IR Baboon

So I'm riding around in a strange town- Wichita Falls, TX with my new Dahon Jack. My first business trip with a folding bike. I have been taking daily rides between 27 and 50 miles a day after my work conferences here and thoroughly enjoying it. Of course it's a billion degrees F out (actual measurement of temperature), but I'm riding away from home on my own ride! I was all ready to declare this town to be fairly bike friendly- no especially close passes, people would move over a lane when it was available, nice MUP runs through a good portion of town, etc.

Yesterday I had a full water bottle chucked at me. Fortunately it missed, or I would have probably have gone down hard. I could have possibly been killed as I was riding in fairly heavy rush hour traffic. As I watched the car that threw it go by I could feel the little guys sitting on my shoulder fighting it out (the devil angel guys). Normally I'm super laid back, but man- it was hot and I got pissed. I caught up with the car by filtering through traffic and said something like "your aim sucks man!" Then I ran a red light to avoid further confrontation.

I am not proud of either of these actions. In fact I felt like a jackhole almost immediately afterwards.

The car chased after me, and kept looking for me for a good while. Yelling at me as I ducked in and out of parking lots and behind businesses. Fortunately traffic worked in my favor, and kept this guy from really pursuing me closely. Eventually he got bored of harassing me, and left me alone.

I ruined my own ride. I should have just let him go. I spent the rest of the afternoon really watching my rearview mirror for him. It ain't worth it. Pull over take- a drink. If you've got the plate # call it in.

equusbynature

Instead of saying something like "your aim sucks!", I probably would've said something like "Why did you think that was a good idea? How would YOU like it if a person threw a water bottle at you?". Try to humanize yourself in situations like these. Then you write down their plate number and call the police immediately, or at least threaten to. But holy moly, I think getting something thrown at you is the worst. A car getting too close is one thing, but getting hit by something heavy enough to knock you off balance is a terrible thing for someone to do.

Chop61

Write down the license plate, go to the police, you bet! Wichita Falls is the home of the Hotter'n Hell Hundred, they make a lot of money off that one weekend and they take cyclists complaints seriously. Never had ANY problems there except for the heat and the wind gusts.

DataJunkie

I have no fuse when I am over heating. I go from calm to ballistic at the drop of the hat.
Your aim sucks is not an especially inflammatory comment. That motorist was a freaking idiot and quite possibly had a screw loose.

Seattle Forrest

Did your adversary run the red, too, or catch up with you afterward? How hard did you "run?"

"Your aim sucks" is the kind of thing that might come off as a challenge; once things are already escalated, nobody would ever respond with "Yeah, I guess I do kind of suck, huh?" But, that said, if somebody threw a bottle at me I'd find it pretty hard not to react immediately, too. It's good that you got away before things got worse ... bikes are good for that.

So, did you happen to get the license plate numbers?

canyoneagle

Plate # and police would be the proper approach, IMO.

That said, I know that in those circumstances I would have had a really hard time not confronting the motorist in some way (hopefully level headed).

AdamDZ

Yup, definitely: write down the license plates and report to the cops. That's why I carry a quickly accessible black Sharpie so I can write stuff down on my arm if I need to. Lucky, never needed it. Just be calm with the cops, this kind of complaint should go on a record, I believe. If this jackass ever has a serious incident, this kind of record will work against him.

therobotfuture

Was he bigger than you? You should have started a fight.

DallasSoxFan

Heat making you agitated is no joke. I didn't even notice it myself until one day my wife said to me, "either jump in the shower or the pool. you are cranky." I did and it worked. It is not part of my routine.

cycle_maven

I carry one of those spring-loaded center punches for the windows of a-holes that chuck things at me. Shatters the car window with just a little click, easy-peasy. I haven't caught up to one yet, but I'll let y'all know how it went when I do...

Maddox

You've got huevos. While the law is, in many cases, on the side of cyclists, I think you kind of void any favor you may have with the law by causing damage to a someone's car.

vtjim

I'm short-fused, too. Testosterone can be a bad thing. But I like the reaction, and the cager chasing the cyclist. What did the driver think he was going to do? It's real easy to push a pedal with your foot. Get out of your box and let's see what you've got.

I've thrown the occasional finger and/or not been the better man a few times (just yesterday I toyed with some woman who just had to pass me when it wasn't necessary), but I try to just let stuff slide.

CB HI

My little angel tells my little devil to: Go ahead, catch up to him and slap his window or yell real loud in his ear, but don't you dare take it any further unless he does.

The little devil just says: OK.

Both the little guys get a laugh when motor head jumps out of his skin.

Commodus

You felt bad for that? You're way too nice. Your comment wasn't even insulting, and he threw a friggin water bottle at you. I have no idea what I would do if someone did that to me, but it would definitely start with profanity.

cycle_maven

True. But then again, from reading here about the response of law enforcement to bottle tossers, if the policeman didn't actually see it then it didn't happen. I figure, same with the car's window.

fredgarvin7

Commodus? I would have thought you would have had him put to death.

Commodus

well, profanity and then the lions. of course.

dahut

This is why you keep your cell phone handy. Take a picture of his license plate with your phone, then stop and dial 911 - immediately. If possible ensure the driver sees you doing this.
Stay in traffic in case he confronts you; you are in a crowded place with witnesses. Tell him what you are doing, and why.
Once the call comes in, it becomes an official matter and the police department must act in some manner. If your going to have your ride messed up, may as well have something come of it, you know?