http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/727157.html

This is news, but the countless GLASS bottles, ice, coffee, etc etc thrown at US isn't? Go figure.

sorry, but to quote my mother 'two wrongs don't make a right'
he got her to stop that was a start. While I have no idea what transpired
throwing a water bottle at her isn't the smartest thing in the world.
Now that one article will justify a lot of the anti cyclist attitude thats
already out there.

marty

This is news, but the countless GLASS bottles, ice, coffee, etc etc thrown at US isn't? Go figure.

Great point. But if they stopped throwing stuff at us, we wouldn't get mentioned in 10-worst cities type articles.

You guys can piss and moan all you want about that guy being a bad example for cyclists. But the fact is that he is human and reacted to a situation that affected him. The author of the article says he believed she cut him off. That translates into risk of bodily harm for a cyclist.

Fact is, that one article isn't going to do anything about people's attitudes toward cyclists. We're the only ones that are likely to care. She didn't cut him off because she didn't like cyclists, it was likely because she (like the other 99% of the population) was either in too big of a hurry or just too oblivious to care about anyone else, cyclist or not.

I think part of "our" problem is: when was the last time anyone here called the police after ice, glass, cups, etc were thrown at them by someone in a passing vehicle? In my experience, very rarely does the group pull off to call in a license-plate after one of these events.

On the flip-side, think about how easily the upset motorist who, in their mind, was inconvenienced by a group of bikes, can reach over and call 911 to report that unruly group of cyclists that just ran a stop-sign, red-light, blocked traffic, etc, etc.

That's exactly why we have problems in towns like Sachse where we get buzzed by cars/trucks on a regular basis, and yet get ticketed/pulled-over by the local PD for not fully stopping at stop-signs, etc (rightfully in many cases, but I digress). Their residents have voiced their displeasure with bike groups, the bike groups (likely) haven't reported the intimidation they face on these roads, so the cyclists become the "problem" for the PD.

Getting buzzed, cut off, cussed at, and generally denied a right to the raod is a way of life in Dallas if you ride.

That being said, this guys actions aren't going to help us at all. There was an article a few days ago about riders and drivers not getting along in the DMN. The rider that was interviewed raised the valid point that as a riders we make no friends when we fail to stop at lights or stop signs, and we really make no friends when as groups we fail to go single file when traffic picks up. We have the same right to the road as they do, but impressions are a difficult thing to overcome.

My kingdom for bike lanes.

There but for the grace of God go I.

"When police arrived, the cyclist was in troubled water."

:roflmao2: I almost choked on my drink when I read that.

In the early days if I took the time to report every action of road rage against me on my commute and waited for the cops to show up I wouldn't have gotten to work before lunch.

I think I got a police escort through a development a couple times this week because some citizen complained. I mean why else would he be waiting at one entrance then pull out and follow me (going 10 mph under the speed limit) while I turned 5 times and stopped at 9 stop signs before turning off into a parking lot or sidewalk to cross 2499. Must be my big 3 watt speakers waking up the neighborhood as I pass by.

...
and we really make no friends when as groups we fail to go single file when traffic picks up.
...

Are you saying that if there is a lot of traffic, cyclists should not take the lane? I commute alone so I'm always going single file. However, I take up as much of the lane as I would riding next to someone.
This only applies to multi-lane (four lanes and up), since I do move to the right for cars on two-lane roads.

Sorry for the thread-jack. :o

My kingdom for bike lanes.
Every road has a bike lanes.
We just need to share them with cars sometimes ;)

Are you saying that if there is a lot of traffic, cyclists should not take the lane? I commute alone so I'm always going single file. However, I take up as much of the lane as I would riding next to someone.
This only applies to multi-lane (four lanes and up), since I do move to the right for cars on two-lane roads.

Sorry for the thread-jack. :o

I wasn't too clear, but I meant groups on 2 lane roads. On multi lane roads, take the lane.

While we have the right to the lane on any road, ot doesn't mean it's the right thing to do in all cases.

The article I read centered on angy drivers on two lane roads. I should have been more clear on that.

Most people that harass me seem to think they're in the right while doing it. I can imagine how he felt, as I've felt the same many times. Most drivers don't seem to realize that you're a person, instead of a hindrance to vent at.,,,,BD

I wonder if it would still be assault if he squirted the bottle into the car.,,,,BD

I get honked at and have had things thrown at me. I'm a firm believer of what goes around comes around. Even if that means I'm still able to walk and stay out of the nursing home while they are undergoing their third bypass surgery and live in a nursing home.

-Nate