cranky old dude

I was out running errands today towing my B.O.B. with the Sun EZ Sport. The weather was fantastic; sunny, in the 70's, with gentle summer breezes.

Lots of folks were out and all were cheerfuly exchanging pleasantries. The man who impressed me the most however, was the guy driving the black Chevy sedan. He and I were the only two vehicles on the road at the time. He was so thoughtful that he actually honked at me from a quarter mile back, warning me that he was going to overtake me and buzz by within inches of my left shoulder!

My oh my, what a kind hearted fellow he is!!

BluesDawg

Bobke is right. Bazooka!

stapfam

Son-in-Law had similar today and the driver didn't miss. Ross is down the police station now filing the report about the incident from his phone call this morning.

He got the name on the side of the van and the reg. His workmates have been phoning the MD of the company all day filing complaints against the driver. The MD is getting annoyed after a report every 30 minutes or so. And the driver will not be happy as the Police are classing it as hit and run.

Son in law is OK but pee'ed off about being knocked off his bike and the road rash.

gcottay

Cranky, the guy must have been just honking along in time with the music in his head. He couldn't have been honking at you because, "Officer, I didn't see any bike!" Maybe he's an area regular so you can get a vehicle number.

wobblyoldgeezer

Stap - I hope Ross is ok. Better anger than more serious injury.

But, what to do about the attitude of hostile drivers? Drink Driving now seems to be almost universally (no maybe not, a lot of Africa and North Central Asia doesn't care) viewed as unacceptible, but phoning and bike-targetted belligerence lags a bit

Blues Frog

Hope the SIL is OK tomorrow. As in not too much bruising. The law his attacker broke here would be called Road Rage.

Retro Grouch 

Gee, I had the opposite experience this morning.

I was with a group of riders on the Madison County, Illinois bike trails. At at least 3 different road crossings, drivers stopped to let us cross the road even though they had no obligation. At one crossing, we had cars from both directions stop to let us pass.

DnvrFox

Did he have a dog in the car?

larwyn

All jerks are not in cars or irresponsibly walking an off leash dog. Yes, the guy in car was a jerk, the one who hit the other bicyclists is not only a jerk but is now hiding from the law.

I think it was Thursday of last week that I drove over to the VA hospital to pick up a prescription. When they told me at the window that it would be at least an hour wait I was happy to have the time to go over to the state park and walk one of the short hiking trails. Being mid week I was the only hiker out there so I was moving slowly, watching deer and jack rabbits, even saw a road runner this time out. I also saw a bicyclist, even though this particular trail is clearly marked as hikers only, no bicycles, I hear the tink,tink,tink of the cute little bell of a mountain bike barreling down the hill. The rider, making no attempt to slow down called out "Bicycle, make way!". I stepped aside and let jerk through, but never saw any more wildlife that day as I'm sure he "tink, tink, tink" warned all the deer, rabbits and roadrunners into the next county.

I'm sure he though that since it was mid week and there were probably no hikers out there it would hurt nothing for him to expect full right of way on all the hiking trails, even those where bicycles are prohibited. What bothered me most about it was that he was obviously angry that I was inhibiting his ability to enjoy his ride even though his ride totally ruled out any more wildlife watching for me. I should say that I hope that he slowed down before coming to the real reason that this particular trail is not intended for bicycles but in all truthfulness, I do not really care whether he slowed down before the came to "stairway" cut into the limestone to help us old folks on foot make it up and down the hill (he would be going down).

I'm not saying that bicyclists, pedestrians or motorists are jerks, only that some jerks participate in all these activities.....

stapfam

Police are treating it as Hit and Run- but they warned that there are no witnesses so it may not get anywhere. But they have to contact the MD of his company and put the initial charge on the MD as currently they do not know who the driver is. That is going to be one mad MD and one very annoyed van driver.

We do not get much Bike Rage over here but it does occur. Luckily the police are taking action at long last but you will never get rid of idiots on the road.

Don't know if Cranky got off better. He wasn't hit- even though the driver was out to annoy and worry him. The police would not take any action against the driver as nothing happened. Now if he got knocked off the bike and there were witnesses and they got the reg. no of the vehicle---------Cranky would probably still be in hospital and not able to post of his experience. And probably nothing would happen against the driver as he didn't see the bike and cranky vered out in front of him

Both my son-in-Law and cranky can count themselves lucky. Just wish there was a better way of hitting back at the Idiots that want to cause us problems.

billydonn

True, but I'm going to suggest that the jerks in cars have a strong tendency to be the deadlier variety.

cranky old dude

Fortunately, that has become the norm around here too. Most drivers are more than patient and courteous to bicyclists. That is probably one reason that this militant moron's actions stood out so much, he was out of the norm. He was so intent on showing me that his car was more deserving of that roadspace than I and my bike was that the potential consequences of his actions completely eluded his tiny little brain.

Dnver, I don't know if he had a doggie in the car as I was kinda busy alternating between watching his car in my mirror and picking my way through the roadside potholes all while watching for a possible escape route if needed. I hope he's not a dog owner because I imagine he would also be a militant doggie owner whose doggie would do no wrong. You know the type, if you try to fend off an intrusion by their illegally unrestrained doggie into your safe cycling space they threaten to do you bodily harm. Doggers indeed!!

cranky old dude

Stap, I hope your Son-in-Law heals up quickly and gets some kind of compensation for his losses and suffering.

Wogster

They may not be able to charge the driver, but it may also lead to the driver being dismissed. A company van is a rolling billboard for the company, when drivers act like idiots that can severely damage the companies reputation in the community where it does business. Some companies do not feel that it's worth the risk of having such a driver in their employ. I used to work for a courier company, and driving like an idiot was one of the fastest ways to earn yourself time off the road.