Advocacy & Safety - Fort Lauderdale > get on the sidewalk !

I was riding home this afternoon, and I am on the right side on us-1 heading south, so this van honks his horn for about 5 seconds non-stop then buzzes me... I shift to the big ring and spin it up hard 30 mph and catch him 1/3 of a mile at the next red light...

He pulls to the right side of the road and blocks my path completely ... so I move over to his left side and stop next to his window, he has it down so I take off my helmet and start the yelling match that goes something like this:

me: You have to share the road !
cager: use the sidewalk !
me: Its the law in florida, you have to share the road.
cager: no its not!!
me: its the law in all 50 states, you have to share the road with bicycles.
cager: no its not !
me: you don't know the laws, you have to share the road.
cager: ever been to Weston? They have bicycle lanes there, that is where you belong.
me: you have to share the road in florida.
cager.. samething...
me.. I curse him out... light turns green, and go on my merry way ahead of him..

He buzzes me again, and I fruitlessly push against the side of his van ... he drives off, makes the next right turn and is gone...

I am pissed all the way home....

sucks to be me today.

- yep, that's the east coast of Florida - just a part of the greater NorthEast...

- down here, there are lots of bike riders... any hassling of cyclists results in a rock (or empty bottle of Jack D) through the back window...

:-)

So tell me, did picking a fight with him help or hinder your mood? Sometimes, we are our own worst enemy. The better thing to do if you want to be "morally superior" to the car driver, is to pass him on the left when he blocked you on the right and smile and wave. It simply is not worth it to pick a fight with someone like this guy.

Cheers and I hope your mood improves.

So tell me, did picking a fight with him help or hinder your mood? Sometimes, we are our own worst enemy. The better thing to do if you want to be "morally superior" to the car driver, is to pass him on the left when he blocked you on the right and smile and wave. It simply is not worth it to pick a fight with someone like this guy.

Cheers and I hope your mood improves.


Its been a while since I've confronted a cager, but this guy just broke the last straw....

I guess I'll try harder to keep it to myself from now on....

Its been a while since I've confronted a cager, but this guy just broke the last straw....

I guess I'll try harder to keep it to myself from now on....

Do vent here, all I am saying is that it is not worth it to pick a fight with someone who might mace you or shoot you as is the suggestion of so many on the BF. It is better to vent safely than risk meeting another BF poster when they are in their car .


:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

This happens to me all the time in Miami. Getting into a fight is probably not worth it, but this guy definitely committed vehicular assault. He buzzed you twice and then cut you off. Thats assault with a deadly weapon. How many times have you heard of someone in a car getting shot by the cops because he drives at a cop on foot in a menacing way?

What I'm doing is carrying my cell phone set on camera (I wish it had a stun setting) and I'm going to photograph the license and the person and then call 911 and see if the cops do anything. Probably not, but then I will ask to speak to his LT or the captain until I get some action.

......

Hey, did I meet you at the velodrome once ?

Do you live in Coral Gables ?

You had a red vintage track bike right ??? Just wondering..

For these guys you need to carry a copy of the rules with you... When they give you the "no it's not" bit, you give them a copy of the rules.

Or... offer to call a cop to sort it out... tell the guy you will be more than happy to make the call and wait for the cop to sort it out for him... see what kind of reaction you get then.

Ideally you should not confront someone in a motor vehicle... but there are times... need I say more.

For these guys you need to carry a copy of the rules with you... When they give you the "no it's not" bit, you give them a copy of the rules.

Or... offer to call a cop to sort it out... tell the guy you will be more than happy to make the call and wait for the cop to sort it out for him... see what kind of reaction you get then.

Ideally you should not confront someone in a motor vehicle... but there are times... need I say more.


Somehow, I don't think this guy would care even if a judge told him what the laws are ....

Since I don't have a video camera with me when I ride, I should have just stopped right behind him, pulled out my cell phone and snapped a picture of his illegal placement on the road ( he completely blocked my path by moving all the way to the right side where his wheel was almost on the sidewalk) and then snapped a shot of his tag, and a shot of the name of the company on the side of the truck and then called the police and called his company to complain....

Instead I let my emotions get the best of me.... I really need to figure out a way to calm down and make better decisions.......

Somehow, I don't think this guy would care even if a judge told him what the laws are ....

Since I don't have a video camera with me when I ride, I should have just stopped right behind him, pulled out my cell phone and snapped a picture of his illegal placement on the road ( he completely blocked my path by moving all the way to the right side where his wheel was almost on the sidewalk) and then snapped a shot of his tag, and a shot of the name of the company on the side of the truck and then called the police and called his company to complain....

Instead I let my emotions get the best of me.... I really need to figure out a way to calm down and make better decisions.......

Actually rather then getting in a fight, you should have snapped a photo, of the donkey end of the truck, including the tag, then send this to the head of the company, include the date and time of the photo, and explain how the driver is giving the company a poor image to the community. The driver didn't know who you are, suppose you are a high up in the companies biggest client, and were now going to move your companies business elsewhere.