Advocacy & Safety - I got punched in the gut today.

:)

I was coming home from a great ride today, enjoying the nice weather. I was about five blocks from my house, and the street I was on, which is normally barely wide enough for a car, had cars parked all along the curb, so I was pretty much forced to take the lane. I thought I was fine, since I was only going about five mph below the speed limit.

The guy behind me decided he couldn't stand to wait a couple seconds longer, and sped through the oncoming traffic lane, swerving back in line ahead of me about 20 feet before a stop sign. He probably hadn't posed any direct threat to me, but I flipped him off anyway because he was acting like a jackass.

Usually, when I do this to idiot motorists, they just drive off. This guy stopped his car, got out, and asked me why I would dare give him the finger. I told him I was lawfully using the road, hadn't done anything wrong, and asked him what his problem was.

I never found out, because at that point he took a swing at my head. I ducked, and he gave me a good one in the stomach before hopping into his car and driving off. I managed to catch up with him and followed him for a couple minutes, but by the time I got to a place where I could find a good rock to throw at his car, he had got away.

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.

Did you get his plates? I'm sure he'd like a visit from the cops.

I'm not sure if I saw them clearly enough. Not sure what the cops would do. I've heard how they tend to deal with cyclists, and in this case I kind of provoke it.

Maybe I should just HTFU and learn judo.

:)

I was coming home from a great ride today, enjoying the nice weather. I was about five blocks from my house, and the street I was on, which is normally barely wide enough for a car, had cars parked all along the curb, so I was pretty much forced to take the lane. I thought I was fine, since I was only going about five mph below the speed limit.

The guy behind me decided he couldn't stand to wait a couple seconds longer, and sped through the oncoming traffic lane, swerving back in line ahead of me about 20 feet before a stop sign. He probably hadn't posed any direct threat to me, but I flipped him off anyway because he was acting like a jackass.

Usually, when I do this to idiot motorists, they just drive off. This guy stopped his car, got out, and asked me why I would dare give him the finger. I told him I was lawfully using the road, hadn't done anything wrong, and asked him what his problem was.

I never found out, because at that point he took a swing at my head. I ducked, and he gave me a good one in the stomach before hopping into his car and driving off. I managed to catch up with him and followed him for a couple minutes, but by the time I got to a place where I could find a good rock to throw at his car, he had got away.

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.

Did you call the police and report the assault? Yeah, I guess a can of pepper spray or halt or whatever brand name that it goes by locally is probably a good thing.

:)

I was coming home from a great ride today, enjoying the nice weather. I was about five blocks from my house, and the street I was on, which is normally barely wide enough for a car, had cars parked all along the curb, so I was pretty much forced to take the lane. I thought I was fine, since I was only going about five mph below the speed limit.

The guy behind me decided he couldn't stand to wait a couple seconds longer, and sped through the oncoming traffic lane, swerving back in line ahead of me about 20 feet before a stop sign. He probably hadn't posed any direct threat to me, but I flipped him off anyway because he was acting like a jackass.

Usually, when I do this to idiot motorists, they just drive off. This guy stopped his car, got out, and asked me why I would dare give him the finger. I told him I was lawfully using the road, hadn't done anything wrong, and asked him what his problem was.

I never found out, because at that point he took a swing at my head. I ducked, and he gave me a good one in the stomach before hopping into his car and driving off. I managed to catch up with him and followed him for a couple minutes, but by the time I got to a place where I could find a good rock to throw at his car, he had got away.

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.

That's assault... I'd phone it in.

The lesson is don't wait for them to throw the first punch.

I'd flail about with a u lock in my hand and hope that I connected once or twice (too soon?)

I got surprised like that once too, you think they are going to talk but they just start throwing punches. I took one in the mouth, but I kept my bike between us and my head down, boy was I glad to have my helmet on that day. A couple stitches in the ER and I was good to go, they never did catch the guy though.

I don't antagonize anymore ... no sweat of my back.

I don't look, don't respond, just pedal along.

I have calmed down since I carry my little snubby .357 magnum 5 shooter with me.

The police officers were just here. I thought I could just phone it in, but they ended up sending out a patrol car to take my story down.

I gave them the guy's plate number, but they said that without an exact description of the make and model of the car, they probably can't do anything if the plate number doesn't check out. Stupid me. They didn't ask me what the guy looked like, which was weird.

All in all, I feel like a bit of d-bag, wasting their time over a pretty minor incident. I should have just gone up on the side of his car at the first stop light when I found him again and keyed it up. Live and learn.

:)

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.

Well, you were the instigator.

The police officers were just here. I thought I could just phone it in, but they ended up sending out a patrol car to take my story down.

I gave them the guy's plate number, but they said that without an exact description of the make and model of the car, they probably can't do anything if the plate number doesn't check out. Stupid me. They didn't ask me what the guy looked like, which was weird.

All in all, I feel like a bit of d-bag, wasting their time over a pretty minor incident. I should have just gone up on the side of his car at the first stop light when I found him again and keyed it up. Live and learn.

You did the right thing. About a year ago I was egged, all I had was a rough description of the car. I still called 911 and reported it. It is always good idea to report such incidents to the police. If nothing else it establishes a pattern of behavior.

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.Yes, the lesson is always be prepared to defend yourself. This is precisely the reason I carry pepper spray. Thankfully I've never been in the situation where I had to use it.


All in all, I feel like a bit of d-bag, wasting their time over a pretty minor incidentIt's not really minor. A person with a short enough fuse to throw punches over a non-issue is someone who needs to be dealt with. I hope he doesn't get away with this.

I either try to drop them or let them go, depending on how traffic is. When someone's already pissed off, it's best to let them stew on their own and not stir up anything more.

You need martial arts training for sure that is just unacceptable.

All in all, I feel like a bit of d-bag, wasting their time over a pretty minor incident. I should have just gone up on the side of his car at the first stop light when I found him again and keyed it up. Live and learn.

The lesson you learned was that it's easier to take the low road. You were stupid enough to give someone the finger and dumb enough to not expect a reaction.

If his response was a gut punch at being given the one finger salute, I can imagine the hurt he'd put on you for keying his car.

All that for someone who went around you.

The lesson you learned was that it's easier to take the low road. You were stupid enough to give someone the finger and dumb enough to not expect a reaction.

If his response was a gut punch at being given the one finger salute, I can imagine the hurt he'd put on you for keying his car.

All that for someone who went around you.

someone who can't control their temper enough not to get violent after simply being given the finger is someone who at a minimum needs an anger management class, and quite possibly is unfit to have a driver's license.

someone who can't control their temper enough not to get violent after simply being given the finger is someone who at a minimum needs an anger management class, and quite possibly is unfit to have a driver's license.

As is typical for the AnS crowd, blame the cager.

someone who can't control their temper enough not to get violent after simply being given the finger is someone who at a minimum needs an anger management class, and quite possibly is unfit to have a driver's license.

So? As it shook out, the OP is lucky to only have been punched instead of knifed or shot. What would that have proved?

I'd rather just get home and not have a report for the police, or worse, go to the hospital instead.

Well, you were the instigator.

Actually, you are quite wrong. Wrong enough to make one wonder. Unwise behavior does not make one responsible for another's violent physical attack.

Rule #1: When they get out of the car, you get off the bike. Be prepared, cuz they will at least try to punk you.

Rule #2: If they throw the 1st punch, MAKE D*MN*D SURE YOU THROW THE LAST! Whether it takes knuckles, feet, the bike, a tree limb, whatever. There is one rule in a street fight -- don't lose.

A few years ago, some dancing mosquito of a punk jumped me, after his gf almost ran me down; my reaction was to look at her and shake my head, then calmly step off the bike when she called me a f***ing a**hole at the top of her lungs for it. He hit like,...well, my 6-y-o nephew hits harder. But I was so bound up w/ backpack and raingear that I couldn't do much of anything.

Love to see him again....

A few years ago, some dancing mosquito of a punk jumped me, after his gf almost ran me down; my reaction was to look at her and shake my head, then calmly step off the bike when she called me a f***ing a**hole at the top of her lungs for it. He hit like,...well, my 6-y-o nephew hits harder. But I was so bound up w/ backpack and raingear that I couldn't do much of anything.

Love to see him again....

Excuses, excuses... ;):D

You need martial arts training for sure that is just unacceptable.

I'll take a can of pepper spray over trying Karate while wearing cleats & a helmet.

Excuses, excuses... ;):D

You know it...the dog ate my diploma, the check is in the mail, I bought it like that, the sun was in my eyes, and sorry, baby, that's never happened to me before, let me get a washrag for your chin.....

The lesson you learned was that it's easier to take the low road. You were stupid enough to give someone the finger and dumb enough to not expect a reaction.

If his response was a gut punch at being given the one finger salute, I can imagine the hurt he'd put on you for keying his car.

All that for someone who went around you.

Still, he did zip past me with less than two feet of clearance, and thank god I was lucky enough that he didn't end up having to swerve into me to avoid oncoming traffic. I think, objectively, he's a dick.

But I think you're right. It may feel good to vent your frustrations at somebody, but it isn't mature and it really doesn't get you anywhere.

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.

Need some faster reflexes. ;)

Still, he did zip past me with less than two feet of clearance, and thank god I was lucky enough that he didn't end up having to swerve into me to avoid oncoming traffic. I think, objectively, he's a dick.

But I think you're right. It may feel good to vent your frustrations at somebody, but it isn't mature and it really doesn't get you anywhere.

No, it was your impression that he passed you with two feet of clearance. And since he didn't have to swerve into you to avoid what apparently wasn't oncoming traffic, he wasn't a dick.

You became the dick when you raised your middle finger, indicating either that he was number one or your IQ. You raised the childishness quota by chasing after him.

"Two stupids don't make a smart." -Trustnoone 2009

Cagers can curse, swear, and flip me off with all ten fingers, then take their shoes and socks off and continue to flip me off with all ten toes as well, I just crank up the ipod and pedal on after looking at them like one might look at monkeys at the zoo.

However, once they pull over ansd step out of their cage then all bets are off. As far as I'm concerned anyone that steps out has the intention of a physical confrontation. I hit first, hard, and often until they are no longer a threat, then I take the keys out of the ignition and vanish.

Well dont flip him off, and do carry bear spray. Drop anybody who gets out of their car on you.

Wow - lots of lessons learned today ay John?

Personally I never pull over and talk to something like that - or even give them a leeway to get out of the car to "discuss" things - I've even had a guy jump out of his car in the middle of an intersection (because I took the lane of all things!) and come running at me - I did not stick around to "listen" to him".

Had a road rager do me a couple years ago - did not hit but forced me to crash (lightly) as I had to try and jump a high curb as he zoomed in front of me and stomped on the brakes. And then he sat still long enough to flip me off for a many long wiggling trillion seconds and leave - all I replied was "I have your plates".

Calling it in proved fruitless, which was disappointing as I used to give talks for my club and maintain many festival/outdoor expo tents where all I did was answer questions on bicycles, clothing, safety, etc and I always encouraged calling the cops. Shoot - I work with them and ride with them and they state the same thing call it in.

Just so happened I had the plates - and for some reason the color and relative model of the car and even better - a brief description of the driver (must have been the hand gesture that made me look more at his stupid little face) and all I got from the kindly older woman from 911 after she ran my info was that Oh, he lives near there - I wonder what his parents know about where he is with that car. So I ask what is going to be done about it? She replies wellll I'll give a call to his parents and tell them what he's been doing with the car.

?????

Useless.

However I will still maintain the platform that I would call it in. I have a funny feeling that the person at the cop station who took my call was well aware of who I called in about.

If it ever comes down to someone getting out of there vehicle, and you can't get away, your best bet is act like you don't give a "f".

Give them a stream of profanity, with full gesture accompainment. Remember now, you can't "flight", and you really don't wanna "fight", so the last, best is something that "wild" creatures have been doing for millenium - faking it my putting on one helluve show. If nothing else, you'll have witnesses.

Ask any cornered pu55ycat.

Or you can get punched in the stomach.

Maybe I should just HTFU and learn judo.

That might've made an even better story.

someone who can't control their temper enough not to get violent after simply being given the finger is someone who at a minimum needs an anger management class, and quite possibly is unfit to have a driver's license.
Behavior nanny?

Anyway, again, was it worth it? In the end you got angry, and punched. I vote for the "don't get angry, he sucks at life anyway" approach.


If it ever comes down to someone getting out of there vehicle, and you can't get away, your best bet is act like you don't give a "f".

Give them a stream of profanity, with full gesture accompainment. Remember now, you can't "flight", and you really don't wanna "fight", so the last, best is something that "wild" creatures have been doing for millenium - faking it my putting on one helluve show. If nothing else, you'll have witnesses.

Ask any cornered pu55ycat.

Or you can get punched in the stomach.
Acting crazy helps, screaming, throwing feces, hitting yourself, yeah.

I must be a big wuss or something compared to all you Ultimate Fighting Champions. My first instinct if someone got out of their car would be to put some distance between me and them quickly. I have no idea if they have a knife, a gun, a taser, or if they are so f'd up on drugs that they are hell bent on killing me.

Is flipping someone off because they screwed up or screwed with you worth the confrontation that could put you in the hospital, in the ground, or in jail (if you do beat the guy's ass down, you very well might be arrested for it, even if he started it by getting out of his car -- justice is blind, and kinda dumb sometimes too).

My priority is to get home in on piece. Fighting some jackass in the street won't help that in any way.

you- face to face with target. take index finger, along with middle finger palm facing up bend the two fingers and pull them right up said persons nostrils at the same time going behind this person and kicking out the back of their knees thus forcing them to the ground where you can either rip their nose clean off their face or demand an apology. there is also the ever popular fishhook which usually isnt good unless you dont mind getting your fingers bitten. its all about the nostril pull.

I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy motorists, or if its that you should never leave home without a can of Halt.

Both. And get something better than Halt. I carry Counter Assault. However, in a situation like yours once, I forgot I had it in my pocket. Luckily, the guy was driving a company truck. He got all up in my face and asked me if I wanted my arse kicked. I asked him "Do you know that's a company truck?" He spun around, got in his truck and drove off. I think he would have hit me otherwise. From now on, spray first, ask questions later (after the ensuing bike cleat tap dance).

Best to just keep ones fingers to oneself. Too many people carry guns in my town.

Either I've become a much better rider in traffic, become more lenient to motorists' actions, or motorists have become more tolerant of me, I don't which, maybe a combination of all of them, but I haven't had a motorist jump out of their car and want to do battle.

I've curbed the use of the middle finger some time ago, since it doesn't seem to slow down the bad behavior of a lot of motorists. Getting vehicle/motorist descriptions and vehicle license plate numbers and reporting them to law enforcement has had the best results for me.

Getting vehicle/motorist descriptions and vehicle license plate numbers and reporting them to law enforcement has had the best results for me.

I agree, but this usually only works if you've got a sympathetic LEO who you know and can work with.

A while back I knew an officer who was a cyclist and was on the local Bicycle Advisory Committee and I actually made myself an incident report form that I could fill out and send him if I had a confrontation with a motorist.

Usually just a phone call from the officer explaining the legal rights of cyclists and the legal duties of motorist was sufficient, but I know that on at least one occasion the fact that I had filed a report against a motorist who had harassed me was used to establish a pattern of behaviour when the guy was later arrested for DUI, and he ended up drawing a five year sentence.

Unfortunately, the officer has moved on, I no longer have a contact inside the Police Dept., and overall relations between cyclists and the police in my town have been marginal in the past few years.

Incident report form should include: date; time; location; road, weather and traffic conditions; description of the incident; license number and description of the car; and description of the driver. I can't overemphasize the last, the ability to identify the motorist is important, since the registered owner may not necessarily be the driver.

There have been references to taking martial arts. As someone who took martial arts for several years (even acquiring a black belt in one), I'd say this is exactly the kind of situation NOT to use physical force. It doesn't sound like your life was really in danger. And besides, you had a bike. You could have easily gotten away from some dumb Cro-Magnon man on foot.

I'm really surprised that people think it's justifiable to respond to mere words and gestures with violence. Should the OP have flipped the dude off? No. Is it understandable that he did? Yes.

I guess if I went by the thinking by a majority of the people in this thread, I would be justified pulling someone out of their car and giving them a beatdown when they honk at me or yelled at me to get the f**k off the road.







Just so happened I had the plates - and for some reason the color and relative model of the car and even better - a brief description of the driver (must have been the hand gesture that made me look more at his stupid little face) and all I got from the kindly older woman from 911 after she ran my info was that Oh, he lives near there - I wonder what his parents know about where he is with that car. So I ask what is going to be done about it? She replies wellll I'll give a call to his parents and tell them what he's been doing with the car.

?????

Useless.


As to this, there used to be a time in this country that a kid would gladly suffer a visit from the cops providing that no one called their parents. Sadly, those days are probably long gone.

..... this usually only works if you've got a sympathetic LEO who you know and can work with.


Since the town I live in has a high motor vehicle collision rate, and reducing that rate as well as reducing aggressive driving incidents is high on the radar screen for local law enforcement. It helps some what that the main traffic officer is an avid motorcycle rider.

It helps some what that the main traffic officer is an avid motorcycle rider.

The motorcycle officers on the traffic squad in my town pretty much universally hate cyclists

... This guy stopped his car, got out...I don't know whether the lesson to learn from this situation is not to antagonize crazy ing motorists...

It's never a good idea to antagonize someone, you never know what they'll do. The middle of the road is not the place to work out your differences.

If I saw someone coming at me like that, and I couldn't get away, I'd make sure I'd get the plate number and I'd repeat the number to the guy so he knew he'd be answering to the cops if he did anything.

The motorcycle officers on the traffic squad in my town pretty much universally hate cyclists

That's a complete opposite from what I would expect, since our motorcyclist officer has commented about a lot of incidents he's had with motorists that pertain to what a lot of bicyclists are commenting about as well.

That's a complete opposite from what I would expect, since our motorcyclist officer has commented about a lot of incidents he's had with motorists that pertain to what a lot of bicyclists are commenting about as well.

they used to get sent out to police critical mass, everyone on both sides had attitude to burn, there was a fair amount of police brutality, animosities developed and the cops tend to hold a grudge. in today's post critical mass times, they spend their time interacting with cyclists by conducting 'stings' against bike commuters rolling stop signs along popular low-traffic bike boulevards

they used to get sent out to police critical mass, everyone on both sides had attitude to burn, there was a fair amount of police brutality, animosities developed and the cops tend to hold a grudge. in today's post critical mass times, they spend their time interacting with cyclists by conducting 'stings' against bike commuters rolling stop signs along popular low-traffic bike boulevards

Looks like our town's bicycling hasn't attained the popularity needed to start "stings", plus our local bicycling advocacy groups has a good working rapport with local law enforcement.

No, it was your impression that he passed you with two feet of clearance. And since he didn't have to swerve into you to avoid what apparently wasn't oncoming traffic, he wasn't a dick.
You became the dick when you raised your middle finger, indicating either that he was number one or your IQ. You raised the childishness quota by chasing after him.

Fair enough.


"Two stupids don't make a smart." -Trustnoone 2009

True dat.

somewhere out there today, there's a motorist who has learned a lesson. and that lesson is, he can assault a cyclist and get away with it.

add that lesson to his obvious poor impulse control and his two-tonne steel weapon on wheels and you get someone who is a very serious threat to the safety and well being of those around him.

all those who took this thread as an opportunity to criticize the op for his comparatively mild behaviour, keep this in mind.

Looks like our town's bicycling hasn't attained the popularity needed to start "stings", plus our local bicycling advocacy groups has a good working rapport with local law enforcement.

there has been a lot of work recently to improve relations with the police bureau in general, but like I said, the traffic squad officers seem to be holding a grudge.