Witnessed a biker on biker assault this morning. I was riding up the Capital Crescent Trail (Washington DC) this morning when a saw a fellow commuter approaching me. Then from behind him I saw two riders in racing gear swing out from behind him. The first rider pulls up along side, reaches out, and gives the commuter a hard shove with his hand.

This pushes the commuter off the trail and sends him sprawling down over a 6 foot embankment. I stopped and checked. Fortunately he was all right. Apparently there had been something going on that I hadn't seen, but to deliberately push someone over a 6 foot embankment is just out an out bullying.
:mad:

Apparently there had been something going on that I hadn't seen, but to deliberately push someone over a 6 foot embankment is just out an out bullying.
:mad:
What on earth had preceeded this? did the guy say?:eek:

Amateurish. Professionals use a frame pump to the front spokes.

Police involved?
Were the racers in team kit?

What on earth had preceeded this? did the guy say?:eek:
No doubt! There has to have been something that prompted this action.

We need to know more! (and why the shoved commuter didn't just grab the shover's arm and drag him down, too. That's what I would have done.)

What on earth had preceeded this? did the guy say?:eek:

No he didn't but he called the guy that pushed him an a-**** when I asked if something had happened before the shoving so from that I assume something must have happened between them just prior to their coming into my view.

I ride this tail just about every weekday and I've seen several instances of "team" riders riding very aggressively and acting out on anyone who gets in the way.

Police involved?
Were the racers in team kit?

Honestly I was just enough shocked by the naked aggression to be unable to give a good description. The two were definitely riding together, had no obvious commuter accouterments, and appeared to be wearing very similar, if not identical, jerseys.

No police as the rider was unhurt and the 2 aggressors were hot footing it away.

No doubt! There has to have been something that prompted this action.

We need to know more! (and why the shoved commuter didn't just grab the shover's arm and drag him down, too. That's what I would have done.)

I think the commuter was pretty much unaware that they were there. The shover came from behind and just quickly shoved him. Think about how many times someone passes you and that is the first that you were aware of them.

Man, that is SO lame. Pushers and pushee are probably going to run into each other on the same path. What then?

I ride this tail just about every weekday and I've seen several instances of "team" riders riding very aggressively and acting out on anyone who gets in the way.
Does this mean that us "normal" riders will have to start protecting ourselves with a little vigilante justice?
Could get nasty out there.:(

I've seen some thuggish behavior by some of the local teams. Deloite in particular. Been tempted to write to their local office about the behavior of people wearing their jersey.


Thanks for the heads-up, ST. I'll keep my eyes open (for a change) when I'm on the CCT, which will probably be this weekend, and on the other trails.

Lots of people who are "pro athletes" behave as though the trail belongs to them. I witnessed a 'serious' runner on once who pushed a 10-or-so-year-old out of his path while both were using doing laps at a stadium track. When such people are in a car, they probably buzz and honk at cyclists.

Somebody needs to push them off a 600' cliff. >:-(

I got buzzed by some idiot in a kit riding way too fast on a shared facility crowded with both cyclists and pedestrians last week. When I called him on it, he slowed down long enough to ask me whether I had problems controlling my bike. :rolleyes:

I got buzzed by some idiot in a kit riding way too fast on a shared facility crowded with both cyclists and pedestrians last week. When I called him on it, he slowed down long enough to ask me whether I had problems controlling my bike. :rolleyes:
Bet you were tempted to give HIM a shove. :p

Bet you were tempted to give HIM a shove. :p
I just verbally called him on his bad behavior. But when he slowed down, I started to make plans for my ulock to appear in my hand.

:D

to deliberately push someone over a 6 foot embankment is just out an out bullying.
:mad:No, it's not.

It's assault and battery.

I got buzzed by some idiot in a kit riding way too fast on a shared facility crowded with both cyclists and pedestrians last week. When I called him on it, he slowed down long enough to ask me whether I had problems controlling my bike. :rolleyes:

Do you think he'd whine if someone did that to him in a car?

what a great thread title... I think someone should step up and write a book.... I would buy it :)

what a great thread title... I think someone should step up and write a book.... I would buy it :)
Or even better - a video!

I just verbally called him on his bad behavior. But when he slowed down, I started to make plans for my ulock to appear in my hand.

:D


That's one thing that the racers and commuters don't have in common: possesion of a large hammer-like U-lock or larger chain.

But on another point that's sick, we all know our enemy is not each other, its the car.

:)

jim

I ride this tail just about every weekday and I've seen several instances of "team" riders riding very aggressively and acting out on anyone who gets in the way.Sounds like it's time for pepper spray.

And a u-lock/chain combo in case they don't get the message and come back for seconds.

Honestly I was just enough shocked by the naked aggression to be unable to give a good description. The two were definitely riding together, had no obvious commuter accouterments, and appeared to be wearing very similar, if not identical, jerseys.

No police as the rider was unhurt and the 2 aggressors were hot footing it away.

Do you think you'd recognize these guys if you saw them again on the trail?

If someone did that to me they had better be hella fast. I caught a car that threw a fast food drink at me once.,,,,BD



Carry an old chain. All you'd have to do is drop it on the rear wheel, or swing it quickly on the front wheel.

And what happens then???

Does it occur to you guys that the retaliation that you propose is as bad or worse than what this guy did and that you don't know what led up to this?

I was only proposing what might happen if I was the victim of such bullying. Really, could anything that led up to this be justified with pushing someone off the road with possible serious permanent injury? BS!

Sure, unprovoked violence inevitably brings a stronger response. It's to teach the idiot not to do it again to others for no good reason. Pushing someone purposely off the road down a six foot embankment is grounds for a fistfight in my humble opinion. The instigator rarely sticks around though, because they're usually a bullying coward. I certainly don't give a damn about some roadie clique who feels like pushing people around and harrassing them for being in their perceived "way". That would mean they thought they owned the road, and yes they would be wrong. The state owns them.,,,,BD

The fast food drink throwers? Well lets just say they shouldn't have left the window down. My water bottle was half full. Yes with water, but don't think I wasn't tempted, lol.

"This pushes the commuter off the trail and sends him sprawling down over a 6 foot embankment. "

This is more like attempted murder. The victim should have called the police.

I have nothing against retalation against unwarranted violence. If you don't stand up for your self no one willl

No he didn't but he called the guy that pushed him an a-**** when I asked if something had happened before the shoving so from that I assume something must have happened between them just prior to their coming into my view.

I ride this tail just about every weekday and I've seen several instances of "team" riders riding very aggressively and acting out on anyone who gets in the way.


Gonna take a wild guess and say " Harley Boys " . NCVC crew are pretty normal and DC Velo well,
they try to behave. but have heard of a Harley"I 'm a cat2 f u" punch out a motorist down at Haines Point for driving too close to back of pack.

As far as Police, not a good deal they can do as they did not witness it.
pretty much one cyclists word against another.

Man, that is SO lame. Pushers and pushee are probably going to run into each other on the same path. What then?

Or at least they'll think that they recognize them and more will be brought into the fray.

Does this mean that us "normal" riders will have to start protecting ourselves with a little vigilante justice? Could get nasty out there.:(

Traffic calming devices for bicycles might be needed.


I've seen some thuggish behavior by some of the local teams. Deloite in particular. Been tempted to write to their local office about the behavior of people wearing their jersey.

Sponsors have to consider the potential bad publicity that might arise from this kind of behavior. On the other hand you could always just don the clothing of your corporate enemy and go around reeking havoc among the plebes of the MUP.

I keep having to remind myself that some bicyclists do drive hummers.

"This pushes the commuter off the trail and sends him sprawling down over a 6 foot embankment. "

This is more like attempted murder. The victim should have called the police.
Battery. Attempted murder would be shoving him down the 40 foot embankment above Canal Road. Or into the stone wall at the tunnel.

I agree that it should be reported. Even if the police can't do anything about this assault, they can put together a pattern of behavior that might make is easier to catch and prosecute the guys in the future.
Looks like Park Police jurisdiction in DC and MoCo Police on the rest.

They're what I call "bicycle Nazi's" we had lots of 'em up in Breckenridge CO
too.

Hahaha. One of those tasers that shoots the barbs out on wires would rock, lol. Some rude *** roadie shoves you, keep control and fire away. They would look hilarious going down with two little silver things sticking out of their spandex butt. Shoot em in the forehead with a paint gun, call the cops, and ride away. I know, both would be too much, unless they went as far as the OP jerks.,,,,BD

Witnessed a biker on biker assault this morning. I was riding up the Capital Crescent Trail (Washington DC) this morning when a saw a fellow commuter approaching me. Then from behind him I saw two riders in racing gear swing out from behind him. The first rider pulls up along side, reaches out, and gives the commuter a hard shove with his hand.

This pushes the commuter off the trail and sends him sprawling down over a 6 foot embankment. I stopped and checked. Fortunately he was all right. Apparently there had been something going on that I hadn't seen, but to deliberately push someone over a 6 foot embankment is just out an out bullying.
:mad:
The actions of what I call a coward, and a stupid one at that.