Shuttle driver confrontation
 

I guess this actually started two days ago, but I didn't realize it at the time.

Wednesday morning, I was on my usual route to work when a park-n-ride shuttle honked at me as he passed. He was in the left lane so I gave him the palms-up "WTF" shrug.

I didn't give it another thought until this morning.

In the same area, he honked at me again and my response was the same. However, this time, just after passing, he jerked over into the right lane and stopped. There was still room between the shuttle and the curb, so I pulled along the right side. He opened the doors and blocked my way. I had every intension of stopping and telling him off so I was already slowing down. The rather heated exchange proceeded something like this:

Shuttle Driver: "You're impeding traffic! Your ass should be on that damn sidewalk!"
Me: "Learn the law and then go f*** yourself!"
SD: "F*** myself? Why you little smart-mount punk, I'm gonna beat your a**!"
At this point he was getting out of the shuttle and said, "That car cut me off trying to get around you."
Me: "Then that guy was breaking the law, not me, dip-s***!"
Then he started fumbling with getting everything out of his pockets and throwing it into his seat, (kind of stalling, hoping I wasn't really going to stick around to fight).
I noticed one of the things he pulled out was his cell phone, so I figured I'd give him an out, "If I'm breaking the law, then call the cops! I'll wait right here to get my ticket."
SD: "You know what, I'm gonna do just that!" And he starts dialing.

At this point, I still haven't gotten off my bike and he was leaning against the side of the shuttle, (still blocking the right lane) waiting on the police. That's when I said, "So, who's impeding traffic, now?" In hindsight, I should have let him sit there so the police could see him taking up half the roadway.

He grumbled as he got in and moved into the right-hand turn lane.

A couple of Irving Police cruisers show up within about five minutes. The officers walk up and ask what's going on. He gives his side of the story and I gave mine. Here is where it got pretty funny...

Police Officer: "Well sir, he is on a bicycle. They have every right to the road that other vehicles do and abide by the same traffic laws."
Shuttle Driver: "No, no, no. State law says only horses and pedestrians are allowed to block traffic on the roadway."
PO: "Actually, a pedestrian in the roadway would get a jay-walking ticket."
SD: "Well, I know horses, anyway..." (He crossed his arms and trailed off, grumbling).

PO: "Now, we can write him a ticket for disorderly conduct for telling you to F yourself, and write you a ticket for threatening to beat his a**, and then you can both go down and pay the city of Irving a bunch of money. Or, you can get back in your van, be on your way and be done with it."

At this the shuttle driver grumbled a bit more and so the policeman offered, "Or, we can collect your information and you can file a civil suit. Then you'll get to pay a bunch of lawyers. Or, you can get back in your van, be on your way and be done with it."

SD: "He just needs to watch his mouth."
PO: "He'll mind his business and you mind yours."
SD: "Fine with me."

He grumbles to his shuttle bus and drives away.
The police then stepped over to me and said, "Everything good?"
Me: "Yes sir. Thanks for coming out. I'm just glad it didn't come down to a physical confrontation."
PO: "Well, be safe and enjoy the rest of your morning."

All in all, not a huge deal. I have let this driver's company know about the incident and told them they need to refresh their drivers' knowledge of traffic laws.

Having seen him now on two different mornings, I guess we'll cross paths again. Hopefully, he's not a total whack-job who decides to "make sure" I don't get in his way again.

And for all of the DFW locals, this was on Royal Ln, just west of Colwell Blvd.

Sounds like a driver to be avoided.

Wow. +1 for the local fuzz.

:lol: Gotta love that. I would have gotten the officer's badge number, called his supervisor and give him a compliment for outstanding service.

He threatened you with a vehicle

Go to the local shuttle company and file a complain.

Wow that is quite the confrontation. Well handled. :thumb:

The key lesson I can see from your experience is to not loose your cool and threaten the other driver.
The next time the cops will be able to write the other driver a ticket without threatning you with a ticket as well.

I know that I will yell loundly is someone cuts me off, but I try VERY hard (and usually manage) not to say something threatning, but that is not alway easy.

Happy riding,
André

Good for you. I'd think next time don't use foul language and the other person will be in the wrong by themselves.

He's lucky it was you and not me.

Well done by the cop.

Fair, balanced, ready to do what the citizens ask, but ready to tell them that the easy step is to chill and share the road.

Watch your back, he might hold a grudge.

Thanks for posting. Awesome response from the police.

Get out from behind the wheel!
 

I would make this cost him his job! He was acting on behalf of his employer. Business law states he is the company and all of his actions are the company! I'm sure his company would not want to keep a loose cannon like him behind the wheel of company property!

Great job by the cop! Clearly he has his facts straight and is used to doing the, "Here are the alternatives if you decide to make an issue out of this, do you really wanna buy this trouble?" talk. That's exactly the kind of talk that can make people regain what little sense they have, and avoid a lot of trouble for all concerned.

I didn't think to get badge numbers when the police showed up, but I did send a note to one of the assistant chiefs of police telling him when and where it happened. I told him his officers did a great job of diffusing the situation and that they represented the department well.

And yes, I could have handled the situation better as well. A cooler head would have nipped this whole issue, (however, had I not goaded him into getting out of the van, he would still be thinking that pedestrians belong on the road and cyclists belong on the sidewalk--go figure).

Just a couple days ago I was reading the thread about the Critical Mass cyclist who got pushed by the cop. I gotta admit, I was surprised at the contempt for police in that thread. This thread ought to prove that not all cops are bad.

I have worked with cops and corrections officers in jails and prisons (I used to do security stuff.) These careers expose a person to some of society's worst. Some folks in law enforcement begin judging everyone they come across as jerks; I would often remind them that not everyone is an idiot.

I hope some of the critics of cops from that other thread get a chance to read this story. Thanks for posting.

RE: CM policeman

anonymous internet forum =/= reality so take the comments with a pinch (bucket) of salt

Well done on your part on the cops.

An interesting way to deal with a shuttle driver, if they have a professional license, is to write up the incident along with any supporting data and send it to the state licensing board. This can cause a pro driver no end of grief. However he will know who caused his pain and if he is still driving in the area . . .

I suppose cussing at him from the start helped him understand his lack of knowledge of the road. :thumb:

The cops did a great job there. If only they were all so knowledgeable/courteous (not saying mine aren't).

Perhaps, as stated, this will encourage the company to have drivers refresh their road law knowledge around the bicycle, pedestrain, and, ahem, horse, traffic.

That was interesting, thanks for sharing. I would definitely report this incident to the company he works for. From now I on I will keep in mind that you can get in trouble for swearing at a motorist.

Well there has been a HUGE increase in pedestrians (well joggers and people walking their dog) in the middle of 4 lanes roads lately coming down on my commute. They just don't care when a car approaches they just hold the line in the traffic lane. Maybe the driver is one of em.

Good to hear it all worked out. I still haven't had any problems out there but I haven't crossed paths with a shuttle driver in a while. *knock on wood* Actually all the HD Direct drivers and some other truckers seems to give me a friendly honk, wave and lots of space lately well always lots of space but the honks and waves are new.

Hm speaking of crossing paths how have I not run into on Royal in all this time unless you were on the DF I rolled a stop sign and sorta cutoff in the last couple weeks. :innocent:
Sorry about that whoever you were :o

Just yesterday I had 2 incidents with "JAW"'s (women drivers). first passed me in a 25 mhp zone, I was doing about 23mph (if my cyclometer is right, just got it on) double yellow, and just as she was clear, hits the brakes to make a left turn! I slapped the mirror as I went by, not hard enough to break it, but get her attention.

Second was starting to pass a parked Schwan truck. I was riding about 2 ft over from the curb, slowly (10-12mph) as I was taking a drink, and she tries to take my lane.
I gave the same "Shrug" and she says, "Get on the sidewalk!"!
I explode, though I didn't swear until afterward, but I stopped, asking, What?, & she said get on theh sidewalk again!.
I went off stating under Michigan law I have the right ot be on the rt side of the road!
She asked, "Do you have a licsence plate?"
I stated again, under Mi law I have the right! She whipped out her cell & I yelled, call the police, they will back me up! She eventually took off, yelling "She didn't care, she would run me over"! I should have grabbed her plate number! But I was to p/o'ed to be thinking that clear!

Glad to hear all ended well with you!

Chris