General Cycling Discussion - First time tailgated

I've been riding a lot for the last 6 months, having accumulated nearly 5000 miles on my bike, and last night was the first time I got tailgated. I was at the intersection of University and Euclid in Tucson, Arizona waiting at a red light when a Dodge Charger pulls up behind me. I was the first at the light, on the right side of the lane. As the Charger pulls behind me, the driver revs the engine, and slowly creeps up on me until his bumper is no more than six inches from my rear tire.

When the light turned green, I took the lane because the street narrows and both sides of the street have bars and parked cars and there are lots of pedestrians crossing the street. (See Google Street view http://g.co/maps/2v93n ) Car will generally go no more than 15 mph on this section of road and last night was no different. I was keeping up with traffic and waiting along with the cars for pedestrians crossing the street. But the guy behind me wasn't having any of it. He continued to tailgate me and yell out the window. I don't now what he was yelling, probably nothing nice.

At the next intersection, I go straight through thinking he'll turn since the road dead ends for cars at the university about a block later. But no, he continues to tailgate me as far as he can until I get to the gate blocking the road for cars. He gets one final verbal jab in, revs his engine again, and turns around.

How far would this bozo followed me had I not passed through the university? Would he eventually passed or continued to follow at an unsafe distance? Is there a sekrit meeting room for those of us that have had this experience? How often does this happen to you, and what do you do?

Just sounds like an angry person trying to get his kicks looking for a reaction from you... that said I'm glad he didn't actually hit you and even more glad you gave him no satisfaction.

In a situation like that it helps to pull out your phone and make an obvious show of taking a photo of his license plate and his face. Even if your phone doesn't have a camera, just mime it. I've done this a few times and it has a remarkable effect on ******** when they realize they might have to be accountable for their actions.

Never had this happen. Not sure what I'd do. I like the cell phone idea, though.

All I can say for sure is, my reaction would not be civilized. (Big guy, bad temper, military training, lots of study of various combat techniques. . . you do the math.)

Jerks come in all areas of life. Just glad it wasn't a pickup so some wouldn't get 'joy' in that.

Maybe he was trying to get to "know" you. I have had heard a couple of guys yelling at me only to turn around and get a wink and thumbs up! :eek:

In a situation like that it helps to pull out your phone and make an obvious show of taking a photo of his license plate and his face. Even if your phone doesn't have a camera, just mime it. I've done this a few times and it has a remarkable effect on ******** when they realize they might have to be accountable for their actions.

Unfortunately, cars in Arizona don't have front license plates. A "picture" of the face would be good though.

Unfortunately, cars in Arizona don't have front license plates. A "picture" of the face would be good though.

I was once in Tempe, Arizona. I was in a supermarket in the grocery department, when suddenly I noticed a regular civilian-looking guy, standing next to me wearing a holster with a revolver handgun in it.

Apparently Arizona, places a new spin on the term "road rage". I mean usually, all you have to worry about are a few curse words being shot at you, not bullets too!

- Slim :)

I like the camera idea and was going to say maybe me but Ive never carried a revolver. Pistols all the way :D And arizona and a few other states now might want to be more aware that its now legal to carry concealed without a permit.

In a situation like that it helps to pull out your phone and make an obvious show of taking a photo of his license plate and his face. Even if your phone doesn't have a camera, just mime it. I've done this a few times and it has a remarkable effect on ******** when they realize they might have to be accountable for their actions.

After a few incidents I started to strap a camera to my backpack. Results are promising: idiot drivers notice the camera when they get close and back off. I have a mildly amusing video from the day before yesterday showing a driver moving to my side of the road to play chicken and suddenly backing off with only abuse to sling at me. Naturally I couldn´t care less.

I would post the video here just for amusement (it´s not very interesting though) but I don´t know how.

Never had this happen. Not sure what I'd do. I like the cell phone idea, though.

All I can say for sure is, my reaction would not be civilized. (Big guy, bad temper, military training, lots of study of various combat techniques. . . you do the math.)

Wait, I know this, I know this...er, um...you are going to get violent and assault someone and then go to jail! Yay! What prize do I get? :rolleyes:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G2C5sdHGihg/TCknnUOaWXI/AAAAAAAAADg/TG0RCcMijhw/s1600/2+Internet+tough+guy+skinny.jpg

that picture reminds of my frame at 14...

The camera idea is a good one. I usually keep my cell phone in a plastic bad with my cash and ID, so it'd be a little hard to get out while riding with a car up my butt and I for sure didn't feel safe stopping.

I was once in Tempe, Arizona. I was in a supermarket in the grocery department, when suddenly I noticed a regular civilian-looking guy, standing next to me wearing a holster with a revolver handgun in it.

Apparently Arizona, places a new spin on the term "road rage". I mean usually, all you have to worry about are a few curse words being shot at you, not bullets too!

- Slim :)

Oh heavens, that's nothing. The only places you can't carry a gun here are airports and the state capital, and it's kind of iffy at the capital.

Can you say: "Concealed weapons in a bar"?

I'd do the same thing I do when I get tailgated in a car- reduce speed. Aside from the safety aspect of ensuring you won't get run over if you have to stop suddenly or fall off, it leaves the impatient moron seething away behind you. If/when they get the message, speed up again.

How far would this bozo followed me had I not passed through the university? Would he eventually passed or continued to follow at an unsafe distance? Is there a sekrit meeting room for those of us that have had this experience? How often does this happen to you, and what do you do?

Probably he would've gotten bored eventually. Or so riled up that he'd squeal away in an engine-revving, penis-waving display of frustration and fury. Depends on whether he was actually angry, or just messing with you. I've never been tailgated for more than the distance required for the tailgater to turn or to pass, but I would've done the same thing you did: ignore him and find a place that he can't follow.


Oh heavens, that's nothing. The only places you can't carry a gun here are airports and the state capital, and it's kind of iffy at the capital.

Can you say: "Concealed weapons in a bar"?

We have concealed carry up here, but you can't carry on school grounds, airports, or state and federal buildings. I used to see people openly packing all the time at the supermarket when I lived in Wasilla (to be fair, it was the same few people over and over again), but I assume that'll change as more people move out there.

Considering that fact that he's driving a Dodge, he already has more problems in life than many of the rest of us.

I was once in Tempe, Arizona. I was in a supermarket in the grocery department, when suddenly I noticed a regular civilian-looking guy, standing next to me wearing a holster with a revolver handgun in it.

Apparently Arizona, places a new spin on the term "road rage". I mean usually, all you have to worry about are a few curse words being shot at you, not bullets too!

- Slim :)

It has been a few years since we left Phoenix but I think Arizona allows open carry as opposed to concealed carry. I am to lazy to Google the latest laws right now. I have a CCL and I am packing. I would consider tailgating me at 6 inches while underway a threat on my life. Stopped, no, underway yes. If he were to misjudge the six inches or I were to fall he would run over me. That is a threat on my life and I would respond especially if he continued to pursue me and give me no safe distance to escape.

This never happens to me because I am a very considerate rider.

If I'm in front, knowing cars are faster and at the same time avoiding risks and nut baskets, I veer right in the intersection (plenty of room between cars and the crosswalks) allowing cars to make their way through. Yeah, I lost 15 seconds of high speed ride time on my average but I don't have to deal with the stupidity.

Most times I get a nod or thumbs up.

Considerate cyclist or not, some folks are simply bullies.

Considerate cyclist or not, some folks are simply bullies.

Yes, there are bullies but if you remove yourself from their path, you would never know if they were bullies or not. ;)

People are funny. I worked at a steel mill running overhead cranes carrying 40,000 steel coils years back. Ton of safety rules, like never place yourself in a pinch point. Removing the 2,000 hook from a coil in a coil filed (warehouse wih narrow corridors), you don't place yourself in a position that would allow the hook to pinch you between itself and a steel coil.

Guess what! People still did it and people got hurt. Those that were smart enough to avoid the pinch point s didn't. To each his own but I prefer to avoid placing myself in pinch points with bullies while on the road. ;)

When the light turned green, I took the lane because the street narrows and both sides of the street have bars and parked cars and there are lots of pedestrians crossing the street.

I would have let the car go. No point blocking traffic.




He continued to tailgate me and yell out the window. I don't now what he was yelling, probably nothing nice.

Probably trying to let you know that the sleeve of the jacket you had rolled up on your rack was falling into your rear wheel.

I would have let the car go. No point blocking traffic.
I wasn't blocking traffic. I was right behind the car in front of me. If I was unable to keep up with traffic, I would gladly have pulled off to the side and let him pass, but there was no where for him to go. And on this section of road, there really isn't a good place to pull over and let someone pass.

Of course I've had motorists yell at me while on my bike, but nothing approaching the level you've just experienced. Glad you are ok. If it happens to me, I hope I can remain calm enough to remember the cell phone camera idea.

Bad attitudes because of little penises and large car payments make baby Jesus cry......

Keeping up with traffic, narrow roadway with parked cars on the side, the OP did what I regularly do in taking the lane.

If there was any safe distance between any of the parked cars, I probably would have pulled into it in order to get the motorist in front of me, done that a few times, and it really takes the motorist's thunder away from them, plus it gets a better shot of the motorist's personal/vehicle description and rear license plate.

little penises and large car payments

They are inversely proportional, are they?

I wasn't blocking traffic. I was right behind the car in front of me. If I was unable to keep up with traffic, I would gladly have pulled off to the side and let him pass, but there was no where for him to go. And on this section of road, there really isn't a good place to pull over and let someone pass.

Yeah, but he PERCEIVED that you were blocking him and you knew it the instant he moved up close to you and gunned his engine. You could have de-escalated the situation by simply moving over and letting him go by.

I used to always pull up on the far right at intersections until I realized that:

1) I am blocking any vehicle that wants to turn right
2) I may get cut off by a vehicle turning right if I go straight.

What I do now is go to the very far left of the rightmost lane and wait for the light to change. That way I am not in anybody's way. After the light changes I move forward and merge back to the right when safe.

What I do now is go to the very far left of the rightmost lane and wait for the light to change. That way I am not in anybody's way.


Some motorists understand this maneuver, and some don't. When I'm first in line, I always check to see if the motorist behind me has their right turn signal on, and wave them through if it they're wanting to make a right turn, but just sitting there. Just last night, I had to wave a right turning motorist through.

I would have let the car go. No point blocking traffic.




Probably trying to let you know that the sleeve of the jacket you had rolled up on your rack was falling into your rear wheel.

Consider the possibility that he was gay and he just thought you were cute?

The nice thing about firearms is, they equalize. Big bad car vs. lone bicyclist isn't a fair match. If you're armed and able to protect yourself, suddenly you get respect.

Now, if you were driving a car and some jerk tailgated you, your options might include what you see in this movie clip:

http://www.bitoffun.com/video_vault/do-not-tailgate.htm

The nice thing about firearms is, they equalize. Big bad car vs. lone bicyclist isn't a fair match. If you're armed and able to protect yourself, suddenly you get respect.

Now, if you were driving a car and some jerk tailgated you, your options might include what you see in this movie clip:

http://www.bitoffun.com/video_vault/do-not-tailgate.htm

This type of action sounds really cool in one's imagination or at the movies, that is until someone tries to replicate it in real life, with the aggressor usually ending up in a legal quagmire.

This never happens to me because I am a very considerate rider.

If I'm in front, knowing cars are faster and at the same time avoiding risks and nut baskets, I veer right in the intersection (plenty of room between cars and the crosswalks) allowing cars to make their way through. Yeah, I lost 15 seconds of high speed ride time on my average but I don't have to deal with the stupidity.

Most times I get a nod or thumbs up.

I used to do this as a habit, but now only when there's only three or four cars or I see a big gap behind them. I've several times gotten to the far side and had drivers refusing to allow me back in traffic, with the honking threat to back it up. So unless I see a way ahead of time to cleanly merge back in they stay behind me at the intersections now.

The guy in the Charger in OP's post was just displaying his ignorance, probably believing that bicycles are prohibited from the roads. I wonder if he'll have the decency to feel embarrassed when he eventually learns better.

This type of action sounds really cool in one's imagination or at the movies, that is until someone tries to replicate it in real life, with the aggressor usually ending up in a legal quagmire.

The aggressor being the guy who's threatening your life or limb, or is assaulting you. Survival of a life threatening situation may trump the assailant's claims as he sits at the defendant's table in court.

The aggressor being the guy who's threatening your life or limb, or is assaulting you. Survival of a life threatening situation may trump the assailant's claims as he sits at the defendant's table in court.

Tell that to one of our local motorists who blew out his rear window with several gun shot rounds, and into the following motorist's vehicle, wounding them severely.

He's in jail, and looking at staying there for quite some time.

I used to do this as a habit, but now only when there's only three or four cars or I see a big gap behind them. I've several times gotten to the far side and had drivers refusing to allow me back in traffic, with the honking threat to back it up. So unless I see a way ahead of time to cleanly merge back in they stay behind me at the intersections now.

Yeah, that's why I said 15 seconds and not 2 minutes. ;)

The nice thing about firearms is, they equalize. Big bad car vs. lone bicyclist isn't a fair match. If you're armed and able to protect yourself, suddenly you get respect.

So let's get this fantasy straight. Some dude tailgates you, you're pulling out a gun?

Some dude wants to hit you with a car from behind, in an attempt to kill you or cripple you for life, he's going to give you a warning so that you have time to draw on him?

Seems to me if a person in a car "tries to take you out", he aint giving you a warning and you have no chance of going all Clint Eastwood on him. ;)

Have lived and cycled extensively in Tucson area since 1978.
There may be a few inconsiderate drivers, but you will find them anywhere.
Knew 2 ladies that rode tandem in Tucson. They got tired of close calls and yelling and even once getting patted on the butt while pedaling on Speedway.
Rear rider now wears pistol on left hip; very visible and very legal. No more pats, no more yells.
You do not need to buy a real pistol . . .

I got tired of riding on Speedway very quickly. Not that's dangerous.

To those suggesting that I should have pulled off and let the driver pass, would you recommend I have done the same thing if I was being tailgated while driving a car?

To those suggesting that I should have pulled off and let the driver pass, would you recommend I have done the same thing if I was being tailgated while driving a car?

If you can't see the difference between the two, then I feel sorry for you. ;)

I got tired of riding on Speedway very quickly. Not that's dangerous.

To those suggesting that I should have pulled off and let the driver pass, would you recommend I have done the same thing if I was being tailgated while driving a car?

yes,i have done that before.

To those suggesting that I should have pulled off and let the driver pass, would you recommend I have done the same thing if I was being tailgated while driving a car?

Sure ... why not?


I don't like people getting in my way ... and I don't like getting in other people's way. This goes for when I'm driving, cycling, pushing a grocery cart through a store, or walking through the hallways at school or work.

If you're the slower person ... step aside.

Sure ... why not?


I don't like people getting in my way ... and I don't like getting in other people's way. This goes for when I'm driving, cycling, pushing a grocery cart through a store, or walking through the hallways at school or work.

If you're the slower person ... step aside.

I step aside when I see some fool flying up in a hurry because they weren't smart enough to head out 5 minutes earlier. No, I've never had a speeding ticket in 32 years of driving.:thumb:

In the case of the bike in front of an idiot behind the wheel, like said a million times before, doesn't matter who had the right " when you're in a wheel chair or dead.:(

If you're the slower person ... step aside.

No, and screw you for thinking that your time is more important than mine. If there's room, then I'll make room; if not then your gonna have to wait. Welcome to society.

OP, it sounds to me like you were traffic, not blocking traffic.

To those suggesting that I should have pulled off and let the driver pass, would you recommend I have done the same thing if I was being tailgated while driving a car?

Only if you can do it safely, would I pull over and let a tailgater pass. If a similar incident like yours happen to me, depending on the amount of info I gathered, the local law enforcement would be getting a call from me, and the motorist's description/ vehicile license number, and driving practices would be documented.

No, and screw you for thinking that your time is more important than mine. If there's room, then I'll make room; if not then your gonna have to wait. Welcome to society.


Please read my post again. Here, I'll help you ... :)


I don't like people getting in my way ... and I don't like getting in other people's way. This goes for when I'm driving, cycling, pushing a grocery cart through a store, or walking through the hallways at school or work.

If you're the slower person ... step aside.

And if I am the slower person ... I will usually happily get out of the way because I'm not that self-centred and selfish and rude that I feel I have to get in other people's way. [un]Common courtesy. :)

The OP did nothing wrong and handled the situation perfectly.

Moving aside for operators acting in a civil manner when it is safe and reasonable to do so is one thing, but rewarding bully behavior is quite another. If you want the bully to continue to push cyclists around, then be sure to continue to give in to their tactics.

The nice thing about firearms is, they equalize. Big bad car vs. lone bicyclist isn't a fair match. If you're armed and able to protect yourself, suddenly you get respect.

Now, if you were driving a car and some jerk tailgated you, your options might include what you see in this movie clip:

http://www.bitoffun.com/video_vault/do-not-tailgate.htm

Dude, that was waaaay too funny!...Funny, but somehow sick too! :lol::roflmao2::lol:

- Slim :)

Attributed to George Carlin..

"Think of how Stupid the Average
person is, and realize,
Half of them are Stupider than that".

Machka, I read your post just fine the first time, and I still disagree with it just as much the second time around.


Sure ... why not?


I don't like people getting in my way ... and I don't like getting in other people's way. This goes for when I'm driving, cycling, pushing a grocery cart through a store, or walking through the hallways at school or work.

If you're the slower person ... step aside.

I don't like people getting in my way either, it's a basic human trait. But in a modern urban environment, we are all in each other's way. We're all moving at different speeds and cross directions, using different time budgets, and all for different purposes with varying degrees of necessity. When I have both the time and the ability, I might let someone faster than me go by, but definitely not if they're gonna be an ass about it.

Between two of my classes I've 15 minutes to cross campus, which I can do in about 14, allowing for traffic. I probably could do it in twelve if people would just see me speed walking and step aside, but they're trying to get to class too. Why should I have any expectation that they would stop their travels to let me by? Doesn't that imply that I think that my time is more important than theirs? It is to me, but should I expect everyone else to feel the same way?

When I'm riding my bike and you're behind me in your car, don't expect me to pull over. I know that you're trying to get somewhere. So am I, so is everyone. If I pulled over for every faster vehicle, then it would take me a heck of a lot longer to get where I'm going; in essence I would be giving up my time to everyone who chose to drive, which is pretty much everyone.

I don't feel that by choosing to bike instead of drive I'm in any way being "self-centered and selfish and rude", even though I get in the way of cars. Your "uncommon courtesy" equates to having to choose between driving my car or being a prick, which I don't see at all. What I would consider courteous would be respecting the space of slower users and acknowledging their right to get where they're going at the pace that they move, and treating them as I would want to be treated in the same situation. I don't expect cyclists or horse buggies to get out of my way when I drive, I don't expect walkers and runners to get out of my way when I bike, and I don't expect senior citizens and pregnant women to get out of my way when I walk. If they choose to, fine, but in no way should there be a cultural expectation for them to do so.