Advocacy & Safety - Reckless Driver Encounter

On my commute home today an SUV passed me and one of the occupants (the driver) shouted something out the window. As luck would have it, the light turned red and I drifted up next to him. Not knowing who it was, or what they had yelled (good or bad), I rode up next to the car and looked in the window.
Me: Sorry, did you say something to me?
Driver: Yeah, you're riding on the wrong side of the road! You gotta get over on the other side.
Me: *shaking head* The Law says I have to ride....
Driver: You aint a motorcycle, I got a motorcycles license, I know the law.

At this point I decided I wasn't going to be able to tell this man anything. I shook my head again and then rode my bike forward about half a car length so I was no longer right next to him. While I was doing this I heard him shout "Get on the sidewalk!" (Which I found odd since he just told me I was supposed to be on the other side of the street....)

After the light turned green I continued on and stayed right to let them pass me. He drove pass, shouted "dickhead!" and swerved over right in front of me. It's instances like these where I am glad I have a video camera on my bike.

I'll be the first person to admit that I should never have ridden up and spoke to him...stupid thing for me to do. It had been one of those days at work where you don't want to take any crap, I think I realized that right after I started talking to him. Still, I don't think I did anything to warrant a swerve:) I'll try and call the traffic cops later and see if there is anything they can do (doubt it, but you never know).

Don't have any real point for posting the story, but this is the first real 'instance' I had in over a year commuting, felt I should share.

& where abouts in "Mid-Michigan" did this happen? He must know the law better than you though from the sounds of it!!!!! :eek:

Hope the cops can/ will do something about him. Boy would the look on his face be great to see when he is slapped with the "true law".

Chris

& where abouts in "Mid-Michigan" did this happen? He must know the law better than you though from the sounds of it!!!!! :eek:

Saginaw.


Hope the cops can/ will do something about him. Boy would the look on his face be great to see when he is slapped with the "true law".


I've been meaning to carry around little cards with the law written on it, I really need to get around to making those:)

On my commute home today an SUV passed me and one of the occupants (the driver) shouted something out the window. As luck would have it, the light turned red and I drifted up next to him. Not knowing who it was, or what they had yelled (good or bad), I rode up next to the car and looked in the window.
Me: Sorry, did you say something to me?
Driver: Yeah, you're riding on the wrong side of the road! You gotta get over on the other side.
Me: *shaking head* The Law says I have to ride....
Driver: You aint a motorcycle, I got a motorcycles license, I know the law.

At this point I decided I wasn't going to be able to tell this man anything. I shook my head again and then rode my bike forward about half a car length so I was no longer right next to him. While I was doing this I heard him shout "Get on the sidewalk!" (Which I found odd since he just told me I was supposed to be on the other side of the street....)

After the light turned green I continued on and stayed right to let them pass me. He drove pass, shouted "dickhead!" and swerved over right in front of me. It's instances like these where I am glad I have a video camera on my bike.

I'll be the first person to admit that I should never have ridden up and spoke to him...stupid thing for me to do. It had been one of those days at work where you don't want to take any crap, I think I realized that right after I started talking to him. Still, I don't think I did anything to warrant a swerve:) I'll try and call the traffic cops later and see if there is anything they can do (doubt it, but you never know).

Don't have any real point for posting the story, but this is the first real 'instance' I had in over a year commuting, felt I should share.
Classic manifestation of what I call "the notion" - the notion that bicyclists don't belong on the road in the way of motorists. That's their main point, where you are instead is of little interest to them, as this guy illustrated, as long as you are not perceived to be in their way. Hence, "get on the other side of the road", "get on the sidewalk", "get in the bike lane" (often shouted when there is no bike lane), all mean the same thing: get out of my way.

get out of my way.
I caught part of a Ford Super Duty truck television adverstisement recently. The actor (also seen hugging his truck) said something to the effect of "When I'm driving this truck, you'd better get out of my way"

The notion that smaller vehicles should get out of the way of larger ones.

I can't find it online.

Al

At this point I decided I wasn't going to be able to tell this man anything. I shook my head again and then rode my bike forward about half a car length so I was no longer right next to him. While I was doing this I heard him shout "Get on the sidewalk!" (Which I found odd since he just told me I was supposed to be on the other side of the street....)

To which the correct response is 'Which one?'

After the light turned green I continued on and stayed right to let them pass me. He drove pass, shouted "dickhead!" and swerved over right in front of me. It's instances like these where I am glad I have a video camera on my bike.

In that kind of situation, it's probably better to hang back at the light and let them through ahead of you. Doesn't give 'em the opportunity to 'teach you a lesson'.

I'll be the first person to admit that I should never have ridden up and spoke to him...stupid thing for me to do. It had been one of those days at work where you don't want to take any crap, I think I realized that right after I started talking to him. Still, I don't think I did anything to warrant a swerve:) I'll try and call the traffic cops later and see if there is anything they can do (doubt it, but you never know).

Nothing wrong with talking to him. Expecting reason from him may have been your only error.

I wouldn't bother the police over something like that, otherwise they'd never see the back of me.

Don't have any real point for posting the story, but this is the first real 'instance' I had in over a year commuting, felt I should share.

You're doing well then.

Classic manifestation of what I call "the notion" - the notion that bicyclists don't belong on the road in the way of motorists. That's their main point, where you are instead is of little interest to them, as this guy illustrated, as long as you are not perceived to be in their way. Hence, "get on the other side of the road", "get on the sidewalk", "get in the bike lane" (often shouted when there is no bike lane), all mean the same thing: get out of my way.

Great advice, as always.

I saw nothing in anything Mr_H wrote that indicated he needed advice on anything.

Classic manifestation of what I call "the notion" - the notion that bicyclists don't belong on the road in the way of motorists. That's their main point, where you are instead is of little interest to them, as this guy illustrated, as long as you are not perceived to be in their way. Hence, "get on the other side of the road", "get on the sidewalk", "get in the bike lane" (often shouted when there is no bike lane), all mean the same thing: get out of my way.

All evidence of bad motoring habits... not sharing the road and expecting others to give in to the individual's selfishness because of a big truck "problem." Sheesh.

Sometimes I wish my bicycle had a machine gun mounted on it ... turret style !

Don't mind me, I'm just getting some groceries.

http://www.velocide.com/user_uploads/IsraelionBike.jpg

I caught part of a Ford Super Duty truck television adverstisement recently. The actor (also seen hugging his truck) said something to the effect of "When I'm driving this truck, you'd better get out of my way"

The notion that smaller vehicles should get out of the way of larger ones.

I can't find it online.

Al
I get this a lot when I'm in my compact car, but luckily these guys don't seem as rude to cyclists around here. Regardless, I really hate trucks because they obstruct my view of what's ahead, and they hardly ever have mudflaps to keep rocks from flying everywhere.

I get this a lot when I'm in my compact car, but luckily these guys don't seem as rude to cyclists around here. Regardless, I really hate trucks because they obstruct my view of what's ahead, and they hardly ever have mudflaps to keep rocks from flying everywhere.

"Better move outa the way, big truck comin'"

Sometimes I wish my bicycle had a machine gun mounted on it ... turret style !

Don't mind me, I'm just getting some groceries.

http://www.velocide.com/user_uploads/IsraelionBike.jpg

Looks like he's riding 'default centreish', so he should be perfectly safe even without the gun.