Advocacy & Safety - First confrontation with motorist

I've been road biking since 1998 and have put in about 80,000 miles and I had my first confrontation with a motorist. I was going down an old country two lane road near Grand Rapids, MI this evening and this knucklehead and his buddy in a van come up next to me and lay on the horn and they both yell right in my ear. I hear them laughing and gather myself and immeadietly flip them the bird. About 1 mile down the road, guess what I see? They are pulled off the side of the road. Without hesitation I pull up to the drivers window and start going off on him. I scared the crap out of him and he almost had a heartattack. He immeadietly gets out of the van and starts off on me. He tells me to just ride on before something happens. So I plant my elbows on the handlebars and just laugh. I start yelling at him and tell him I could have broke my neck. He keeps saying what are you going to about it. His buddy keeps telling him to get back in the van. I was about 2 feet away from the guy the whole time as we continue our verbal assault. He was a pretty big guy, but I'm no small guy at 5' 11" and 215 lbs. After about another couple minutes of this I just decide to ride on. It was a work van with the company name and phone number on it and I know his name was Dave. I wasn't thinking clearly, just seeing red. If this happens again I will get a picture of the van and license plate with my phone. After about 3 years of living out here this is the first time anything like this has happened to me.

If you remember the name of the company on the van, call the company and report it along with the drivers name. That's what I'd do.

I don't hear people when they yell, cause the music in my earphones is loud.

Why don't you just call the company?

this is not advisable. people get murdered over road rage.

cool story bro

I trained with a master ninjutsu in Japan a few years back so in those situations I can slice their tires then vanish before they even realize what happened. Of course I also get their info and report them.

I trained with a master ninjutsu in Japan a few years back so in those situations I can slice their tires then vanish before they even realize what happened. Of course I also get their info and report them.

you are yanking our chain aren't you?

i hear a flushing noise.

maybe OP should consider carrying concealed?

oh boy.

you are yanking our chain aren't you?

i hear a flushing noise.


I can cause a lot of damage with chains too but they're not practical to carry around. On a side note:

WEMBLEY WEMBLEY WE'RE THE FAMOUS MAN UNITED AND WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!!

:D

maybe OP should consider carrying concealed?


with that kind of temper he might end up hurting people. My ninjutsu master always told me guns are for cowards, if you face an opponent you fight using the skills you have mastered through years of practice. One time someone got snippy and all I had to do was twirl my mini pump and they left me alone.

Hey pie guy how's it going? any new flavors? How's the spawn?

I can cause a lot of damage with chains too but they're not practical to carry around. On a side note:

WEMBLEY WEMBLEY WE'RE THE FAMOUS MAN UNITED AND WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!!

:D

It has been a good year for both Manchester teams.

Hey pie guy how's it going? any new flavors? How's the spawn?

do they do random drug testing at work?

Hey pie guy how's it going? any new flavors? How's the spawn?


all is well thanks, how about you? The spawn is doing well and we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of spawn2 in July. I've been busy at work which looking back on it has been for quite a while now, no more ebb and flow of projects as they're pretty constant. I've been getting lots of riding in and I always enjoy that.

:)

do they do random drug testing at work?


sshh!! i've been on the down low for a few years, it hasn't happened..... ssshh!!

anyway, i'm not work... yet!

It has been a good year for both Manchester teams.

there's only one team in Manchester.

If you remember the name of the company on the van, call the company and report it along with the drivers name. That's what I'd do.

Good advice, but I'd take it a step further. Get the name of the company President, or at least one of the executives in charge of human resources, then visit them in person. Have an account of the incident written down, and present it to them. Make sure that when you tell them what happened, you remain absolutely cool and calm, because if you get too hot-headed, they won't take you seriously. Be gracious and courteous at all times. Don't focus on what they did to YOU, but rather frame your conversation in a way that shows that you're concerned about what they may do to other cyclists in the future. Don't need to warn them about their company's liability for incidents like these lest you come off sounding too preachy. They know. When you leave, thank them for their time.

all is well thanks, how about you? The spawn is doing well and we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of spawn2 in July. I've been busy at work which looking back on it has been for quite a while now, no more ebb and flow of projects as they're pretty constant. I've been getting lots of riding in and I always enjoy that.

:)


Things are going great!! Thanks for asking, congrats on spawn 2! :)

I wasn't thinking clearly

Correct.

Never been in a situation where getting pissed off at a cager helped the situation.

Never been in a situation where getting pissed off at a cager helped the situation.


Hey surgeon, if OP were to carry concealed should he do away with the helmet? You know, in order to keep the weight down.

[QUOTE=Makel;12695346]Hey surgeon, if OP were to carry concealed should he do away with the helmet? You know, in order to keep the weight down.[/QUO TE]

I have a confession to make. I always wear a helmet, if for no other reason than to make my wife happy. I do sometimes play the devils advocate to stimulate discussion...don't let anyone know and for God's sake- don't tell closetbiker.

Sounds like you handled it almost as poorly as possible. By the way the encounter started, you knew he wasn't going to apologize or consider the possible consequences of his actions, so what's the point? If he WAS going to listen, you can make your point without putting yourself in danger by standing two feet away from him.

The end result is that you put yourself in more danger than THEY did, and they now probably dislike cyclists even more.

this thread has potential but i don't think it will ever reach the heights of the driver confrontation thread with "jerkface". i think that one involved water spraying.

Welcome to A&S.

Try this next time: first off, get a helmet mirror, helps anticipate the a-holes approaching. When they get alongside you, slam on the brakes. It will take them 30 feet to stop. Now you have the advantage, and it makes it ten times harder for them to continue their BS. Now they have to back up... (works even better if there's a car behind them)

Now you can simply make a U turn, stop and whip out cell phone, write down plate, etc.

I would avoid rampaging on them like that, that would not go over in court. Also the guy gets out of the van with a gun...

If you remember the name of the company on the van, call the company and report it along with the drivers name. That's what I'd do.

That only works if the company or the person contacted at the company considers it important. A couple of years ago I was buzzed by a cab. I called the cab company to report it to the dispatcher.

Sadly, the dispatcher took the attitude of "no harm, no foul." As he kept asking/saying "he didn't hit you so what's the problem?"

Good advice, but I'd take it a step further. Get the name of the company President, or at least one of the executives in charge of human resources, then visit them in person. Have an account of the incident written down, and present it to them. Make sure that when you tell them what happened, you remain absolutely cool and calm, because if you get too hot-headed, they won't take you seriously. Be gracious and courteous at all times. Don't focus on what they did to YOU, but rather frame your conversation in a way that shows that you're concerned about what they may do to other cyclists in the future. Don't need to warn them about their company's liability for incidents like these lest you come off sounding too preachy. They know. When you leave, thank them for their time.

That sounds like the best way to handle things.

I don't bother retaliating back anymore, I now just video the actors doing their Oscar winning performance. If their actions warrant that I make a phone call, it will only to the local authorities with a vehicle license number, and vehicle/motorist description, regardless if it is a personal or company vehicle.

Report it to the police in case they have to investigate who ran you down next week...

Then call the company. Talk nice. Perhaps drop a line like the police suggested that you speak to them.

Both the driver and his ******* buddy deserve to get their ears pinned back. If they are screwing with you in a company truck I'm thinking they are probably screwing around doing other things as well.

What is the company name ... maybe we should all send them a email.

Cheers,

Report it to the police in case they have to investigate you ran you down next week...

Then call the company. Talk nice. Perhaps drop a line like the police suggested that I speak to you.

Both the driver and his ******* buddy deserve to get their ears pinned back. If they are screwing with you in a company truck I'm thinking they are probably screwing around doing other things as well.

What is the company name ... maybe we should all send them a email.

Cheers,

PLUS ONE.

Really, no lie. While we all do things right there in the heat of the moment, to catch up with them after some time has passed it could be assumed that any physical altercation is premeditated. Give 'em a deeeeeep bureaucratic paper cut. I know the economy is in the crapper and jobs are hard to come by and it sucks to think about someopne not putting food on the table because you got 'em fired... but JEEPERS don't just let it slide. Part of the 'big picture' is that they will think they can mess with ANY cyclist.

Call the number and complain about the van driver's driving. I wouldn't argue with a ******. Waste of time, I would've pulled over taken pics with the cell phone of their vehicle, and if you can get a clear picture of the driver do that too. Afterwards, then call the company phone number and report it, tell them you have pics and whatever other video footage and that'll you want his dispatcher's/manager's email to send a formal complaint, including any photos. Another option is to call the police and indicate that you have the photos and video of the driver. I'd say do both, that way, you call the police first, the company knows you escalated it beyond their damage control. And that way if the driver attacks you in any way, you have evidence of who the assailant was.

BTW, my cell phone timestamps and even names the jpg pic the date and time of the occurrence. Your's probably does too ?

I stopped caring when you escalated the fight. What they did was wrong and potentially dangerous, what you did was stupid, get over yourself and keep your cool next time. Just note the time, place, and plate and file a complaint with the company.

Not a single one of these threads has shown that escalating the fight on the road improving things for the cyclist.

Thanks for the advice guys. I can't remember the Company's name on the van, so I can't call. Next time I will try to keep level headed and get a license plate number or company name. I probably will never see the guy again in my life, so I will let it go. By the way, I did not try to start a fight with this guy. I simply explained to him that I have a 3 and 6 year old to take care of and I couldn't do that if I broke my neck with his "joking around". He's the one that got out of the van and got into my face asking me what I was going to do about it. There are just jerks in the world and I have to learn to live with them. Have a good day and ride safe.

If you are going to flip someone off you need to be prepared to start swinging. You're lucky you didn't get jumped.

I don't really see confrontations as anything other than another risk factor to manage. Each time we get on a bike and ride on a public road, there is an inherent risk that we've accepted. Depending on the situation I'm more than happy to personally educate motorists who feel the need the intentionally act recklessly towards me.

You can all say - you're better off calling the police, or talking to the company if a company vehicle is involved, but how often have you heard of someone taking a near miss to the police and getting any kind of outcome, other than the police really aren't overly interested, unless there is injury involved.

In my own experience, people who hate cyclists, hate cyclists. Nothing is going to change that, certainly not me giving something back to them if they choose to abuse or intimidate me.

I had some small truck driver decide that it wasn't my place to be on the road on a bike this week. I got the horn blaring, screaming, gesturing etc. All very interesting how when I caught him in traffic, the window got rolled up and I got asked 'What are you gonna do about it'. Well what I did involved his rear vision mirror exploding in a shower of glass, and me being on my way.

I don't need hate if you don't agree with what I did. You're all more than welcome to handle situations like that in your own way whatever that may be.

....You can all say - you're better off calling the police, or talking to the company if a company vehicle is involved, but how often have you heard of someone taking a near miss to the police and getting any kind of outcome, other than the police really aren't overly interested, unless there is injury involved.....



I must have got good results by reporting my last near miss to the local authorities, since I was able to give the motorist's vehicle license number and a very detailed account of their vehicle description. I still have the video of the near miss, and a video of the same motorist on our next encounter, two months later, giving me far more than average passing distance.

Judging by my observation of the motorist's constant checking of his rear view mirror as he passed me, I'd say that our local authorities must have left a considerably strong impression on him.

Judging by my observation of the motorist's constant checking of his rear view mirror as he passed me, I'd say that our local authorities must have left a considerably strong impression on him.

Right, so you have some anecdotal evidence that the police did anything. Hardly a compelling argument.

We have had front page new stories here, where a motorist took down a bunch by cutting in front of them and brake checking them, where the motorist was identified, there were about 50 witnesses and the matter went absolutely nowhere, which is clearly documented and in the public record.

Maybe you did get lucky, but I know at least a dozen cyclists who've taken all the details of an incident to the police, and which the complaint was not acted on in any way shape or form.

....Maybe you did get lucky,......

I'll take my luck in any way, shape or form. What may have helped my case is that I did not mention at any time that I happen to be riding a bicycle, and when I also began describing in detail the considerable passenger front fender/ bumper damage on the vehicle.

Thanks for the advice guys. I can't remember the Company's name on the van, so I can't call. Next time I will try to keep level headed and get a license plate number or company name. I probably will never see the guy again in my life, so I will let it go. By the way, I did not try to start a fight with this guy. I simply explained to him that I have a 3 and 6 year old to take care of and I couldn't do that if I broke my neck with his "joking around". He's the one that got out of the van and got into my face asking me what I was going to do about it. There are just jerks in the world and I have to learn to live with them. Have a good day and ride safe.

Good to see this thread didn't turn out like they usually do. Be safe.

That only works if the company or the person contacted at the company considers it important. A couple of years ago I was buzzed by a cab. I called the cab company to report it to the dispatcher.

Sadly, the dispatcher took the attitude of "no harm, no foul." As he kept asking/saying "he didn't hit you so what's the problem?"

I got buzzed by a cab and reported it. It was taken rather seriously as my institution deals with cab companies a lot and used the "Dr" honorific. I always knew the PhD was good for something.