Commuting - close call again

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View Full Version : close call again


shishi
12-12-03, 07:17 AM
Sorry but I need to vent. Just hoped on my fixie for my usual morning commute to work in Brooklyn, NY. So today as I am making my way I am on Bedford Ave, which has a nice bike lane. I have the green light, I am in the lane, and as many of you know a car pulls out in front of me to get around a car turning left.

I am not going to fast as the light just changed. He leaves no room to squeeze by on so either I fly over the car or give him a nice hand hit to the car so the dumb ass knows that I am there.

Well of course he freaks out...follows me for a block, yelling at me, the usual crap.

Claims he is a cop, is on his cell phone (it is illegal to talk without a handless unit in NY). Claims he will arrest me...for what...who knows.

The best part though, I meet up with him at the next light...I don't make eye contact, but I am wearing the biggest grin ever.

God I hate cars...and those who don't know how to drive.

Matt


LittleBigMan
12-12-03, 07:46 AM
...I am in the [bike] lane, and...a car pulls out in front of me to get around a car turning left.

I...give him a nice hand hit to the car so [he] knows that I am there.

Well of course he freaks out...follows me for a block, yelling at me...

Claims he is a cop...

It never ceases to amaze me how some motorists are more concerned about their paint-jobs than they are about your precious skin and bones.

Did you get his license number? Report him. Maybe he will have to explain his actions to his superiors.

VegasCyclist
12-12-03, 09:30 AM
Claims he is a cop, is on his cell phone (it is illegal to talk without a handless unit in NY). Claims he will arrest me...for what...who knows.


I would have told him if he is a cop then he should know, he has to yeild right of way to cyclists.... vent off your steam but don't let it get to you :)


notgermy
12-12-03, 09:45 AM
Yeah, I know what you mean. I've learned to deal with these situations as follows: ride with traffic, even when in a bike lane. Here's how it works: if you slow with traffic (e.g. traffic has slowed/stopped due to a car making a lefthand turn) you can be better prepared for such situations as a car bolting into your lane.