Road Cycling - Is there any justice?

If while on a bike ride if someone driving a car displays an act of road rage against a cyclist or any other number of deliberate acts against us, is there any recourse? Such as, does reporting a license plate number have any impact with the law enforcement folks, or do they just not care either. Has anyone ever "gotten even" this way?

Get the plate number and call the police. Road rage is still road rage whether its against a car or a cyclist.

Maybe they wont do anything about your complaint, but it will be on their record. If that person acts in similar fashion to other road users, they may get more complaints and then there will be more chance that they will take action. They difinitely will not do anything if you dont call.

I find that law enforcement will do little unless you were actually harmed. Just swerving at you unfortunately is not a crime in there eyes. In california there used to be a program call 800-cut-smog and if someone really pissed me or my friends off we called the number gave them the license plate number and told them that the car was smoking and polluting excessively. The car in question was given a notice to have there car checked out.. It was anonymous also, check and see if your state has a similar program..

there's plenty you can do about it. however, the only truly effective courses of action are, shall we say, illegal.

ride at your own risk people, the law ain't gonna do nothing to protect you. it's a warzone out there, and we ain't the ones who started it.

If while on a bike ride if someone driving a car displays an act of road rage against a cyclist or any other number of deliberate acts against us, is there any recourse? Such as, does reporting a license plate number have any impact with the law enforcement folks, or do they just not care either. Has anyone ever "gotten even" this way?

Not only that, but I don't think that doing anything else is very effective either.

First of all, I think that most "brush bys" are intentional. It's usually somebody who either wants to teach you a lesson or who wants to make you angry. If you make any response at all (i.e. the finger) to either type of person, you are rewarding them. It's like giving a dog food when they ring the bell, they're going to want to ring it some more. Ignoring them, on the other hand, really pisses them off. That's what I do.

Unfortunately, I don't think that tattling to the police is likely to accomplish anything. My experience has been they are going to want one of the following: Hard evidence like a personal injury or significant property damage, or an uninvolved witness statement to go along with a license plate number and a good description of the driver. I think that it's usually better to just let it slide and let your resentment fade.

I don't think that's fair, but that's the way that it is.

Not only that, but I don't think that doing anything else is very effective either.

First of all, I think that most "brush bys" are intentional. It's usually somebody who either wants to teach you a lesson or who wants to make you angry. If you make any response at all (i.e. the finger) to either type of person, you are rewarding them. It's like giving a dog food when they ring the bell, they're going to want to ring it some more. Ignoring them, on the other hand, really pisses them off. That's what I do.

I absolutly aggree. I used to be the F-you chase em down to the next lite type person untill I realized that's what they thrive on. Ignoring them is a sweet punishment.


Unfortunately, I don't think that tattling to the police is likely to accomplish anything. My experience has been they are going to want one of the following: Hard evidence like a personal injury or significant property damage, or an uninvolved witness statement to go along with a license plate number and a good description of the driver. I think that it's usually better to just let it slide and let your resentment fade.

I don't think that's fair, but that's the way that it is.

The town I live in claims to be 'A Bicycle Friendly Town' and they really do push it too. If I can manage to get the plate and actually remember it then I will definatly report it to the police. If this person get's enough complaints then it could meen something.

there's plenty you can do about it. however, the only truly effective courses of action are, shall we say, illegal.

ride at your own risk people, the law ain't gonna do nothing to protect you. it's a warzone out there, and we ain't the ones who started it.

Hey I like the way you think, honest I do. Last summer I cought up with one at a light and he rolled his window up! Sure surprised him! What a punk. I punched it with my fist and he saw my index finger pointing at him through the ridding glove. He rolls it down a few inches and I just looked at the female in the seat next to him and told her "Honey, as good looking as you are I bet your not married to this guy". I could tell they were young and probably dating. She just gave me one of biggest knowing smiles, it was so priceless. The wuss looked like he was going to pass out; wouldn't even look at me! and I let it go at that......I gambled and won, really pushin my luck.....

If you're looking for another angle and your town or city has a bicycle committee let them know about the infraction also.

Hey I like the way you think, honest I do. Last summer I cought up with one at a light and he rolled his window up! Sure surprised him! What a punk. I punched it with my fist and he saw my index finger pointing at him through the ridding glove. He rolls it down a few inches and I just looked at the female in the seat next to him and told her "Honey, as good looking as you are I bet your not married to this guy". I could tell they were young and probably dating. She just gave me one of biggest knowing smiles, it was so priceless. The wuss looked like he was going to pass out; wouldn't even look at me! and I let it go at that......I gambled and won, really pushin my luck.....

as i was telling someone the other day, i'm way to small to even try to confront someone like that. i usually just get frustrated and angry for a few minutes, then let it slide. if someone ever tried to seriously run me off the road, to the point where i thought my life was in danger, i'd probably stop for a second to try to let them get by and if they didn't and it escalated, and there was no way out of it, i'd defend myself, because no one else is going to step in and do it for me.

the police in most places i've lived in tend to shirk the whole "protect and serve" thing when it comes to bicyclists, unless they happen to witness the wrong-doing, and even then most of them don't give a flying f*ck.

as much as i hate to let people get away with being jerks, especially when they're putting my life in danger, sometimes it's best to just let things go...but boy would it feel good to just haul off and knock somebody's teeth in. but it probably wouldn't do much good, most people don't learn their lesson anyway.

the world makes me very sad sometimes... :( :( :(

i am not going to let some stranger that i don't know have that much power over me. life is a video game and you have to dodge things sometimes. seriously, i am a firm believer in people get what they deserve.

i don't like confrontation because it might affect the next cyclist that may not know why this person is taking it out on them/

(if) there was no way out of it, i'd defend myself, because no one else is going to step in and do it for me. :(

If it ever comes to that, try to keep your bike between you and him, keep your helmet on and your head down. If you do that, he won't be able to get in much of a lick and you'll have a real entertaining story to tell your bicycling friends.

If while on a bike ride if someone driving a car displays an act of road rage against a cyclist or any other number of deliberate acts against us, is there any recourse? Such as, does reporting a license plate number have any impact with the law enforcement folks, or do they just not care either. Has anyone ever "gotten even" this way?

This is what I did. As far as I can tell, the guy (aka: Dirtbag) skipped town sometime after this incident:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=13174

If it ever comes to that, try to keep your bike between you and him, keep your helmet on and your head down. If you do that, he won't be able to get in much of a lick and you'll have a real entertaining story to tell your bicycling friends.

Another tip, you get them to open the door and soon as his first foot hits the ground, you slam the car door shut!
:D