USAZorro

Not to pile on, but the OP was absolutely within his rights, and handled the situation just about the same as I would have. Quite frankly, the number of drivers who conduct themselves obnoxiously seems to have been on the rise over the past 20-30 years. (I have my own theories which I'll keep to myself here). Timmy T has it exactly correct, and you can read Indiana laws here, and Texas laws here.

Flyboy718

If anyone is interested in where I was...https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7690.../data=!3m1!1e3 it happened about 1-2 miles south of County Road 322

greg3rd48 

@Flyboy718 Geez that seems remote.

txsurfer

I live in SE Texas outside of Houston in a very 'redneck'/'good ole boy' area and I work for the local municipality and their police force on a very personal role with admin staff as a network engineer/admin. I have had beers at county fairs with these same officers (SGTs/LTs/Dep Chief) so I know a few of them very well. Ever since I started cycling in this area that has a very active fitness/IronMan cycling population that seems to push buttons with locals, I asked them about basically how to handle these situations. I can tell all of you now, that in this area of Texas, the police are NOT on your side and have ZERO interest in pursing the reporting of such crimes. They have all said to me "well, sounds like you should get off that hippy machine and try something different".

This attitude seems to be growing where I live and the prominence of jacked up, rollin' coal, whitetrash/oilfield trash (hey, they put the self proclaiming stickers on the back! just repeating what I see) trucks that are out to prove their point "dont tread on me"/"come and take it" style, is steadily rising as well.

I have made serious considerations of leaving this state but I guess you get these stories everywhere.

I also have considered getting my CHL and carrying on my rides. Sad Sad world.

However, I stick to roads with a ridable shoulder and I drive them first to verify the chipseal integrity. I do NOT push my bike rights on these ignorant *****. I also still refuse to let this crap get to me deep down. I think about the absurdity of riding concealed and I just shake it off and go for a ride.

May you never have this experience again my fellow Texas rider! Keep your head up and feet clipped in, its all we can do.


***edit***
I just remembered, I had a good friend push his 'bike rights' in some traffic in the woodlands area. 3 oilfield bros jumped out of a truck in 5pm traffic and beat him into a hospital trip. Cops never cared and didnt pursue it even though a friend and I found them via custom scripting ripping through a DMV site we paid access to, looking for a white dodge with last 3 of plates. Cops still didnt care. Stay SAFE!

Lazyass

I lived in Garland in the 70's-80's when it was still a nice place, been out that way a lot.

Dave Cutter

Yes I know. We all have a version of the law don't we. That's why we have lawyers and courts.... and courts that review the decisions of other courts. Maybe a little common sense might be helpful as well.

Dave Cutter

Hey. Don't make fun of the OP! I am sure he was riding the best he could. Open roads aren't for everyone. As cycling isn't for everyone.

Or hire an armed guard to follow him around?!?!?!? Give me a break. He caused a back-up and a guy yelled at him... not a big deal.

TimmyT 

The things I cited in my original post are backed up by precedent. You're "word of mouth" and "stereotypical" response is equivalent to the driver's. The uniform vehicle code is uniform across states with minor variations to accommodate regional differences. Please reread my post, and then take a look at Mionske's website and book.

Dave Cutter

Really?

NOT true. Re-read the post. The cars opposite passed only because the motorist in questioned allowed them to.

What truck?!?!?!? Re-read the post.

The motorist in question DID NOT get out... he only opened his door (I know what you're thinking.... so how did the OP know how big he was...huh????). Braking and swearing (exercising free speech) is legal everywhere. No crime was committed.

I have seen conflict. More than you might imagine. I didn't read any from the OP.... and neither did you.

Dave Cutter

No room here for diversity of thought huh???

Hypno Toad

I'll admit to being terrible at reading for details. So I did reread the OP ^^^ . However, it would appear that my reading skills are not the issue here. The OP was experience road-rage.

I have neither time nor interest in going over every point with you, this should be enough to make my point.

shoota 

Not when your "thought" is blatant victim blaming, no. We get enough of that as it is, we don't need it coming from the inside too.

Dave Cutter

Yes, yes, yes. Within his rights.... fully allowed to act poorly and then be fearful of the people he ticks off.

The OP was cycling for sport! If he can't enjoy the sport for what it is.... this is softball season! He should be having fun. If bicycling isn't a bushel basket full of fun...... you're doing it all wrong.

shoota 

You have to be trolling us at this point.

Flyboy718

I believe it was him that was driving that car yesterday.

shoota 

Wouldn't surprise me.

Dave Cutter

I also had a motorist yell at me from behind me at a stop sign. I had to wait because I was going straight.. be he was turning right. I couldn't hear him... so I carried my bike back to his car widow so he could explain to me his yelling. When he suggested I use the sidewalk.... I smiled (real big) and said FU.

We agreed to disagree (would be my guess)... he stopped yelling. Soon he sped out and around me. This was (as was likely the OP's) a normal road conflict. Nothing to get all upset about. We don't need to have police show-up everywhere we ride, wear cameras on our bikes, or take along a lawyer on every group ride. People need to learn how to have fun.

Dave Cutter

So why didn't you mention that I was a minority in the post? Is that why you got so scared when I yelled Gee Golly son... some of need to get home?!?!?!?

Look this is simple! I love cycling. I know it isn't for everyone. But other people's irrational fears of sharing the road doesn't need to mess up the good times for everyone else. Why in God's name would anyone be afraid of a man that didn't even get out of his car? Heck... you're riding a 63cm bike! How big was that guy that never stood up?!?!?!?!?

Chombi

Heck, if you think that's bad, a few months ago while crossing a street in SF, a guy on his bike almost hit me while I was crossing the street when he did not want to bother to obey the stop sign at the crosswalk....
I yelled at him to watch it and the jerk had the nerve to shout back "You watch it!". Dang I never was so mad at a fellow cyclist in my life. I had to hold myself back from chasing after the jerk and slamming him and his bike to the ground!
Sure lots of urban riders tend to develop an attitude trying to avoid killer drivers on the streets, but it sure is screwy when cyclists start putting on the nasty attitude towards pedestrians.
Maybe some of those victimized pedestrian lose respect for cyclists and end up hunting other cyclists on the road when they get in their cars.....
So be respectful of pedestrians when you're cycling as we reap what we sow....

Drillium Dude 

Mods? Can we get one of these?



'Cause this is going south fast...

DD

Dave Cutter

Not rage... not by any definition I've ever heard. The "raging" person merely expressed his disapproval using his free speech rights.

Flyboy718

Ok, I'll play along...so take my story, exactly as it happened, and change it to reflect your definition of 'rage'.

photogravity

****

Hypno Toad

source

USAZorro

Generally, I'm one of the accommodating cyclists who will give extra room whenever it is safe. From the description, that's what the OP prefers also, but there are times when it is safer to hold your lane. Not moving over to a part of the pavement that is very irregular and where you just might get thrown several inches to one side or the other when someone is likely to pass you while giving you anywhere from a couple inches to four feet of clearance is a matter of common sense and safety.

Weighing the potential consequences of being hit against delaying Bubba by 10-15 seconds, the safe choice is to do what the OP did. I think that most of us recognize that there are going to be motorists who don't understand the reasoning behind our actions, and aren't going to let it phase us if we get a rude comment in passing - but the motorist was the ass who instigated the confrontation.