Riding home last night with the Mrs. some dirty rotten fat lazy SOB threw either a hacky sack or a very small hard water balloon at me. Hit me right in the back. We were riding in the huge shoulder about 8 feet from traffic. They did this not because we were in the way but because we were on bikes. We were dressed nomal, just a black shirt and black cycling shorts, the wife was in street clothes as she just got of work, we were not wearing loud jerseys. I'm getting sick of this. What is it with Texas?? The rage I felt was not healthy. I envisioned having a paint ball gun and plastering the back of their red SUV with bright green splatters, then, when they stopped to confront us to pull out my 12 guage chambered with 3.5" #2 lead shot and asking them now who gets the last laugh. Irrational I know. But I'm pissed off. I will no longer bike East,past where my wife works on the "seawall" it's just too dangeous. Cars will wait several minutes for some idiot to try to parallel park but God forbid they move over 18" to pass me without hollering obscenities. The people in Galveston are ignorant. Generalizing? Yep, but MANY people share my opinion and our experience here has not been a pleasant one. 3 More weeks.
Doug

Did you get a #? About 18 months ago some tosspot threw an egg at me, I took down their # and paid a visit to my friendly police officer. They immediately phoned the owner of the car - "oh, your daughter's boyfriend has that car tonight".... "well, I don't think he'll be driving that car again for a while".

They also issued the guy a ticket and a fine. It's not much, but it would have been more if I'd actually been injured in some way.

I see this comment all the time. It's darn hard to get a license number here in the states. Our plates are just too small to get a casual look at a license number when the vehical is doing anything faster than 20 MPH.

I've tried on several occasions, however between swerving or braking to survive, I have failed almost every time. There was one time where I actually caught a fellow (who purposely cut me off) at the next stoplight. I pulled up to his driver’s side window and had a discussion with the fat *** smoking SOB. He was very surprised and being boxed in by traffic had to take what I was giving him. Stupid on my part, I know but I had cycling rage at that particular moment.

Thankfully I have not had anything thrown at me, or ever been run off the road, but I have had some very close calls, not to mention several "buzzes" (i.e., car passes within a few inches of me doing well over the posted speed limit of 35 mph). I have actually considered putting a pencil and paper in my seat bag just in case I need to write something down fast (like a license plate number). Not to mention, going out and getting a smaller cellphone that I can carry with me for just such and emergency/situation.

I actually do my best to only ride on bike paths, but that isn't always possible obviously. We have a great system of rails-to-trails around here. Some crackpot recently advocated getting rid of them in our local paper recently. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Anyhoo...

Good luck Dougmt, I know exactly what you are going thru. I've felt that rage several times. I've actually caught up to a few people that have buzzed me at the next traffic light. I was tempted to give them a "what for", but by the time I actually got to them, I had cooled down. But I have given several drivers the choice words and finger signals, if you know what I mean.

Stay safe.

PBW

Sounds like some changes need to take place.

Probably an overgrown child.

Report it, plates or no.

I have not done it in a while due to a lack of incidents but I used to make a game of memorizing a plate everytime a car passed. It was keeping my mind occupied during a hard ride and if one were to do something stupid chances are I would have the number in my head.

This doesn't just happen in Texas! Hardly a week goes by without the same thing happening to me. I also have evil thoughts of what I will do to their car or pickup truck when I find it sitting all alone on the local Wal-Mart parking lot! Why do some people feel compelled to harrass others? Does it make them feel superior because they are in a car?

BTW, I do wear loud jerseys and a bright yellow helment because I want to be seen! I also use powered tail lights and head lamps if it is overcast or any where near dusk.

While it has yet to happen to me, I did notice an SUV in the bike lanes of the city. They never got much further than the next red light, and were rather menacing. I just shook my head. At the last light, I pulled along side the passenger side of the van as they were rolling up their window. I looked in and just nodded, we both knew they were in the wrong, and they knew I'd probably discuss the way their mother had taught them to drive.

Yup, and then add all of these novelty plates to the mix. For some reason, our license plates are fashion statements - not practical tags as they should be. Anywho .....

.... you may want to hang out around the same area, around the same time for a few days. If you see the car, you may be able to get the license plate number. Then, pay the police a visit, and file charges.

A jerk tried to hit me a high speed once. I only got the first few numbers of his plate. However, about 20 miles down the road, I spotted his car parked outside his trailer. I got the rest of the plate, and went to the state police. He ended up with 5 charges against him. He then, like the dirtbag he is, skipped town to avoid the charges.

Was it worth the trouble and my energy to get this done? In a word - YES!

I've had 2 friends get some teens in trouble because they drove by and watered them down with fire extinguishers and they got the plates.Teens found the guys again and they dont have there bikes anymore and are afraid for there kids now so they wont say anything to police again.

It's a shame you can't ride your bike in peace,without some moron harassing you.
I will tell you one thing, I feel safer riding my bike in traffic than I do driving a car. I seldom drive, but when I do a can't believe how other drivers treat bike riders. What it's too much trouble to give us an extra foot of room, don't they have any depth perception. F#@ing Morons!
All I can say is ride defensively, and ride with a rearview mirror
The mirror has saved me more than once.

Ride safe
Pat

Doug, it's too bad your stay in Texas had to be in Galveston -- this state can do a lot better than that. Galveston is a magnet for troublemakers, and we're now in spring break season which makes it even worse. Just be glad you'll be outta there before Beach Party Weekend on April 11-13.

I leave the 10th. For that EXACT reason.
Thanks all for the words.
Doug

I got hit one time, too...by a car who swerved to hit me. Spent a couple of weeks in the hospital. The man who hit me was in jail for a while, too, which I was glad of. Maybe he will think twice before he takes out his road rage on a cyclist.

Doug,

It happens to me. One kid said "I'm gonna kill you Mr. Bicycle man! I'm gonna kill you". I got the license number. I called police, police called mommy, mommy called me, mommy apologized and said he will NOT do it again.

Other things have happened to me that are similar, BUt they have all been kids under 19 years.

You're not alone with this problem. This may sound strange, what I'm about to say, and it's gonna come out differant than what i mean, but here goes:

I use to take these incidents personal. As if they where out to get me personally. But it makes me feel better that this does not only happen to me. What I mean is: I am not alone with this problem, others share my frustration....it makes me feel better that someone else experiences this and understands. So it's not just ME.

Does that make sense? Calm down, forget about it, try to get the number next time and report it. If you do something, you'll get in trouble also. Don't let 'em ruin your day.

Now if I could only take my own advice.

digger

I agree with digger. I think anyone who is on the road will run into trouble with inattentive drivers and stupid kids. Keep your cool and handle it in a calm and composed manner.

I have been hit by a Duracell battery once, it bounced off my helmet, probably thrown by some redneck truck driver who lives in a trailer park

My dad,78 at the time was riding down the bke path and a guy coming the other way stuck his hand out and hit him in the face.Helost control but stopped before he fell over.He got up to see the gut had stopped to laugh so my dad acted like he had something in his saddle bag and went forit and the guy,of course,took off.My dad was at pearl harbor for that.