Ever have a motorist do something to get you off the road other then yell at you?

[N_C]

I don't mean run you off the road or do anything to harm you. I mean do something to try to get you off the road.

Last year on a commute home while riding on Singing Hills Blvd, a 35 mph divided 4 lane through a major commercial area, a motorist in a large Ford 250 slow down in front of me & pointed to the MUP to our right. I knew what he meant by it, he wanted me to use the trail & not the roadway. I just smiled & waived but kept riding behind him. He sped up a little but after seeing I was still on the road & not the MUP he did it again, but the second time he all but stopped. I made a move toward the left half of the lane I was in to pass him & was going to pass him in the left lane as soon as it was clear. He saw this & all of a sudden swerved left cutting off the passing car almost causing an accident. I pulled up next to him & he rolled down his window & said I am supposed to be on the trail, not the street. I advised him he is wrong & to I am allowed to be on the roadway & that he broke the law by cutting off a car almost causing an accident. He stated he would force me onto the trail & told him to go ahead & try. The light turned green, he sped through to the next left turn lane to turn around, I assume to get behind me or something. I proceeded as though nothing had happened. By the time he caught back up with me the trail was no longer on the right, but had turned off into a differant direction then the roadway was going, so he just gunned his engine to speed past me, never saw him again. Don't know what this was supposed to prove, but I wasn't impressed.

I don't know why he turned left to turn around to try to get behind me, instead of just pull ahead of & get in front of me. He certainly had the horsepower to do so. I would loved to have found out by what he meant by force me onto the trail. Still wondering what he meant by that. Anyone have any ideas how he would have done this?

Have you ever had a motorist do anything like this while you were riding? Or has it always been yelling, etc.?

The only yelling were so we could hear one another, there was no swearing or anything like that. How would you have handled this?

[Bekologist]

yes, i've had drivers escalate the violence. and what do you mean, NOT try to run you off the road? that's exactly what the truck was trying to do, intimidate you into going MUP.

I've had cagers wave guns, I've had cagers stop and get out and attempt to attack me, I've had numerous road ragers follow me around neighborhoods and etc. I've had to take the opposing lanes of traffic to escape a mad, swerving driver as I passed them on the left on a four lane. I don't think they like my VC riding style.

i've also pepper-sprayed a whackjob rager during an altercation. After they got out of their car. I felt threatened, and I can justify premptive pepper spraying ANY driver that gets out of their car to confront me.

[N_C]

yes, i've had drivers escalate the violence. and what do you mean, NOT try to run you off the road? that's exactly what the truck was trying to do, intimidate you into going MUP.

I've had cagers wave guns, I've had cagers stop and get out and attempt to attack me, I've had numerous road ragers follow me around neighborhoods and etc. I've had to take the opposing lanes of traffic to escape a mad, swerving driver as I passed them on the left on a four lane. I don't think they like my VC riding style.

i've also pepper-sprayed a whackjob rager during an altercation. After they got out of their car. I felt threatened, and I can justify premptive pepper spraying ANY driver that gets out of their car to confront me.

To me run me off the road with his truck is using his truck to swerve at me to the right to get me to move to the right toward the curb & trail. He never did that. The only time he was on my left is when I stopped next to him at the light & when he passed me after realizing the trail was no longer available, nor was any kind of side path, to ride on. Maybe this cager thinks cyclists only have to use the MUP's when they are available otherwise it is ok for us to use the roadways. I don't know & I don't care. I was not afraid of him & at no time would I have done as he wished. The same goes for any motorist.

[Bekologist]

I bet if a cager was screaming at you how he was going to 'teach you a lesson', and pulled off the road ahead of you, and got out of the car with a baseball bat, the adrenalin would get pumping, dude. Quit chestbeating.

It sounds to me like the drivers' intent was to run you off the road using intimidation. He swerved to his left while you were preparing to go left around him. sounds like dice.

[N_C]

I bet if a cager was screaming at you how he was going to 'teach you a lesson', and pulled off the road ahead of you, and got out of the car with a baseball bat, the adrenalin would get pumping, dude. Quit chestbeating.

It sounds to me like the drivers' intent was to run you off the road using intimidation. He swerved to his left while you were preparing to go left around him. sounds like dice.

Sure it would & I'd do what I need to to protect myself. This guy ended up being a blow hard anyway. Had he done anything further I would have used methods at my disposal to protect myself.

[Bekologist]

tough guy. i bet you pack heat while riding. That's riding in fear. Or are your hands 'classified as lethal weapons in 37 states?'

[N_C]

tough guy. i bet you pack heat while riding. That's riding in fear. Or are your hands 'classified as lethal weapons in 37 states?'

Please tell me you're being satirical. No, I don't carry a firearm, though the thought has crossed my mind from time to time. I carry pepper spray, a cell phone, both a video & a photo camera & a knife.

[simoriah]

Commuting to work, minding my own business. It's one lane each way. Lanes are VERY wide with a nasty curb.
I'm minding my own business. Silver camaro comes up next to me. Speed limit is 35. I'm not doing anywhere near that. He's pacing me. Um... ok....
He gets closer. I move over. Closer. I move over. Closer.... NOw I'm right next to the curb, I can't pedal or I'll bounce off the thing. It all happens so quickly, only thing I can think of is to unclip and kick the side of the car. Yes. I know I did a bad thing.
He speeds up, turns the car half-way into a driveway, blocking my way. He jumps out and demands I pull over cause I caused an accident. He has to call the cops.
Worried because I"m the only cyclist I've ever seen on this stretch of road (i'm easily identified) I pull over, set my bike against a nearby tree, and wait.
The cop shows up. He comes straight to me, asking me if I'm ok, hurt, etc. The whole time, the cager is screaming at the "f'in pig" to come talk to him. I give the cop my statement. He finally turns his attention to the whack-job that's been yelling at him.
"That damn kid was swerving all over the road, doing like 5 miles per hour and then he slammed into my car!"
Cop looks at the little scratch in his passenger-side door, looks at me (i'm laughin, now) and looks back at the nutjob. "Would you like to change your statement?"
"What?!"
"Tell me what really happened?"
"You callin me a liar, pig?!"
"Yep. Look at him. He's wearing cycling gear. He doesn't look like some kid out for a joyride. He probably knows how to ride in a straight line. And even IF he was swerving all over... he didn't 'slam into you' at 5mph. If he slammed into you, there'd be more than a tiny scratch in your door, his bike would be damaged, and he probably woudln't be over there, laughing at you."
Cop comes back to me to make sure I'm ok, then goes back to his car.
He plays with his laptop for a bit, comes out, and heads straight to me holding a long, white piece of paper in his hands. Great... I'm getting a ticket.
He asks me, again, if I'm ok. I'm fine. He goes to the guy, still screaming at the cop for calling him a liar.
"Sir, this is your ticket for wreckless driving (that's a 6-point misdemeanor in this state)."
"But that f'in kid should be on the f'in sidewalk."
"Sir... look at him. He's not just some punk kid. And... son, how fast were you going?"
"Computer says 18mph average for the day."
"speed limit on the sidewalks around here is 10mph. So he SHOULD be in the road. when he's on the road, he should be given all of the rights of any other driver on that road. You should pass him like he's riding a motorcycle... give him half the lane when you're passing IF it's legal to pass."
"f'in pig! You taking his side?"
"If you'd like to argue this with me, I'd be happy to do so... after I arrest you and book you for attempted murder with a motor vehicle..... Well?"
Cager muttered a few more choice phrases and drove off.
Cop walks up to me... "Wow... what a character. Hey, nice jersey. I've got one just like it."

:)

[mihlbach]

I've never had serious trouble from a motorist, but the first thing I'd do if there was any sort of verbal exchange is to remind them that I have their license plate #.

[eubi]

I have never had any confrontation of the type you describe.

[thomson]

Johnny, I have been reading some of your stories for years now and you sure have a had lot of altercations. In that period of time, I have had none. You need to look within to determine the cause.
Yes, I am sure it is possible to run into an undesirable situation, but you have way more than your fair share.

Now, you can cyber-yell at me if you want about how I don't understand your situation, etc., etc. but, I am just saying you might want to try some other tactics while out on the road.

[sbhikes]

I had a pedestrian yell at me to get on the sidewalk. Probably because I was riding my trike and he assumed I was in a wheel chair. That happens (assuming it's a wheelchair) a lot.

I had a driver swerve at me to force me off the road. There was no where else for me to go on this road. No adjacent bike lane or path, no shoulder, nothing. So he wasn't telling me to go somewhere else, he was telling me to go away and don't come back. And I wasn't even on his side of the road!!

I often ride on roads nearby or directly adjacent to bike paths or MUPs and only once has anybody tried to run me off the road under these conditions. That person was driving a beer truck. I wish I would have gotten his license because he would have lost his job. He must have been new here because everybody else seems to understand this is a bicycle town and we are everywhere.

[genec]

simoriah... beautiful exchange... sounds like the cop was a cyclist and things worked out quite well.

[N_C]

N_C, I have been reading some of your stories for years now and you sure have a had lot of altercations. In that period of time, I have had none. You need to look within to determine the cause.
Yes, I am sure it is possible to run into an undesirable situation, but you have way more than your fair share.

Now, you can cyber-yell at me if you want about how I don't understand your situation, etc., etc. but, I am just saying you might want to try some other tactics while out on the road.

The cause isn't me, that I can assure you. I do nothing to purposly provoke a motorist. Now if my presence on the roadways causes provacation then I have no control over how a motorist reacts to me as a cyclist. I can not control their road rage or how they feel when encountering a cyclist. Especially because I ride like I am supposed to. As a VC & always obeying the law.

[Bekologist]

one that sticks out from this summer-

I was riding next to a fella in a trike, he's special needs and I helped him with some bike equipment at the bike shop, he was in the bike lane, we were talking, and I was in the right hand lane of a four laner. Traffic was very light. I had a pizza delivery guy (with california plates) tailgating me, playing 'wolf and chicken', honking, screaming out the window to get off the road, instead of simply changing lanes to pass.

I went to the delivery station, and filled out a complaint. he lost his job.

[chipcom]

The cause isn't me, that I can assure you. I do nothing to purposly provoke a motorist. Now if my presence on the roadways causes provacation then I have no control over how a motorist reacts to me as a cyclist. I can not control their road rage or how they feel when encountering a cyclist. Especially because I ride like I am supposed to. As a VC & always obeying the law.

You've never noticed that 'Kick Me' sign they put on your back in kindergarten, have you?

[CrosseyedCrickt]

My only runins are with teenage boys who, when I finally catch up with them, cower at the site of my mighty manhood girth bulging from within my tights. :D

[SingingSabre]

1-2 AM, I was in the right lane on a three-lane road. I was buzzed CLOSE, as in "Woah, that mirror wanted to whisper sweet nothings in my ear" close. Two guys in the SUV which performed said buzzing yelled something unintelligible to me. I caught up to them at the light, not of my volition, though, I don't like to exacerbate situations in which I am outnumbered. They yelled and threatened me more. I laughed.

That's it, though, really.

[AndrewP]

A few times cars have pulled right in to the curb when they are stopped at traffic lights, so I cant come through. I then went left to use the space they had provided between the lanes.

[SingleSpeeDemon]

...I've had cagers stop and get out and attempt to attack me...

Here's what you do if some ******bag hops out of his car and confronts you and it works only if he is alone in the car:

Make a quick move to the front driver-side door (you'll notice that the engine is running and keys are in the ignition) push the switch that locks all the doors, slam the door shut and ride off.

I always thought this would be amusing.

[N_C]

Here's what you do if some ******bag hops out of his car and confronts you and it works only if he is alone in the car:

Make a quick move to the front driver-side door (you'll notice that the engine is running and keys are in the ignition) push the switch that locks all the doors, slam the door shut and ride off.

I always thought this would be amusing.

Only problem with this is if the keys are in the ignition & the engine is running you are unable to lock the doors with the electronic locks if the drivers door is open. At least in vehicle 1998 or newer. You could probably manually lock the drivers door at least then shut it to lock the keys in the ignition with the engine running.

[AlmostTrick]

If the guy is getting out of his car his attention is on you. You're not going to just sneak around him unnoticed and lock the doors or grab the keys. (which would be better and easier than locking the doors) Maybe you could do it if you take him out first, but then you could get in trouble for assault.

[Bekologist]

if any driver harasses me, intimidates me with their car, then pulls ahead, stops, and gets out, they are getting a premptive, defensive hose down with a red bull sized, law enforcement can of 'dog-n-driver' pepper spray I keep pump strapped to the seattubes on my main rides. Had this happen before, and believe me, I feel justified acting in self defense.

A driver changing modes to harass a bicyclist? I am positive I can prove self defense in court, I'm not even worried about the ramifications.

[cydisc]

Johnny, I have been reading some of your stories for years now and you sure have a had lot of altercations. In that period of time, I have had none. You need to look within to determine the cause.
Yes, I am sure it is possible to run into an undesirable situation, but you have way more than your fair share.

Now, you can cyber-yell at me if you want about how I don't understand your situation, etc., etc. but, I am just saying you might want to try some other tactics while out on the road.

N_C's only problem is that he lives in Sioux City.

[TMT]

yep mostly some good samar-ten trying to save me from the evils of the road. or the red neck who thinks he owns the road cause he drives a 4X4. the worst are the middle age couch jockies with dunloppen in the mid life crises cars who feel that its brave to screw with the biker on the highway; then when they get the finger they stop and get out of the car. the little pathetic things about piss them selves when the two meter troll gets out of his trike. I'm gitten so i don't like many drivers these days.

[N_C]

N_C's only problem is that he lives in Sioux City.

How is that a problem? You ever ridden bike here? I can say this much it is a lot better then riding in Des Moines. A lot less traffic, easier to navigate around the city. We don't have an interstate that cuts the city in half, like Des Moines.

[cydisc]

Fewer rednecks in Des Moines, in my estimation.

[cydisc]

Fewer rednecks in Des Moines, in my estimation.
Let me rephrase that. The guy wonders why you have so many incidents while on the road, while he's had none. I'm merely pointing out that SC has a fair share of unenlightened individuals on the road that could account for your experiences.

[CrosseyedCrickt]

N_C
the next time I'm hunting in Iowa (Springbrook Park / Raccoon River area) we'll go for a ride and i'll show you how to handle those people.
Riding in my full camo with my rifel, we'll have some good ol' fashioned prison fun with em!! :D

[Bekologist]

I'm intrigued how N_C, who appears to be a dedicated transportational bicyclist that rides in a vehicular style, and myself, who also rides vehicularily and am a dedicated transportationalist, get a lot of flack from drivers. enough so we both ride with pepper spray.

I've been riding transportationally for over 30 years, and have seen distinct and apparant degradation in respect for bicyclists since the 1970's.

VC and the ragin' cagers!

[LittleBigMan]

...a motorist in a large Ford 250 slow down in front of me & pointed to the MUP to our right. ...he rolled down his window & said I am supposed to be on the trail, not the street. ...He stated he would force me onto the trail & told him to go ahead & try.

How would you have handled this?
Well, I get into trouble telling people how I would have handled something, because as soon as I do, I end up in that situation and don't follow my own advice. :p So I guess you want to know my opinion, instead.

As far as I know, in places where an authority can order you onto the path, that authority does not include civilians. So getting his tag number when you were behind him and reporting his threatening behavior to police would have been an option. Also, I don't think he needed any encouragement, so it would have been best not to tell him to "go ahead and try."

Motorists who think they can bully cyclists are true cowards.

[N_C]

Well, I get into trouble telling people how I would have handled something, because as soon as I do, I end up in that situation and don't follow my own advice. :p So I guess you want to know my opinion, instead.

As far as I know, in places where an authority can order you onto the path, that authority does not include civilians. So getting his tag number when you were behind him and reporting his threatening behavior to police would have been an option. Also, I don't think he needed any encouragement, so it would have been best not to tell him to "go ahead and try."

Motorists who think they can bully cyclists are true cowards.

Problem is though, they bully cyclists because they can, usually for no other reason. This guy was just nicer then most about it.