Commuting - I'm a Victim of Pick-up Truck Agression! (Long)

First, no video. It was dark. Too bad.

My riding bud and I were commuting home from work just after 7 PM in the dark. We are both lit up with hundreds of dollars worth of lights, so nuff said about that. The roads are wet after a nice rain, I'm on my LHT, my bud on a fixie. We are riding down a 4-lane road divided by a median - 2 lanes each direction. Traffic is very light. No more that one layer of cars at each intersection on an arrow-straight road 3 miles long (Esplanade Ave) with a 30 to 35 mph limit and a God-awful surface.

You have all seen my vids probably. Same ole stuff buzzing along between 20 and 25 MPH pretty much hogging the whole right lane (avoiding door zones gives us no choice really). I don't think we encountered 10 cars the whole 3 miles. But we are running all the red lights and some cars are overtaking us between lights. Again, we are in the right lane and those few cars are having no trouble passing us in the left lane. Standard Operating Procedure for us.

I can only guess that we passed this dude in a ratty pick-up at the first light and made him mad. We most definitely did not cut him off or anything, just blew through the light while he sat there waiting. Up the road a bit I hear a horn blowing and engine revving. The left lane is clear, so we ignore it. We get buzzed. Fine.

He catches the next red light. We blow through again. This time I am up front, my riding bud several bike lengths back. Here comes the truck again and brushes by me REAL CLOSE. Like inches. I don't even flinch (watching him in my helmet mirror during his approach). Now he slows down in the right lane. Again, not many cars around. I draft him from a safe distance for a few blocks. He slows down more, so I move to the left lane to pass. He continues speeding up to near 30 mph maintaining about a car length from me. I thought he might want to say something to me but he never lets me get next to him. Now, here comes another red light. He tries to block the road. Laughable. I pass in the car parking lane first - which sucks him over my way - and my bud passes on the driver's side. I think words were exchanged but I could not understand them.

When his light turns green he roars up to us again, passes, then slows down in the right lane again. So I just follow along as if on a motorcycle at about 25 mph, my bud behind me a few lengths back. As we approach the next intersection (yes, ANOTHER red light) I get the sense this guy will try to block us again or throw his door open if I split the lane. There are three cars at the light already. Two in the left lane. The pickup will be second in the right lane. There is an unoccupied right turn lane. NO WAY am I getting near his drivers side door (he is alone in the truck). So with my Night Rider light on high beam, I act as though I am going past him on his left (lane split) but at the last instant I rock to the right. He actually hits the gas and tries to block the right lane and the right turning lane as I squeeze between his bumper and the curb with plenty room to spare. Then, of course, run the red light (at this point I assume that behavior is KILLING him).

Keep in mind that at any intersection I could have stopped next to him and filled his car with Capsicum bear spray.

So off we go again. He roars up past us, gets in the right lane and FINALLY gets to his turnoff. He stops part way through his turn to yell something of which I did not catch even one word. I still don't know why he didn't roll up next to us yell at us. So I am not even sure what was his problem.

After he turns off, a van comes up behind us, blows the horn and yells at my bud, then rolls up next to me and yells at me. This time, it is a friend from work who left just after us and was just having some fun with us - but he did witness the whole ordeal and my riding bud memorized the pickup plate for "future reference" which does not include police action believe me.

Just a story of interest. Some will say we deserve it and I can't argue. After the mayhem my bud rides up next to me and says "That was fun!" It sure turned a boring drudge ride home into a real "storyteller" anyway!

Cheers all!

lol
Also, you are going to need one of these while reading the responses.
I hear your old one is getting a bit tattered. ;)

http://www.bagking.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/flak_jacket_splatter_LRG.jpg

lol
Also, you are going to need one of these while reading the responses.
I hear your old one is getting a bit tattered. ;)

http://www.bagking.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/flak_jacket_splatter_LRG.jpg

I'll need the model with the groin plate no doubt.

This would've made for one interesting video.

Though it's not for me, I've come to enjoy your renegade style. Your last paragraph hopefully thwarts the usual forum pick-aparts since you acknowledge culpability on your part, but I do have two questions:
"I draft him from a safe distance for a few blocks."
How is it possible to effectively draft anything "from a safe distance"?
And why would you draft knowing the driver was clearly hostile?

oh... I forgot about the timing on those lights. I went to university down there. Those things sucked.

As for the truck, sorry but can't see we didn't see that type of BS coming in NOLA.

I do have two questions:
"I draft him from a safe distance for a few blocks."
How is it possible to effectively draft anything "from a safe distance"?
And why would you draft knowing the driver was clearly hostile?

Just two questions? I have a third. Why didn't we just pull over to the curb and stop altogether? Let the guy be on his way? I don't have that answer.

To answer your questions tho:

The road was wet. Really wet. At 25 mph, you can gain quite a draft advantage behind a car from several car lengths back. I was thinking about him jamming on his brakes for sure, but if he wanted to kill me, he would have already run over me from behind. And since the road was so wet, jamming on the brakes would not have stopped him. I had several escape lanes. And I thought he might slow down enough for me to get next to him. I was really curious about his issue. Why did he slow down to 25? Silly. Why not 10, or 15?

As for the truck, sorry but can't see we didn't see that type of BS coming in NOLA.

Not exactly. This is really one in a million. I never have issues like this, although most times the cars never catch up either.

Cyclists here run red lights. It is expected by almost everyone. Except ONE apparently. He had some ax to grind. I would love to find out what.

Joey,

The important question is: Did he have one of those calvin-peeing-on-something stickers on his back window?

The important question is: Did he have one of those calvin-peeing-on-something stickers on his back window?

That is funny!

I gotta tell ya - the streets were wet, the surface SUCKS, there was some other traffic, parked cars, cross streets and all I could really see of the road ahead was what my NightRider light was illuminating.

I know the truck was dark, maybe green. I think it had a different colored driver's door, maybe white. It was a piece of trash and perhaps had a headlight burned out too - I was having some trouble interpreting what I was seeing in my helmet mirror when he came racing up behind us. The driver was a thin white guy. Did not see his face, just his arm out the window as he yelled from his turnoff.

The way we ride our bikes (I have discussed this at length with other aggressive city riders) our eyes are seeing gaps and spaces, not cars and objects. That's the best I can explain it. I was so focused on my line, the road surface, possible escape routes, and gaps between cars/curbs/parking that I sort of missed the boat on identifying marks.

But I will ask my bud. He rode behind me at a safer distance and probably had moments to look around. Like I said, he caught the Louisiana plate number and actually recited it to me afterward. When I asked if he was calling the cops from home he said: "Nah...I'll see that truck parked around town somewhere" whatever THAT means. :innocent:

Not exactly. This is really one in a million. I never have issues like this, although most times the cars never catch up either.

Cyclists here run red lights. It is expected by almost everyone. Except ONE apparently. He had some ax to grind. I would love to find out what.

I'm surprised to read that you don't get more hostility from drivers. When I lived in Lake Charles, getting harassed by drivers was a daily occurrence on my commute.

This story is so fascinating and exciting. What a wild adventure!

Hey Commuting forum, I got in a pissing match with a driver and couldn't help but keep escalating the situation. Why was he so mad????

Hey Commuting forum, I got in a pissing match with a driver and couldn't help but keep escalating the situation. Why was he so mad????

Not exactly how I took it.

This is more of how I read it:

Hey Commuting forum, I had a run in with an angry driver and in the end I made it home safely. Here is the story that some of you may enjoy reading.

**story here**


I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over it, but, what I'm still trying to understand is why was he so mad????

But we are running all the red lights and some cars are overtaking us between lights.

This is where I stopped giving a ****.


I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over it, but, what I'm still trying to understand is why was he so mad???

What you mean you don't know?

This is where I stopped giving a ****.



What you mean you don't know?

I'm not saying that running red lights is the smartest thing to do but I most certainly don't see why it should make anyone, going in the same direction as he was, mad at him for it. If the truck was going perpendicular to his direction and he was cut off by the bike running a red, then I could understand a little anger.

I guess driving a truck gives you an excuse to prove you have a truck sized phallus perhaps. Congrats truck driver, you are indeed a bigger man than any bicyclist that I know...

So to answer your question, its not that I don't know...I just can't grasp the mentality of the driver, and it seems that you may have a similar thought pattern.

I'm sure he had a similar story about a couple of so-and-sos on bicycles... ;)

I know your riding style works for you, but come on, you can't get surprised when some hot-head calls you on it. You poke the bear enough times, it's going to bite you.

I'm not saying that running red lights is the smartest thing to do but I most certainly don't see why it should make anyone, going in the same direction as he was, mad at him for it. If the truck was going perpendicular to his direction and he was cut off by the bike running a red, then I could understand a little anger.

I guess driving a truck gives you an excuse to prove you have a truck sized phallus perhaps. Congrats truck driver, you are indeed a bigger man than any bicyclist that I know...

So to answer your question, its not that I don't know...I just can't grasp the mentality of the driver, and it seems that you may have a similar thought pattern.

I'm not saying I would behave like that if someone cycled past me through a red, but damn if it isn't annoying as hell.

Anyways the OP seems to have a history with red lights, he seems to consider himself above the idea of obeying traffic laws. So this is pretty pointless.

Nice story.

This is where I stopped giving a ****.

What you mean you don't know?

Yeah, I don't think "victim" means what JB thinks it means.

Good story. I like the way you kept your cool, pretty much ignoring the guy.

IMO, I don't believe that the OP or the driver in the truck acted completely appropriatly. However, that is just personal opinion that Im sure neither person really cares to know about but I do know that it did make for an entertaining story. Bravo.

Hey Commuting forum, I got in a pissing match with a driver and couldn't help but keep escalating the situation. Why was he so mad????

That would be the short version! :thumb:

joey, i love reading your stories- keep them coming

Ditto - not sure what's more entertaining - JB's stories or the reactions of forum members.

:popcorn

People can be SO weird. Some crazy woman tried to run me off the road once, but only succeeded in driving onto the sidewalk before she got out of her car and started running after me. We all know how that ended.

I'm not saying that running red lights is the smartest thing to do but I most certainly don't see why it should make anyone, going in the same direction as he was, mad at him for it.
Well, this is a little bit disingenuous, isn't it? We all understand that the anger isn't rational, but I think we're lying if we say that it's out of the blue. A lot of people, when in a frustrating situation, will target something other than the direct cause of their frustration...and guess what? Some of us holier-than-thou cycling saints are among them. So, say that the driver shouldn't have done what he did, and I'll agree with you...scratch your head and pretend amazement at his behavior, and I'll ask you what color the sky is on your planet.

I think I would actually enjoy this; it would spice up the commute. Don't know if that makes me weird.

I totally understand about the gaps/spaces thing. The pro and con (for me) of bicycle riding: you *can't* think about anything else, even if you wanted to. So I can't plan out my day, remember things I should be doing, etc. It's all action/reaction. I'm engaged in a way I rarely am in a car. It's same feeling I get in the middle of playing a sport; completely immersed in the moment and anticipating the opponent.

Commuting really is its own sport, eh?

That would be the short version! :thumb:

Just poking fun... I'd be lying if I said I haven't behaved similarly before. ;)

Glad you're ok.

This is where I stopped giving a ****.

What you mean you don't know?
Yeah, I don't think "victim" means what JB thinks it means.

Joey has a different style from most of us, and that's fine. He's not making any excuses or whining about the repercussions. If you don't like his stories and videos, don't read or watch them.

As I've said before, Joey, you're my hero!

Joey has a different style from most of us, and that's fine. He's not making any excuses or whining about the repercussions. If you don't like his stories and videos, don't read or watch them.

As I've said before, Joey, you're my hero!

Hey because it's Joey it's all okay!

EDIT.


If you don't like his stories and videos, don't read or watch them.

This is a tired old argument. You don't have the right to expect anyone with a criticism not to post.

Well, this is a little bit disingenuous, isn't it? We all understand that the anger isn't rational, but I think we're lying if we say that it's out of the blue. A lot of people, when in a frustrating situation, will target something other than the direct cause of their frustration...and guess what? Some of us holier-than-thou cycling saints are among them. So, say that the driver shouldn't have done what he did, and I'll agree with you...scratch your head and pretend amazement at his behavior, and I'll ask you what color the sky is on your planet.

I don't feel it was disingenuous at all and I didn't pretend amazement at his behavior either. I simply said that I didn't understand his mentality and saw no logical reason that the driver should have gotten mad at JB. I know why the driver acted like he did, it is just not something that I would ever do. Regardless of what planet I am on, I will always question this type of mentality.

History would suggest that Joey is not about to change his game plan just because some of us castigate him for his unlawful cycling practices.

The majority of harrassment incidents I have experienced have been with people in pickup trucks. I'm not a psychologist, so I'll refrain from advancing any Freudian theories to explain this.

joey, i love reading your stories- keep them coming

Ride Joey Ride.

The pro and con (for me) of bicycle riding: you *can't* think about anything else, even if you wanted to. So I can't plan out my day, remember things I should be doing, etc. It's all action/reaction. I'm engaged in a way I rarely am in a car. It's same feeling I get in the middle of playing a sport; completely immersed in the moment and anticipating the opponent.

Commuting really is its own sport, eh?

Like everything, it depends on the situation.

My commute is 95% rural. Almost all of the time, I'm riding down a road and can see a mile in either direction, there are no stop lights or signs for miles, and usually it's totally empty or I can see one or two cars, and drivers around here are exceptionally courteous, almost always moving entirely into the other lane to go around me, so I can easily plan my day, listen to audiobooks, etc.

I'm sure he had a similar story about a couple of so-and-sos on bicycles... ;)

I know your riding style works for you, but come on, you can't get surprised when some hot-head calls you on it. You poke the bear enough times, it's going to bite you.

Off topic, but did you used to have a Fear of a Blank Planet avatar or are you the second PT fan I've encountered on bike forums?

I don't feel it was disingenuous at all and I didn't pretend amazement at his behavior either. I simply said that I didn't understand his mentality and saw no logical reason that the driver should have gotten mad at JB.

Right, but I mean...dog bites man, film at 11.

Off topic, but did you used to have a Fear of a Blank Planet avatar or are you the second PT fan I've encountered on bike forums?

:D I did. But now someone else is using the FoaBP cover, so there are two of us. Or maybe 3, including you? :thumb:

Whenever I'm locked securely in my steel cage driving to work texting, eating, and applying deoderant I get furious at those pesky pedestrians walking all over the place on their feet. I mean, get a car you bozos! I can feel their eyes on me when I'm waiting at lights and they smugly walk past me, gloating because I have to wait. One of these days I'll teach one of them a lesson!




But bikes are cool.

Enjoyable story, glad it didn't have a different ending. You could do what my boss does and kick the side of the vehicle. When they look back then wobble your bars like you're about to fall over. Cagers panic, thinking they've finally gone too far and hit someone.

Enjoyable story, glad it didn't have a different ending.

Yeah, I am surprised the guy tackled TWO of us from the start. Witnesses can be pesky.


You could do what my boss does and kick the side of the vehicle. When they look back then wobble your bars like you're about to fall over. Cagers panic, thinking they've finally gone too far and hit someone.

Like I wrote above. The road surface along that stretch was hateful AND wet AND dark. The action sounds hectic written as a story, but I was taking every precaution (other than just stopping or turning off), I was calm, sticking with my game plan and trying to ignore a really peeved person while avoiding his front bumper zone. No way was I banging on his vehicle or even speaking to him in light traffic and cause some huge chase scene or risk a crash. I just wanted to get home in one piece as usual. I was not expecting such persistence on his part.

I would have been a lot more worried had I been alone and most likely would have turned off of that street when he got in front of me for the second time. But the side streets are not parallel to the main street. The blocks are triangular, so I would end up way off my route and in the hood after dark.

Like I wrote above. The road surface along that stretch was hateful AND wet AND dark. The action sounds hectic written as a story, but I was taking every precaution (other than just stopping or turning off), I was calm, sticking with my game plan and trying to ignore a really peeved person. No way was I banging on his vehicle or even speaking to him in light traffic and cause some huge chase scene or risk a crash.

Ah sorry, should have been more clear. I wouldn't have touched him either, for all you know he's got a 12 gauge underneath the seat :twitchy: Just a move to use in the future, if you can get away with it. Probably not on aggressive truck drivers, as they are just itching to prove that size does matter.

Joey, sounds like you and I have a very similar commuting style. Your story is typical of trying to commute in a military town, where every buck sergeant has to go buy a mustang and thinks he owns the road. What made me want to chime in was all the flak you're getting about running lights etc. When I started commuting here, I played the "vehicular cycling" game - stopping for lights, stop signs, and signalling, yielding right of way. Still, I was being buzzed and hassled on a daily basis, often more than once a trip. So I decided that if drivers weren't going to play nice, I wouldn't play by their rules. It certainly isn't safer, but it hasn't increased my number of close calls either, and it gives me the added benefit of getting where I'm going quicker.

I guess the point I want to get across is that riding style is pretty dependant on where you ride. I'd love to live somewhere that welcomes commuters and everyone can play nicely, but until the people of Fayetteville can get their act together, I'll keep riding the way I do.

Anyway, glad to be a member of the forum and look forward to hearing everyone's stories!

:D I did. But now someone else is using the FoaBP cover, so there are two of us. Or maybe 3, including you? :thumb:

That would be me. :)

Victim? I saw one of your videos once. Looks like you ran into another ****** bag who shares your exact same attitude on road safety and manners.

I dont believe you.

I guess the point I want to get across is that riding style is pretty dependant on where you ride. I'd love to live somewhere that welcomes commuters and everyone can play nicely, but until the people of Fayetteville can get their act together, I'll keep riding the way I do.



I have a friend, a Captain in the army, who was stationed at Bragg for a while. He often got harassed riding his bike to the base by Joes in trucks and muscle cars. The gratifying part was when he would catch up to them at the line to enter the base. They were the model of contrition! A rare instance when the cyclist has acknowledged power over the car driver.

I have a friend, a Captain in the army, who was stationed at Bragg for a while. He often got harassed riding his bike to the base by Joes in trucks and muscle cars. The gratifying part was when he would catch up to them at the line to enter the base. They were the model of contrition! A rare instance when the cyclist has acknowledged power over the car driver.

lol, even discounting rank, it is a great feeling to blow past the line of cars at the checkpoints and slide into the front of the line. if I ride with the right blend of audacity and caution it only takes me 10 more minutes to make the 15 mile ride in.

(sorry joeybike, for hijacking the thread)

(sorry joeybike, for hijacking the thread)

I don't care. It's all good.

I'm not saying I would behave like that if someone cycled past me through a red, but damn if it isn't annoying as hell.

Anyways the OP seems to have a history with red lights, he seems to consider himself above the idea of obeying traffic laws. So this is pretty pointless.

Yeah, I would be irritated too but likewise I wouldn't set about trying to kill someone as a result. Joey likes to run reds and makes an interesting case for doing so but I am afraid I don't buy it. Part of the reason I don't run them is that I don't want an encounter with someone using their vehicle to correct my 'misbehaviour'.