tabnlu

I was out doing my 25 today and enjoying the beautiful weather we had today in sunny Mesquite, TX when I hear someone behind me start to gun their engine and a Big Gulp type drink comes flying out of the window of the car. They missed me in front but the ice from the drink went everywhere causing me to dodge that. They were going so fast that I didn't get a license plate number. I sure would have pressed charges if I could've seen that number.

Does anyone know the laws in Texas concerning motorist throwing things at cyclists?

jaxgtr

If your fast enough to shoot the tires out of the vehicle, you can cleat then a few times. Yet to know why people friggin do this. I had a beer bottle thrown at me once, lucky a miss. I feel your anger. Glad your ok.

Galls

I know you can have a gun in a car in texas, don't know so much if that law extends to bikes.

Neil_B

I've had french fries thrown at me, although to give them the benefit of the doubt they may have simply been littering.

Bill Kapaun

It's a rather obvious case of assault (attempted at least) when you wantonly commit an act that likely endangers someone. You don't need a car or bike involved for that!

Wogster

I am not a lawyer, and I don't play one on TV either. Typically most places throwing something at another person, would be considered assault, or at least attempted assault (if they miss). Some day, someone will throw an object at a cyclist, the cyclist will then lose control, crash. The cyclist will have a darn good lawyer and know how to use it. The cyclist will sue for an insanely large amount of money, and get it.

Sometimes they are not aiming for the cyclist, they finish with something and toss it out the car window, without even looking, they don't care if they hit someone or some thing, as long as they don't have to pull over near a garbage receptacle, open the car door and move their lazy good for nothing a## far enough to place their waste in said receptacle. This is why so much of our oceans has plastics debris floating on it....

WonderMonkey

Of course filing gives to proving, which would be difficult to do. Even if they got the cup and got prints from it, can they show intent?

wild animals

littering--or sharing!

Tom Stormcrowe

Well, one reason I have ride video is because I have a video camera slung under my aerobars.It's helped me out a time or 2, by the way.

Neil_B

Assault with a deadly weapon is more like it. I shudder at the transfat in those things.....

justin70

Assault is the threatening act. Battery is the physical harm caused. So in this case the person throwing the big gulp would be guilty of assault, without battery.

b_young

Chances are if it is a regular ride route for you, you will see the car again. Next time be ready to get their plate number or at least have a camera, gun, RPG... ready.

Glad your okay. I have been riding for 3 years without anything but words thrown at me. Unfortunately, it happens quite often to some of my friends. I have just been lucky I guess.

Mobiker50

While I agree with this in theory, it has happened to me often enough that I now watch loud pickup trucks with large (noisy) tires on them. An inordinately large number of flying objects have come at me from vehicles that meet that description, and I know that most of them are too lazy to even throw the trash out the window except for a purpose

DieselDan

My experience with cops in that part of Texas is, they don't give a damn about cyclists. Your on your own.

Trolley Guy

I also live in Mesquite Texas and completely understand your dilema. I can ride ALL day in Dallas and never have any problems (and Dallas is not what I consider "Bike Friendly"),. But even in my neighborhood which is supposed to be a "nice" one, I can't seem to get 2 blocks without someone yelling or even swerving at me. Welcome to Hicksville, ****erland or whatever other redneck stereotype name you wish to use. I don't know where you were riding, but Galloway and Beltline and anywhere near Town East are areas loaded with trouble. I am pretty sure the law would call that an attempted assault, but you might want to check. My suggestion is just forget it and try to enjoy your ride, you might also get the license plate and call the Mesquite Police, but don't get your expectations too high.

Neil_B

Ever notice these folks who toss stuff out of windows don't have an arm to save their life?

BigBlueToe

It hasn't happened in awhile, but I've had things thrown at me a couple of times - once it was an orange. I've also been squirted with a supersoaker. I think it's the vandal, criminal nuisance mentality - like the guys who drove around shooting people with painballs, laughing and videotaping the whole thing (which helped convict the morons.)

I just hope it doesn't happen much; the chances of doing anything about it seem pretty slim.

I also have people shout at me out of their windows a lot - woo hoo! I think they're trying to encourage me, but I wish they wouldn't. It usually startles me - like when a dog in a passing car barks at me. I hate that! (and I love dogs!)

Trolley Guy

I need to temper my earlier comments a bit. Although every "incident" that has happened to me has been in Mesquite, in reality, they are few and far between. The norm is for people to be courteous and wave or simply do nothing. It is the exception that someone does something rude or dangerous, but of course those are the ones that stick out.
Hope your rides are all good safe ones.

Tom Stormcrowe

Last time I got squirted by a super soaker was on a REALLY hot 98º day. I hollered thank you! The guy that did it was disappointed I caught up at the next light and asked them to do it again please

thaetviking

This is something I have started to think about a lot lately Tom. Here in Iowa it is pretty safe to cycle but as I am planning on getting a job out of state I wonder. I have lurked through the advocacy section of the forum and from reading some the the stuff there I think doing this may start to become a necessity for some cyclist to protect themselves in a court of law.

tabnlu

Trolley Guy, I ride mostly in the Creek Crossing area. There are some nice roads out here to ride. I have been riding a while and this was my first time something like this has happened. I think most are used to the number of riders in this area of town. Maybe we'll see each other riding out here soon. Look for the yellow Trek 1000.

Trolley Guy

Hi Tabnlu, I live in Opal Lawrence Estates (used to be Parkview) just off Kearney over by Mesquite High. I ride around City Lake park and my neighborhood but haven't ridden over to Creek Crossing yet, although it is very close. I will have to venture up there sometime. I ride a white Trek 7.3 FX and a Trek 1000 Discovery Channel edition. Maybe we can go on a ride together sometime.

v1k1ng1001

I hate riding in Texas.

breadbin

Reminds me of the Dead Kennedys b-side "night of the living rednecks". lol. seriously though i'd try and forget about it asap. i've never had anything thrown at me but have gotten the beeping and the shouting and it doesn't make you feel too good. makes me feel pretty awful if i'm honest. but happy then after i'm home that i did actually go out cycling and these morons aren't worth a second thought!

atomship47

on my ride yesterday i saw a pink ***** on the side of the road.

my first thought, i wonder if someone threw it at those cyclists up ahead of me.