biketony

You said, "A fireman yelled at me in his truck!" After parsing this, I have to ask: What were you doing in his truck?

wheel

A fireman yelled at me from his truck.

Oh I get it your the type of person who stands at a traffic accident and starts asking why did you do this?
When they can't change what they did.

For me I don't drive, so I have a hard time with a motorist's viewpoint.

squeakywheel

I don't really see that him being a fireman is relevant. Some jackass yelled at you. Just ignore him.

bac

Yup, I've actually been buzzed (40 mph and full throtle while passing me closer than 1 foot) by a policeman in a state police car! Jag-offs are jag-offs regardless of the uniform.


... Brad

vtjim

Did you let him know he was #1?

KeatonR

Maybe not the best idea, when you know for sure the guy has a weapon.

Otherwise, I do it all the time. Or I did, until I broke my finger recently. Now it hurts like hell every time I try to stick it up. Maybe there's some kind of karma in play.

mitchnodland

It's funny that the truck number was 3130. In San Diego Lifeguard, Police and Fire radio codes, 3130 means mental case. No Joke.

FlyingAnchor

Ok:
Let me tell you a story.
I was a Crash Crew tanker driver at Guam International. While I was still a rookie the engineer had me on top of the 3,000 gal tanker operating the turrent while we were cleaning rocks off of the road. This turret could put out about 300 psi from a 3" tube. Think a stream of water about 300 feet long, give or take. (I'm remembering back to 1973)
We had to road blocked off to keep people from driving through our job when this V.W. bus went around the blocked part and kept on coming toward us. I shut off the water and my driver yelled at the V.W. driver as he went past us. We were meeting head on and had to swerve to not hit him. He gave us the one finger salute as he went by. I was just a little upset that he would be so rude and I saw that he kept his window down. I turned on the turret again and was able to direct the stream of water into the drivers side window, there was so much pressure that he could not roll up his window. I was hitting him with all I could muster and about the time he was reaching the limit of my turret he stopped (engine was flooded I later found out) he opened his door and the water had risen up to the level of his window. When he opened his door water came out like a flood and he was mad as a wet hen.
Later back at the station steam was coming from my supervisors office and I had to answer for my actions..... I came up with a quick excuse like the turret was stuck and the driver just parked under my water stream (be nice).
After things settled down and I was found to be innocent my boss came and asked me "what really happened off the record". When I told him he commended me on doing a good job. My driver stuck by me all the way and we skated through.
I still remember the water coming out of the van to this day. Ahhhhhh sweet memories.
Moral of the story? Don't mess with the fire dept. But in this case maybe.
Steven

squeakywheel

KeatonR

Nice to have 300 psi at your disposal when someone gives you the bird! Great story.

seeker333

Wow, that's great, you maliciously attacked someone with a 300 psi fire hose. Anyone who's dealt with 300 psi should realize that's seriously dangerous. That sort of behavior is completely unprofessional, and the jerk in the VW should have pressed charges for assault and battery.

Based on your post, you appear to be a poor example of a fireman. IMO you should have been reprimanded, at a minimum.

lima_bean

Some fireman yelled at you.... Its not like he arrested you.. who cares, just ignore it like all the others who yell.

seeker333

There was a case not too long ago (in OH I think) where a bicyclist pedaling up a big hill on a public road at ~15mph was cited for impeding traffic.

He fought the ticket and won. Main point being that "impeding" is intentionally going slower than you're capable of, resulting in traffic build-up behind. Obviously the dude pedaling up a hill at 15mph was not lollygaging, but in fact working hard to get up the hill.

You can't apply same impeding standards/laws developed for motor vehicles, since a bike by its very nature is always traveling significantly slower than other traffic. Ditto farm equipment, horses, Quakers, pedestrians, etc.

If the firetruck had its light/siren on, then the fireman would have had a case - but based on your description, it sounds like he was just being a jackass.

If it's any consolation to you, most firemen (and cops) are well-meaning, helpful people.

pj7

You must be young. In 1973 we didn't sue each other or press charges. All conflicts were settled by men, like men. A round of fisticuffs anyone?

FlyingAnchor

At the time I was an E-2 in the navy and the man in question was a senior enlisted and I got away with it. Not that it was right, but he broke navy rules and I am sure there was more behind me not getting in trouble.
Also I tried to make sure the water never hit the driver, just his dash, I'm sure he got wet though.
I was 18 at the time and pretty stupid but I still love the story.
Steven
By the way in my defense, I grew up and have been an EMT, First Responder, Local volunteer Fire Chief, etc... I have helped more people and along the way, and I have grown up. With that said, I still would like to think I would do it again.
Steven
Sorry about hijacking this thread, I'll drop it now. Again, sorry.

zonatandem

Next time, just wave at him . . . with all 5 fingers!

fordfasterr

You are not a motor vehicle. ^ does not apply to you, however, you are part of "traffic" and you move at a speed which is reasonable in regards to your type of vehicle.



It is necessary for you to operate your vehicle at a normal speed (say between 10 and 15 mph) to meet the requirement of "safe operation or in compliance with the law".

If you were able to make your bike go 45 mph, that would most likely not be safe, considering that typical bicycle brakes are not very effective at this speed, so if you have to stay below 20 mph then that is fine for your type of vehicle.

ItsJustMe

Fordfasterr is correct. It's been found in court that a bicycle operating at a reasonable speed FOR A BICYCLE can't be charged with impeding traffic. You're going at a proper speed for your vehicle and that vehicle is legally allowed on that roadway. It's the responsibility of all road users to be aware of other road users and to operate their vehicles accordingly in order for everyone to remain safe. Safety is the paramount concern.

Making it to the Krispy Kreme and then on to work on time without spilling their starbucks when you left home too late is their damn problem, not yours, and they're not entitled to break the law or expect you to yield to them to make up for their laziness, procrastination or lack of planning.

Bog Warrior

No police officer would write a ticket for a bike impeding traffic unless it was obvious that they were trying to disrupt traffic flow. Bicycles are vehicle but not motor vehicles by Ohio definitions (Although some would argue that their bike had a two horse motor.)

Even fire fighters can be ignorant sometimes; they know fire fighting, but they do not enforce traffic laws, so look at the source. I would also agree that a fire truck doing 15 miles per hour to harass a bicyclist is more impeding traffic than your bike, but most police officers would not ticket them either.

Cheers

G. Bucci

+1.

That happened to me today. I heard the sirens and was quick to get right off the road so cars could pull over. After the emergency vehicles passed myself and the cars were on our way.

Stay upright

Winnipeg, Canada

G. Bucci

Hate to come back to this but:

I lost my team 11 years ago this month. I still haven't adopted one!!

Stay upright

Winnipeg, Canada