Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.bikesafer
09-15-08, 09:27 AM
Someone sent me a link to this post on a different message board and it gave me hope. Most law enforcement officials I've contacted about illegal passing incidents have blamed me and told me to find a different road to ride. I hope there are more like this guy who can change some minds from the inside.
"While training , how many of you have been on the receiving end of a smart-***** motorist buzzing you while simultaneously holding down the horn and scaring the be-jeez-ems out of you? I'm sure all of you. It happens to me weekly, sometimes more, and I train inside quite a bit. Well, last week, I got one! I was on a short recovery ride riding south on Route 9, close to home, when a white box truck did just that. Bad thing for him was he didn't account on the possibility of stopping for the red light down the road, nor did he think I would be able to stand up and sprint at 30+ to catch up to him at the red light. I caught him, and motioned for him to pull over. He responded with a smile and a double bird. Nice. So I read his plate and said it over and over again until I got home.
Did I mention that I was on duty? Yes, I am allotted physical training time through my department, and was in fact on duty. So, I get home, call my dispatcher and give her the plate. Comes back to a local construction company out of the area where Pro Pedals is located. I get the number, get their seceratary on the phone , and I identify myself as a police officer. I inform her of the incident and close with the fact that I was the cyclist. The line got quiet for a few seconds, then she said something along the lines of" he's in trouble".
Long story abbreviated - the driver respnded to my police headquarters and was issued 3 summonses by one our Traffic Safety guys - failure to maintain lane, excessive use of horn, and low and behold he forgot his drivers license at home that day - 1 more ticket . Oh - and he told the issuing officer that he used the horn so as to alert me to his presence...he was "worried that I might swerve out of the shoulder" . I guess that's why he swerved AT ME!! He also denied the double bird, then told the officer that he would be pleading GUILTY and mailing in the fine...huh?
It gets better - tommorrow morning I'm doing traffic control for his company! Can't wait to say hi and introduce myself.."
Bikesafer (www.bikesafer.blogspot.com)
Jeff
"While training , how many of you have been on the receiving end of a smart-***** motorist buzzing you while simultaneously holding down the horn and scaring the be-jeez-ems out of you? I'm sure all of you. It happens to me weekly, sometimes more, and I train inside quite a bit. Well, last week, I got one! I was on a short recovery ride riding south on Route 9, close to home, when a white box truck did just that. Bad thing for him was he didn't account on the possibility of stopping for the red light down the road, nor did he think I would be able to stand up and sprint at 30+ to catch up to him at the red light. I caught him, and motioned for him to pull over. He responded with a smile and a double bird. Nice. So I read his plate and said it over and over again until I got home.
Did I mention that I was on duty? Yes, I am allotted physical training time through my department, and was in fact on duty. So, I get home, call my dispatcher and give her the plate. Comes back to a local construction company out of the area where Pro Pedals is located. I get the number, get their seceratary on the phone , and I identify myself as a police officer. I inform her of the incident and close with the fact that I was the cyclist. The line got quiet for a few seconds, then she said something along the lines of" he's in trouble".
Long story abbreviated - the driver respnded to my police headquarters and was issued 3 summonses by one our Traffic Safety guys - failure to maintain lane, excessive use of horn, and low and behold he forgot his drivers license at home that day - 1 more ticket . Oh - and he told the issuing officer that he used the horn so as to alert me to his presence...he was "worried that I might swerve out of the shoulder" . I guess that's why he swerved AT ME!! He also denied the double bird, then told the officer that he would be pleading GUILTY and mailing in the fine...huh?
It gets better - tommorrow morning I'm doing traffic control for his company! Can't wait to say hi and introduce myself.."
Bikesafer (www.bikesafer.blogspot.com)
Jeff