jrn

On my commute there is about a half mile three lane stretch of road where the speed limit is 45 MPH and the bike lane disappears and starts again after this short stretch. There is pretty heavy traffic on this road and it's a tight squeeze for a bike - there is no shoulder and only about 6 inches on the side of the road and then a curb. I was riding on this stretch in the small portion between the white line and the curb when I heard an 18 wheeler slowly coming up behind me. He proceeded to pass me with very little room for me (which I'm somewhat used to) but as he's passing me he starts blaring on his horn. I pull the bonehead move and flip him off (I know, it was dumb) So, much to my disbelief, he starts pulling into the very small amount of lane space that I have, essentially forcing me into the curb or into his rear wheels. He got about an inch away from my handlebars when I had to jump the curb. I don't have clipless pedals on this bike and can't really bunny hop without them so my attempt almost ended up with me wiping out and potentially being run over by the next car. I can't believe this guy was literally going to run me over!
I got the license plate number of the trailor he was pulling and am seriously thinking about filing a report. Have any of you filed a report on a driver before? I really don't know what to do but the more I think about it I want to do something because the situation could have easily ended entirely different.

CliftonGK1

Don't just file a police report. Report the driver to the company he's hauling for. He's more likely to get in trouble with his employer than from the police.

Hoshnasi

Do both, no reason not to.

fbagatelleblack

Do everything you can to get that trucker off the road. Next time he pulls a stunt like this, a cyclist could end up dead.

You can just call the police and tell them the story. Better yet, show up at the police station so you can show them the scrapes. They can tell you where to go from there. If they try to talk you out of filing a report (it'll mean more work for them; there are SOME police officers who do try to talk cyclists out of filing reports) be firm and persistent.

I am glad you are okay.

- FBB

mparker326

I would file a police report.

Next time keep your fingers to yourself. You can wind up dead.

Tude 

Yeah report to his company.

I had an incident of road rage last year. At a stop light --- I hear all this wild beeping behind me (there was NO right on red either). Got a green light and I'm taking up a lane now as it's busy traffic and no shoulders as we head into the city. The guy in the left lane made the mistake of moving over as this guy was trying to come up the middle ---- the guy in back screams by me - saw about 2 inches of space between my rearview mirror and his car - then he swerved over on purpose - snapped off my mirrior - as I dove for the curb - and stayed up though --- he screamed up - came to a screaching halt and flipped me off -traffic is still behind me too -- all I said was - got your plate.

Called the cops - and the woman on the other line - asked me about the car - I was amazed I remembered so much - asked about the person and I remembered that too.

Her answer?

Oh, well he was probably on his way home because he lives around there.

I ask - what's going to happen now - this is road rage?

Well, I'll call his father and tell him what his son has been doing with his car, now you check back ok?

Some Freaking police report that was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did check back and she was never around. Other cops even agreed yes that was dangerous and that was road rage.

Think she knew that kid? %$!#@$%@#$ call his father. HA!

AStomper

I would just call in to file the report, won't get anything but a letter sent to the guy, but you can ask them to send some rules on driving around cyclists. If you caught the name of the trucking company I would call them for sure, they don't want aggressive drivers, insurance is too much.

A smile and a wave is the best thing, then all the other people think that its your friend and won't want to fock with you.

SDRider

Definitely file a police report. I second reporting him to the company he hauls for too. That idiot could have killed you.

BTW-I have a similar stretch of road I commute on and I just take the entire lane through there. I get a honk every now and then but F them. When I try to be considerate I get cars buzzing me so I say screw em. Let them wait the 15-20 seconds it takes me to ride up to the next light.

littlewaywelt

...agree with above.
in my case, I asked the police to have a talk with the driver and his boss rather than pressing assault charges.

and what were you doing riding so close to the curb. You're inviting disaster. By riding a few more feet out into the lane (say a foot inside the rt wheel track) you force the drivers to slow down and use the other lane to pass you. some may still buzz you, but they would have done it anyway if you were on the curb. by riding just a little bit out you a) slow the driver's pass, b) reduce buzzing and c) give yourself some room to maneuver and brake if a driver starts crowding you.

jrn

I've been spoiled by bike lanes or low traffic volume on all of my previous commutes and am not too savvy when it comes to what to do/not to do given many commuting situations. I'm still getting used to this particular stretch, there are a lot of 18 wheelers on the road at this time and I'm going to have to figure something else out if I'm going to do this safely.

mtnwalker

File the police report and +1 on taking the lane. Nothing invites more trouble than hugging the curb. It makes drivers either pass you too close, makes them hesitant and pass you too close, too slow, and makes idiot drivers like these get beside you too easily.

There is a stretch of road on my commute that is similar to what you described. Its about 100 yards and no curb all the way to intersection where it ends. I made the mistake of caring for the cars instead of myself and hugged the curb. Big mistake. A car passes me very closely and turns on the light almost hitting me. I've taken the entire lane ever since and the problem has not presented itself again. If they want to pass from now on they have to take the other lane. Oh, I take the lane at the light too. Let them wait.

rule

Absolutely and in that order. If a driver who worked for me ever pulled something like that I would love to know it, regardless of what the police would do. That's crazy.

notfred

I would not, because I generally view the police as mostly useless. If they didn't care when my car got stolen or I got mugged, I don't see why they'd do anything about this.

Maybe your police department is better than mine.

ModoVincere

I say file the police report and call the company that owns the truck.
If this trucker is in an accident, the report might show that he/she has a history of reckless conduct and be used to take his/her license.
We don't need people like that on the roads.

SSP

Get a mirror and take the %$#@! lane!!!

Riding in the 6" between the curb edge and the white line is just plain dumb...you're just asking to "get squeezed". If you had been taking the lane, the 18 wheeler would probably not have been able to mess with you like that.

CastIron

Last time that happened to me I caught the guy at a light and tried to pull him out. We both learned a lesson: Don't pick fights.

kjmillig

File formal reports with the trucking company, the state DOT (they regulate trucking), and the local police or sheriff's office. Do it NOW! Do not delay! If the trucking company has a local terminal, GO THERE and politely demand to speak with the terminal manager. I drove a truck for most of 8 years, so I know how much trouble he could get in. Get it documented!

king88uy7

Contacting the police is a waste of time, they don't care. Definitely contact his employer.

lil brown bat

Agreed, and insist on action. Get the names and titles of every single person you deal with. Take notes of every conversation. If someone fails to act, take it elsewhere -- if the local cops don't act, go to the city/town officials and tell them that the cops aren't doing their job. If the trucking company won't act, go to the state DOT and tell them so. Make it clear that failing to act is a mistake.

mupedalpusher

I agree...not only should the police know, but so should his employer. Recently one of my commuter friends was harrassed by an ambulance! The woman told him he shouldn't be in the street and she wasn't going to feel bad if he got hurt. Can you believe that...an ambulance driver of all people. Anyway, he asked for her supervisor's name and when he got home called and reported her. The supervisor acted appalled and assured him she would have words with the employee.

mupedalpusher

I know others mentioned this but don't forget to take the lane. It's your RIGHT to have safe passage. It works most of the time although recently in a downtown area a woman was so eager to get around me she did something stupid. I took the lane at a 4-way stop and she got in the oncoming lane and proceeded to take her turn at the stop sign! The other motorists were totally bent out of shape (at her I assume) and were shaking their heads. I looked at her and said "was that stupid move really worth saving a few seconds". She acted like she couldn't hear me and sped off. I just laughed knowing I was doing the right thing and she was a complete idiot.

Blue Order

Evenly matched?

T-Bone Costanza

I drive to work every day and I always see wreckless truckers on the highway.

Zero_Enigma

WTF!?? The cops trying to talk you out of it? Make sure you get thier info and find the local police bike patrol and explain the situation to them, also note the officers who tried to talk you out of it. I'm sure the bike patrol cops may want to have a word or two with that cop that tried to talk you out of it because they're on the road just like you so they can totally relate with you on the dangers. Granted they get more distancing because of thier uniform and badge but I'm sure they know the dangers very well when they ride off duty so they can relate.

b_young

Call the police and company for sure. I have a similar section of road as well only we do not know what bike lanes are in this town. The shoulder is about 4 foot for the most part but I do have about a mile of no shoulder. I take the road, if I don't someone will try to squeeze by even though its two lanes both ways with a turn lane and light traffic. Don't tempt them. If you take the road then TAKE THE ROAD.