I agree with the people recamending you report him to the police. Get the incident on record. Let them educate him about your rights, it will have more impact and it will let him know that he will be the first suspect if you "mysterously" get hit by a hit and run driver.

LOL, that's funny! Here we laugh about New York drivers! I suppose it's really all over.

It's been a few months since posting this and I figured this would be a good time to update everyone on my situation. I decided not to persue anything with reporting the guy. Since I'm rarely that late, it's not like I would be seeing him often anyway. In the past two weeks though, I've encountered him twice. Once when I was late and again when he must have been getting in early. Both times he waited patiently (very patiently the 2nd time) behind me and passed when it was safe, and in a manner much safer than most drivers do (using legal speeds). I have to admit I'm a bit shocked at this change in attitude but it's cool to see that people are obviously getting used to me being out on the roads. I still get honked at on a regular basis but some improvement is better than nothing.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice.

Thanks for the update! I've read on here many times that once drivers get used to seeing you on the road, they begin to accept you. Maybe that's what happened with this guy. I'm glad to hear about the change in his attitude -- or at least his behavior.

I have noticed around here that as gas prices go higher people get politer, I think maybe they start to think we aren't some guy out there in their way but someone who is sticking it to the oil companies. Or maybe they are more polite because but for another price raise the guy on the bike could be them?

Now would be the time to send him an email and thank him for his new attitude.

Mike

Actually he did do something wrong. I've been told by my sheriff's department (Summit County, CO) that this kind of behavior is considered harassment and/or disorderly conduct. Not the most heinous of crimes, but it is a violation of the law.

I think a call from the police would serve notice to this person that 1), he can be found and held accountable for misbehaving while driving his vehicle and 2) he should find out what the law really says before imposing his opinions on random strangers, or else mind his own business.

If you try to talk to him personally, he's likely to say or think "what are you going to do about it?". If the police contact him it should be pretty clear to him that the police can and will do something about it.

Or you could solve the problem the North Georgia way--carry your .38. When he buzzes you, shoot out his tires, back ones first. The other option is to start with his side mirrors. Screaming and frothing at the mouth, or generally looking like your elevator doesn't go all the way up will add to the effect.

Bet he takes another route to work.

Look folks. The guy changed his behavior for the better. Acknowledge his frankly odd but positive enlightenment with a friendly wave and move on. Better at this point to show there's a memory but not a grudge to the formerly rude fellow.

Funny that you mention it, but I did wave the second time as I was truly impressed that someone would be as patient behind me as he was, and I was particularly impressed to see it was this guy. I don't see a need to contact him personally and thank him as just like he technically didn't do anything wrong before, it's not like he's doing anything extraordinary now. Wouldn't want to give him a big head or something :)

At least once or twice a week I have someone honk at me from behind when there is plenty of room to pass (I guess they are just honking because I'm making full use of my lane... I don't ride on the edge because then folks tend to want to buzz by too close), so I just wave them around me to say "just pass me, the left lane is wide open and clear"

well, i've been passionately convinced of some things, and adjusted my thinking when i got a new (to me) fact. the main thing about it is that it can be embarrassing to get the real story - the embarrassment seems to be in direct proportion to the degree of belief prior to enlightenment. so you might still want to avoid talking to him.

that's why if the guy was bothering me enough, i would consider asking the cops to fill him in. not so much in the spirit of sic'ing them on him, but more just because i think he might be more inclined to take a cop's word on the laws of the road over mine. depends on the attitude of the cops in your area, of course. it probably would work well here. on the other hand, if you're at all worried that he might be twitchy enough to retaliate, then it might need a little thought first. what was your read on him based on those interactions you had at stoplights?

edit: oh. never mind :D how cool that you gave him the time to come round without sparking anything off. maybe he complained about it to someone he knows who also commutes, and they filled him in.

Maybe he ranted about it to others at some "get together" to look good, and a person with a legal background let him know just what could happen if he gets caught doing something.
I'm a mailman, and people argue with me about their dogs all the time. They have no idea how a dog can change it's mind in a split second, and the result of that. Now, when people give me a hard time after their dog has gone nuts near me, I pull out a package slip, write www.dogbitelaw.com on it, and hand it to them. I never have any more problems with their poochies. Maybe we should start referencing Gary Brustin's website to drivers that confront us.

tokolosh and Dchief, I've gotta think that you guys are onto something. I've had so many people tell me how they used to get pissed off at bikers on the road but now that they know that both my dad and I ride, their attitude has changed. I'm still waiting for the day that I see another commuter on my route and they tell me how I got them into commuting. That'll be a feel good day, although just this one guy's change in attitude really means something to me. Which reminds me, I need to stop the other commuter who I pass almost every day and let him know how he inspired me to try commuting.