Number400

My Wife and I were seriously buzzed yesterday on an empty country road, clear conditions, straight piece of road and no traffic whatsoever except for the offender. Here in PA, we have a 4 foot passing rule. We were 1ft left of the white line (no shoulder), and buzzed at high speed ~55mph in a 35 mph zone, with inches to spare. I know we were intentionally buzzed because he moved left, back over toward the yellow lines after the pass. I don't mind close passes if the driver has to negotiate oncoming traffic, slows and squeezes by, but this high speed empty road buzzing is a little ridiculous.

I am not proud of this but I had my nearly full water bottle in my hand and launched it. Of course, the driver was going so fast that it fell short. I slowed to retrieve the bottle and to my surprise, my wife launched a sprint after him that would have made Cav proud. For fun, I took up the chase, passed her up a climb and just caught a glimpse of the van turning left at the next intersection. At the end of it, we were both laughing and saying how much of a dickhead the driver was.

I don't condone this type of behavior in response to someone who is willing to play games and take chances with someone's life, but I was so furious over the blatant disregard for our safety. I don't typically like confrontation nor do I want to give a driver a second chance to run me over by inflaming the situation but in this case I was fully prepared to have a "chat" with this person and inform him of the law while my wife called the police. Sadly, we were not able to get the plate number but I ride that road often at that time and that van is now on my list in case I see it again.

Sorry, needed to vent and would love to hear some constructive things to do when buzzed. I will start by trying to get plate numbers first rather than hurling objects and one finger salutes.

350htrr

I take out my phone and try to take a picture, 99.9% of the time it's wasted effort but when the guy looks back at me in the mirror he sees that I was takeing a pic and I hope that's all he can think of for the rest of the day, that he now maybe is on record for doing illegal stupid thing like that...

Number400

That works ;-)

I do carry a non-lethal alternative while on the bike :-)

dougmc

I do realize that you're being sarcastic/kidding/etc., but just in case somebody doesn't, getting a weapon involved in the situation described to us would be a horrible idea, legally speaking. One that would probably lead to you (the impersonal you) going to jail.

I don't know about up there, but down here much of the concealed carry class is about when you should and shouldn't use your weapon, and what can happen if you make a mistake in that regard.

Unfortunately, the only useful and safe thing an average citizen can do in these situations is record their rides, and submit such videos to the police. Usually the police don't really act upon such videos, but there are exceptions. Also, if this driver did it to you, he probably does it to a lot of cyclists, and some police do ride bikes. If he does it to a cop and it's pretty clear to the cop that it was intentional -- the weight of the law will be falling on that guy like a load of bricks.

B. Carfree

It looks like there's going to be another go-pro sold.

I've never understood the "sport" of buzzing cyclists. No one does this to pedestrians, skateboarders, roller-skaters or Fiat drivers. Okay, maybe Fiat drivers get this treatment. Why are we treated as special? Isn't it bad enough we have to deal with all the functionally blind people who drive without having those who can see us pretend to be blind? I take a perverted solace in the fact that it has ever been so. In reading a history of cycling book a few years back I came across an article from the New York Times circa 1890 that advised cyclists to always ride in groups to discourage attacks by young toughs.

JBHoren

Ya gotta love the title! I read it, and thought: "Gee, I get buzzed, and all that happens is I lose my glasses!"

spare_wheel

Collecting license plates is futile unless you look up the perp and shame them. I once emailed and/or fb posted the friends, family, and employer of someone who tried to run me off the road. The drama that ensued was sweet indeed.

Chris516

People do not need a lethal response, unless their 'physical person' has been attacked physically. A close pass by a car doesn't count. Just get the offender on video, and submit a copy to the police, end of story.

B. Carfree

That's just hilarious. It would probably be even funnier with video added a bit after the perp has made his/her denials.

spare_wheel

https://www.licenseplateslookup.com/

big chainring 

Whoa, really, no way, yeah.

DX-MAN

Have one of these follow you on your ride; when you get buzzed, pull over and take manual control......

dynodonn 

Some time back, I had a motorist deliberately make a close pass, with inches to spare, at a 40mph "differential" while I was riding in a well marked bike lane. With a Contour 1080p mounted on the front and back of my bike, running in the highest definition mode available and in bright daylight, I was able to not only read the license number, but see the vehicle model emblems, rear window decal, and the motorist's mustached face staring at me through the windshield, then into his side rear view mirror as he pass by. My action was after the incident was an obscene gesture, and then to calmly ride home and down load my video, and being delighted at what info I had gathered.

After the chasing down one motorist, and having a bad experience, I've resorted to videos which is much easier than sprinting, only to be out of breath if I happen to catch the offending motorist.

Needless to say, the info that I gathered was reported to local law enforcement, and the video of the entire incident is still archived in my external hard drive.

ItsJustMe

video and a police report.

ItsJustMe

Well, what happened? Did the cops do something about it?

robble

I too read the title and thought he had been drinking.

dynodonn 

I don't do follow ups, I just get the information documented with law enforcement, so if the motorist has a developed an aggressive driving pattern, law enforcement can then make the decision on whether to act or not. The "good doctor" in California now always come to mind whenever I make a call to law enforcement about aggressive driving motorists.

digibud

I have, on more than one occasion, been able to catch up with drivers that have buzzed me or flipped me off. I'm not a big guy at all, but I'm 6' and bearded. It hasn't always been white . I always say, in a confrontational angry voice, something like "Can you help me understand why in the )(*& you just (whatever he/she did) ? I have never gotten physical and am not worried about that at all. I think -every- single incident has resulted in the person apologizing because almost regardless of what they answer with, my reply is a very calm, friendly explanation of why I was where I was and how I try to ride legally and carefully. My confrontations have thus far ended in a shake of hands and hopefully a better educated driver. I've never been run off the road or hurt and have never called the cops.

dynodonn 

The last motorist that I was able to catch up to did anything but apologize, and I could not even get a word in edgewise since it was a several minute screaming tirade on their part. **** the hand shakes, the SOBs that deliberately went out of their way to intimidate me with several thousands of pounds of sheet metal deserve my efforts in contacting police, and let them educate the motorist if they wish since they have a better record at doing so than I do.

I-Like-To-Bike

He wasn't?