Advocacy & Safety - Halfwit jerk on a bike assaults a driver

Drunk Portland cyclist used bike to club a driver (http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/angry_bicyclists_gang_up_on_th.html)

Angry bicyclists gang up on the wrong person
Posted by Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian July 09, 2008 18:11PM

The cultural clash between Portland bicyclists and motorists took a surreal turn Sunday night when a motorist involved in a confrontation with a cyclist turned out to be a longtime advocate for cycling.

Colin Yates, 47, was driving with his wife and two teenagers in his family's green Subaru Legacy when he saw a bicyclist pass him on the left and blow through a stoplight on Southeast 20th Avenue at Belmont Street. Yates continued driving north on 20th Avenue, through another intersection, until he caught up with the bicyclist.

Yates honked his horn, leaned out his window, and chided the bicyclist for making other cyclists look bad. Yates, a self-described bike advocate for more than 30 years, told the bicyclist that he was a responsible bike rider who gets upset when he sees fellow riders disobeying traffic signals.

Traffic continued to flow, and the cyclist and Yates both continued north on Southeast 20th, until they were stopped at a red light at Stark Street.

The bicyclist rode up to the driver's window. Yates described the man to police as "irritated and aggravated." The cyclist was cursing at Yates and yelled at him to get out of the car. "Let's go! You want to go?" the bicyclist shouted, challenging Yates to a fight.

By now, the bicyclist, Steven McAtee, 31, was off his wheels. Yates said McAtee picked up his bike and wielded it like a weapon, smashing it against the Subaru's hood and windshield.

Yates stepped from his car and told McAtee to back off.

McAtee turned on Yates. He lifted his bike above his shoulders and struck Yates with it, Yates said. Yates tried to use his hands to block the blows and then ducked back into his car and attempted to leave. But McAtee got in front of the Subaru and repeatedly struck the vehicle with his bike, Yates said.

Yates stepped from his car again and was struck five to seven more times with McAtee's bicycle, police reports say.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a passer-by knocked McAtee to the ground with one punch.

And, as fast as McAtee hit the ground, nearly a dozen people -- many bicyclists who were riding by and noticed the commotion -- swarmed around Yates, shoving cell phone cameras about a foot from his face and accusing him of roughing up the bicyclist.

To make matters worse, a 9-1-1 call that came in at 10:10 p.m. was relayed to officers as: "Car hit bicycle, and people yelling."

Officers found a confusing scene when they arrived. About 25 to 30 people were gathered, and police described the atmosphere as hostile towards the motorist. Some witnesses were afraid to speak up for Yates.

One witness on a bicycle told police he didn't want to make a statement at the scene because of the "thugs and bad folks" here, according to the police report. He later talked to police by phone and gave an account that backed up Yates' story.

It turns out, police say bicyclist McAtee was both drunk and in the wrong. And he's a city employee. He works for Portland's transportation department as a building plan examiner.

McAtee was charged with third-degree assault, criminal mischief, driving under the influence of intoxicants and disorderly conduct. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Police said Yates, who set out the next day on a move to Colorado, had an imprint of a bike chain on his left forearm and grease stains on his shoulder.

News of Sunday night's confrontation circulated quickly among officers and reached Officer Robert Pickett, the bureau's unofficial liaison between police and Portland's biking community.

"It's almost kind of quintessentially a Portland thing," Pickett said, after reading the police reports.

Pickett, who said he works to bridge the gap between motorists and cyclists, called the alleged assault and subsequent witness reaction unfortunate. "It's too bad there's an 'us vs. them' dynamic," Pickett said.

He asked that witnesses who approach such a scene call police but not rush to get involved.

"We ask them to be a good witness and not jump to conclusions."

Yates honked his horn, leaned out his window, and chided the bicyclist for making other cyclists look bad. Yates, a self-described bike advocate for more than 30 years, told the bicyclist that he was a responsible bike rider who gets upset when he sees fellow riders disobeying traffic signals.

Sorry, he made a bad move here and started the confrontation. Of course that doesn't absolve the cyclist or the other cyclists for the attack.

... Brad

It turns out, police say bicyclist McAtee was both drunk and in the wrong. And he's a city employee. He works for Portland's transportation department as a building plan examiner.

Was his previous job approving bike lane designs? ;)

+1 not only that he continued afterwards as well.

This just goes to prove that idiots can ride anything. We all have to take a more mellow tone regardless of how we move about. Also alcohol is pretty stupid when you hit the road.

How do you figure he continued? They way I read it he was trying to stop the cyclists from bashing his car. Wouldn't you do the same thing?

Also, how many of the people here are tired of the poor cyclists giving everyone a bad name? I would take any opportunity to correct someone if they are riding incorrectly.

Also, how many of the people here are tired of the poor cyclists giving everyone a bad name? I would take any opportunity to correct someone if they are riding incorrectly.

I always get a chuckle out of post like this because I'm generally the only cyclist on the road where I live. Seriously, there may be 2 or 3 more that I've seen perhaps once or twice. So, in my case, there aren't any other cyclists giving us a bad name. That doesn't stop the "drivers" from acting poorly though.

... Brad

Originally Posted by Blue Order Yates honked his horn, leaned out his window, and chided the bicyclist for making other cyclists look bad. Yates, a self-described bike advocate for more than 30 years, told the bicyclist that he was a responsible bike rider who gets upset when he sees fellow riders disobeying traffic signals.
Sorry, he made a bad move here and started the confrontation. Of course that doesn't absolve the cyclist or the other cyclists for the attack.

... Brad

There is nothing wrong with pointing out bad cycling/driving. The rider should have said- OK- or just been quiet.

I'm surprised at the lack of commentary against McAtee.

If the tables were turned this thread would already be five pages long.

Typical for this forum.

I'm surprised at the lack of commentary against McAtee.

If the tables were turned this thread would already be five pages long.Yep. But I'm not at all surprised.

This reads like one of those April Fools stories. What a laugher.

Maybe, just maybe, these two idiots and all the 'witnesses' learned a lesson.

Notice this isn't a driver vs. bike story. All the idiocy is completely self-contained within the bike 'community.'

Yep. But I'm not at all surprised.

What is left to say? You said it in the title; the cyclist is a worthless moron.

Drunk Portland cyclist used bike to club a driver (http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/07/angry_bicyclists_gang_up_on_th.html)

Angry bicyclists gang up on the wrong person
Posted by Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian July 09, 2008 18:11PM

[...]

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a passer-by knocked McAtee to the ground with one punch.

[...]



This whole incident was like some supernova vortex of instant kharma.

This whole incident was like some supernova vortex of instant kharma.Robert, your writing really caught my eye when I first picked up your book, and it's sentences like this, and the observation below, that continually remind me of just how fine a writer you are. :)


Notice this isn't a driver vs. bike story. All the idiocy is completely self-contained within the bike 'community.'

Sorry, he made a bad move here and started the confrontation. Of course that doesn't absolve the cyclist or the other cyclists for the attack.

... Brad

Absolutely ridiculous. The driver acted entirely appropriate. The cyclist reacted to the driver's comments totally inappropriately. If you run a red light in traffic and can't take someone calling you on it, you're pathetic.


I always get a chuckle out of post like this because I'm generally the only cyclist on the road where I live. Seriously, there may be 2 or 3 more that I've seen perhaps once or twice. So, in my case, there aren't any other cyclists giving us a bad name. That doesn't stop the "drivers" from acting poorly though.

... Brad

I always get a huge laugh out of cycling advocates who respond to criticism of bone headed cycling behavior by pointing out that drivers do bad things on the road too. As if that has anything to do with it... hint: it doesn't. It is just whining.

Stupidity begats stupidity.

Gods save us from both the busybody 'advocates' AND the drunken louts.

Anyone who smashes his bike on the hood of my truck is going to get "The Club" upside his head. What an *****h0le

In the modeling world there are photographers, and Guys with a Camera (GWC).
In the cycling world there are cyclists, and people on bikes(POB)

Just as anyone can pick up a camera and use it, anyone can pick up a bike and use it.
Doesn't matter how crap they are at using it, or how much of twit they are.

But McAtee got in front of the Subaru and repeatedly struck the vehicle with his bike...

Doesn't take much to see how utterly stupid this fool is.

If I run a red light or a stop sign, I know I'm doing something illegal. I know it irks people. I don't care. If a cycling advocate attempts to correct my behavior by yelling at me out a window, I don't pay attention. It's a vigilante-type behavior. That's not to condone what the moron cyclist did. Yates wasn't going to correct behavior by yelling out a car window, but McAtee should be pretty heavily punished for his drunk stupidity.

Sorry, he made a bad move here and started the confrontation.

Because he should have just come onto Bikeforums to talk about it here.

If I run a red light or a stop sign, I know I'm doing something illegal. I know it irks people. I don't care.


by gholy that's nice of you mister :D i hope to be as cool as you one day :rolleyes:

How do you figure he continued? They way I read it he was trying to stop the cyclists from bashing his car. Wouldn't you do the same thing?

Also, how many of the people here are tired of the poor cyclists giving everyone a bad name? I would take any opportunity to correct someone if they are riding incorrectly.
Yep stand corrected

this shows that sometimes its better to say nothing. the truth between what happened is probably somewhere in between, the driver probably called him a moron or something dumb and pissed the biker off. i dont understand why it is so important for people who have the notion that it is their duty to correct everyone else. people know what they are doing and the possible risks of running a red light or a stop sign, if they are willing to risk it f them you know.

this shows that sometimes its better to say nothing. the truth between what happened is probably somewhere in between, the driver probably called him a moron or something dumb and pissed the biker off. i dont understand why it is so important for people who have the notion that it is their duty to correct everyone else. people know what they are doing and the possible risks of running a red light or a stop sign, if they are willing to risk it f them you know.

no, i think the driver did exactly what he said, and the inebriate on the bike overreacted.

I sometimes miss being a police officer. I got a kick out of bad drivers when I used to ride, and the comments they sometimes made "get the hell off the road", and then the look on their faces when I showed them my badge. This happened frequently during my commutes or on my weekend rides along the beach.

On the other hand, when I was at work, I would not hesitate to pull over any cyclist who ran lights or stop signs. If they were apologetic, then I would let them go with a warning. If they weren't, then they were getting a ticket.

As for a drunk cyclist who is running red lights and stop signs, any citizen would be within his rights to arrest such a person and hold him until police arrived. You can call it vigilantism, but law and order is everyone's business.

So let me get this straight: Overzealous "advocate" yells at drunken cyclist, who beats him up and destroys his property, and causes a near riot in the process. Here in Michigan, a decent prosecutor could get a conviction on the cyclist for felony assault and the felony of malicious destruction of property -- not some chicken-crap misdemeanors and ordinance violations.

so much for "tolerant" Oregon, eh?

There is nothing wrong with pointing out bad cycling/driving. The rider should have said- OK- or just been quiet.

not quite

haha at the yanks. The drunken moron was a drunken moron but there is a lesson here for the pompous cycling advocate too.


The horn is for warnings of imminent, immediate danger only, it is not a communication device for any other purpose, none. It is not there to get someone's attention to tell them you witnessed their bad behaviour. It is not there express your frustration. Using your horn in the manner this guy did was in very bad form and he should know better. He should also know from his own experience the possible reaction from horn blowing at a cyclist is anger & irritability borne of being made afraid for no reason. Couple that with ignorance and drunkenness and this is what you get.

He should have said something politely out his car window or left well enough alone. ****ing moro, ain't a cop, ain't an authority figure, ain't supposed to be out blowing his horn at people. He can be out lecturing people if he's feeling d0uchey, but the horn is a way to get people to jump and this provokes anger, justifiable anger that can lead to unjustifiable behaviour as witnessed here.

He ****ed up, especially with his wife & kids in the car, he should have done it right or not at all.

yessir, holman!

Someone is in a car honking their car horn and yelling at cyclists is not a bicyclist nor a 'bike advocate'. That always makes me laugh, the "I'm a cyclist" BS from the car window.

If someone's honkin' and talkin', they are NOT on the bicyclist's side of things.

I'm not condoning the attack and I'm not excusing the 'advocate's' initial response either.
a cyclist ran a red light- oh, REALLY! does he chase down speeders too? red light motorists?

not quite

haha at the yanks. The drunken moron was a drunken moron but there is a lesson here for the pompous cycling advocate too.



damn right.

so much for "tolerant" Oregon, eh?

"And I thought, 'So this is Oregon, huh? Tolerant Oregon?'" ;)



I'll be down there about 7pm tomorrow, finishing up STP.

love the blame the victim mentality. You guys are either pretty good trolls, or seriously f'd up in the head.

Hope it's the former.

Made the front page of The Oregonian for the second day in a row. Ugh.

Still can't believe the folks who are adopting an us vs them mentality on this as that drunken moron isn't us... unless we are all drunken moron on a bike.

Still can't believe the folks who are adopting an us vs them mentality on this as that drunken moron isn't us... unless we are all drunken moron on a bike.

Can't speak for "us", but the pompous self-proclaimed advocate yelling out of his car window isn't "me" either.

Can't speak for "us", but the pompous self-proclaimed advocate yelling out of his car window isn't "me" either.

The unfortunate truth is that all these insufferable busy-bodies and drunken morons can all be found huddled together there under the column marked 'Us.'

There's apparently more to the story than was printed. I watched the TV coverage, and the driver was interviewed by phone. He said the guy on the bike was riding erratically, and nearly collided with the driver, and that's when the "pompous advocate" said something to the guy on the bike.

You know, this driver, who is in fact a cycling advocate, should be commended for interviening. He got a drunk off the road. You cyclists who will stand behind a drunk cyclists who runs red lights, rides erratically, and endangers himself and others don't have two wheels to ride on--one has come off, and it's called cycling ethics.

I have called in to police drunk drivers who are endangering everyone when on the road. I have seen the effects of a driver too tired to stay awake, and slammed into a small VW beetle, killing a father, mother, and small child and leaving a baby alive in a child seat, but orphaned. We had to transport him and the baby in the same ambulance. When we got to the hospital, the doctor took my IV out of the driver's arm, and said, "Oh, that was an 18 guage needle." He spent the next half hour trying to re-establish my IV, running it up his other arm, and I didn't care. This guy had just killed three people. I have seen drunks who endanger themselves simply by walking on the roadway (anyone been in the service?). Of the pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, many result from alcohol and other intoxicants being used.

This guy, by interviening, caused himself a lot of grief, but he also may have saved this cyclist's life, and kept other situations from developing.

John

You know, this driver, who is in fact a cycling advocate, should be commended for interviening. He got a drunk off the road. You cyclists who will stand behind a drunk cyclists who runs red lights, rides erratically, and endangers himself and others don't have two wheels to ride on--one has come off, and it's called cycling ethics.

I have called in to police drunk drivers who are endangering everyone when on the road. I have seen the effects of a driver too tired to stay awake, and slammed into a small VW beetle, killing a father, mother, and small child and leaving a baby alive in a child seat, but orphaned. We had to transport him and the baby in the same ambulance. When we got to the hospital, the doctor took my IV out of the driver's arm, and said, "Oh, that was an 18 guage needle." He spent the next half hour trying to re-establish my IV, running it up his other arm, and I didn't care. This guy had just killed three people. I have seen drunks who endanger themselves simply by walking on the roadway (anyone been in the service?). Of the pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, many result from alcohol and other intoxicants being used.

This guy, by interviening, caused himself a lot of grief, but he also may have saved this cyclist's life, and kept other situations from developing.

John

I don't think anyone is standing behind the moron cyclist. I, for one, am questioning the intervening method of advocate. I've called cops on suspected drunk drivers as well, but the only way I wouldn't yell out my window at a cyclist, no matter what state. I would call the cops, unless the guy started wailing on my car, first. Then I would start physically defending myself.

.....Notice this isn't a driver vs. bike story. All the idiocy is completely self-contained within the bike 'community.'

Oh, my people. This hurts.

I appreciate what Jonathan Maus wrote today. (http://bikeportland.org/2008/07/11/more-thoughts-on-sundays-road-rage-incident/)

Oh, my people. This hurts.

:roflmao: :roflmao:

-Kurt

How do you figure he continued? They way I read it he was trying to stop the cyclists from bashing his car. Wouldn't you do the same thing?

Also, how many of the people here are tired of the poor cyclists giving everyone a bad name? I would take any opportunity to correct someone if they are riding incorrectly.


I always get a chuckle out of post like this because I'm generally the only cyclist on the road where I live. Seriously, there may be 2 or 3 more that I've seen perhaps once or twice. So, in my case, there aren't any other cyclists giving us a bad name. That doesn't stop the "drivers" from acting poorly though.

... Brad

Sometimes cyclists do drive, and indeed may feel that some other cyclists are setting really poor examples, as cyclists, in front of motorists or even doing actions that can be dangerous to other cyclists. I happen to distribute cycling safety brochures to local bike shops, which I also carry in my car. On occasion I may come across a cyclist acting really poorly, such as riding the wrong way... I offer said cyclist a safety brochure.

I would fall into the category of "taking the opportunity to correct someone else."

FYI, I also carry copies of the state laws pertaining to cyclists and have handed those out to motorists.

With well over 30 years cycling, I've just about seen it all and really am tired of people treating each other discourteously on the road. I put out the effort to both drive right and cycle right... IF WE ALL DID, IT WOULD BE A FAR SAFER AND BETTER WORLD OUT THERE ON THE ROAD!

I love me some "they are making us all look bad" knee-jerkoffs.

I love that Lithuanians in the NBA make me look like a good basketball player.

$1 Classic! :D How drunk do you have to be do try to smash a car with your bike? :D

I appreciate what Jonathan Maus wrote today. (http://bikeportland.org/2008/07/11/more-thoughts-on-sundays-road-rage-incident/)
+1

Jesu, Maria - what a miserable commute to and from work today. All stink-eye and close passes. :(

Made the front page of The Oregonian for the second day in a row. Ugh.

the Oregonian gets a big fat F for their pandering. I know that I will never talk to them again voluntarily.

:(