Southern California - VENTURA-Bad People report-long rant, might be useful

For those of you who ride between Ventura and Ojai: on Santa Ana Road just before the climb up to Lake Casitas there is a store, on Burnham. Two houses or so before the store on your right as you head north, is a wooden fence with a "house" behind it. There's a sign, something about being guarded by a shotgun. Some yahoos in a red Honda or similar car (I saw them parked there) didn't like whatever I grunted as they said hi when I went by, chased me up the hill, threw some liquid on me and sped off. Knowing where (I thought) they lived, I went back down the hill to get a look at the address (can't imagine NOW what I thought that would be good for) and got engaged in a lively discussion with the female POS that apparently lives there. She must have called them and they met me head on on another road and ran me off the road. I zipped up to a gas station on Ventura Ave. and Santa Ana Blvd in Oakview Called the police. In the meantime, female POS comes scouting for me in another car that I saw in the driveway, a white 50's or late 40's antique something or other. She hangs out at the gas station while I wait in the back of the store for the police. Officer comes, I give my story, he asks, "what do you want me to do?" I said, "make sure I get out of the area safely". So he goes out and confronts the female while my wife comes from Ventura to take me out of there.

These are truly f***ed up folks, my friends, please be careful.

I used to live up in Ojai a while back. Some people are nut jobs around that area.

Sounds like the basis for a good action/horror flick.

Sounds like the basis for a good action/horror flick.
+1

I've met enough strange folks in areas like that, and seen enough thriller movies, that I try not to engage them in any way.
Just out of curiosity, what did you grunt at them?

+1

I've met enough strange folks in areas like that, and seen enough thriller movies, that I try not to engage them in any way.
Just out of curiosity, what did you grunt at them?

I'm guessing he made fun of their Confederate flag. Either that or a "Boss Hog" reference.

Whenever anybody says "Hi" always smile and wave. Better yet, have a bell to ring, too...:D

Whenever anybody says "Hi" always smile and wave. Better yet, have a bell to ring, too

Would have saved a whole lot of trouble and you would have been out safely without the cops! ;)

+1

I've met enough strange folks in areas like that, and seen enough thriller movies, that I try not to engage them in any way.
Just out of curiosity, what did you grunt at them?

Nothing that warranted an attack, that's for sure. I was really working at that point and might have said "yo". Doesn't matter. I DID NOT say, "hey a$$hole, get off the road." :)

I'm just giving you a hard time. I'm sure you have a very friendly grunt...;)

But seriously, LA is working in passing an anti-harassment ordinance. Sounds like something that could benefit Ventura, also...

http://ladotbikeblog.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/bicyclists-anti-harassment-ordinance-clears-t-committee-next-stop-city-council/

Nothing that warranted an attack, that's for sure. I was really working at that point and might have said "yo". Doesn't matter. I DID NOT say, "hey a$$hole, get off the road." :)
Sounds to me like they had time to kill and nothing to hunt... until you came along.

There's a sign, something about being guarded by a shotgun.

Should have paid more attention to that sign...

It's hard to believe that Krishnamurti made Ojai his home and received visits from the Huxleys and other illuminati while there.

We in San Diego are also watching the Los Angeles ordinance creating well defined civil penalties for motorists who deliberately harass cyclists because of their status as cyclists. Awards start at $1,000. If property or bodily damage occurs as a result the award is double the cost of the damage.

I could have used it to recover $1,000 from the 59 year old mentally challenged paper boy who attacked me with a pickup truck last July when his elderly mommy failed to keep him on a short enough leash. Police refused to make an arrest because they didn't witness what they called a traffic infraction, even though two neighbors saw the whole thing and called 911. As a result I was unable to obtain a permanent restraining order and the perp still hangs out in front of my house with his teenage son and intimidates my wife when I'm not home.

As a result I was unable to obtain a permanent restraining order and the perp still hangs out in front of my house with his teenage son and intimidates my wife when I'm not home.
Wouldn't a video of that alone be justification for a restraining order for your wife?

Wouldn't a video of that alone be justification for a restraining order for your wife?

I think that's a great idea. And even if the video doesn't facilitate a restraining order, it might just piss them off enough to just go away.

I think that's a great idea. And even if the video doesn't facilitate a restraining order, it might just piss them off enough to just go away.
Come to think of it, you're right. Just make sure they see the video camera pointed at them and it might scare them into quitting the stupid game.

Time to invest in a camera that I can use at home and also at the finish line as a results camera.

for what its worth, you were in oak view, not ojai.
i lived in ojai for 15 years and never once caught flak from someone on the road. moral of the story? locals only.

for what its worth, you were in oak view, not ojai.
i lived in ojai for 15 years and never once caught flak from someone on the road. moral of the story? locals only.Their welfare check comes from out of town.

can you give more info how this all started, since there are 2 sides to each story ? , still though you're one lucky guy considering how it escalated and you were able to get the hell out of there.

Oak Veiw, just avoid eye contact with the locals and you should be fine.

can you give more info how this all started, since there are 2 sides to each story ? , still though you're one lucky guy considering how it escalated and you were able to get the hell out of there.

I understand what you're asking, but I think I told the story as best I can. Even IF I had said something truly rude, it didn't warrant the kind of action they took. These are sociopaths, and just need an excuse to act out. The post is to warn people of specific people at a specific address in recognizable cars.

for what its worth, you were in oak view, not ojai.
i lived in ojai for 15 years and never once caught flak from someone on the road. moral of the story? locals only.

You're correct of course. Oak View is known for it's "difference".

what do you mean "difference"? try to explain yourself without sounding ignorant.

what do you mean "difference"? try to explain yourself without sounding ignorant.

I'm willing. Please first explain what "sounding ignorant" means to you.

for what its worth, you were in oak view, not ojai.
i lived in ojai for 15 years and never once caught flak from someone on the road. moral of the story? locals only.

Same, hear always drive very slow in that part of town and always been very respectful of the local residents there, no problems here as well. :). It's a nice change of pace from the LA to visit once in a while, people are very chill out there as well. Ojai is a cool place but its got a good vibe. :).



I understand what you're asking, but I think I told the story as best I can

With respect to your post, I do believe there was more, reason I say this, fact of the post is,

something was thrown at you in which it was an assault in which at that point any LEO would have had PC to place those under arrest for assault or if something is thrown out of or at moving vehicle,

it is considered a feloniousness act in the state of California.




Even IF I had said something truly rude
or did you ride in a manner that upset them or did you gesture something of a single digit nature that caused them to U-turn on you and throw something at you ? still though no one deserves that sort of treatment, respect is a 2 way street, and sadly the majority of Cyclist do not get it and worse don't adhere to the rules of the road.

1) Stopping at a stop sign.
2) not riding in tandem order on narrow roads and riding side by side on blind corners.
3) Worse are those I have seen cyclist, cut the yellows on blind corners going down hill on Mullholand, and im talking from the white fog line from both ends.


Still though no one deserves or warrants the treatment the OP received as described assault/attack. The kind of action those responsible for the attack probably didn't think or care about the repercussion they would face.



These are sociopaths, and just need an excuse to act out.
Again not knowing the whole story, its just one side of it, anyone is just a "camels hair" away from snapping so its one of those things tread lightly and let those be, no sense in arguing and waisting time.






The post is to warn people of specific people at a specific address in recognizable cars.

don't post peoples addresses not only would you be liable if something happened or if someone didn't have any sense just decided to knock on that persons door and get hurt from a minor issue where someone flipped the other person off because they were not following the rules of the road.


not siding with either side nor did the actions taken against the cyclist were not only stupid but really someone of a diminished capacity would only do something like this.


My axe to grind with some cyclist and i mean some:
1) ride tandem on the canyon roads - do not ride side by side, as you cause motorist to cross double yellows and thus can yeild very bad incidents of cyclist or motorist going the opposite directions, way to many near misses I have seen 1st hand because of this.

2) wear bright and reflective safety gear clothing.
3) if you guys are going to have a big group together let motorist pass and don't hog the whole road
4) please put your reflectors back on your bikes as most of you do not have them and its is required by California VC law to have any bike equipped have them on any public road.
5) stop at the stop sign, I have seen way to many cyclist be elitist feeling they are better then everyone and don't have a need to stop at a posted stop sign.
6) Don't flip people off, even if its warranted.
7) Before you tell someone else they are reckless or not driving with in their means, be nice and approach with a nice candor and let things be , don't be a dick.

I had a chat with a person today when I slowed to 20mph below the posted speed limit and crossed the yellows to give room the cyclist, and still the guy has the balls to talk smack to me about what I did was wrong ? seriously wtf !

I slowed gave way more room and took off.

The list I have can go on and on but overall a majority of cyclist need to change their ways as I have seen time and time again not riding in a tandem order has always escalated into something nasty between cyclist,motorist and motor bikes.

I do see cyclist getting out of hand with their riding ability and sharing the road, I'm always respectful of everyone on the road and even those who are total ****** bags with regards of the cyclists I have encounter today.

4) please put your reflectors back on your bikes as most of you do not have them and its is required by California VC law to have any bike equipped have them on any public road.

Unless there's another law I am unaware of, that law is only applicable between dusk and dawn.

d) Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped with the following:

1. A lamp emitting a white light which illuminates the highway and is visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and the sides of the bicycle.
2. A red reflector mounted on the rear of the bicycle and visible from 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.
3. A white or yellow reflector mounted on each pedal visible 200 feet to the front and rear of the bicycle and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with side reflectors. All reflectorized tires must meet DMV requirements.

e) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle, may be used in place of a lamp attached to the bike.




As for the rest of your comments, I agree 100%. I rarely get hostility from motorists, and I believe this is in part due to me making sure to be polite. Give cars room whenever possible, wait your turn in line at a light (the cars are just going to pass you when it turns green anyway), make a full stop at a stop sign and don't steal anyone's right-of-way. I try to make sure they can see me following the same laws they do, and perhaps they appreciate that. In the end, it costs me only seconds of every hour I ride.