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Sheriff almost took me out today!!

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Sheriff almost took me out today!!

Old 09-29-09, 03:38 PM
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Sheriff almost took me out today!!

I was riding along on my road bike doing like 17mph - single lane road. Two cars pass me, the second being a sheriff. I could tell he was on his radio, and talking to his partner/passenger. The sheriff turns right just after he passes me!! If I hadn't noticed his right-hand turn signal, I would have been over his car. I had to SLAM on my brakes. I've had cars do this to me before (in fact twice just in the last two weeks), but a police officer??

Last edited by lineinthewater; 09-29-09 at 03:58 PM.
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Old 09-29-09, 03:46 PM
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get on the sidewalk!
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Old 09-29-09, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by TVS_SS
get on the sidewalk!
hilarious
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Old 09-29-09, 04:27 PM
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shoot him.
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Old 09-29-09, 05:02 PM
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Deputy Council must have gotten his badge back.
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Old 09-29-09, 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by fsor
Deputy Council must have gotten his badge back.
Terrifying thought.
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Old 09-29-09, 05:16 PM
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I didn't know if anyone would catch the reference.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Deputy+council

more than a years' paid holiday and rehired after vehicular manslaughter

yep, watch out for those sheriff deps.....they is above the law
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Old 09-29-09, 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by fsor
yep, watch out for those sheriff deps.....they is above the law
That is why I made an exception to my flip-the-bird and yell profanity ritual.
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Old 09-29-09, 05:50 PM
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Yeah, well today I *yielded* to a fire chief, who was making a left turn, coming the other way.
I think it is best to yield to any vehicle that has flashing lights on the roof, even if they aren't illuminated.

Also, the United States Post Office has right of way in all circumstances.

Note: I have been watching Youtube a lot lately, so I haven't visited bikeforums everyday. Besides being a cyclist/custom bike builder, I am also a railfan. I have a special fondness for shortline railroads, and have been viewing them a lot on Youtube lately. My theory is that if more people rode trains and bikes, there would be a lot less cars on the roads.
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Old 09-29-09, 06:26 PM
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The driving of police officers does tend to demonstrate the dangers of attention to other things than one's driving. Some just can't stay off the radio even in a two person unit.
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Old 09-29-09, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by hotbike
My theory is that if more people rode trains and bikes, there would be a lot less cars on the roads.
nice theory... rocket surgery right before my eyes
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Old 09-29-09, 07:56 PM
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Jeez, I read the title of this thread and I thought it was going to be a dating story. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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Old 09-29-09, 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by ilmooz
Jeez, I read the title of this thread and I thought it was going to be a dating story. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
LOL!!

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Old 09-30-09, 07:18 AM
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In all honesty, it was probably a case of being careless rather than malice. It's not at all uncommon for non-cyclists to not realize how fast a cyclist can go. Part of riding defensively is anticipating certain mistakes by others and being able to react to them to avoid a crash.

Now, if it would make you feel better, you might want to send a FRIENDLY note to the sheriff's office informing them that even after passing a cyclist, one should be especially careful if turning right b/c of the potential for a right hook.
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Old 09-30-09, 07:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Ngchen
In all honesty, it was probably a case of being careless rather than malice.
Agree 100%. Never meant to imply it was intentional. He was likely distracted - instinctively passed me (giving me space) and then totally forgot I was there. I'm guessing if he realized what he had done, he would have been embarrassed and stunned. But that still deserves the middle-finger (which I withheld) - it is my only silent horn.

Originally Posted by Ngchen
It's not at all uncommon for non-cyclists to not realize how fast a cyclist can go. Part of riding defensively is anticipating certain mistakes by others and being able to react to them to avoid a crash.
That is definitely part of the problem. Most motorists don't understand that road bikes go so fast - and they totally misjudge relative speeds. Also, IMO, most motorists just see bikers as objects in the street, not people. The other day, I was riding along in a large bike lane, and this SUV is pulling out of a parking lot on the other side of the road - crossing the street to merge into the same direction as myself. She is basically aiming right at me as I ride by and she turns to come up side of me (matching my speed). She probably had 10 seconds of seeing me approach while waiting, crossing the street, and coming up side of me. Then she decides to take a right turn at the next street (with me riding RIGHT next to her at the same speed). She basically pushed me off the road. Ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Ngchen
Now, if it would make you feel better, you might want to send a FRIENDLY note to the sheriff's office informing them that even after passing a cyclist, one should be especially careful if turning right b/c of the potential for a right hook.
I thought about that. I think it will fall on deaf ears.

Last edited by lineinthewater; 09-30-09 at 07:44 AM.
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Old 09-30-09, 07:55 AM
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You really should call the Sheriff, not just another deputy, and register a formal complaint. He would like to know who those guys are, too....
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Old 09-30-09, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by TVS_SS
Originally Posted by hotbike My theory is that if more people rode trains and bikes, there would be a lot less cars on the roads.

nice theory... rocket surgery right before my eyes
I was going to say hotbike must be some kind of brainiack... but i think you summed it up nicely.
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Old 09-30-09, 08:25 AM
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Did the sheriff ever realize what he did?

I would have yelled as soon as I seen it coming, and I'm pretty sure he would have heard me.
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Old 09-30-09, 10:59 AM
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F the police. Again, worse than useless. If you'd have protested they probably would have arrested you.
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Old 09-30-09, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by lineinthewater
That is why I made an exception to my flip-the-bird and yell profanity ritual.
Why?
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Old 09-30-09, 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by leob1
Why?
Answer:

Originally Posted by cofgrn
If you'd have protested they probably would have arrested you.

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
Did the sheriff ever realize what he did?
No.

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
I would have yelled as soon as I seen it coming, and I'm pretty sure he would have heard me.
I was too busy slamming my brakes. Self-preservation comes first. Pretty hard to hear through shut windows at 20mph. And, even if he heard something, it certainly wouldn't have been fast enough to allow him to react. Happened too quick.
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Old 09-30-09, 12:38 PM
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Police officers and sheriff deps are first of all professional drivers trained at great expense (our expense, mind you) and equipped with well maintained vehicles. They are trained far beyond the level of the bozos driving hazardous materials trucks or taxis. I do not care what the appologists say, they have absolutely no excuse, that works for me, when they kill a pedestrian (fremont, ca. child in crosswalk) or a cyclist (see above reference). Having two cousins and a next door neighbor on the force, I can also say they generally don't care about cyclists and their chiefs' and unions are very good about protecting them. Watch out for them, don't let them kill you, forget about it and move on. We truly are not in the loop in any way shape or form. Our lives do not matter and certainly not our opinions. We have a great one going on in the bay area where a ex cop working as a investigator for the prosecuting attorneys office parked her escalade on top of some people stupid enough to stop for a light. She was falling down drunk. The SJ Police officers threatened the paramedic that wanted her brought in and refused to execute field sobriety tests (her dad was a leutenant on the force...sorta like Dep. Council).....the union is weighing in on thier behalf now. do not write a letter, you will have death threats......they protect their own. I won't make that mistake again....move on. I was brought up with respect for the law, I lost it quite honestly, through long experience.
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Old 10-04-09, 03:51 PM
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Something similar happened in my city. A pig(I won't insult good cops by calling him one) left a local bar ****-faced drunk, drove off and hit a bus and a navy police car then fled the scene. It took his dept. over 12 hours sitting on their hands so he could sober up before they questioned him and then he pushed his 12 yr. old son to say he was driving the SUV. Needless to say he is still on the force and in the bar every day.
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Old 10-04-09, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by hotbike
Also, the United States Post Office has right of way in all circumstances.
Funny, I never heard that, and I work and drive for them.
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Old 10-06-09, 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by TVS_SS
get on the sidewalk!
That is the worst thing she could do.
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