear a helmet and others should see it your way? Hope you have good insurance so society is not left paying for your irreponsible conduct. Poster child for "Darwin Awards" is not my idea of a lofty goal.

Is there a concrete right and wrong in your world? By your post it doesn't seem so. So flame away!!!!

Frankly I'm shocked that there would be any negative feedback to the actions of the OP. As a p
art of the cycling community if I saw what the OP (N_C) saw I would report it as well. The wrong way rider may never appreciate that maybe he and his famiy were spared the ultimate price: death due to stupidity. The rider might just learn something and not have to pay a terrible price to gain the knowledge. The same could be said for some on this thread, as well.

Definition of a Radical: Someone who has redoubled their effort after loosing sight of their objective.
Author Unknown

So, sonofsand, what is your objective?

They're called truck drivers. Despite what the law says this happens all the time.

I've NEVER had a problem with a semi driver... it's the other idiots on the road (of which I've been one, twice that I know of)

When I was in the Navy I had to drive across country twice. (Had to? Well, not really HAD to... I was just unwilling to try to sell my car and try to get a new(well... used) one at my destination), plus I didn't want to pay to haul my stuff, or get rid of everything and start from scratch (though I've done that twice since then!)

The truckers always did a good job of looking out for me, and I did my best to look out for them, too.

I think it highly unlikely that the Proud Busybody OP squealed in order to protect the guy or out of any concern for other cyclists.

+1

Already demonstrated in other posts he's got a hair trigger on the cell camera, speed dial, and air horn. Ann would say MYOB.

And if in the narrow portion at the bridge some car sees him, is afraid they're going to hit him and swerves into the next lane without looking, hits another car and causes a big accident?



I inquired as to the narrowness of the shoulder at the bridge(s) that the cyclist would (undoubtedly) cross. The OP has not responded to that question, yet. I'm guessing that the shoulders aren't that narrow - this is a super highway - how narrow would those shoulders be.

Oh, I could be wrong - that happens all the time, too.

I'm just guessing that this situation isn't nearly as dangerous as described.

Just because some driver might over react to a cycle on the shoulder is no reason to call the cops. A driver could over react to a pedestrian also (and, a pedestrian might well be walking against traffic if his/her car was out of fuel or otherwise disabled).

I'm telling you what I would have done - and I also mentioned that, in the over all scheme of things, what the OP decided to do or not to do is not important at all. I feel confident that the cyclist presented no significant danger to drivers or to him/herself, and I also feel that, if the cops got there at all, they let him off.

I wonder if some on these boards just need an outlet to push their opinions on others. I don't really care that much that the OP called the cops - I simply expressed that, had I been in his place, I would have given the cyclist a break.

Why does that upset you so, bm?

Caruso

The shoulders on the bridges are not wide enough for a car to pull onto with out the risk of getting hit. Part of the car would be in the lane of traffic. This is on the right side of the road. On the left side there is a dividing wall that seperates the north & south bound sides of I-29. Because of this motor vehicles would not have a lot of room to move over to the left which is a natural reaction when there is something on the shoulder on the right. This could cause an accident. And if there are 2 cars in each lane the car that is in the right lane could collide with the car in the left when the driver reacts to the cyclist on the shoulder. Or if he hits the brakes to slow down the vehicle behind could collide.

The bridge shoulders are probably half as wide as the regular shoulders. The regular shoulders IMO are not safe to pull onto to if a driver has a flat tire, etc.

This is why the DOT is going to be widening I-29 & adding a 3rd lane on each side starting in 2009.

Why are people here so against someone calling the police when they see someone doing something illegal? Is it your natural reaction against authority figures?

Tell you what, if you lived next to me & I knew how you felt about me calling the police or what ever EMS services. If your home is on fire or someone is breaking into it I won't call the police or fire dept. Ok? I'll let it burn to the ground or let you be robbed. Sound good? I honestly hope this happens to those of you who feel this way. I hope your neighbors do not call the police or fire dept. if something is happening to your home. You think people should mind their own business, that's fine. Maybe when something tragic happens to you & 911 services do not arrive or do not arrive on time you'll think twice about how you feel & how you berate & brow beat people with it.

I think it highly unlikely that the Proud Busybody OP squealed in order to protect the guy or out of any concern for other cyclists.

You couldn't be more wrong! It was out of concern for both the cyclist & the motorist who could have hit him. Don't know about you, but accident or not, my fault or not that is not something I'd want to live with. Maybe you do.

Tell you what I'm presenting the same challenge to you that I presented to randya. Join him on I-235 in central Iowa. Ride it from beginning to end to see if you survive or don't get busted by the police. You up for it, or you too chicken ****? You seem to like to be an outlaw & speak out against the high morality of others when it is mentioned. So put up or shut up! Take this challenge, survive it & don't get busted by the police & I'll never speak about such things again. Hell I promise to never call the police on things like this again. I'll just drive by & act like I didn't see anything & won't do anything about it.

I have the perfect oppurtunity for you to do this. Tuesday July 25, 2006 RAGBRAI's over night town is Waukee. This is in central Iowa. Really close to I-235. I'll be there to witness the challenge should you accept it. Will you be there to accept it?

I'm going to expand this even further. I now present this to anyone who disagrees with my decision to call the police to take this challenge & survive. If you do, I'll never call the police on anything like this again. So will anyone accept this challenge? Put up or shut up, put your "money" where you mouths are!

I've NEVER had a problem with a semi driver... it's the other idiots on the road (of which I've been one, twice that I know of)

When I was in the Navy I had to drive across country twice. (Had to? Well, not really HAD to... I was just unwilling to try to sell my car and try to get a new(well... used) one at my destination), plus I didn't want to pay to haul my stuff, or get rid of everything and start from scratch (though I've done that twice since then!)

The truckers always did a good job of looking out for me, and I did my best to look out for them, too.


I said this because my father is an OTR, or Over The Road driver. I know from him what happens. What the clients of his trucking company expect despite what the law says. They have to have 8 hours of rest for so many hours of driving. It hardly ever happens that way. The law has only come half way with this. The law is not making the trucking company clients change their hours of delivery & expectations based on how many hours the driver has already been on the road compared to how many hours the driver has rested. It needs to be across the board & be implemented for all aspects of the trucking industry, but it isn't.

I have seen tired drivers on the roadways. It is unsafe, especially when the truck starts swerving because the driver is drowsy & has not had rest because he has a delivery/pick up to make or he'll lose his job or the clients will find another company to get the load delivered/picked up when they need it.

calling the cops just reinforces in the cops minds that cyclists are ALL law breakers and further erodes our image.
As opposed to the image that this guy was giving to dozens of motorists passing him head on? Let's see, one cop or 200 car drivers...